Greg Friedman, OFM

“Today Christ stands at the door and knocks in the person of his poor.
It is to him that we open when we give aid, when we give ourselves to those in need.
For he tells us plainly, ‘Just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members
of my family, you did it to me.'”
–Saint Anthony of Padua

Reflection

“Nothing apart from God can satisfy the human heart,
which is truly in search of God.”
–Saint Anthony of Padua

Reflection

Not long ago one of the friars living here at the Monastery observed that, out of this time of pandemic, we all might discover some new things about how we live. Today’s quote from Anthony might easily provide an insight into such a “transformed” lifestyle: “Nothing apart from God can satisfy the human heart, which is truly in search of God.”

“The greedy man is really not rich, but poor.
He does not control his money but is controlled by it.
He does not possess his wealth but is possessed by it.
He may have many things, yet for him he has all too little.”
–Saint Anthony of Padua

Reflection

Today’s quote from Saint Anthony about how money controls a greedy man reminds of what. Francis of Assisi said to his brothers: that having things necessarily meant guarding them, lest they be stolen.

“You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart.
Notice that Christ says: Your whole heart.
He doesn’t say: Leave a corner of your heart for yourself.
He bought the whole of you by giving his whole self for you,
that he alone might possess every part of you.
Do not try to hold back any part of yourself…
If you really wish to have the whole,
then give it all to him, and he will give you all of himself.”
–Saint Anthony of Padua

Reflection

“When it is dark, we do not see how dusty and dirty our house is.
Only when the place is flooded with sunlight do we realize its awful condition.
So we need the light of God’s grace to show us the real state of our soul and
induce us to clean up our hearts!”
–Saint Anthony of Padua

Reflection