Spiritual Direction Archives

Discover the infinite love of God at our website. Explore the essence of His love from eternity to eternity. Learn how to reciprocate His love in return.

True Devotion to the Sacred Heart

Fr. Lukas Etlin, OSB

Chapter 1 Heart of Jesus, Symbol of Love “Announce it, and let it be announced to the whole world, that I set neither limit nor

Desire for Spiritual Things

The Soul Sanctified

“They that eat Me shall yet hunger, and they that drink Me shall yet thirst.” -Ecclesiasticus 24:29 St. Gregory tells us that there is this

Explore the journey of overcoming envy and spiritual sloth on our website. Learn how to rejoice in others' virtues and grow in charity. Join us today!

Active Works and The Interior Life: What They Mean

Fr. Jean-Baptiste Chautard

PART ONE 1. GOD WANTS GOOD WORKS AND, THEREFORE, HE WANTS ZEALOUS ACTION Sovereign liberality is inseparable from the divine Nature. God is infinite goodness.

God’s Fatherly Care of the Just

Venerable Louis of Granada

The greatest privilege attached to virtue is the care which God exercises over those who serve Him. From this, as from a fountainhead, flow all

Fighting for Your Child’s Eternal Salvation

Conor Gallagher

A Joyous Conclusion This was a wearisome book. Fighting for your child’s eternal salvation is a wearisome task. But there is no greater joy and

Uniformity with God’s Will

St. Alphonsus Liguori

Perfection is founded entirely on the love of God: “Charity is the bond of perfection;” (Col. 3:14) and perfect love of God means the complete

On Scruples in the Spiritual Life

R. P. Quadrupani, Barnabite

Having therefore such hope, we use much confidence. (St. Paul, II. Cor., c. III., v. 12.) Fear is not in charity: but perfect charity casteth

Do Not Let Your Hearts Be Troubled

Fr. John Henry Hanson

Looking for Trouble? “Do not let your hearts be troubled” (Jn 14:1). What do you have to do to let your heart be troubled? Nothing.

The Peace that Comes from Christ

Fr. Kevin Drew

“Our churches are already being targeted for violence, and our worship services are being disrupted, which motivated me to send you the memo last week

St. Rita of Cascia: One of the Incorruptibles

Paul Kengor

She has become one of my favorite saints, and yet I usually don’t think of her until her feast day, which every year is May

Proper Dispositions of the Reception of Holy Communion

Fr. William Rock, FSSP

As is the case with each of the Sacraments, the fruitful reception of Holy Communion brings about in the recipient an increase of Sanctifying Grace,

Penance and Mortification

Conor Gallagher

Penance and Mortification The modern world has made a mockery of penance and mortification. One of the direct results of the Protestant Reformation was the

True Peace Found in God Alone

The Soul Sanctified

“Peace, because we have hoped in Thee.” -Isaias 26:3 He that seeks peace in creatures will never find it, because no creatures are fitted for

Making Good Use of God’s Graces

Fr. Cajetan Mary da Bergamo

The true reason for which God bestows so many graces upon the humble is this, that the humble are faithful to these graces and make

Pregnancy and Fulfilling the Homeschool Mission

Amanda Evinger

Homeschooling while bringing eight infants into this world, suffering through a few miscarriages and recovering from the death of two babies, I think I finally

Metanoia and the Spiritual Experience of Pilgrimage: Part II

John Paul Sonnen

The Role of Beauty Beauty and the sacred are connected in human emotions and both have their origin in the experience of God. This is

May 13th and the Consecration of Russia

TAN Books Editors

THE STORY OF FATIMA On a cool spring day in 1916, Lucy dos Santos, age 9, and her cousins, Francisco and Jacinta Marto, ages 8

The Children of Fatima and Devotion to the Papacy

Cardinal Humberto Medeiros

The Portuguese have always shown special loyalty to the Holy Father. It was the Pope who emancipated them from vassalage to Castile – and it

On the Providence of God by Alice von Hildebrand

Alice von Hildebrand

In the wee hours of Tuesday, June 11, 1940, I was awakened by the ringing of the ship’s bells. I tiptoed to open the door

The Author of the Salve Regina: the Stories of Two Great Lovers of Mary

Fr. Robert Nixon, OSB

The Salve Regina, after the Hail Mary, is undoubtedly the best-known and best-loved Marian prayer within the Catholic tradition. It is recited at the conclusion

Interior Peace & Sadness

R. P. Quadrupani, Barnabite

“Always active, always at rest.” -St. Augustine Be on your guard lest your zeal degenerate into anxiety and eagerness. Saint Francis de Sales was a

Step back in time and delve into the extraordinary life of Saint Benedict, as seen through the eyes of St. Pope Gregory the Great. Experience profound spirituality and remarkable feats.

