In A Year With the Popes, Fr. Jeffrey Kirby gives an original exposition of the nobility and enduring power of the papacy. In this excerpt, Pope Saint Gregory the Great writes candidly and powerfully on the responsibility, expectations, and graces of the clergy at every level.
When we hear the word, “mortification”, we often think of physical austerities. Yet, it is interior mortification that our souls so often need. Here Fr. John Croiset, SJ, discusses mortification as a necessary disposition, the two kinds of mortification, and the practice of mortification in all things.
Compiled from works of the greatest saints and theologians of the Church, The Soul Sanctified is a treasury of saintly counsel and fruitful meditations, covering topics such as detachment from earthly things, sins of habit, the Four Last Things, abandonment to the Divine Will, mortification, cultivating virtue, prayer, and consolation in the spiritual life. The following excerpt consoles the reader with meditation on the true joy and peace that is found in God alone.
Humility is regarded among the saints as the Queen of Virtues, who is essential for salvation and leads us to all other virtues. Humility of Heart beautifully introduces this virtue to readers and offers consoling instruction on living with humility. This excerpt focuses on cultivating humility towards our superiors, equals, and inferiors.
A Year With the Angels invites you to discover the authority, strength, and wisdom of the Heavenly Host, who embody virtue, grace, and truth because they stand before the very throne of God. In this excerpt, join Mike Aquilina in meditation and prayer on the wisdom of the angels.
When we pursue the devout life, Saint Francis de Sales warns that the world will cast threats, insults, and assaults upon us of every kind. Here, de Sales reminds us that when the world mocks us in our pursuit of holiness, we must stand firmly rooted in our resolutions.
Marian piety has played an integral role in the Catholic Faith since its beginnings. The Blessed Virgin Mary is our most powerful heavenly intercessor and lovingly answers the prayers of her faithful sons and daughters.
In a previous article, it was stated that because of its immateriality and supernaturality, the Church’s theologians utilize various analogies to explain Sanctifying Grace, the foundation of the spiritual life. The article then went on to explain one of these analogies, namely that of Sanctifying Grace being the supernatural soul of the soul. But this is not the only analogy worth investigating.
In this autobiography from one of the greatest mystics in the Catholic Church, Saint Margaret Mary discloses the intimate conversations she had with Our Lord. Taken from her autobiography, the saint reveals the Lord’s words in choosing her as His spouse, the temptations she faced before entering religious life, and her resolution to enter the religious life.
Written for priests, seminarians, and men discerning the priesthood, The Sacred Heart and the Priesthood strengthens souls and unites them to Christ and to their sublime vocation. In this excerpt, Venerable Louise Margaret Claret de la Touche implores priests to lead and teach above all by example. Her instruction is priceless not only to priests, but to all of us who seek to act as our Lord’s instrument in this life.
he Blessed Sacrament has often been called the “magnet of souls.” In this Sacrament, Jesus draws the souls of men, while love for souls attracts Our Lord. This excerpt from The Blessed Sacrament: The Works and Ways of God meditates upon this mutual attraction, the angels and the Sacraments, and the relationship between Our Lady and the Eucharist.
The Secret of Confession seeks to teach and console the reader of the graces, tradition, and efficacy of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In the following excerpt, Fr. Paul O’Sullivan traces the sacrament through Church history all the way to its institution by Christ.
We live as exiles in this world, longing for our native land: heaven. In this excerpt from Attaining Salvation, Saint Alphonsus Liguori reflects on the soul sighing for Paradise and the moment when we will be eternally united with God.
There is no devotion more sweet than the Sacred Heart of Jesus, for the object of this devotion is Love itself. This holy devotion was instituted by Our Lord Himself as a means of reparation and atonement for man’s incalculable sins. Meditation upon the image of the Sacred Heart is effective in stirring to fervor the love of lukewarm souls.
God, in His excess of love for man, created the priest. The priest was created to help sustain, enlighten, and bring man closer to God. Here Venerable Louise Margaret reflects upon the gift of the priesthood and the role of the priest in the salvation of souls.
In The Visions of Saint Frances of Rome, the noble mystic leads readers through her visions of the horrors of Hell and the glories of Heaven with striking imagery and sobering revelations. In this excerpt, Saint Frances of Rome describes the beauty of Heaven that awaits the faithful.
The Golden Arrow narrates the life and work of Sister Mary of Saint Peter, centering around her reparation for sins against God and the devotion to the Holy Face, revealed to her by Christ Himself. The following excerpt follows Christ’s revelation of the Golden Arrow prayer to Sister Mary.
The following has been excerpted from The Sacred Heart and the Priesthood by Venerable Louise Margaret Claret de la Touche. Here, Venerable Louise Margaret meditates upon God’s infinite love for man and man’s love for God.
These five spiritual counsels from A Treatise on Perfection contain wisdom to help the soul along the road to holiness. Written by Cardinal Arman Jean du Plessis, Duke of Richelieu, a saintly man himself, readers will find in these counsels profitable for the soul.
From Saint Francis de Sales’s Introduction to the Devout Life, these meditations illuminate the glory of God’s creation and His purpose for us. First Meditation
This story, as I learned it from the venerable Bishop Pechthelm, I have thought worthy to set forth plainly, for the salvation of those who may read or hear it.
