Liturgical Year

Avarice of the Pharisees

DVRodriguez2025-10-07T10:19:49-04:00

In his gospel, St Luke often focuses on the sicknesses that afflict men. The various physical ailments also represent spiritual illnesses. For example, a withered hand represents the inability to persevere in good works, leprosy stands for heresy, and dropsy (edema) for avarice. The pharisees were watching Our Lord, trying to trap him. These pharisees would violate the sabbath to save their beast, not out of compassion or fidelity to the law, but on account of their avarice. (In the question Jesus poses, the ox represents the Jews and the donkey the Gentiles.) Their avarice reflects their pride. Hence, Our Lord [...]

Avarice of the PhariseesDVRodriguez2025-10-07T10:19:49-04:00

More Spiritual Lessons from the Assumption

DVRodriguez2025-09-30T07:30:21-04:00

The Mystery of Mary’s Assumption provides valuable lessons. It shows the centrality of Christ and how Mary is the path to Christ. Since Our Lady shared in Jesus’ sufferings in a completely unique way, so she too shares in His glory in a completely unique way. Yet there is great glory for ALL who carry their cross faithfully. Imitating Our Lady, we are to persevere in God’s grace and keep our focus always on Heaven. May this mystery also inspire us to seek God’s will above our own in all things, especially as regards sickness and death. Our Lady willingly denied [...]

More Spiritual Lessons from the AssumptionDVRodriguez2025-09-30T07:30:21-04:00

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

Our Lady of Perpetual Help

DVRodriguez2025-10-02T09:23:04-04:00

Tradition holds that four famous portraits of the Virgin and Child were painted by St. Luke the Evangelist. One of these is the icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, located today in the Church of St. Alphonsus in Rome. The order St. Alphonsus founded, the Redemptorists, have done much to promote this devotion after it was already greatly venerated in the East. St. Luke painted it on a table top crafted by Our Lord. The image was blessed by Our Lady, and she promised: “My grace will accompany it.” In this icon, Mary directs us to her Son. The Child [...]

Our Lady of Perpetual HelpDVRodriguez2025-10-02T09:23:04-04:00

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

The Pharisee and the Publican

DVRodriguez2025-09-08T12:25:28-04:00

More people go to hell for their ‘good qualities’ than their weaknesses because they rely on themselves and forget God. 'Perfection' is the enemy of the good. And mercy is removing an evil by giving a good. The pharisee followed the law and did good. Yet he did not thank God, or ask anything of God, content in his pride and self-righteousness. That is why he judges others and considers himself above them. The publican, however, has humility. Humility is true knowledge of self. It is a foundational virtue, necessary to acquire all the others. Humility always stands in the truth. [...]

The Pharisee and the PublicanDVRodriguez2025-09-08T12:25:28-04:00

Look Upon Me

DVRodriguez2025-09-08T12:24:20-04:00

The devotion of all devotions is love of Jesus Christ and meditating upon the love He bears us. The saints mastered this devotion because they meditated upon Our Lord’s Passion. For example, consider St. Bridget of Sweden and St. Veronica Giuliani. They teach that nothing helps us hate sin more – and love Jesus above all things – than looking upon Him covered in blood and wounds for our sake. Jesus’ sacrifice and His Precious Blood are present to us at Holy Mass. Adore, thank, and pray to the Precious Blood for it has infinite power to sanctify, expiate, protect, and [...]

Look Upon MeDVRodriguez2025-09-08T12:24:20-04:00

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

Receive with Greater Devotion

DVRodriguez2025-08-23T15:12:22-04:00

The reason why souls make so little progress in virtue and remain in the same defects, even frequently lapsing into previous sins, is because they take little care (and are not sufficiently admonished) to acquire the love of Christ. The devotion of all devotions is love for Jesus. Yet, our faith remains weak. We are always looking for signs, for God to do what we want. Yet if we but believed and loved –like the saints– we would see the Greatest Sign is right there before us!

Receive with Greater DevotionDVRodriguez2025-08-23T15:12:22-04:00

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