Liturgical Year

Power and Authority

svfonline2019-06-26T08:08:56-04:00

Lord Acton argued that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Yet his assessment was largely influenced by his historical understanding of Luther and Protestants, the Divine Right of Kings, Absolute Monarchs, and the Tyranny of State being deified - none of which are Catholic. In Christ, authority and power never corrupt, but rather bring about the common good, and even the salvation of men. Family, civil order, and the Church are all meant to be function according to the legitimate order and authority established by God, the Source of all Authority.

Power and Authoritysvfonline2019-06-26T08:08:56-04:00

Spirit of Truth vs Spirit of Teilhard

svfonline2019-06-26T07:55:13-04:00

The Holy Ghost is the Spirit of Truth. He confirms the true teachings of Christ in our very souls. There is truth; hence the mind's primary function is to discover and to conform to Christ and the created order He has established. The human mind is not meant to create its own reality; it is not independent or alone. It has not license to create its own version of truth, for things are what they are. But in this modern world in which we dwell, the Spirit of Truth has been put aside in favor of the Spirit of Deception from [...]

Spirit of Truth vs Spirit of Teilhardsvfonline2019-06-26T07:55:13-04:00

Fruits of the Holy Ghost

svfonline2019-06-25T22:29:23-04:00

The Fruits of the Holy Ghost come about both by the Holy Ghost working in man, but also by man willingly cooperating with Him. Gold provides an analogy, since man does not produce gold, but he can cooperate with it to generate more. A man is known by his works (fruits) for the fruits are dispositions in man's soul (his higher faculties) which provide a proper orientation with regard to things that are good and evil. One ought to examine himself with regard to these fruits. Following Aquinas' division, we will look at the the first two sets: those ordering the [...]

Fruits of the Holy Ghostsvfonline2019-06-25T22:29:23-04:00

Heavenly vs Worldly Joy

svfonline2019-06-14T10:33:13-04:00

In relationships we often find four stages: infatuation, realization, despair and, if it endures, then true love. When the Apostles first knew Jesus, they thought of Him in worldly terms. In the forty days leading up to the Ascension, Christ dashed their illusions with a far better reality. We too must learn to have a spiritual joy. Our joy ought not be giddy, hasty, or without reason, like the fleeting glee of worldlings. The Christian's joy is serene, stable and tinged with sadness over spiritual causes. Sacred Gregorian chant is a wonderful example of true spiritual joy. Like the Apostles, our [...]

Heavenly vs Worldly Joysvfonline2019-06-14T10:33:13-04:00

Apostle of Rome vs Apostle of Modern Thought

svfonline2019-06-14T08:06:18-04:00

On this Pentecost, let us reflect upon two 'apostles' who were both filled with a spirit, albeit a different one. On the one hand, St. Philip Neri, known as the Apostle of Rome, who was inflamed with Divine Charity and helped Rome though the difficult and terrible times of Protestant revolution and Mohammedan invasions. On the other hand, the Jesuit Teilhard de Chardin, who preached a "Cosmic Christ" that is constantly evolving. His works were ambiguous and condemned, yet many modern prelates consider him the greatest theologian of the 20th century. Understanding his thought, and the spirit that imbued him, helps [...]

Apostle of Rome vs Apostle of Modern Thoughtsvfonline2019-06-14T08:06:18-04:00

City of God and the Ascension

svfonline2019-06-14T07:56:42-04:00

Our Lord had to ascend for many reasons. Among these are: [1] He is the Great Pioneer who blazed the path for us to follow. [2] He is the Great High Priest, eternally offering His Sacred Wounds and Precious Blood as intercession for men in the Divine Tabernacle not made by human hands. [3] He now provides us with His gifts from above, most notably the Holy Ghost. [4] It is not fitting that one Whose Body is glorified should remain below in a realm of physical decay and death. [5] His ascension enables the theological virtues (Faith, Hope, and Charity) [...]

City of God and the Ascensionsvfonline2019-06-14T07:56:42-04:00

Command Obedience Promise

svfonline2019-06-14T05:53:43-04:00

The Ascension bridges all the mysteries of the Incarnate Word on earth and in Heaven. Three central aspects of the Ascension which you should reflect upon are: [1] It directs the mind and heart to Heaven. The Christian must follow Christ - all the way to where He is now. Your strongest conviction ought to be that you exist for the purpose of getting to Heaven. Orient all your life in conformity with this truth. [2] It teaches us how to get to Heaven, for Our Lord provides the means. One must believe the truths He taught and live by the [...]

Command Obedience Promisesvfonline2019-06-14T05:53:43-04:00

Every Best and Perfect Gift

svfonline2019-06-01T13:37:15-04:00

Listen to these true words of St. James with faith: "'Every best gift and ever perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights." These best gifts include grace, truth, and eternal life. They all come through the hands of Our Lady. I urge you to grow in your devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the collect, the Church prays that we [1] receive the grace to love what God commands; [2] desire what God promises; and [3] fix our heart on Heaven. Each of these three is very connected to the message Our Lady brought at [...]

Every Best and Perfect Giftsvfonline2019-06-01T13:37:15-04:00

Christ Ascended to a Real Place

svfonline2019-06-01T10:40:24-04:00

His Majesty ascended into Heaven today. He did so fully human, body and soul (glorified). We are all to rise again, and those with sanctifying grace will ascend to their place in Heaven. Yes, Heaven is a real place - because real human bodies are there. Many in our day, even high-ranking prelates, doubt (even outright deny) that Heaven is a place. This is because they start with the faulty science of relativity, thinking that there is no direction in our cosmos. Sadly, they then end by denying the bodily resurrection, asserting instead only a "resurrection of persons" This reflects the [...]

Christ Ascended to a Real Placesvfonline2019-06-01T10:40:24-04:00

Saying No to Undo the Yes

svfonline2019-06-01T10:36:57-04:00

As many times as we have said YES to temptation, to doing something not in the law of true liberty established by God, we have to undo it later with a NO, perhaps even fourfold times. Habitual sin, evil behavior, proximity to temptation and vice all have to be undone by their virtuous opposites. Each sin is like loading a crate onto a heavy truck. The more a truck weighs, the harder it is to bring it to a stop and reverse direction. All the times we spoke ill of another, drank too much, took a second look... God will allow [...]

Saying No to Undo the Yessvfonline2019-06-01T10:36:57-04:00