Third Sunday of Advent

Thoughts for the Week - Fr. R. Taouk 
14th December 2014

On the Importance of a Good Intention by Fr. Leonard Goffine

In performing all our works, even the smallest, and in offering all our thoughts and words in the name of God, that is, for His honour and in accordance with His most holy will; that we receive all sufferings and afflictions cheerfully from His hand, and offer them in union with the passion of Jesus.

In the morning we should offer to the Lord all our thoughts, words, and deeds, all our crosses and afflictions, and all our steps during the day:

• as a sacrifice of homage, to pay to Him the service, honour and adoration due Him;

• a sacrifice of thanksgiving for graces received;

• a sacrifice of propitiation to render some satisfaction to divine justice for our own sins and the sins of others;

• a sacrifice of impetration to obtain, through the merits of Christ, new graces and gifts for ourselves and others.

We must not forget, however, in making a good intention, to unite all our works with the merits of Jesus, by which alone they acquire worth and merit before God, and we must guard against impatience or sinful deeds by which we lose the merit of the good intention made in the morning, for a good intention cannot exist with sin.

It is also very useful to place all our actions into the wounds of Jesus, offering them to Him by the hands of His Blessed Mother.

St. Anselm says: "It renders all works, even the smallest golden and divine"; and St. Gregory: "It makes all thoughts, words and deeds meritorious, and causes us to expect in the hour of death, like the wise virgins, the heavenly bridegroom, Jesus, and be richly rewarded by Him".