As war and civil conflict plague us daily, instead of escaping into alcohol, social media, or entertainment, let’s learn to pray, reflecting on these tips from St. Josemaría.
1. Foster in your heart and soul—in your mind and will—a trusting spirit of abandonment to your heavenly Father’s loving Will. From this will arise the interior peace you desire. Furrow, 850.
2. How can you be at peace if you let your passions—which don’t even try to dominate—control you, contrary to the impulse of grace? Heaven’s impulse is upwards; yours—don’t excuse yourself—is downward, which is tearing you apart. Furrow, 851.
3. The remedy for your lack of peace is: patience, rectitude of intention, and to look at things with a supernatural perspective. Furrow, 853.
4. God is with you, so get rid of all fear and spiritual agitation. Let’s avoid the roots of these reactions, which only serve to increase temptation and peril. Furrow, 854.
5. While things seem to collapse and fail, going against your plans with brutal outcomes, you gain nothing by going into a fit. Remember the prophet’s trusting prayer: “The Lord is our judge; the Lord is our lawgiver; the Lord is our king; he alone will save us.” Recite this devoutly each day so that your action will correspond to the designs of Providence that governs us for our own good. Furrow, 855.
6. By fixing your sight on God, you know how to keep calm and face difficulties; learning to ignore jealousies, envies, and other petty things will save you a lot of energy needed to effectively serve others. Furrow, 856.
7. If you truly abandon yourself in the Lord, you will be content with whatever happens and never lose your peace, even if things don’t turn out the way you wanted, despite putting effort to use all the means necessary… For things will have turned out the way God wanted. Furrow, 860.
8. When darkness engulfs us, making our soul blind and restless, turn to the Light as Bartimaeus did. Shout, cry out, insist: Domine, ut videam—Lord, may I see! The day will dawn upon you to enjoy the brightness that only He can give. Furrow, 862.
9. In your character, fight against harshness, selfishness, comfort seeking, and your dislikes. As co-redeemers, your reward—consider it carefully—will be directly related to the seed that you sow. Furrow, 863.
10. A Christian has the duty to drown evil in an abundance of good. This campaign is not negative or anti anything. On the contrary, it is an affirmation, full of youthful optimism, joy, peace, and understanding for everybody: for Christ’s followers and for those who have left him or don’t even know him. But understanding doesn’t mean being aloof or indifferent, but engaged. Furrow, 864.
11. With Christian charity and human elegance, you should strive to avoid the slightest rift with anyone. Always give others a way out so they don’t go further from the Truth. Furrow, 865
12. A paradox: ever since I decided to follow the psalmist’s advice—“Cast your cares upon the Lord, and he will sustain you”—I have had fewer worries. Simultaneously, I do whatever I need to do, and things work out with greater ease and clarity. Furrow, 873.
13. Mary is the Queen of peace—that is how the Church invokes her. So when your soul is troubled, whether at home or at work, in society or between nations, cry to her unceasingly. Invoke her by this title: Regina pacis, ora pro nobis—Queen of peace, pray for us. Have you even tried it when you have lost your calm? Its immediate effect will surprise you! Furrow, 874.
