Cross

Crux Fidelis

DVRodriguez2021-03-16T10:13:47-04:00

The Cross has has the power to convert and sanctify, even the most hardened sinners. Lent brings the Cross before us in a more spiritually intense way. Consider the Good Friday Liturgy as a powerful example. Jesus prays and fasts in the desert for forty days and endures temptation, especially to prepare Himself for His passion and death on the Cross. Should not we catholics do the same? Do your best this Lent to grow in devotion for the Cross. Prayer, fasting, and alms giving are the means to detach us from sin, the world, selfishness and attach us profoundly to [...]

Crux FidelisDVRodriguez2021-03-16T10:13:47-04:00

Love Your Cross

DVRodriguez2021-02-15T06:36:45-05:00

What if this was your last Lent? It may be, so make it count! Love Lent and deepen your appreciation for it. Lent is a time to practice loving God more than self; a time to place neighbor before self; a time to love soul more than body. Man has the ability to merit by his sufferings because he has a body. Thus, Lent is a time to voluntarily embrace all our crosses, that we not be caught off guard by anything the world, flesh and the devil might throw in our path. If we flee from the cross, then we [...]

Love Your CrossDVRodriguez2021-02-15T06:36:45-05:00

Hail O Cross

DVR Fatima2023-09-01T19:10:23-04:00

Hail O CrossDVR Fatima2023-09-01T19:10:23-04:00

Shedding of Christ’s Blood

DVRodriguez2020-11-13T21:49:50-05:00

Devotion to the Precious Blood is devotion to Jesus Christ who has redeemed us; to His sacred passion, death and five holy wounds. This is a central aspect of the mystery of Christ, essential to our knowing and loving Him. The shedding of our Savior’s Precious Blood [1] washes away our sins, [2] reconciles us to God, and [3] makes us holy. It provides abundant grace to help us hate sin and fight against sin with all our strength. Thou hast redeemed us O Lord in Thy Blood. The mercies of the Lord I will sing forever.

Shedding of Christ’s BloodDVRodriguez2020-11-13T21:49:50-05:00

Prophecy is Difficult to Discern

DVRodriguez2020-04-15T10:15:49-04:00

We have yet to suffer as the saints, despite what we are enduring. Considering the grave tribulations others have survived, helps us appreciate our tiresome duties and present difficulties. Men have a natural tendency to want to survive life's trials on their own terms and be in the know. Many look to prophecy, but easily misinterpret it thinking now is the time of fulfillment. Proceed with caution for prophecy is mysterious and very hard to understand. It helps when approved prophecies harmonize as that provides a clearer picture. For example, consider what we know of the Three Days of Darkness. Those [...]

Prophecy is Difficult to DiscernDVRodriguez2020-04-15T10:15:49-04:00

Divine Fervor

DVRodriguez2020-04-10T05:02:52-04:00

Two brief holy week sermons. Christ's sacrifice unto death is His greatest act of love for us. A responding act of fervent love by the faithful, in Mary Magdalene, is seen in today's gospel. May the sweet odor of our Christian charity fill the world. Every single grace that ever comes to us was merited by Christ in His Passion and Death. Pray for these five graces: (1) to hate sin, (2) to patiently endure wrong, (3) for meekness and humility in trails, (4) to love enemies, (5) and to pray for persecutors.

Divine FervorDVRodriguez2020-04-10T05:02:52-04:00

Radical Emphasis on the Supernatural

DVRodriguez2020-04-09T10:58:05-04:00

One of the most outstanding characteristics of our Catholic Faith is its radical emphasis on the supernatural. For example, at this moment of crisis, what we most is God's grace, mercy and help. Now is not the time to be limiting or cancelling Sacraments! From the supernatural perspective, this makes absolutely no sense. Our Lord tells us that those who remain faithful, will suffer the cross and persecution. May God grant us the grace to not abandon Christ, the Mass or the Faith.

Radical Emphasis on the SupernaturalDVRodriguez2020-04-09T10:58:05-04:00

The Passion Keeps the Devil at Bay

DVRodriguez2020-03-15T08:32:46-04:00

Christian meditation is reflecting upon a mystery of Christ and thereby making it real to ourselves. The devils do all they can to prevent us from such meditation as they can't easily find entrance into a soul unless they first deprive it of all holy thoughts. With the growing rise in the occult today, how much more important it is for us to increase such prayer. Christian meditation is most especially effective when focused on the Passion of Our Lord and Savior. For example, consider that at the end of time, the Cross and all the instruments of the Passion, will be carried by angles [...]

The Passion Keeps the Devil at BayDVRodriguez2020-03-15T08:32:46-04:00

Trophies Spoils of War

DVRodriguez2019-12-07T05:46:08-05:00

The dictionary tells us the meaning of 'trophy' from the ancient Greek and Latin is “the weapons and other spoils of a defeated army set up as a memorial of victory.” The Romans famously filled their capital with countless such trophies from all over the world. Pagan Rome tried to conquer Christianity, but failed when the Cross appeared in the Heavens above to Constantine, with the saying, 'In Hoc Signo Vinces'. Christianity conquered Rome and turned her into a Christian trophy case. Sadly this process is now reversing. Worse, many in the Church have welcomed a return to pre-Constanian times. Consider [...]

Trophies Spoils of WarDVRodriguez2019-12-07T05:46:08-05:00

In the Cross of Christ God is Triumphalistic

svfonline2019-09-22T07:19:46-04:00

In the Church's history, many miraculous triumphs have been accomplished with and through the Holy Cross. We marvel at these Triumphs because they are clearly by Heaven’s intervention. The Roman Breviary is very clear that this day is about the Holy Cross triumphing. Thus, we note that it is God Himself who is 'triumphalistic' - desiring man to see what Heaven has to offer to His faithful souls! As typology helps us meditate more deeply upon God's designs, let us consider the Message of Our Lady of Fatima in light of the Exaltation of the Cross.

In the Cross of Christ God is Triumphalisticsvfonline2019-09-22T07:19:46-04:00