To Attain Perfection We Must Endure Our Imperfection

St. Francis de Sales

The feast of the Purification has no octave; it should continue our whole life. We must have our mind settled on two points; one, to

Metanoia and the Spiritual Experience of Pilgrimage: Part I

John Paul Sonnen

Climbing Croagh Patrick in Ireland before dawn. Attending Midnight Mass in Bethlehem under the stars. Standing in the arena under the Mediterranean sun where the

Discover the essence of Christian virtues and forgiveness on our website. Learn how to repay evil with a blessing and inherit grace. Explore Peter's guidance and Jesus' teaching on loving our enemies.

Spiritual Realities of the Papacy & the Priesthood

Fr. Kevin Drew

When two of her sons told her they were being called by God to the priesthood my Grandma Schmidt went back to work at nights

Saint Monica: Christian Woman Married to a Pagan

F.A. Forbes

Although there were many Christians in Roman Africa, pagan manners and customs still survived in many of her cities. The people clung to their games

Freedom as a Divine Gift and Duty

Fr. Robert Nixon, OSB

Freedom is indisputably one of the paradigmatic and quintessential values of our Western culture, so much so that we may be led to conclude that

The School of Calvary & the Necessity of the Cross

Conor Gallagher

Stop. Be still. Calm the mind for a moment; allow the striking, jarring, chilling words of the God-man to sink deeply into your soul: “And

Zeal for Souls

Fr. Edward Saint-Omer, C.SS.R.

To love Jesus Christ is to love the souls redeemed by the Blood of Jesus Christ. We can, then, judge of Gerard’s zeal for the

Hope and the Interior Life

R. P. Quadrupani, Barnabite

“Casting all your solicitude upon Him for He hath care of you.” -St. Petr., Ep. I., c. V., v. 7 “Blessed is the man who

We Are At War with Agents of the Devil

Fr. Kevin Drew

In 1949 the Englishman George Orwell wrote a book titled 1984. It was about life in a totalitarian state; life under a government that held

Homeschooling for Heaven’s Sake

Amanda Evinger

“The loveliest masterpiece of the Heart of God is the heart of a mother.” – St. Therese of Lisieux After having eight babies in 13

When Christ Our Pasch was Sacrificed

Fr. William Rock, FSSP

“When Christ our Pasch was sacrificed” – Over the course of the 40 days of Eastertide, this phrase will recur again and again during Mass

Easter Meditation: Christ Was Made Sin for Us

The Soul Sanctified

“The joy being set before Him, He endured the cross.” -Hebrews 12:2 When the Divine Word offered Himself to redeem mankind, there were before Him

On the Last Things

Regis Martin, S.T.D.

Try to imagine the one thing in this world that is most worth knowing – by everyone. The thing that is most worth having. Something

Delve into the significance of confession as a powerful weapon against the diabolic. Spiritual Warfare and Divine Mercy by Fr. Ken Garci, CPM reveals its spiritual effects and presents compelling quotes on this essential sacrament.

Prayers More Than Tears: On Devotion to the Holy Souls

Fr. Albert P. Marcello, III, J.C.D. (Cand.)

The comforting dogma of our faith of prayer for the holy souls in purgatory remains at the same time awe-inspiring and a deep consolation to

The Excellence of Abandonment to God

St. Francis de Sales

Abandonment is the virtue of virtues; it is the cream of charity, the fragrance of humility, the sweetness of patience, and the fruit of perseverance.

Lenten Meditation on the Cross

Thomas à Kempis

To many this seems a hard saying: “Deny thyself, take up thy cross, and follow Jesus” (Matt. 16:24). But it will be much harder to

On the Effects of Holy Communion

Fr. Michael Mueller

I am sure, dear Reader, that if you would once begin the practice of frequent Communion in order to please Our Lord, you would continue

Patience in Temptation

The Soul Sanctified

“Our adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, goeth about seeking whom he may devour.” -1 Peter 5:8 Do we enjoy the inestimable blessing of

Thoughts on Spiritual Direction

R. P. Quadrupani, Barnabite

“For it is not you who speak, but the Holy Ghost.” -Mark 13:11 It is absolutely true that in matters of conscience obedience to a

Discover the profound connection between the liberty of God's children and the inner peace and tranquility experienced by the just on our website.

The Peace Enjoyed By The Just

Venerable Louis of Granada

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.

Elevate Your Conversations By Becoming A Better Listener. Learn How To Engage With Others In A Meaningful Way And Build Stronger Connections.

The Choirs of Angels & Guardian Angels

Conor Gallagher

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

Remote Preparation For Mental Prayer: Forgiveness Received And Extended

Fr. Cliff Ermatinger

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.

Understanding the Spiritual Power of Holy Water

John Paul Sonnen

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.