Liturgical Year

The Exsutlet

DVRodriguez2023-04-17T07:03:11-04:00

At the Easter Vigil we sing the Exsultet. It is a great Christian hymn praising the sacrificial Lamb and victory of our King. It proclaims the Cross. By the Cross He conquered; from the Cross He reigns; His wounds heal. The Cross puts the devil to flight, brings conversion, and bestows innumerable graces. The principal reason we have not received more graces and blessings is because, rather than embrace and love the Cross, we complain and reject the Cross. Yet the Cross is the source of all blessings and the cause of all graces. We must truly believe this.

The ExsutletDVRodriguez2023-04-17T07:03:11-04:00

The True Roman Rite

DVRodriguez2023-04-17T07:55:55-04:00

The Roman Empire's Fall sent shockwaves throughout the world. The unthinkable had occurred. Then God sent a holy man - St. Benedict - to revitalize a continent in darkness. The Benedictines most important work was true divine worship. Today another great fall threatens: the collapse of the Roman Liturgy. No one should dare touch its essentials, for fidelity to the liturgy is fidelity to Christ and confession of the True Faith. But we have witnessed a liturgical rupture. Tradition is the guiding principle for all Christian Liturgy. It is handed down, not artificially constructed. It originates from Christ and is guided [...]

The True Roman RiteDVRodriguez2023-04-17T07:55:55-04:00

Early in the Morning

DVRodriguez2023-04-17T05:44:21-04:00

Throughout history, God likes to work early in the morning. This is typological. It reflects the Resurrection. The psalms teach that at this time He hears prayers, grants mercy, and destroys His enemies. Consider Sennacherib's Assyrian siege of Jerusalem under good King Hezekiah (~701 BC). Consider the prophecy of Isaias 28:14-19 and let us avoid entering a league with falsehood, hell and death. Hold fast to the Faith and the Mass, which remain immovable – even in this dark time. Let us rise early and be about the duties of our state, for the glory of God and salvation of our [...]

Early in the MorningDVRodriguez2023-04-17T05:44:21-04:00

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