Posts Tagged ‘Spiritual Direction’
Marriage as an Analogy for Marian Consecration
The idea of “consecrating” oneself to Mary, meaning to entrust one’s life and success as a disciple of Christ to Mary’s love and intercession, may seem strange to many within the Catholic Church, not to mention our large number of separated brothers and sisters. Why would God want to unite our hearts with Mary’s? Why…
Read MoreDetachment from Creatures
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart.” -Mark 12:30 In order to attain to loving God with all our heart, we must separate it from everything which is not of God – which does not tend towards God. He chooses to be alone in the possession of our hearts, and with…
Read MoreConsuming Much Salt
In a previous article in TAN Direction, it was stated that just as there is an analogy between the natural life of man and the supernatural life of grace, there is an analogy between the development of human friendship and friendship between the soul and God. This being the case, a study of human friendship…
Read MoreThe Miracle of Fatima: October 13, 1917
70,000 GATHER FOR THE PROMISED MIRACLE By now, all Portugal was stirred by the events taking place at Fatima, suddenly the most important spot in the land. Particularly were the newspapers interested, especially in the statement that a great miracle was to take place. Many reporters and photographers were on hand to record the events,…
Read MorePatience in Sickness
I find in the Gospel a perfect model of this virtue in the person of St. Peter’s mother-in-law. This good woman, attacked by a heavy fever, remained tranquil and peaceful, without any uneasiness herself, and without causing any to those around her. She was content to suffer her malady in patience and in meekness. O…
Read MoreWhat the Roman Canon Teaches Us about Predestination
The second part of the Roman Canon’s prayer Hanc igitur (“dispose our days in Thy peace; command that we be rescued from eternal damnation and numbered among the flock of Thine elect”) enshrines the truth about human salvation taught by the Fathers, Doctors, and premodern popes of the Church, and thereby excludes the universalist mentality…
Read MorePenance at Lourdes and Champion (PART II)
PART TWO: Our Lady to St. Bernadette The National Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help in Champion, Wisconsin every year gears up for its patronal feast day on October 9th. This day celebrates the appearance of Our Lady of Good Help to a Belgian immigrant by the name of Adele Brise on October 9th,…
Read MorePenance at Lourdes and Champion (PART I)
PART ONE: Our Lady to Adele Brise On October 9th, Catholics across the country will celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Good Help, America’s first and only approved Marian apparition. In the decades since the events of 1859 in Champion, Wisconsin, locals have referred to these appearances of the Virgin Mary as the “Wisconsin…
Read MoreThe Words of Christ from the Cross
Saint Anselm had for a long time prayed earnestly to the glorious Virgin Mary that she would reveal to him the mysteries of her divine Son’s suffering and death. His prayers were accompanied with ardent weeping and prolonged fasting. At last, the Blessed Virgin appeared before the saint. She spoke to him the following words,…
Read MoreMystical Combat Is the Answer to the Coming Storm
Practice: How to Save Society The Blessed Virgin Mary leads us to Jesus not so much by her words but by her mystical action. Our Lady’s last recorded words in Holy Scripture are, “Whatsoever he shall say to you do ye.” Imagine her with Our Lord at some of the events during His three years…
Read MoreReflection on the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi
Reflection—“My God and my all,” St. Francis’ constant prayer, explains both his poverty and his wealth. St. Francis, the son of a merchant of Assisi, was born in that city in 1182. Chosen by God to be a living manifestation to the world of Christ’s poor and suffering life on earth, he was early inspired…
Read MoreOur Sanctification Through Mary
Mary Alone Has Found Grace with God Mary alone has found grace with God, both for herself and for every man in particular. The patriarchs and prophets and all the Saints of the old law were not able to find that grace. Mother of Grace Mary gave being and life to the Author of all…
Read MoreThe Story of a Soul
Chapter 1: Early Childhood My dearest Mother, it is to you, to you who are in fact a mother twice over to me, that I now confide the Story of my Soul. The day you asked me to do it, I thought it might be a distraction to me, but afterwards, Jesus made me realize…
Read More77 Graces and Fruits to Be Derived from Devout Attendance at Holy Mass (PART II)
Meditation on the Holy Eucharist 45. It is the best means whereby to venerate the Passion of Christ and obtain a share in its fruits. 46. It is also the best means of venerating the Blessed Mother of God and increasing her joy. 47. By hearing Mass you can give greater honor to the Angels…
Read More77 Graces and Fruits to Be Derived from Devout Attendance at Holy Mass (PART I)
A Meditation on the Holy Eucharist 1. For your salvation, God the Father sends His beloved Son down from Heaven. 2. For your salvation, the Holy Spirit changes bread and wine into the true Body and Blood of Christ. 3. For your sake, the Son of God comes down from Heaven and conceals Himself under…
Read MoreWhen God Sends Us Trials
If you would be convinced that in all He allows and in all that happens to you God has no other end in view but your real advantage and your eternal happiness, reflect a moment on all He has done for you; you are now suffering, but remember that the author of this suffering is…
Read MoreCharity Towards the Poor with the Help of the Lord
When St. Catherine perceived that the more charitable she was towards her neighbor the more she would be acceptable to the Lord, she prepared and equipped herself as thoroughly as she could to succor the needy. But as she had nothing of her own – being a true religious who had determined to observe the…
Read MoreLife of Reparation: Did Christ Save the World Chiefly by Sermons or the Cross?
In the modern age it seems obvious that the only way to make it through the narrow gate[1] and arrive in heaven is to make the total consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary and meditate (in front of the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar if possible) for at least one hour daily (priests and religious)…
Read MoreTemptations
“My brethren, count it all joy when ye shall fall into diverse temptations.” -Epist. S. Jas., Cat., c. i, v. 2. If we are tempted, says the Holy Spirit, “it is a sign that God loves us.” Those whom God best loves have been most exposed to temptations. “Because thou was acceptable to God,” said…
Read MoreThe Privilege of Virtue: the Confidence of the Just
The joy of a good conscience is always accompanied by that blessed hope of which the Apostle speaks when he tells us to rejoice in hope and to be patient in tribulation (cf. Rom. 12:12). This is the rich inheritance of the children of God, their general refuge in tribulation, and their most efficacious remedy…
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