Signs of the Times  

    "The deadliest sins were te consciousness of no sin.  --  The greatest security against sin is to be shocked at its presence."
                                                                                                                        Thomas Carlyle

    "Sin is twisting and distorting out of its proper shape a human personality which God designed to be a thing of beauty and a joy forever."
                                                                                            Walter L. Carson: "Interpretation"

     "Sin has four characteristics: self-sufficiency instead of faith; self-will instead of submission; self-seeking instead of benevolence; self-righteousness instead of humility."
                                                                                                                 E. Paul Hovey

     "Sin and her shadow, Death, and Misery, Death's harbinger."

                                                                                    John Milton: "Paradise Lost" Book IX

       "It is much easier to repent of sins that we have committed, than to repent of those we intend to commit."
                                                                                                             Josh Billings

     "Sin.  Rub out the first and last letters, and you have "I"--or carnal self--the root of all sin."
                                                                                                                  Anonymous

    "Sin is man's declaration of independence of God."
                                                                       Anonymous


      ST. CATHERINE OF SWEDEN, Virgin, Abbess -- March 24th, Feastday
        (1331-1381)

        St. Catherine was the daughter of St. Bridget of Sweden.  Catherine married a German nobleman, but the couple agreed from the outset to practice perpetual continency.  She led an austere life and was never known to utter an uncharitable word against anyone.  When Catherine's father died, St. Bridget moved to Rome. When Catherine left Sweden to visit her mother when she was nineteen, and she remained in Rome after her own husband's death.  Catherine was then assailed by many persistent suitors, some even attempting to kidnap her.  After her mother's death, Catherine helped form the Bridgettine (or Briggitine) Order and worked toward St. Bridget's canonization.  St. Catherine returned to Sweden where she had a reputation of great holiness.  Two men were restored to life through her prayers.  She went to Confession everyday, and when gastric illness prevented her receiving Holy communion, she instead offered adoration and prayers to Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.  When she died, a star appeared over her house and remained there until the funeral.
                                           

                   4th Sunday of Lent---
    "Do you believe in the son of Man?"  "And who is he, sir?  Tell me, so that I may believe in him"..."You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he"..."Lord, I believe."
                                                                                                                      John 9:35-38

   "Wasn't Jesus my only real friend?  I knew only how to speak to him.  Conversations with humans, even devout conversations, tired my soul...I felt that talking to God was better than talking about God because we humans put so much self-importance into these spiritual conversations."
                                                                            St. Therese of Lisieux - Ms.A 40v-41r

      "My life of faith is built by discovering you, not just be speaking about you, Lord.  Because I believe in you, Jesus, speaking to you will give me confidence.  Let us speak everyday..."
                                                                            St. Therese of Lisieux

...to be continued....