Kiss the Cross with Great Faith
DVRodriguez2024-04-22T01:12:07-04:00Look to the Cross. Adore the Cross. Kiss the Cross. From you heart, make a resolution, to reject a particular grievous or habitual sin (such as the sin of selfishness).
Seven Gifts from the Passion and Death
DVRodriguez2024-04-21T14:39:01-04:00These are the holiest days of the year. Our Lord gives us a Great Example of true charity, humility, service, and giving of oneself without expecting anything in return. He imparts to us seven great gifts. "As I have done, so you do also."
Four Points for Victory
DVRodriguez2024-04-11T19:54:11-04:00Palms symbolize Christ's victory. By His passion and death He conquered satan, sin and death. Here are four points to help keep His passion and death in our mind and heart.
Christ’s Passion and Our Lady
DVRodriguez2024-04-01T10:24:02-04:00Christ's Passion and Death is what saves us. These final two weeks of Lent – Passiontide – are privileged weeks. The Church calls us to reflect upon Our Lord's Passion and the unique role fulfilled by the Holy Mother of God. No exercise is more profitable for our sanctification. St. Bonaventure, St. John Eudes, St. Bridget of Sweden, Ven. Maria of Agreda and the benedictine monk John Lydgate serve as helpful guides.
Constantly Called to Faith
DVRodriguez2024-03-23T08:02:26-04:00You that have been in sorrow, exult! These are words a soul hears upon entering Heaven. The only thing that truly matters is that you save your soul. Faith and humility are necessary to save your soul. Prayer, fasting and almsgiving are the best spiritual weapons to fight against sin and to be receptive to grace. He who does not employ these arms will surely be lost. Do not receive God's grace in vain! Make good use of it to get to Heaven.
Vanity of Vanities
DVRodriguez2024-03-20T22:55:46-04:00Learn from The Imitation of Christ. Seek the Kingdom of Heaven through contempt of the world. Everything in this world is passing; the ashes remind us of this. Nothing in this world can compare with God's grace. So, what must you change so that you can grow in God's grace and get to Heaven? Fix your gaze upon the Crucifix. May Christ Crucified be the last thing you see before you fall asleep.
Reflect Upon the Gravity of Your Sin
DVRodriguez2024-03-13T06:27:34-04:00Fix your gaze on Jesus. Behold Him that you may love and imitate Him. Lent is a time to leave the world behind and contemplate divine things. Embrace the cross (sufferings, trials and difficulties) for love of God, in reparation for sin, and in preparation for a happy eternity. Lent is a time to seriously reflect on your sin from a heavenly perspective. Sin is the source of ALL the evils and misfortunes that cover the earth. Recognize the gravity of sin and do not think, "Well everybody does it." Receive not the grace of God in vain! He is even [...]
Special Lenten Graces
DVRodriguez2024-03-13T06:12:34-04:00Lent [1] makes us aware of our obligation to do penance throughout our lives, [2] calls us to imitate Our Lord's fast, and [3] prepares us to celebrate Easter in a holy and worthy manner. God makes special graces available during Lent, including the grace of conversion. So do not live this season as it were just any other time. Look to the example of St. Francis of Assisi and contemplate divine realities. During Lent – by means of prayer, fasting and almsgiving – focus on the importance of grace, sin, and eternity. If you do not use these means to [...]
Purpose of Lent and Ashes
DVRodriguez2024-03-07T17:36:17-05:00Four Short Daily Sermons from the Start of Lent Ashes remind us that we will die. Lent is a time to do penance that purifies us and brings us into closer union with God. It is a privileged time of grace when we must hear and heed the divine call to works of mercy.
Lux de Caelo
DVRodriguez2024-03-07T17:34:33-05:00In my affliction, I called upon the Lord. God responds, again and again, by sending light from Heaven. Search for God like the Three Kings. He is always offering us His grace. We see this in the parable of the Owner of the Vineyard. Why do stand idle? Why do you waste time and not work harder to serve God and to save our soul? Ask God in prayer, "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" And then respond generously by offering Him the gifts of your money, time, and talent - of your very self.