Chapter VI
Love is never Rude
(Ambitious or Arrogant)
by Saint Alphonsus Liguori
Those who Love Jesus Christ, 'Desire' Nothing-but Jesus Christ.
They do not Seek the Esteem-of People, here on Earth. Their sole-Desire is to-Enjoy the Favor-of Almighty God,
Who Alone, is the Object-of their Love.
When we 'Seek' the Esteem-of others, we Lose our Humility, and Run
the Risk-of further Wrongdoing. We should therefore Keep-in-Mind, that the Lord
"shall Scorn the Scorners, and to the Humble, He will give Grace" (Proverbs 3:34). Many People, Profess to-Lead a
Spiritual Life, but they are Worshippers-of-Self. They are
Ambitious to 'Appear' in Public, and to be Esteemed-by the World, and they 'Expect' to be Praised-for all their
Projects. If no one else 'Praises' them, they 'Praise' themselves. They 'Strive' to Appear better-than others; and if their Reputation is 'Questioned',
they Lose all Peace, and do not Rest, until they Imagine that they have 'Regained'
their Former Stature. Real Lovers-of Jesus Christ, do not Act this way. Rather, they 'Avoid' every Word-of
Praise, and every Occasion-for Vanity.
The saying-of Saint-Francis-of-Assisi is so-True: "What I am before God, That, I am". What Good is it,
to be 'Considered' Important, by the World, if before God, we are Worthless? And,
on-the-other-hand, what does it matter that we are Scorned-by the World, provided we are Dear-to
God? Those who 'Praise' us, cannot Save us from Damnation,
nor can those who Scorn us, Rob us of Eternal
Life.
In-order-to Grow-in the Love of Jesus Christ, then, we must
Learn-to 'Still' the Ambitions-of-self-Esteem. And, until we do, we will never become True Servants-of
Jesus Christ.
In-order-to be Pleasing-in the Sight-of God, we must become-Deaf to the
Applause-of-the-World. And we should be even more-Careful, to 'Reject' any Ambition, for 'Governing'
others. The only Ambition-of a Soul that Loves God, should be to 'Excel'
others in Humility, according-to the Advice-of Saint Paul: "Let Nothing be done through
Contention, neither by Vain Glory: but in Humility, let each Esteem others, better-than themselves" - Philippians 2:3. Those who
Love God, must make God the Sole Object-of their Ambition.
"O my God, make me a Saint"
Saint Alphonsus Mary Liguori
Prayer
Jesus, give me the Desire to Please You, and Help me to-Forget everything else, including myself. What will it
Profit me, to be Loved by the Whole World, if I am not Loved-by You, the only Love-of my Soul?
My Jesus, You came-into the World, to Win my Love, so never let me be Separated-from You. I have Turned my Back
on-You in the Past, but now that I am Aware of the Wrong I have Done, I Repent of it, with all my Heart. Knowing that I have Offended You so-many Times,
causes me Extreme Distress.
Yet I am Consoled-by the Thought, that You are Infinite Goodness, and that You do not Mind Loving a Sinner, who
Loves You.
My Redeemer, I have Ignored You in the Past, but now I Love You, more than myself. I Offer myself - all that
I am - to You. My only-Ambition is to-Love You, and to-Please You. Increase my Love, and Extinguish in me, the Desire-for anything else, but you. You
want me to become a Saint. You can make me a Saint. I Place all my Trust, in You.
Mary, Great Mother of God, I Entrust myself to your Protection.
Amen
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Nota Bene: Bible Verses quoted-in this Book are from the English Douay-Rheims Translation,
commissioned-by the Catholic Church.
Greater Love than this, no Man hath,