We cannot wait to have you all with us for our Annual Mass in Memory of St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother on Wednesday, February 27th at All Saints Church in #Etobicoke #Repost from @st_gabriel_of_sorrows (Excerpt) Letter of #StGabrielofOurLadyofSorrows to Friend Philip (Personally, the letter that changed my life) . . . May 13, 1859 Pievetorina My Dearest Friend, Don’t imagine that because we are far away from one another my love for you has grown cold. Nothing of the kind, I assure you. God’s grace, on the contrary, has elevated and purified my affection for you, and I declare in all sincerity that though I desire the salvation of all, I desire yours with special earnestness. If then you look on me as a true and sincere friend you will take in good part what I am going to say to you with all the affection of my heart. You are right when you say that the world is full of dangers and pitfalls and that it is very difficult to save one’s soul in it. However, if it is really God’s will that you should live in the world, there is no need to get discouraged. Oh, no! One can save one’s soul even in the world. Now, my dear Philip, if you sincerely desire your salvation, avoid, I beg of you, all that I am going to tell you to avoid. Avoid bad company; and by that I do not mean young fellows without restraint, shameless or grossly immoral, who are indeed rarely met with, but by bad companions I mean those who by flattery and false friendship would taint and pervert your heart. You doubtless understand me. Avoid the theatre. I know it by experience, that it is rare, and even very rare, to leave it without having lost the grace of God, or at least without exposing it to great danger. Avoid balls, for in these all things conspire against the soul. Avoid bad books, for they can cause frightful havoc in a young man’s heart. . photo: actual letter of #sangabrieledelladdolorata to his friend. Translated by @bristolcatholicchaplaincy xoxo sangabriele.org . #SaintGabrielofOurLadyofSorrows #CatholicSaints #passionista #passionists #morrovalle #isoladelgransasso #catholicism https://www.instagram.com/p/BtOk0m7nS7P/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=37rfqj6xv2fk
