Pursuit of Perfection Archives

The Flagellation of Our Lord Jesus Christ, William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1825-1905), 1880, oil. Musée des Beaux-Arts de La Rochelle / Wikimedia Commons.

Jesus Chose to Suffer

St. Alphonsus Liguori

It was not necessary that the Son of Man suffer to attain our salvation. Yet, in His abundance of love for souls, Our Lord took

Christ carrying the Cross, Titian (1490-1576), c. 1565, oil on canvas. Museo del Prado / Wikimedia Commons.

God’s Promises to Those Who Suffer Well

Fr. Peter J. Arnoudt, SJ

Listen to the words of Our Lord as He promises glorious graces to those who embrace suffering and unite themselves to His Son’s Holy Cross.

Christ on the Road to Emmaus, Jan Wildens (1584/1586-1653), 1640s, oil on canvas. Hermitage Museum / Wikimedia Commons.

How to Walk in God’s Presence

St. Alphonsus Liguori

At every moment we ought to strive to walk in the presence of God. But how? Allow St. Alphonsus Liguori to teach you how to

Monks in the Desert, Jean-Jacques de Boissieu (1736-1810), 1797, Etching. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Purchase, The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1967 / Wikimedia Commons.

How to Cultivate Prudence

St. Albert the Great

Cultivate true prudence with Saint Albert the Great! Read on for a priceless guide to the virtue of prudence from one of the greatest Doctors

Moses and the Burning Bush, Sébastien Bourdon (1616-1671), 17th Century, oil on canvas. Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg. Wikimedia Commons. (Left edge of image expanded by AI using Adobe Photoshop Generative Expansion).

God’s Fatherly Care of the Just

Venerable Louis of Granada

God is a tender Father who longs to care for the needs of His children. In this excerpt from The Sinner’s Guide, Ven. Louis of

Palm Sunday Mass, Zdzisław Jasiński (1863-1932), 1891, oil on canvas. Wikimedia Commons.

Meditation Through the Five Senses

St. Ignatius of Loyola

The next time you attend Mass or Eucharistic Adoration, place yourself at the foot of the Cross with this stirring meditation by St. Ignatius. Represent

Saint Bruno, Philippe de Champaigne (1602-1674), c. 1655, oil on canvas. Nationalmuseum, Sweden, photographed by Erik Cornelius / Wikimedia Commons.

Of the Love of Solitude and Silence

Thomas à Kempis

Thomas à Kempis is one of the most beloved spiritual writers in the Catholic Church. In this excerpt, taken from Solitude and Silence, the renowned

Calvary, Josse Lieferinxe (d. 1508), between 1500 and 1505, oil on panel. Louvre Museum, Web Gallery of Art / Wikimedia Commons.

A Meditation on the Passion of Jesus

Venerable Louis of Granada

Every sin causes unfathomable grief to Our Lord. In stirring our hearts to sincere repentance, it is a very useful practice to meditate frequently upon

Melancholia I, Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528), 1514, engraving. Minneapolis Institute of Art, The Ethel Morrison Van Derlip Fund, proceeds from the 2011 Minneapolis Print and Drawing Fair, the Richard Lewis Hillstrom Fund, gift of funds from Nivin MacMillan, the Winton Jones Endowment Fund for Prints and Drawings, and gift of Herschel V. Jones, gift of Mrs. Ridgely Hunt, and gift of Miss Eileen Bigelow and Mrs. O. H. Ingram, in memory of their mother, Mrs. Alice F. Bigelow, by exchange. Wikimedia Commons.

The Four Temperaments of the Saints

Rosemary McGuire Berry

Holiness does not erase our personality, but perfects it. Which saints share your temperament? Read on for a guide to the four temperaments and the

Saint Anne (detail), 8th Century, tempera on plaster. National Museum, Warsaw, photographed by Stanisław Lorentz, Tadeusz Dobrzeniecki, Krystyna Kęplicz, Monika Krajewska, 1990 / Wikimedia Commons.

Why Practice Silence?

St. Bonaventure

Many sins proceed from the man who cannot hold his tongue. The virtue of silence is one secret to sanctity that all souls should strive

Evening Prayer, Anna Ancher (1859-1935), 1888, oil on canvas. Skagens Museum / Wikimedia Commons.

A Practice Necessary for All

Venerable Louis of Granada

The exercises of prayer, consideration, and meditation are not just reserved for religious, but also are of great necessity to the laity. Follow along with

Christ before Pilate, Mihály Munkácsy (1844-1900), 1881, oil on canvas. Hungarian National Gallery / Wikimedia Commons.

Jesus Stands Before Pontius Pilate

Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich

The following was taken from The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ: From the Visions of Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich. Follow along with compassion

Apostles Peter and John Blessing the People of Samaria, Giorgio Vasari (1511-1574), 16th Century. Wikimedia Commons.

Faith Without Works Is Dead

St. Alphonsus Liguori

Many Christians believe in God, yet they find themselves ensnared in an endless struggle with sin. In this excerpt, St. Alphonsus Liguori addresses those Christians

The Mealtime Prayer, Fritz von Uhde (1848-1911), 1885, oil on canvas. Alte Nationalgalerie, Google Arts & Culture / Wikimedia Commons.

The Perfect Love of God

St. Bonaventure

We read in Holy Scripture, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your

Socrates Looking in a Mirrow, Bernard Vailiant (1632-1698) and Jusepe de Ribera (1591-1652), 17th Century, Mezzotint. A. Hyatt Mayor Purchase Fund, Marjore Phelps Starr Bequest, 1982. Met Museum / Wikimedia Commons.

Standing Before A Mirror of the Soul

St. Alphonsus Liguori

Saint Bernard likens the practice of meditation to standing before a mirror of the soul. The practice of meditation, or interior prayer, is necessary for

Parable of the Pearl, A.N. Mironov. 2020, oil on canvas. Photographed by the artist / Wikimedia Commons.

How to Attain True Self-Knowledge

St. Bonaventure

If we wish to become perfect, we must first begin with ourselves. Often we are blinded through false humility and fail to attain true self-knowledge.

Santa Teresa de Jesus, Anonymous, after Jusepe de Ribera (1591-1652), 17th Century, oil on canvas. Church of San José / Wikimedia Commons.

Is the Interior Life Selfish?

Fr. Jean-Baptiste Chautard

Follow along as Dom Jean-Baptiste Chautard answers a thought-provoking objection to the spiritual life: Is the Interior Life Selfish? Let us not speak of the