Archive for March 2022
The Peace Enjoyed by the Just
The liberty of the children of God is the cause of another privilege of virtue, no less precious than itself – the interior peace and tranquility which the just enjoy. To understand this more clearly, we must remember that there are three kinds of peace: peace with God, peace with our neighbor, and peace with…
Read MoreThe Choirs of Angels & Guardian Angels
The Nine Choirs of Angels Tradition holds that there are three hierarchies of angels, each divided into three choirs. The beautiful division is worthy of a short description of each. Just as you teach your child how to use the right tool for a certain job, you should teach your child how to invoke the…
Read MoreRemote Preparation for Mental Prayer: Forgiveness Received and Extended
A young associate pastor once told me that when he would go to adoration or attempt mental prayer he would often see the angry face of his pastor in his mind. I suggested he forgive his pastor for whatever offenses he had committed and, obstacle removed, his prayer would be freed up to make progress.…
Read MoreUnderstanding the Spiritual Power of Holy Water
Many Catholics have never had a sufficiently full explanation of the signification of various principal devotions, pious practices, and sacred objects such as holy water. The Church in her wisdom has given the faithful holy water as circumstances may demand and the spiritual welfare of her children render expedient. The more Catholics understand their…
Read MorePutting the Peace Plan of Our Lady into Action
History has recorded as already having taken place many of the terrible disasters predicted by the Mother of God in 1917. These things cannot be undone. But we still have the future ahead of us. It can be a happy future, filled with peace, if we live our lives according to Our Lady’s requests. These…
Read MoreTo Consecrate Russia—and Oneself and One’s Family
On this Friday, March 25, 2022, the Feast of the Annunciation, Pope Francis will be consecrating Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Mother in a ceremony at St. Peter’s Basilica. This is a big deal. It’s a big deal to the world. But consecration is also a big deal to each…
Read MoreA Prayer for Detachment from All Earthly Things by Thomas à Kempis
Lord Jesus Christ, you alone are my hope and my refuge. You are my best solace in times of trouble and my trusted guide in times of perplexity and uncertainty. Therefore, today, I renounce all things in this passing world for the sake of your love. I earnestly aspire to fulfill this resolution to the…
Read MoreThe Goal of Catholic Social Teaching as the Foundation for Spiritual Growth
By Michael D. Greaney When I took Latin in college, the professor avoided readings about dividing Gaul into three parts and gave us Medieval poetry. A poem, which I have unfortunately mislaid, related the story of two monks. One decided he was going into the wilderness to live like the angels purely on spiritual things. …
Read MoreSt. Benedict on the Observance of Lent
From The Rule of St. Benedict (Regula) , Chapter 49, on the Observance of Lent. A Monk’s life should at all times resemble a continual Lent, but few have such virtue. Thus, we encourage everyone during Lent to live in all purity, and during this holy season to wash away all the negligences of other…
Read MoreMan Your Post: Learning to Lead Like St. Joseph
From the Preface… Carrie Wiping his shoes as he shuffled through the door, he glanced in my direction. I could tell he was pondering something deeper than the lawn he had just mowed. “I’ve been thinking,” he began. I smiled from the other side of the cluttered counter, where I stood arranging the dirty dishes…
Read MoreA Man Cleansed by God: A Novel Based on the Life of St. Patrick
From the Epilogue… With few words, Bishop Patrick dismissed his work in Ireland. “It would be tedious,” he wrote, “to give a detailed account of all my labors or even a part of them.” His labors did not interest him; the labors were not his labors, and the achievements were not his achievements. “Who was…
Read MoreAwareness of Angels
Can’t you see them? You, Dear Parent, can’t you see the angelic and demonic all around? And why not? You see germs on a public water fountain. You see danger lying ahead in an empty street. You see sickness coming on the face of your little one even before an army of doctors could. You…
Read MoreThe Christian’s Aim
“I show you a more excellent way.” -1 Corinthians 12:31 It will conduce much to our spiritual advancement that we propose to ourselves as objects the highest things and such as are of the greatest perfection, according to the counsel of the Apostle: “Be zealous for the better gifts. And I yet show to you…
Read MoreLenten Meditation on Eternal Happiness by St. Francis de Sales
Sermon for the Second Sunday of Lent, February 20, 1622, concerning our inability to comprehend eternal happiness, the ability of the soul in Heaven to use its faculties to understand clearly and to love ardently, the soul’s joy in heavenly conversations with angels, saints, Our Lady, Our Lord, and with the Most Holy Trinity, the…
Read MorePursuing Perfect Apostolic Life and Contemplation
“Abram habitávit in terra Chánaan: Lot vero morátus est in óppidis, quæ erant circa Iordánem, et habitávit in Sódomis” (Abram dwelt in the land of Chanaan, and Lot abode in the towns that were about the Jordan, and dwelt in Sodom) -Genesis 13:12 Is it better to strive to enter the narrow gate to heaven…
Read MoreThe Inspiring Story of Blessed Gerard: Founder of the Order of Malta
Blessed Gerard founded the Hospitaller Order of St. John (later known as the Order of Malta) in the mid-eleventh century, circa 1070. He died in Jerusalem around 1120. Nothing is known of the early life of Blessed Gerard; his date of birth and surname remain a mystery. However, historians have pierced together reliable, if limited,…
Read MoreThe Reality of Exorcism and Demonic Possession
Eight hundred years ago in Belgium, as a third of Europe was dying of the Bubonic Plague, a group of men quit their jobs and dedicated themselves to tending the sick and the dying. They became known as the Alexian Brothers, named after St Alexis of Rome. The new religious order distinguished itself by accepting…
Read MoreSpiritual Guidance in Time of War
For the first time since the hush of Nazi and Soviet guns in May of 1945, the sad malaise of war is upon the European continent, with the sounds of canons firing and the anxiety of bloodshed in the streets. Ukraine and Russia are both part of Western civilization, of European civilization – what is…
Read MoreLenten Reflection from Mother Miriam of the Lamb of God
Hello Beloved, What a glorious time of the year we are in. I personally find it a great privilege to be invited by Our Lord Himself, through the Church He established, to accompany Him through His wilderness of sufferings. At times we may hear some complaining and perhaps even be tempted ourselves to complain about…
Read MoreReliance on Our Lady and the Saints
Giving your child a sense of belonging is of irreplaceable value. So many little ones grow up lost, even in a family. Perhaps they are neglected. Perhaps they are abused. Perhaps dad and mom are just tired. And so, in addition to the natural means of making a child feel wanted and loved, such as…
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