Self-Conquest

The conquest of self is the grandest triumph that man can achieve.
_{Once a day, at least, recall very earnestly that} “You are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you.”

I Cor. iii. 15

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Ꚛ Seventh Day of November

St. Philip Neri had a very tender devotion for the souls in purgatory. His great attraction was to pray for those whose consciences he had directed during life.

In his opinion, a father's charity ought to follow them to eternity, because real charity, says St. Paul, never falleth away. He avowed that many of his spiritual children appeared to him after their death, to request his prayers or to thank him for those he had said in their favor. We are also assured by him that he obtained by the aid of these poor souls very many graces.

He himself appeared to a holy Religious, crowned with glory in the midst of a beautiful procession. The Religious, encouraged by the friendly and meek air with which the saint regarded him, asked who were the happy beings that surrounded him. St. Philip answered they were the souls whom he had helped during his life in this world, and who had been delivered from purgatory by his prayers. He added that they had met him at his death and introduced him into the kingdom of the blessed.

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<sub>Ask yourself: how does this matter affect me personally, what lesson does it convey to me, what suggestion for a better life, how can I improve my conduct; resolve to become a saint at any cost; think upon the eternal years; pray to the Holy Ghost that He may lead you in the way of perfection; finally recite attentively and devotedly the following Act of Consecration to the Holy Spirit:

Oh Holy Spirit, divine Spirit of light and love, I consecrate to Thee my understanding, heart, and will, my whole being for time and for eternity. May my understanding be always submissive to Thy heavenly inspirations, and to the teaching of the Church, of which Thou art the infallible guide; may my heart be ever inflamed with love of God and of my neighbor; may my will be ever conformed to the divine will, and may my whole life be a faithful imitation of the life and virtue of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, to Whom with the Father and Thee be honor and glory forever. Amen.</sub>

_{Self-Conquest. Rev. F. X. Lasance. 1936.} @selfconquest