12 Christmas Octave Sunday

Apostle of Divine Love

DVRodriguez2026-01-26T09:12:06-05:00

The feasts of Christmastide emphasize Jesus as our Savior, Teacher, and King. St. John, whom we honor on December 27, was the son of Zebedee and Salome and brother of James. He was the youngest apostle, the disciple whom Jesus loved - because of his purity. St. John was the only Apostle at the foot of the Cross. Our Lord entrusted His own Mother to him. St. John teaches us what it means to love. God’s love for us should be the foundation of our life, our most firm conviction motivating all we do. St. John’s gospel is the most ‘theological’ [...]

Apostle of Divine LoveDVRodriguez2026-01-26T09:12:06-05:00

Twelve Mysteries of the Holy Infancy

DVRodriguez2025-01-18T13:56:56-05:00

The Light of Christ comes to us through the Heart of Mary, which is a vast sea of grace and an immense furnace of love. As Christians, our mission is to love Jesus and His Church with the same love as Our Lady. So let us reflect – with Mary – upon the Divine Child in the mysteries of His infancy. In these mysteries, Christ offers us salvation and His divine love. Yet they are also filled with His sufferings. Contemplating them moves us to sorrow and compassion; to share in the love of Mary for Her Son. "O Mary, may [...]

Twelve Mysteries of the Holy InfancyDVRodriguez2025-01-18T13:56:56-05:00

Tollite Hostias

DVRodriguez2024-01-18T08:48:50-05:00

A beautiful Christmas hymn is tollite hostias et adorate dominum, "Offer your gifts to the Divine Child and Adore Him" (Psalm 95:8-9). What will you offer Him? The most acceptable gift is a contrite and loving heart. Do you pray every day? Spend time before the manger and think about the incredible love of the Divine Child for you! Make an effort to think about and reject [hate] your sins, for your sins are what most offend Baby Jesus. Ask the Blessed Virgin to adore the Divine Child on your behalf. To truly love Him, seek to please Him in all [...]

Tollite HostiasDVRodriguez2024-01-18T08:48:50-05:00

Judas Has Plenty of Company This Christmas

DVRodriguez2022-01-13T15:17:01-05:00

There is much confusion over what it means to love Jesus. It is not primarily about feelings, thoughts, or scriptural interpretation. The Apostle of Love teaches us the essentials. To love Jesus we must keep His commandments and we must love our neighbor (emphasis on the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy). Ask Baby Jesus for the grace to love Him above everything. Far too many Catholics are willing to sacrifice Christ to maintain friendships and family ties. Even our Shepherds - those who should love Jesus most - are betraying Him. Given that belief in Christ means belief in the [...]

Judas Has Plenty of Company This ChristmasDVRodriguez2022-01-13T15:17:01-05:00

Apostle of Christmas

DVRodriguez2021-02-11T08:05:44-05:00

St. John helps us to believe in - and live - Christmas. More than anyone else, he provides profound insight into the [1] Incarnation and [2] Holy Eucharist, both mysteries which are central to Christmas. These two mysteries each elicit from us a more profound faith. St. John shows that faith and adoration go together. He presents Christ as the light and life of the world. He teaches us what it means to truly believe and love. St. John gives us an example of perfect devotion to Our Blessed Mother and to the Sacred Heart. He calls us to remain faithful [...]

Apostle of ChristmasDVRodriguez2021-02-11T08:05:44-05:00

Active Love is a Harsh and Fearful Thing

wpengine2021-01-26T08:04:54-05:00

At Christmas, we celebrate how God became man so that man might become god. The serpent tempted Eve with this good. Fallen man still wants to make himself god without God-made-man, without His Church, without Christmas. Yet to enter into Heaven, we can't bypass Christmas and the Mystery of Christ's Incarnate Love. So many think that they have the right answer (idealists). Clinging to this "love in dreams," man actually carves out a pit into which he falls once reality sets in. Active love is a hash and fearful thing as compared to love in dreams. One must humble himself, stop [...]

Active Love is a Harsh and Fearful Thingwpengine2021-01-26T08:04:54-05:00

The Grace of Divine Love

DVRodriguez2020-01-02T09:10:08-05:00

The greatest treasure, the most important thing in life, is to love Jesus. To love God above all things, to love the things of God, and to be able to sacrifice everything for Divine Love - no grace can be greater. God’s Love is an immense Mystery. Just consider the amazing condescension of God in coming down from Heaven. Meditate upon this as you gaze on the manger scene, recite the angelus, or hear the Last Gospel. If He has spent Himself entirely for me, I should spend myself entirely for Him. It is easy for man to get distracted and [...]

The Grace of Divine LoveDVRodriguez2020-01-02T09:10:08-05:00

Christian Remember Your Dignity

wpengine2025-01-02T08:21:47-05:00

Christmas is such a wondrous feast that it demands great celebration. God became man that we might share in His divine nature; that man might be like God! St. Francis originated the tradition of the nativity scene so all would see the love, humility, and poverty of our good God. Yet so many live this blessed season in undignified manners, as if they were no more than material beasts. Today, the war on Christmas is even openly demonic. Oppose this blasphemy, remember your Christian dignity, and act in a godly way.

Christian Remember Your Dignitywpengine2025-01-02T08:21:47-05:00