Liturgical Year

Guided by Faith Not Pandemic Precaution

DVRodriguez2020-03-23T15:03:05-04:00

As we pass through this supposed Coronavirus pandemic, let us have our eyes ever upon the Lord. In turning our hearts to God, we also seek the intercession if the saints, such as St Roch, and St. Rosalia. I pose to you three questions having to do with Faith which every Catholic ought to seriously ponder. [1] Do I truly believe that the most dangerous virus is sin? That sin is disastrous for the soul and the body? [2] Do I truly believe that that Jesus Christ is present in the Holy Eucharist? [3] Do I truly believe in the present reality [...]

Guided by Faith Not Pandemic PrecautionDVRodriguez2020-03-23T15:03:05-04:00

Power of Sacramentals

DVRodriguez2020-03-18T05:17:55-04:00

We should obviously be careful in regards to preventing the spread of the coronavirus by practicing proper hygiene. Those who are sick should not come to Mass – out of charity to others. The history of past flus, such as the Spanish Flu (1918) or Swine Flu (2009), should serve as warnings that these diseases can be deadly. Yet more importantly, we should employ spiritual means to combat such diseases: holy water, blessed palms, scapulars, the St. Benedict Medal and processions to name a few. Churches should be open, Holy Mass available, and public prayer encouraged. Above all, this is a [...]

Power of SacramentalsDVRodriguez2020-03-18T05:17:55-04:00

Pray for Courage

DVRodriguez2020-03-17T21:47:47-04:00

St. John of the Cross explains that we need two kinds of purgation to make it to the higher levels of holiness and ultimately Heaven. Active purgation is taking on voluntary penances so as to overcome ourselves, as we do in Lent. But, truth be told, we are too weak, too slow and too small of soul in performing such penances. So, God provides the needed cleansing though passive purgation. God normally does this by allowing us to undergo various trials through our neighbors, attacks by the devils, and natural disasters, war, famine, and plagues. The soul that loves God will [...]

Pray for CourageDVRodriguez2020-03-17T21:47:47-04:00

The Deadliest Virus

DVRodriguez2020-03-16T21:49:26-04:00

Many people are presently very concerned over the coronavirus. This is natural. However, by far the deadliest 'virus' is sin. We should be far more concerned about the state of our soul, resisting the capital sins, and avoiding the terrible sins of blasphemy, heresy and impurity so rampant in our world. If you are not, there is something very wrong with you. Closing churches and limiting our access to the sacraments and sacramentals is not the authentically Catholic response. We should instead look to the example of St. Gregory the Great. Also, use holy water and blessed candles. In faith, we [...]

The Deadliest VirusDVRodriguez2020-03-16T21:49:26-04:00

End Pandemics by Stopping the Pollution of Sin

DVRodriguez2020-03-15T10:38:47-04:00

A grave error today is an inordinate focus upon - and misunderstanding of - physical evils. Sin leads to physical evils. Recall that physical evil entered the world through Adam's Original Sin. God is also NOT an 'environmentalist.' He does use natural disasters to punish sinful men. Occultists and atheists often worship the cosmos, perceiving nature as an animate 'living being' and are easily aroused over environmental issues. Christians know that the human person sums up all the best qualities of the world - and more. Man is the world in miniature. Thus, one single human is worth more than all [...]

End Pandemics by Stopping the Pollution of SinDVRodriguez2020-03-15T10:38:47-04:00

The Passion Keeps the Devil at Bay

DVRodriguez2020-03-15T08:32:46-04:00

Christian meditation is reflecting upon a mystery of Christ and thereby making it real to ourselves. The devils do all they can to prevent us from such meditation as they can't easily find entrance into a soul unless they first deprive it of all holy thoughts. With the growing rise in the occult today, how much more important it is for us to increase such prayer. Christian meditation is most especially effective when focused on the Passion of Our Lord and Savior. For example, consider that at the end of time, the Cross and all the instruments of the Passion, will be carried by angles [...]

The Passion Keeps the Devil at BayDVRodriguez2020-03-15T08:32:46-04:00

Purity of Heart and the Commandments

DVRodriguez2020-03-15T08:29:50-04:00

Lent is a time to turn away from sin (convert!) and to turn to God. Christ asks of us our heart and that we follow Him. Now is a time to strive after a clean heart, that we may see God! Many people mistakenly think the Ten Commandments are merely a list of "thou shalt nots" and they fail to see how the Commandments also call us to practice virtue, to do good, to love our neighbor, and to love God. In fact, the Commandments are a wondrous expression of God's love and the most basic means by which we can [...]

Purity of Heart and the CommandmentsDVRodriguez2020-03-15T08:29:50-04:00

Do Not Despair

DVRodriguez2020-03-07T19:22:15-05:00

Do you ever ask God to end your life now, thinking it be better to die than live? As man is a social being, without proper support from fellow men, he loses the will to live. Despair and depression are terrible things to struggle through. Worse, the devil preys upon it. Even great personages from the Bible struggled with this, such as Job, Elias, Tobit and Sarah. Three major points of commonality they had: [1] Living in a time of God's wrath; [2] None gave up on God; and [3] Despair was trigged by a failure in human relations (barbed words). These conditions are present today and [...]

Do Not DespairDVRodriguez2020-03-07T19:22:15-05:00

Get Serious About Your Salvation

DVRodriguez2020-03-07T05:48:24-05:00

Behold now is the acceptable time, now is the day of salvation! We exhort you that you receive not the grace of God in vain! God offers so many graces, always to either move us into a state of grace or to increase the grace we already have. The state of your soul - your salvation - is supremely important to Him; it must be for you too! If you faithfully reflect upon death, you will get more serious about your salvation. All of must die and leave everything behind. An eternity awaits each of us - an eternity of unspeakable happiness and delight or an eternity [...]

Get Serious About Your SalvationDVRodriguez2020-03-07T05:48:24-05:00

We Must Conquer Temptation

DVRodriguez2020-03-07T05:44:24-05:00

If you are already struggling this Lent - that is good! If its going along with ease, you probably aren't doing the penances you need. Lent is a time to fight temptation. God permits temptations to enable us to grow in virtue and holiness. The Devil's ultimate temptation against Christ was to come down from the Cross. This lies at the root of every temptation - to flee from the Cross. This is because it is through the Cross that God chooses to conquer. Christ allowed Himself to be tempted to: [1] Undo them temptation of our first parents; [2] Strengthen us against temptation; [...]

We Must Conquer TemptationDVRodriguez2020-03-07T05:44:24-05:00