“Most Favored Daughter” and “The Sinless Mother” are two meditations on Mary by Saint John Henry Cardinal Newman. Here he reflects on the abundant favor Mary received from God.
One of the greatest Marian writers in history, Saint Louis de Montfort is a name that every Catholic should recognize and keep on their bookshelves. In this excerpt from The Secret of the Rosary, Louis de Montfort illuminates the unfathomable graces available to us through the rosary and offers priceless instruction on perfecting our devotion during prayer.
When Our Lord ascended into the glory of His Heavenly kingdom, He granted singular favors to the Holy Virgin Mary. They are recounted here in an excerpt taken from The Divine Life of the Most Holy Virgin, a compilation of the mystical visions of Venerable Mary of Agreda.
St. John Henry Newman is most well-known for his conversion from Anglicanism to the Catholic Church. Surprisingly, Newman held a deep devotion to the Blessed Mother even as a Protestant, and it was ultimately this Marian love that drew him home to the Church. This article compiles Newman’s tender writing and preaching on the titles of Mary.
This understanding of Sanctifying Grace as the supernatural soul of the soul provides insight into the role
played by Sanctifying Grace in one’s own spiritual life and this knowledge should stir up in the possessor a greater love and appreciation for this great gift from God and for the Giver Himself.
Pope Saint Pius X was a pope known for his deep compassion. Those who encountered him would say he had the “greatest heart of any man alive.” In this excerpt from his biography of the compassionate pope, F.A. Forbes gives some examples of the pope’s sympathy for all including the healing of a young girl he blessed.
Taken from The Dialogue of St. Catherine of Siena, the following is Our Lord’s words to the saint on the necessity of faithful prayer and its effects on the soul.
The following prayers have been taken from Moments Divine: Before the Blessed Sacrament and were intended to be said before the Most Blessed Sacrament.
No one can fathom the joy that awaits us in Heaven. Here, Saint Anslem of Canterbury reflects on the pleasures of Heaven and the indescribable sweetness that we shall experience upon our entrance into God’s kingdom.
When the Holy Spirit is present in us, His actions produce good effects in our lives. One such good effect is the practice of the virtue of Patience. The Holy Spirit’s Gift of Fortitude helps patience to grow.
Reflection on the Final Judgment is a valuable practice for stirring the soul to true repentance and conversion. Here, Thomas à Kempis urges the soul to meditate frequently on the last judgment and prepare accordingly so that when it comes, we may be counted among the Blessed.
Christ is indeed present to us now, but in a manner which is congruent with our current state of existence as pilgrims and exiles. For it is only after this earthly life has ended that we shall see Him fully, as He really is. Christ is always present to us, but not always in the same way.
Here is a history of Eucharistic Adoration throughout the ages. Starting from the ancient Church, Medieval Church, and ending from the Council of Trent to the present day, these excerpts demonstrate the centrality of the Eucharist to the Catholic Church.
St. Thomas Aquinas says that spiritual communion consists of “an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament and in lovingly embracing Him as if we had actually received Him.” He notes that a “complete spiritual communion can even take place when we are unable to receive sacramentally, because ‘the effect of a sacrament can be secured if it is received by desire.’ ”
After the Sacrifice of the Mass and the reception of Holy Communion, visiting the Blessed Sacrament is one of the richest sources of grace for souls. The memorable words of Pope St. Pius X, the Pope of the Eucharist, show us clearly how he regarded such visits: “The daily adoration or visit to the Blessed Sacrament is the practice which is the fountainhead of all devotional works.” In these daily visits, therefore, St. Pius X recognized the root of Eucharistic devotions.
This meditation was taken from The Road to Calvary: Daily Meditations for Lent and Easter. Here, Saint Alphonsus Liguori reflects on the burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Saint Gemma Galgani (1878–1903) offered her life as a victim soul in reparation for the sins of the world. This seraphic soul was blessed with immeasurable graces and mystical experiences all throughout her life. Saint Gemma received the stigmata in 1899.
Who is the Holy Spirit? This excerpt, taken from Pentecost with the Church Fathers, attempts to answer this question through a look at the Bible, Christian Tradition, and the word “spirit” itself.
In these excerpts, taken from Pentecost with the Church Fathers, readers will be reminded of the importance of Pentecost in our salvation and its indissoluble
Who can fathom the joy that awaits us in heaven? In this impassioned meditation, Saint Alphonsus Liguori reflects upon the infinite joy the blessed soul
Delve into the profound sufferings of Jesus Christ in “The Road to Calvary” through Saint Alphonsus Liguori’s meditations. Discover the cause of His immeasurable pain and experience the power of soul-stirring reflections.
Over the centuries, a countless multitude of miracles have been experienced through the power of the medal of Saint Benedict. The following five miracles were taken from The Cross and Medal of Saint Benedict: A Mystical Sign of Divine Power by St. Gregory, St. Bernard, and others.
The Imitation of Saint Joseph is a masterful and meditative encounter with the foster father of Christ, written with devout care and insight by Father Matthew Kauth. Here, he chronicles the burning love of Saint Joseph for his spotless spouse.
