Souls are like athletes....

Trappist monk and prolific spiritual writer, Thomas Merton, once wrote, "Souls are like athletes who need opponents worthy of them if they are to be tried and extended and pushed to the full use of their powers." This is a very insightful analogy because, just as your muscles weaken without physical exercise, so does your soul become weak without its own special kinds of spiritual exercise. Therefore, during this upcoming Lenten season, exercise and strengthen your soul with prayer, fasting, prostrations, meditation, almsgiving, charitable acts, and the study of scripture.

Fr. John