Grace

Great Danger of the Lukewarm State

DVRodriguez2026-03-11T07:48:57-04:00

We are to walk in love, with the charity of God in our soul. This begins by God giving us His sanctifying grace so that we are lovable and have the ability to love Him in return. That grace is meant to increase until we die. Yet we often forget how necessary it is to show this love of God every day and abide always in a state of grace. Our soul is divided, wanting things of this world. We become complacent falling into a state of sin and then returning to a state of grace. Let not your soul become [...]

Great Danger of the Lukewarm StateDVRodriguez2026-03-11T07:48:57-04:00

Saint Joachim

DVRodriguez2025-10-21T13:54:22-04:00

Saint Joachim is the patron of fathers, grandparents and married couples. His name means “Preparation for the Lord.” The glory and intercessory power that St. Joachim has are proportioned to the merit and dignity of being the Father of Mary and grandfather of Jesus. In fact, the more grace a soul possesses, the more powerful are its prayers. (Our prayers are often weakly effective for we lack grace.) The grace which a soul possesses at the moment of death is the grace it will have for all eternity. Rightly then is Our Lady called the Mightiest Helper of the Christian people.

Saint JoachimDVRodriguez2025-10-21T13:54:22-04:00

Help Us O God Our Savior

DVRodriguez2025-03-29T23:06:10-04:00

Year after year goes by and we don’t really live a conversion. This is because it is not easy to change our heart, intellect or will. We need God’s grace and we must never tie of praying for it. We sin because we don’t see supernatural realities. We fail to see the evil of mortal sin, the horrendous fires of hell, the beauty of Heaven, or Christ dying for us at Mass. Like the blind beggar, pray “Have mercy on me,” and beg “Lord, that I may see.” Make a serious effort this Lent to commit yourself to prayer, fasting and [...]

Help Us O God Our SaviorDVRodriguez2025-03-29T23:06:10-04:00

The Key of Divine Treasures

DVRodriguez2025-03-23T10:13:19-04:00

God’s grace is absolutely necessary to perform any good work towards obtaining eternal life. The ordinary means for obtaining this grace is prayer. In general, God only gives His grace to those who ask for it and are disposed to receive it. Through the prayers selected for Lent, the Church is teaching us how to pray and prayer's great value. In prayer one 'sets himself apart' so as to be with God. The goal of prayer is to transform the heart and mind (conversion). By prayer, one offers his heart and mind to God.

The Key of Divine TreasuresDVRodriguez2025-03-23T10:13:19-04:00

We Have to Persevere

DVRodriguez2025-03-24T17:47:06-04:00

God calls us to conversion (a change of heart, intellect, and will). This conversion is not easy. We absolutely need God’s grace. One also needs to have faith and to do penance (prayer, fasting, almsgiving). All this comes from grace; so one must ask for these graces and continue to ask. The great and mysterious work of the Holy Ghost is to sanctify men’s souls via divine grace. He shows us what is good and virtuous. He strengthens us to do the good and avoid evil. Don’t let up asking for His help during Lent!

We Have to PersevereDVRodriguez2025-03-24T17:47:06-04:00

Three Images for the Whole Year

DVRodriguez2025-03-08T14:18:28-05:00

Jesus was born in order to die for us. Colossians 3:17 aptly describes our fitting response. Three 'Christmas' images which help us keep this response in mind are: [1] The Blessed Mother offering her Son in sacrifice in the temple. [2] Jesus teaching the truth in the temple. [3] Jesus the King teaching from His cathedra. It is necessary to hear and transmit the teaching of Christ and to worship God rightly. Keeping these three images in your mind and heart will help you be faithful to God's grace and to grow in His grace.

Three Images for the Whole YearDVRodriguez2025-03-08T14:18:28-05:00

Cooperate with Actual Graces

DVRodriguez2025-03-03T17:29:18-05:00

Each of us struggles mightily with conversion. Let us not receive the grace of God in vain. Sanctifying grace – the life of God – gives us eternal life. Actual grace is a supernatural help which God bestows upon us daily to work out our salvation. When we cooperate with grace we merit more graces. But the abuse of God's grace prevents us from receiving further graces. There is direct relationship between the amount of grace in our soul when we die and the level at which we will experience the beatific vision of God for all eternity. God is faithful. [...]

Cooperate with Actual GracesDVRodriguez2025-03-03T17:29:18-05:00

Prayer to Our Lady of Buen Suceso

DVR Fatima2025-02-02T14:48:01-05:00

From the sermon Light, Salvation and Glory given on February 2, 2017 O most Excellent and Immaculate Queen of Heaven, Holy Mary of Good Success, most favored Daughter of the Eternal Father, most beloved Mother of the Divine Son, most cherished Spouse of the Holy Ghost, sublime throne of the Divine Majesty, august Temple of the Holy Trinity, in whom the Three Divine Persons have placed the treasures of their power, wisdom, and love! Remember, Virgin Mary of Good Success, whom God has made so great, so that thou canst give succor to miserable sinners; remember that thou has often promised [...]

Prayer to Our Lady of Buen SucesoDVR Fatima2025-02-02T14:48:01-05:00

Value Grace Above All Else

DVRodriguez2024-12-20T08:59:36-05:00

The Immaculate Conception is a singular example of the infinite power of God's grace and how God grants grace to overcome sin. She gives us the perfect example of what it means to "put on Christ." In this mystery, we see the full grandeur of God's grace. Make it personal! God's grace can overcome any difficulty, temptation or sin which plagues you. This feast dispels a heresy, promoted by Bregoglio, that at times our "best effort" is a sin, or that God might ask of us a sinful act (in Amoris Lætitia). With God's grace you can always grow in holiness. [...]

Value Grace Above All ElseDVRodriguez2024-12-20T08:59:36-05:00

Fidelity to God’s Grace

DVRodriguez2024-11-11T07:58:05-05:00

Saintly mystics of the Church provide us with an account of Mary's birth, which we celebrate today. Our Lady was conceived without sin and with the ability to know and love God. Within St. Anne's womb, Mary was already faithfully corresponding to this first grace – and thus growing in grace. Let us be more aware of the graces God gives us and do our very best to correspond with them. Yet attachment to sin and to the world impedes our growth. We prefer what is easier and more comfortable. To counter this, grow in your devotion to Mary, especially Our [...]

Fidelity to God’s GraceDVRodriguez2024-11-11T07:58:05-05:00