Duty – Saint Vincent Ferrer Foundation

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

Go Out and Fish

DVRodriguez2025-07-15T15:24:47-04:00

Life can be fatiguing. At times we wonder if it is even worth it. Yet the sufferings of this life are not worthy of being compared to the glory that shall be revealed in us. Everyone must suffer but only the Catholic Faith show these trials as working our way to Heaven. They are means to grow in grace and prove our love. Even when you don’t understand God’s reasons, do what He commands. Learn that lesson from St. Peter. God is working for your good. He will reward faithfulness and provide the good catch in His good time.

Go Out and FishDVRodriguez2025-07-15T15:24:47-04:00

Participate at Mass with Faith

DVRodriguez2024-07-09T13:29:53-04:00

Man's chief duty is to participate in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. it is not enough for one to simply be present. How many times are we distracted and daydreaming? Rather we must assist with earnestness and concentration, uniting ourselves with Christ the High Priest. Note, what is most essential to our participation is not perceptible to our senses. Rather, it is of the Faith. If the majority of us don't participate well, then what will happen to our families and our Church? "Eternal Father, permit to offer Thee the Heart of my Savior Jesus Christ."

Participate at Mass with FaithDVRodriguez2024-07-09T13:29:53-04:00

Four Elements of Our Fundamental Duty

DVRodriguez2024-07-07T13:05:59-04:00

Pope Pius XII teaches that man's fundamental duty is to orient his person and life towards God. Man does this by [1] accepting all divinely revealed truths, [2] obeying the law of God and His Church, [3] rendering God right worship, [4] and centering all his acts and aspirations on God. These four are carried out perfectly by the Sacred Heart. Devotion to the Sacred Heart is a compendium of our holy religion. It comprises a devotion of love, reparation and imitation. Attaining this fundamental duty is hard. Hence, we must pray to the Holy Ghost for His assistance.

Four Elements of Our Fundamental DutyDVRodriguez2024-07-07T13:05:59-04:00

Be a Master of Your Craft

DVRodriguez2023-11-26T19:38:16-05:00

Here are three means to progress and excel in the spiritual life. [1] An ability to identify defects. We usually don't want to hear any critique of ourselves. Yet seeing our [minor] defects, which aren't easy to self detect, is the only way to make progress. [2] Humility in the spirit of collaboration. Every criticism has an element of truth, so be hungry for criticism (not paranoid or angry). [3] Love what you do and study your craft. Be obsessed with being Catholic. If you love your state in life, then at every moment you will try to learn how to [...]

Be a Master of Your CraftDVRodriguez2023-11-26T19:38:16-05:00

The Brown Scapular and Holy Mass

DVRodriguez2023-08-29T06:48:39-04:00

In today's Gospel, Our Lord speaks directly about what one must do to enter Heaven. It is not enough to call on Him in speech. Rather, the chief disposition of our heart must be to do the will of His Father. Holy Mass has the purpose of helping us become more committed to doing God's will by uniting ourselves to Christ. These are the same goals of the Brown Scapular. This is where its power to save comes from: the unlimited intercessory power of Our Lady, the omnipotent Blood of Christ, and the Father's perfect divine will.

The Brown Scapular and Holy MassDVRodriguez2023-08-29T06:48:39-04:00

The Supreme Dignity of Man

DVRodriguez2023-08-27T12:25:32-04:00

What will help us most, in our spiritual and material well-being, is true and faithful participation in the Holy Sacfrice of the Mass. This applies to every single person. The best thing we can do for our neighbor is help him carry out this chief duty, which is also his supreme dignity. Strive to have the dispositions Jesus had when He offered Himself. (See Pius XII's Mediator Dei, No, 80-81.) Deny yourself, do penance, detest sin, offer reparation, and die a mystical death: to your will, you desires, and your sense of self-importance.

The Supreme Dignity of ManDVRodriguez2023-08-27T12:25:32-04:00

The Chief Duty of Man

DVRodriguez2023-08-20T11:56:06-04:00

To participate in the Eucharistic Sacrifice is man's chief duty and supreme dignity. And not in an inert and negligent fashion, but with such earnestness and concentration as to have a profound union with Christ the High Priest. Take this teaching to heart! Because most Catholics today are clueless about it. In fact, this is one of the reasons why the Church is enduring such a terrible crisis. The first step is to know this, the next is to believe it. The Traditional Latin Mass shows this in many ways, the New Mass does not. Devotion to the Sacred Heart and [...]

The Chief Duty of ManDVRodriguez2023-08-20T11:56:06-04:00

Eight Points of Reflection on Motherhood

DVRodriguez2021-05-12T10:00:25-04:00

Motherhood is under a terrible attack by the diabolical errors or Russia. Using typology we can look to the Ark of the Covenant (Our Blessed Mother) for eight points which help heal the wound in woman caused by Eve. These points of reflection include teaching, correcting, compassion, chastity, modesty, self-effacement, and others. Dear Mothers, know and take up your place, mirroring the Ark of the Covenant: to raise up saints to help the Church in this time of need. You may not be known in this world but many will say of your children, 'You must have had a good mother."

Eight Points of Reflection on MotherhoodDVRodriguez2021-05-12T10:00:25-04:00