Liturgical Year

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

Penance Prepares Us

DVRodriguez2019-12-31T16:50:42-05:00

Christmas Vigil is a day of penance, of fasting and abstinence. Why? So as to make room for Christ on our hearts. Jesus comes to save us and to judge us. We have to be prepared. The better one prepares, the more one will be disposed to receive Him, His Love, and His grace. Prayers by St. Alphonsus and meditations upon the Holy Family are aids in this preparation.

Penance Prepares UsDVRodriguez2019-12-31T16:50:42-05:00

Love Effects a Likeness

DVRodriguez2019-12-31T16:08:44-05:00

After four millennia, despite many Old Testament priests, prophets and kings, charity was cold and fallen man still lacked the ability to have a true and wholesome friendship with God. Man needed Love Itself to come and effect some likeness between God and man, for love is only possible among those who have some level of equality. Thus, God's Perfect Love was so inflamed that He planted His Love in the Blessed Virgin’s womb and He is born to us today - to draw out love. Yet love not only equates, but willingly subjects the lover to the loved one. Dear [...]

Love Effects a LikenessDVRodriguez2019-12-31T16:08:44-05:00

Love Jesus with the Heart of Mary

DVRodriguez2019-12-31T16:04:22-05:00

The Infant Jesus grants special graces during Christmastide. [1] Pray for these special graces and persevere in asking Baby Jesus for them. I urge you to put greater faith and trust in the Love of Our Savior Jesus Christ. [2] Especially pray for the grace to love God from this day forth with your whole heart. Now, it isn't just about loving Jesus "in our own way" because each one of us is a fallen human whose soul carries hurts, sorrows and scars. Amongst other things, this prevents us from truly loving after the example of our Savior Jesus Christ. Our love is all too [...]

Love Jesus with the Heart of MaryDVRodriguez2019-12-31T16:04:22-05:00

Dark Night of Advent

DVRodriguez2019-12-24T13:58:13-05:00

We are nearing the end of Advent. It is the darkest time of the year in more ways than one. You may be feeling more attacks and temptations than normal. Are you physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually worn down? Patience runs low, relationships are stained, some even broken. We desire to do the good, but the power seems lacking. This is Advent. It is a revealer of faults and problems. God means for it to be a passive purgation. With St. John of the Cross as our guide, let us consider various spiritual maladies which prevent those who want to grow [...]

Dark Night of AdventDVRodriguez2019-12-24T13:58:13-05:00

Special Graces of the Immaculate Conception

DVRodriguez2019-12-15T08:07:50-05:00

Pope Pius IX lists seven Old Testament types which support the great dogma of the Immaculate Conception. A natural question to ask is 'How does this dogma practically affect me?' Well, the practical applications are far more extensive than Catholics probably realize. Above all, this dogma draws one to turn to the Immaculate Conception with great confidence, whatever the need. Ask for her intercession in all dangers, difficulties, needs, doubts and fears. Also, frequently request from her the special graces that are particularly linked to the mystery of her Immaculate Conception. For example, [1] An intense hatred for sin; [2] A [...]

Special Graces of the Immaculate ConceptionDVRodriguez2019-12-15T08:07:50-05:00

Our Lady Prepares Us

DVRodriguez2019-12-15T08:00:20-05:00

The Blessed Virgin Mary is completely victorious over Satan and sin; she crushes the head of the dragon. And this overcoming sin is a reason why devotion to Our Lady is given so much importance at the start of the Church Year; in Advent, as we look to the Day of Judgment. God is holy and only reposes in holy places. If we wish Him to come to us, we must united to Our Lady.

Our Lady Prepares UsDVRodriguez2019-12-15T08:00:20-05:00

Immovable Column

DVRodriguez2019-12-15T07:55:15-05:00

In a Roman piazza near the famous Spanish Steps, stands a high and beautiful marble column of the Immaculate Conception. It is fittingly located in front of the office of the Propagation of the Faith. Right away we see a connection. If we want to preserve our faith, then be devoted to this Woman. The column was dedicated to honor Pius XI's proclamation of the Immaculate Conception and its prophetic statues and base reliefs provide a deeper explanation of the Church's teaching on this dogma. Yet there is more, for in ancient times this column had been dedicated to Minerva, the [...]

Immovable ColumnDVRodriguez2019-12-15T07:55:15-05:00

Fix Your Heart on the World to Come

DVRodriguez2019-11-28T06:59:58-05:00

Three signs given to us by God which urge us to fix our minds and hearts on the world to come are [1] This month of November, [2] Today's Holy Gospel on the Coming of Christ at the Last Judgment, and [3] The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. So many of the changes made to the Mass have contributed, directly and indirectly, to the Catholic Faithful no longer fixing their attention on the life hereafter, but rather on things of this world which are passing away. At Holy Mass, Heaven comes down to earth and we are raised up to Heaven. [...]

Fix Your Heart on the World to ComeDVRodriguez2019-11-28T06:59:58-05:00

Thou Callest Me Master and Heedest Me Not

DVRodriguez2019-11-24T11:21:25-05:00

Consider the following words carved by an unknown sculptor into the walls of an old European Cathedral: "Thou callest Me Master, yet heedest not Me. Thou callest Me Light, yet I shine not in thee. That callest me Way, but dost follow Me not... Thou callest Me JUST; Oh! if just then I be, when I shall condemn thee, reproach thou not Me." These words can serve as a helpful examination of conscience. Place them in your prayerbooks or refrigerator door - anywhere you will see them often and meditate upon their profound import.

Thou Callest Me Master and Heedest Me NotDVRodriguez2019-11-24T11:21:25-05:00