Liturgical Year

Prayer – Why How What

DVRodriguez2023-04-08T08:06:18-04:00

Like fasting, prayer makes satisfaction for sins, protects us from the enemies of our soul, and obtains grace from God. Prayer is offering God our homage and imploring His favors in order to grow in holiness for His glory. It ought to be humble, fervent, resigned, persevering and accompanied with great reverence. Practice the Presence of God, have a set time to prayer, and use traditional prayer books. Look to three great examples of prayer in Our Lord's life: His time in the desert, His agony in Gethsemane, His death on the Cross.

Prayer – Why How WhatDVRodriguez2023-04-08T08:06:18-04:00

Fruits of Fasting

DVRodriguez2023-04-06T14:32:08-04:00

The goal of Lent is to grow in your love of God: to do His holy will, to live for Him, to be with Him. Fasting gives strength against sin, represses evil desires, repels temptation, humbles pride, cools anger, quenches fires of lust, renders the heart contrite, detaches from the world and and helps practice every virtue. It has great spiritual fruit: [1] makes satisfaction for sins, [2] protects the soul from its enemies, [3] and obtains grace from God. What better motives can you have to fast and abstain!

Fruits of FastingDVRodriguez2023-04-06T14:32:08-04:00

When Is It Asking Too Much

DVRodriguez2023-04-03T14:37:27-04:00

Things are now different in Passiontide. The Church covers up her saints? Why? She is merely following the spirit of her Master, who now covers up His glory. If Christ has nothing to give you, will you still follow Him? What are the limits of your love for Him? All that really matters is that we fall in love with Christ. This is the Catholic Faith. These two weeks define us as Catholics, how will you respond?

When Is It Asking Too MuchDVRodriguez2023-04-03T14:37:27-04:00

Fasting and Prayer Dispel Spiritual Blindness

DVRodriguez2023-04-05T10:15:04-04:00

In today's Gospel, Jesus Himself teaches us how to see supernatural realities (the value of grace, of union with God). Satan works to tempt him in worldly ways. Take to heart the importance of prayer and fasting. Without these, we are guaranteed to lose the spiritual battle. Make efforts to grow in your prayer repertoire and to pray with a pure heart. Fasting is urgently needed to do necessary penance and to recover our Catholic Faith. Write down your Lenten plan for accountability!

Fasting and Prayer Dispel Spiritual BlindnessDVRodriguez2023-04-05T10:15:04-04:00

Lord That I May See

DVRodriguez2023-03-25T08:24:20-04:00

Every single one of us (to varying degrees) is spiritually blind. We don't recognize the goodness and greatness of God. We are oblivious to the evil and horror of our sin. In daily life we ignore our eternal end. We are blind because we are worldly and the spirit of the world will never let us see. The capital sins enslave us. We fail to see our desperate need to convert. Reflect on this and take it seriously. Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving – true penance – are needed. Pray: "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! Lord, grant that I [...]

Lord That I May SeeDVRodriguez2023-03-25T08:24:20-04:00

Our Lady of Lourdes

DVRodriguez2023-03-20T18:30:26-04:00

Lourdes is an excellent example of how God comes to our aid through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We also see how saints are molded in and with Mary. The miracles continue at Lourdes to this day and Our Lady's message remains exceptionally timely. Every detail if filled with meaning. Let us consider ten important spiritual lessons from Lourdes.

Our Lady of LourdesDVRodriguez2023-03-20T18:30:26-04:00

The Great Fast

DVRodriguez2023-03-13T07:50:24-04:00

Consider the Transfiguration from the Apostles' point of the view. They perceive a coming struggle and prefer to stay where its comfortable. So Christ immediately ends the consolation. We want to be saints; we want great results; but, we flee from the struggle it requires. This is a natural problem, not just a spiritual one. We want everything to be fine and everyone to be nice. But there is no "ok" or "nice" when it comes to the Catholic soul. It takes hard men and women to break the Gates of Heaven. Lent is not so much a time to 'suffer' [...]

The Great FastDVRodriguez2023-03-13T07:50:24-04:00

Exterior Devotion and Interior Piety

DVRodriguez2023-03-10T06:27:09-05:00

There is a vast difference in how the majority of Catholics live Christmas and Septuageisma. As tradition was abandoned, many forgot the liturgical seasons. In seeking to restore Catholicism, let us not be content with exterior devotions. That is only a first step. Have an authentic interior observance of prayer and of these great Mysteries. Consider how the Son of God made Himself entirely subject to His human Mother – and willingly remains obedient to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Exterior Devotion and Interior PietyDVRodriguez2023-03-10T06:27:09-05:00

Key to the Beauty of Catholic Life

DVRodriguez2023-03-02T09:27:16-05:00

For good or ill man desires that which is 'new.' This desire has lead to advances in civilization and destruction. Man also desires 'nostalgia.' The Greek root of this word means the pain from an old wound. Too often we look for what is new and avoid the old as we strive towards God. Yet the answers for the human soul lie not in something new but in the pain of a very old wound. You shall be restless until you rest in the Cross.

Key to the Beauty of Catholic LifeDVRodriguez2023-03-02T09:27:16-05:00

Temple Sacrifice and Truth

DVRodriguez2023-03-25T07:55:14-04:00

Christ gives us great blessings by His birth - let us thank Him and, like our Lady, keep in mind and heart the great mysteries of Christmas. The Presentation highlights the offering of the Child Jesus to the Eternal Father on the part of His Mother, the temple priests, and holy Simeon. The final mysteries of Christmas take place in the temple. They emphasize sacrifice (the Mass!) and Jesus' teaching the truth (doctrine!). Both of these are suffering terrible attacks today from our own prelates.

Temple Sacrifice and TruthDVRodriguez2023-03-25T07:55:14-04:00