"No man is perfect in holiness..."

For a number of years now, either on New Year's night or the evening before I have to go back to work at the end of Christmas, I've selected a passage from Thomas à Kempis's The Imitation of Christ and posted it. I've even done this during years when my effort here kind of flagged a bit. I am gearing up to re-read this spiritual classic over Lent, which, this year begins 18 February.

The Imitation of Christ, along with Brother Lawrence's The Practice of the Presence of God, the latter being a work Pope Leo holds in high regard, are about nurturing an intimate relationship with Christ. What we celebrate at Christmas is what makes such a relationship possible. Dealing with temptation is not a subject about which you hear much these days. Nonetheless, these abound. Given Pope Francis' deeply insightful "take" on what he called "a culture of indifference," omissions are temptations, too.

Therefore...

So long as we live in the world, we cannot be without trouble and trial. Wherefore it is written in Job, The life of man upon the earth is a trial.(Job 7:1). And therefore ought each of us to give heed concerning trials and temptations, and watch unto prayer, lest the devil find occasion to deceive; for he never sleepeth, but goeth about seeking whom he may devour. No man is so perfect in holiness that he hath never temptations, nor can we ever be wholly free from them (The Imitation of Christ, Book I, Chap. 13, 1)

Peace to you as you embark on another year. On this the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God, I prayed a Rosary for all who read this. Emmanuel- our God is with us. Remember this!, God is with you.