Family

Grow in Faith for a Little While

DVRodriguez2026-05-09T23:04:06-04:00

Jesus prepares and strengthens His disciples to live by faith. The faith is our path to salvation. Too often our faith is weak; we are tempted to think evil is too strong or we wish we did not live in this time. Instead of trying to escape where God has placed you, strive to grow daily in faith. You do this by living a basic Catholic life. You must get to know God. And you must desire Heaven. If we live for Christ, then sufferings endured will win many graces. Your sorrow will only last a little while, for then God [...]

Grow in Faith for a Little WhileDVRodriguez2026-05-09T23:04:06-04:00

Holy Family Calls us to Conversion

DVRodriguez2026-03-01T08:10:08-05:00

A simple way of thinking about Conversion is doing something good for the love of Jesus, that you have not done in the past, and offering it to Him as a gift. Ask yourself “What do I do for the love of Jesus?” The Holy Family provides the perfect model for each of us. Strive to imitate them. It is never easy to make true and lasting changes in our life. It is impossible without God’s grace. Confession is indispensable for conversion. The Sacrament has five necessary steps; work at doing all five well.

Holy Family Calls us to ConversionDVRodriguez2026-03-01T08:10:08-05:00

Right Order in the Family

DVRodriguez2026-02-09T23:26:59-05:00

To be happy a family does not need great wealth or pleasure, yet right order is essential. The husband must lead, making difficult decisions, always for the good of the whole family. The wife is the heart, inspiring love and peace; a magnet pulling everyone back to the home. The chief duty of children is obedience. They are to help their parents and lighten their burdens. Love and peace abound when families work together, have common goals, communicate well, and each member exercises humility. Families are sanctified by suffering. In the Holy Family, God has provided the perfect model for all [...]

Right Order in the FamilyDVRodriguez2026-02-09T23:26:59-05:00

Be Not Wise in Your Conceits

DVRodriguez2026-01-30T10:51:49-05:00

We humans are weak, think our way of seeing things is always right, don’t want to own up to our own faults, and seek to force our plan for life upon others. We resort to evil means to reach a sought after good, then justify our actions that are not right. We do this in small things and it becomes a habit in our soul. We are blinded to our own faults and can’t see how our way of acting destroys the peace in our family, parish, and society. This pride of man also prevents God from speaking to our souls. [...]

Be Not Wise in Your ConceitsDVRodriguez2026-01-30T10:51:49-05:00

Why Are Our Marriages Unhappy?

DVRodriguez2026-01-27T20:03:20-05:00

Our Lord performed His first public miracle at the Wedding of Cana. He elevated marriage to a sacrament, meaning it became a stable state of life which produces grace. He did this at the request of His Mother. The overabundance of wine represents grace and great joy. All society benefits from this, not only the married couple. Yet we have deviated from how Christ has instituted marriage. Even Catholic Canon Law has confused the proper ends of marriage. NFP is used by so many Catholics, but it easily fosters a spirit of selfishness and pleasure that runs contrary to marriage. The [...]

Why Are Our Marriages Unhappy?DVRodriguez2026-01-27T20:03:20-05:00

Show Jesus to Others

DVRodriguez2025-12-18T12:07:18-05:00

Despite being in prison, St. John the Baptist sends his disciples to Jesus. It is the duty of every Catholic to point out Christ, even subtly. A spouse does so when showing love even when not treated rightly. A child does so by honoring its parents when it doesn't receive all it wants or deserves. A worker does so by giving a good day's work when he could slack off. Consider the example of Captain Guy Gruters, a US Air Force pilot and Vietnam POW who suffered terribly in the hot box at the ‘Hanoi Hilton’. The world rejects the cross, [...]

Show Jesus to OthersDVRodriguez2025-12-18T12:07:18-05:00

The Cross: Means of Suffering and Life

DVRodriguez2025-10-02T09:25:05-04:00

The True Cross was first found by St. Helena. Centuries later, the Persians stole it. The Christian Emperor, Heraclius, fasted and prayed, then conquered the Persians and recovered the Cross. He returned it to Jerusalem. Yet as he approached Calvary, the Cross grew heavier and he could no longer move forward. Only by imitating Our Lord’s humility could he proceed. Our Lord has tailor made crosses for each of us and they are rarely what we choose. We too can only advance if we follow Christ’s example, embracing our crosses. We do not like suffering; it goes against our nature. So [...]

The Cross: Means of Suffering and LifeDVRodriguez2025-10-02T09:25:05-04:00

The Prayer of St. Anne

DVRodriguez2025-09-08T12:26:58-04:00

“By their fruits you shall know them.” Let us apply our Lord’s words to St. Anne. She is Our Lord's grandmother and Our Lady's mother. St. Anne is a patroness for many, although her intercession is particularly focused on the family. She excelled in charity for the poor and love of God. She fervently prayed for a husband who would help her live according to the divine law. She and St. Joachim bore very heavy crosses with faith and humility. In fact, her deeds and prayers and deeds serve as a powerful example and inspiration. May we each grow in our [...]

The Prayer of St. AnneDVRodriguez2025-09-08T12:26:58-04:00

Secret of Matrimonial Poison or Happiness

DVRodriguez2025-08-23T15:11:12-04:00

We ask God to grant us an increase in religion; that we recognize His infinite majesty and our own nothingness. The natural fruit of religion is sacrifice. Today we apply this prayer to marriage. In marriage, God calls us to renounce ourselves (our senses, passions, will, judgment) for the good of our spouse and children. If you are not sacrificing in your marriage, how can you sacrifice to God? Self will spoils and corrupts marriage. Spouses must crucify the ‘old self’ and be motivated by the desire to do God’s will.

Secret of Matrimonial Poison or HappinessDVRodriguez2025-08-23T15:11:12-04:00

The Mammon of Iniquity

DVRodriguez2025-08-07T12:38:55-04:00

Our Lord praises the unjust steward’s shrewdness: he saw himself as he is and did what it took to survive. All created goods (mammon) are given to us by God to be used moderately and prudently. In this way we are “friends” to them and they help us reach God. But when we misuse them they turn to evil (iniquity). What created things are you misusing? Some common ones are technology, alcohol, debt, friends, and clothing. A basic Catholic life, with the penance of prayer and sacrifice, will help us use all created goods as God intended.

The Mammon of IniquityDVRodriguez2025-08-07T12:38:55-04:00