Spiritual Direction Archives

To Attain Perfection We Must Patiently Endure Our Imperfection

St. Francis de Sales

We must have our mind settled on two points: one, to expect the growth of weeds in our garden; the other, to have courage to

Embrace courage as the spiritual hammer to forge your soul in pursuit of virtue. Explore the challenges of prayer, fasting, humility, and other virtues, overcoming obstacles from self-love, the world, and the devil along the way.

The Devil’s Powerlessness

St. Athanasius

Since Our Lord lived, the enemy is fallen, and his powers have lost their strength. Therefore, though he can do nothing, nevertheless, like a fallen

On Meekness

R. P. Quadrupani, Barnabite

“Blessed are the meek for they shall possess the land.” -Matt 5:4 “Learn of me because I am meek.” -Matt 11:29 Our Lord offers us

Trustful Surrender in Poverty and Its Hardships

Fr. Jean Baptiste Saint-Jure, S.J.

We ought to conform to God’s Will in poverty and all the inconveniences poverty brings in its train. It is not too hard to do

Saint John Paul II and the Gift and Duty of Our Talents

Paul Kengor

As a biographer of Saint John Paul II, whose feast day is October 22, I’m often asked if I have a favorite statement of the

Resting in God Above All Goods and Gifts

Thomas à Kempis

Above all things, and in all things, do thou, my soul, rest always in the Lord, for He is the eternal rest of the saints.

We Must Pray with Confidence

TAN Books Editors

“And all things whatsoever you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive.” -John 21:22 God has solemnly promised to hearken to a prayer said

The Seven Sorrows of Mary by unknown artist. 1800s, oil on canvas, Museo de Artes Universidad de los Andes / Wikimedia Common

Marriage as an Analogy for Marian Consecration

Shane Kapler

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

Detachment from Creatures

The Soul Sanctified

“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

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 will show how it is that the faithful soul can grow in its friendship with God. For this, we turn to Aristotle, the Philosopher, who treated on friendship in his Nicomachean Ethics. The following are his observations:

The Miracle of Fatima: October 13, 1917

TAN Books Editors

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

Discover the story of the patron saint of a happy death on our website. Learn why this saint was called unfortunate to die and how they left behind their home, labor, and love. Find out about the assurances and confidences exchanged before departing.

Patience in Sickness

St. Francis de Sales

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

What the Roman Canon Teaches Us about Predestination

Dr. Peter Kwasniewski

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

Penance at Lourdes and Champion (PART II)

Theoni Bell

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

Penance at Lourdes and Champion (PART I)

Theoni Bell

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

The Words of Christ from the Cross

St. Anselm of Canterbury

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

Mystical Combat Is the Answer to the Coming Storm

Fr. Lawrence Carney

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

Reflection on the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi

Fr. Alban Butler

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,

Our Sanctification Through Mary

St. Louis de Montfort

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 Story of a Soul

St. Thérèse of Lisieux

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

77 Graces and Fruits to Be Derived from Devout Attendance at Holy Mass (PART II)

Fr. Martin von Cochem

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.

77 Graces and Fruits to Be Derived from Devout Attendance at Holy Mass (PART I)

Fr. Martin von Cochem

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

When God Sends Us Trials

Fr. Jean Baptiste Saint-Jure, S.J.

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

Charity Towards the Poor with the Help of the Lord

Blessed Raymond of Capua

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

Life of Reparation: Did Christ Save the World Chiefly by Sermons or the Cross?

Fr. Lawrence Carney

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

Temptations

R. P. Quadrupani, Barnabite

“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,

The Privilege of Virtue: the Confidence of the Just

Venerable Louis of Granada

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

St. Gemma Galgani: Twentieth Century Stigmatist

Ven. Fr. Germanus, C.P.

There have been very few Saints who had all five sacred stigmata. The Spirit, as we read in St. John, “breatheth where He will” and

Mortification

The Soul Sanctified

“I will be to them as one that taketh off the yoke.” -Osee 11:4 I shall now speak of those means that may help us

We Must Find Mary

Fr. Nicholas A. Norman

“In me is all grace of the way, and of the truth, in me is all hope of life and of virtue.” -Eccles. 24:25 In

Strengthen your friendships by gaining accurate knowledge about your friends. Learn why understanding your friends is essential for meaningful connections.

Knowledge Of God And Friendship

Fr. William Rock, FSSP

In a friendship, having correct knowledge of one’s friend is necessary and foundational. For example, let’s say that one has a friend and holds that this friend lives in Houston, works at an aquarium, is unmarried, and graduated from Miami University while in reality this other individual actually lives in Reading, works at an office, is married, and graduated from West Virginia University. If such a one were to base his interactions with his friend based on the false things he holds about the friend, then this friendship will be stifled. Additionally, the deeper the friendship is, the more intimate the knowledge the friends will have of each other.

Serenity in This Life

St. Alphonsus Liguori

Acting according to this pattern, one not only becomes holy but also enjoys perpetual serenity in this life. Alphonse the Great, King of Aragon, being

Preserving Peace of Soul in Times of Trial

St. Francis de Sales

Nothing disturbs us so much as self-love and self-esteem. If our heart does not overflow with tender emotions, if our mind does not teem with

The Elevation of the Mind to God

Thomas à Kempis

“Be still and know that I am God.” I seek you, my God, but not through any of the senses of my body or through

St. Peter Claver: Slave of the Slaves

Paul Kengor

There is a movement afoot that claims that the Roman Catholic Church was long insensitive to the plight of black slaves or to the institution

Delve into the thought-provoking topic of men's celebrations at the birth of their children on our website. Uncover the contrasting perspective of pity and mourning, as we explore the notion of sin, condemnation, and the inevitable misery and death that follows.

Meditation On The Feast Of The Birth Of Mary

St. Alphonsus Liguori

Men usually celebrate the birth of their children with great feasts and rejoicings; but they should rather pity them, and show signs of mourning and grief on reflecting that they are born, not only deprived of grace and reason, but worse than this—they are infected with sin and children of wrath, and therefore condemned to misery and death.

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