Liturgical Year

Thy Kingdom Come

DVRodriguez2022-11-07T12:37:53-05:00

Every time we pray the Our Father, we pray for the coming of Christ's Kingdom. This means we pray for the propagation of His Church, for the conversion of all sinners, and that Christ reign in our heart, mind, will and body. Too many think Christ need not be acknowledged as King by society and nations. Yet all things exist for His honor and glory. Consider these three truths: [1] You must prize God's kingdom above all things. [2] You must labor to obtain His Kingdom. [3] You are an exile and must render a full account of your life.

Thy Kingdom ComeDVRodriguez2022-11-07T12:37:53-05:00

Never Deformed Never Reformed

DVRodriguez2021-10-14T07:27:41-04:00

St. Bruno of Cologne (+1101) founded the Carthusians after witnessing the revival of the corpse of a man condemned for all eternity. This order is considered to be the most ascetic. It has never experienced radical change. The Order has never needed to be reformed because has never been deformed. The Carthusian motto: 'The Cross Stands Still While the World Turns.' The world is always restless. Modern man is rarely at peace and easily distracted. Covid and the vaccine have caused great disruptions. The Church too is greatly agitated from within. Yet tradition remains firm and consistent. Our love for the [...]

Never Deformed Never ReformedDVRodriguez2021-10-14T07:27:41-04:00

Three Meanings of Holy Name of Mary

DVRodriguez2021-10-14T06:52:36-04:00

The holy name 'Mary' has many meanings. Three notable ones which demand our reflection are: Enlightener, Star of the sea, and Sea [of all graces]. Heed St. Bernard's advice: "In dangers, doubts, and difficulties, think of Mary. Call upon Mary. Let not her name depart from thy lips; never allow it to leave your heart." This continual reliance upon Our Lady is the hallmark of a good and faithful Catholic. An excellent aid for meditating more upon Our Lady is the Marian Creed written by St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows. Always do you best to pray the name of [...]

Three Meanings of Holy Name of MaryDVRodriguez2021-10-14T06:52:36-04:00

Holy Angels and the Rosary

DVRodriguez2023-10-05T16:50:04-04:00

Pray and meditate upon the Rosary with the holy Angels; share their joy, sorrow and exaltation. Souls who unite themselves to the angels upon earth have great confidence they will be so be united in Heaven. God sent His most important message for our times through angelic messenger. If you want to help convert sinners (including those whom you love), then offer prayers and sacrifices. Put into practice what the Angel at Fatima asked and imitate his example.

Holy Angels and the RosaryDVRodriguez2023-10-05T16:50:04-04:00

Our Lady Within St Annes Womb

DVRodriguez2021-09-13T10:22:14-04:00

Within St. Anne's womb, the Blessed Virign Mary was continuously occupied with ten pious exercises. These express the sentiments in her Immaculate Herat. They did not require external activity as she was still a tiny infant. Thus, we can practice them at Mass. We will thereby more actively participate at, and derive more spiritual fruit from, the Holy Sacrifice. Too often we doubt - deep down - that God is all-good, all-wise, and all-powerful. If we had greater confidence - faith! - then we would have nothing to worry about. Strive to foster a greater devotion to Mary's Immaculate Heart and [...]

Our Lady Within St Annes WombDVRodriguez2021-09-13T10:22:14-04:00

Mourn With Our Lady of LaSalette

DVRodriguez2021-09-11T06:39:04-04:00

God always prepares us, never blindsiding His faithful ones. He uses types and prefigurements. Consider how Our Lord raising the Widow of Naim's son is a type. He also provides us with prophecy; though we must be careful in our interpretation. In 1846 at LaSalette, Our Lady of Sorrows foretold much of what was to come - in those days, in our time, and at the end of time. Other prophecies from approved apparitions of Our Lady and saints help us better understand her terrible message. When one is forewarned, one can be better prepared and the suffering is lessened. We [...]

Mourn With Our Lady of LaSaletteDVRodriguez2021-09-11T06:39:04-04:00

Sancutuary of Divine Love

DVRodriguez2021-09-10T11:24:07-04:00

St. Paul exhorts us to "walk in the Spirit" which is another way of saying "be devoted to the Immaculate Heart of Mary." The Twelve Fruits of the Holy Ghost are a perfect description of Mary's Heart. Choose one of those gifts (e.g. benignity, goodness, longanimity, mildness, faith, modesty, etc.) and ask the Blessed Virgin Mary to form this virtue in your heart in her likeness. Like the Mass, Our Lady's Heart is an altar. Christ's Sacrifice is renewed therein as she offers her Son and herself with unspeakable love. At Mass, we too must offer Jesus - truly present - [...]

Sancutuary of Divine LoveDVRodriguez2021-09-10T11:24:07-04:00

Glowing Maternal Heart

DVRodriguez2021-09-06T08:11:02-04:00

There is a deep connection between Mary's Immaculate Heart and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Our Lady pondered and preserved in her heart all the wondrous events of her Son - especially His Passion (cf. Lk 2:19, 51). As a very real mother, Our Lady took note of the slightest details regarding her Son. Her heart is a sacred depository of God. Now Holy Mass makes all these mysteries - contained in her Immaculate Heart - present for us! We are meant to ponder and preserve the Passion, marvelous mysteries, and events of Christ's life. Imitate Mary thus and you [...]

Glowing Maternal HeartDVRodriguez2021-09-06T08:11:02-04:00

Spiritual Lessons from the Assumption

DVRodriguez2021-09-02T07:17:17-04:00

All the mysteries of our Lady's Assumption proclaim the greatness and the goodness of God. They also indicate in what the Christian life consists. Her death was joyful and beautiful because it was free of the three things which make death better: attachment to the world, remorse for sin and uncertainty of salvation. We in turn must strive to detach from the world, grow in humility and resign ourselves to the divine will. Our Lady is all-powerful by grace because she was perfect and sinless. The more we grow in sanctity, the more powerful will be our prayers and intercession.

Spiritual Lessons from the AssumptionDVRodriguez2021-09-02T07:17:17-04:00

Pharisaical vs Publican Liturgies

DVRodriguez2021-09-18T15:06:25-04:00

Today's gospel provides a powerful analogy by which to compare and contrast the Traditional and New Mass. We have a pharisaical liturgy for modern man where man stands with pride before God making it 'all about himself.' We have a publican liturgy for the marginalized man who kneels in recognition of his nothingness and God's greatness, not daring to enter the sacred sanctuary. With the new motu proprio, are we doomed to repeat the terrible errors which overtook the Church in the 60s and have left a loss of faith and devastation in their wake? How could anyone forget the ancient [...]

Pharisaical vs Publican LiturgiesDVRodriguez2021-09-18T15:06:25-04:00