How Often Should We Receive Communion?

Many saints have upheld the benefits of frequent Communion as essential to the pursuit of holiness. Pope Saint Pius X, for instance, championed a more regular reception of Communion, issuing Sacra Tridentina to encourage it in 1905. Even as he preaches the great benefit of frequent Communion, he also reinforces the importance of having the…

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The Seven Last Words of Christ: Meditating on the First Word

And Jesus said: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” —Luke 23:34 There are “Seven Words” (or pronouncements) which Christ uttered while elevated upon the cross, which may be likened to seven rich and verdant leaves springing forth upon a mystical vine [the cross itself being this spiritual vine]. Again, the wood…

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Sermon for Ash Wednesday: Fasting

THESE first four days of the holy season of Lent serve as a preface to indicate the preparation that we ought to make in order to spend Lent well and to dispose ourselves to fast well. That is why I thought of speaking to you, in this exhortation, of the conditions which render fasting good…

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The Holy Face of Jesus: Shrove Tuesday

History The Holy Face of God is mentioned 840 times in Scripture and His Countenance is mentioned 101 times.[1] The Psalms of King David are rich with the word Face and this context brings lively devotion to the Holy Face. At the Nativity, humanity had the first glimpse of the Face of God in the…

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Meditation on Retreat: Who Are You?

Consider, with St. Bernard, that it has been in retreat that God has always pleased to signalize His greatest mercies toward men. It was in retreat on Sinai that Moses received the tables of the law; it was in the retreat of Carmel that Elias received the double spirit that animated him; it was in…

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 Admonitions Useful for Purifying the Heart

The voice of Jesus—Learn of Me because I am meek and humble of Heart; and ye shall find rest for your souls.  The voice of the Disciple—These are the words of Jesus Christ, whereby we are commanded to learn and imitate the Virtues of His Heart, that we may be set free from all misery…

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Habitual Grace

Day 1 God out of His infinite goodness wills to lift us up to Himself in the measure that our weak nature allows, and for this purpose gives us a principle of supernatural life; a Godlike, vital principle, which is habitual grace. It is called created grace in contradistinction to uncreated grace, which is the…

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The Desire to Become a Great Saint

IN WRITING about this visit to Carmel, my mind goes back to my first visit after you had entered. I had been wondering that morning what name they would give me when I got there; I could not bear to lose my lovely “Thérèse,” yet I knew you already had a Thérèse of Jesus. I…

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Mindfulness of Death: A Sure Remedy to the Vices

My friend, whenever you are plagued by some difficulty or adversity, or tested by some temptation, or find that your enthusiasm for good works is fading or waning, or divine worship begins to seem tedious and irksome to you, there is a sure and effective remedy for you! And I shall now tell you what…

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The Interior Castle: Chapter 1

WHILE I was begging our Lord today to speak for me, since I knew not what to say nor how to commence this work which obedience has laid upon me, an idea occurred to me which I will explain, and which will serve as a foundation for that I am about to write. I thought…

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Ten Resolutions to Aid the Spiritual Exercises

By Spiritual Exercises is understood certain operations of the mind and heart, such as the examination of conscience, meditation, contemplation, mental and vocal prayer, which are employed in order to free the soul from its irregular affections and so to put it in the way of knowing and embracing the will of God toward it.…

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A Vivid Dream and the Beauty of Nature

I remember a dream I had at that age, which left a very deep impression: I was walking alone in the garden when suddenly I saw two horrible little devils near the arbor, dancing on a barrel of lime with amazing agility, in spite of having heavy irons on their feet. They looked at me…

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What is the Most Ancient of Christian Devotions?

The most ancient special devotion of Christians is doubtless that of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Son of God. The holy Sacraments and the other objects of devotion did not yet exist, when the Blessed Virgin Mary found her delight in worshiping the most Sweet Heart of her Jesus; already did Holy Joseph clasp…

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