Christ's Passion and Death is what saves us. These final two weeks of Lent – Passiontide – are privileged weeks. The Church calls us to reflect upon Our Lord's Passion and the unique role fulfilled by the Holy Mother of God. No exercise is more profitable for our sanctification. St. Bonaventure, St. John Eudes, St. Bridget of Sweden, Ven. Maria of Agreda and the benedictine monk John Lydgate serve as helpful guides.
From the Sermon 'Sorrow and Death' given on February 12, 2017 (Septuagesima Sunday) To thee, O Immaculate and Sorrowful Mother of God, do we have recourse in this supreme hour of mankind’s need, amidst such storms indeed as have never been known, shaking Mother Church to her very foundations. Thou, who standing by the foot of the Cross, didst once share so closely in the sufferings of thy Divine Son, with what compassion art thou not moved today for the suffering of His Mystical Body, the Church! Russia has so spread her errors throughout the world that the human element of [...]
Fr. Rodríguez mentioned these prayers in his sermon 'The Fourth Sorrow of Our Lady' given on September 10, 2023 Eternal Father, I unite myself with the intentions and affections of Our Lady of Sorrows on Calvary and I offer Thee the sacrifice which Thy beloved Son, Jesus, made of Himself on the Cross and now renews on this altar: to adore Thee and give Thee the honor which is due to Thee; to thank Thee for the innumerable benefits received; to appease Thy justice irritated against us by so many sins and to make satisfaction for them; to implore grace and [...]
It is ordained by God, from all eternity, that the sorrows of Our Lady be united with the sufferings of Jesus Christ –in the great sacrifice of Calvary– to make reparation for sin. On the Via Dolorosa, Our Lady fell prostrate and adored Her Son with profound reverence. The more she suffered, the more she drew nearer to the Cross. Yet what causes her the most suffering is to see her spiritual children dead. On Calvary there were two altars: one in the body of Jesus and the other in Mary's heart. She sacrificed her soul by compassion. Imitate Our Lady so [...]
St. Francis is the first recorded instance of the stigmata. Suffering with Christ –the Cross!– is central to our faith. The Cross is the source of all blessings, the cause of all grace, and the only path to Heaven. Carrying our cross well is what it means to be Catholic. Yet pride leads us to reject the cross. So we must grow in humility. Humility of intellect (an honest acknowledgement of our total dependence on God and of our real incapability of doing anything good without His assistance) makes us faithful to prayer. Humility of will (the readiness of the heart [...]
The sorrows of the Mother of God give insight into every aspect of our faith. Her sorrows are not just something of the past but also of the present. She wept at LaSalette because God's holy law was being profaned. Consider how she must be weeping today as Francis and his synod seeks to undermine the Church and destroy the holiest things of God. This synod is the work of the devil. Now a bishop who defends the truth is persecuted by the Vatican. Pray to share in the sentiments of Our Lady's Immaculate Heart. Offer your Rosary as reparation in [...]
Every person is created to profess true Faith in Jesus Christ and to truly love Him. This is precisely what we do when receive Holy Communion worthily. This is the path to Heaven. It applies to us all. And Mary is an integral part. She suffers so much because she loves so much. On the occasion of his nephew's First Holy Communion, Fr. Rodríguez considers Our Lady of Sorrows role in the Sacrifice of her Son and Its fruits.
On the occasion of his niece's christening, Fr. Rodríguez invites us to consider the profound connection between Our Lady of Sorrows and the Sacrament of Baptism.
The prayer from the sermon 'Pierced with Thorns' given on 15 September 2018 O my afflicted mother, Queen of martyrs and of sorrows, thou didst bitterly weep over thy Son who died for my salvation. But what will thy tears avail me if I am lost? By the merits then of thy sorrows, obtain for me true contrition for my sins and a real amendment of life. Oh my Mother, the most Sorrowful of all mothers, I will not leave thee alone to weep. No, I will accompany thee with my tears. This grace I now ask of thee: obtain that [...]
To 'walk in the Spirit' is an apt description of the Catholic life, of grace at work, and of the Holy Ghost bringing about salvation and sanctification. Yet we all suffer from concupiscence, a consequence of original sin. This is our inclination to evil that desires what seems agreeable whether good or evil, true of false. It operates upon every aspect of our being, exterior and interior senses. This battle is not easy and lasts all life long. Take this struggle seriously. As soldiers of Christ we are called to fight this battle. Where do we get the grace to conquer?
