A Catholic Profession of Faith
DVRodriguez2026-06-03T06:59:29-04:00Baptism, Faith, and the Church. These three major themes of Eastertide always go together and can’t be separated. God gives us Faith at Baptism through the Church. To be saved one must believe the Faith preached by the Church and be baptized. There Is a great crisis in the Church today because these three are being separated, especially by members of the hierarchy. He that believeth not shall be condemned. Doctrinal errors rampant today are exposed by a ‘Declaration of Catholic Faith’ recently published by a group of traditional Catholics. Women, look to the example of the Church to see what [...]
Adoro Te Devote
DVRodriguez2026-06-01T11:52:13-04:00The Church presents us with three great Easter themes — Faith, Baptism, Holy Eucharist — and three great Easter professions of Faith. It is very easy to deceive ourselves regarding religion and faith. Anyone who considers himself ‘good’ but does not strive to keep the Faith deceives himself and his faith is in vain. We must be on guard to keep ourselves unspotted from the world, for the world inevitably takes us away from the Faith. A man of faith seeks to grow in faith and act by faith.
The Catholic Walketh by Faith
DVRodriguez2026-05-27T08:14:37-04:00Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world. The Catholic Faith is the victory which overcometh the world. Faith is God’s free gift to us; it makes eternal life possible. Man must believe the Faith (truth), live by Faith (God’s commandments), and pray according to the Faith (worship revealed by God). It is impossible to please God without the True Faith. The just man – he who acts in accordance with his baptism – guides his thoughts, words, and actions by faith (truths revealed by God), not by his reason, experience, senses, perceptions or feelings.
Do You Act Based on Faith?
DVRodriguez2026-05-17T08:13:33-04:00Baptism and Faith are themes central to Easter (as is the Holy Eucharist). We must understand Faith as a supernatural virtue, knowing it rests on the authority of God, not our own reason or experience. Far too often we speak, act, dress, select our entertainment guided not by faith, but by our opinions or those of the world. This is a fatal mistake. Offer reparation, not because it is logical, but out of faith. Be faithful in prayer, not because you see its effects, but out of faith. Always carry the Faith in your mind and heart.
The Great Importance of Conversion
DVRodriguez2026-05-23T10:36:12-04:00The Church Fathers and Doctors indicate the true meaning of the Christmas is conversion! In fact, continual conversion is the foundation of the spiritual life. The Holy Eucharist, Confession, and all the Sacraments have conversion as a central element. Yet everyone greatly struggles to change. So like the three kings, bring you gifts to adore the Christ Child. Offer your charity and consecration (gold of Melchior), your prayer and reparation (incense of Caspar), and your mortification and conversion (myrrh of Balthasar). Believe and live according to this truth: God became like us that we might become like Him.
Conversion Comes from the Passion
DVRodriguez2026-05-12T16:25:00-04:00“Having joy set before Him, Jesus endured the Cross” (Heb 12:2). Jesus’ joy is the salvation of souls, the establishment of His Church, and the fulfillment of His Father’s will. We must participate in His Passion to share His joy. Only by continually turning to His passion —considering the horror of sin and Jesus’ infinite love— will we receive the graces for true conversion. All of Christ’s virtues and teachings shine forth with greater clarity in His passion. If we carry those we love in our heart and memory, how much more should we do so for Our Lord?
Death to Sin New Life in Christ
DVRodriguez2026-04-28T19:57:54-04:00During the Easter Octave, the Church provides readings which prefigure baptism. Why? Because, as the Church Fathers teach, baptism is a practical consequence of the Resurrection. Every single day we must make efforts to be faithful to our grace of baptism, to guard our faith and to live by it, so that it may continue to grow. As long as our earthly pilgrimage lasts, we must pursue this double work of dying to sin and living for God. This is our call in Baptism. This is why Christ died and rose.
Adore the Lord with Gifts
DVRodriguez2026-05-13T12:50:49-04:00"We have seen His star in the east and come [with gifts] to adore Him" (Mt 2:2). This is a summary of our life as Catholics. The star represents God's grace, the Truth which God reveals, the holy Catholic religion, and Heaven. The 'gifts' by which we adore Him are conversion (myrrh), reparation (frankincense), and consecration (gold). Our Lord chose to be born, and live, in a family that we might have a perpetual example for our marriages and families. Ask Him for the grace and virtues you need to more closely model the Holy Family.
Why Did Jesus Rise from the Dead?
DVRodriguez2026-04-14T09:25:39-04:00The Resurrection is the most important of all Jesus’ miracles. If we believe the testimony of men, of our own eyes and ears, then we should place even more trust in the words of God and of His Church. Christ’s resurrection definitively shows to all the world that He is God. It makes us look forward to our own resurrection and to prepare well for it. It motivates us to rise from the death of sin to a new and holy life. With renewed vigor, let us live for Him, obey Him, serve Him, and love Him who is our Life.