Baptism

A Catholic Profession of Faith

DVRodriguez2026-06-03T06:59:29-04:00

Baptism, Faith, and the Church. These three major themes of Eastertide always go together and can’t be separated. God gives us Faith at Baptism through the Church. To be saved one must believe the Faith preached by the Church and be baptized. There Is a great crisis in the Church today because these three are being separated, especially by members of the hierarchy. He that believeth not shall be condemned. Doctrinal errors rampant today are exposed by a ‘Declaration of Catholic Faith’ recently published by a group of traditional Catholics. Women, look to the example of the Church to see what [...]

A Catholic Profession of FaithDVRodriguez2026-06-03T06:59:29-04:00

Adoro Te Devote

DVRodriguez2026-06-01T11:52:13-04:00

The Church presents us with three great Easter themes — Faith, Baptism, Holy Eucharist — and three great Easter professions of Faith. It is very easy to deceive ourselves regarding religion and faith. Anyone who considers himself ‘good’ but does not strive to keep the Faith deceives himself and his faith is in vain. We must be on guard to keep ourselves unspotted from the world, for the world inevitably takes us away from the Faith. A man of faith seeks to grow in faith and act by faith.

Adoro Te DevoteDVRodriguez2026-06-01T11:52:13-04:00

The Catholic Walketh by Faith

DVRodriguez2026-05-27T08:14:37-04:00

Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world. The Catholic Faith is the victory which overcometh the world. Faith is God’s free gift to us; it makes eternal life possible. Man must believe the Faith (truth), live by Faith (God’s commandments), and pray according to the Faith (worship revealed by God). It is impossible to please God without the True Faith. The just man – he who acts in accordance with his baptism – guides his thoughts, words, and actions by faith (truths revealed by God), not by his reason, experience, senses, perceptions or feelings.

The Catholic Walketh by FaithDVRodriguez2026-05-27T08:14:37-04:00

Do You Act Based on Faith?

DVRodriguez2026-05-17T08:13:33-04:00

Baptism and Faith are themes central to Easter (as is the Holy Eucharist). We must understand Faith as a supernatural virtue, knowing it rests on the authority of God, not our own reason or experience. Far too often we speak, act, dress, select our entertainment guided not by faith, but by our opinions or those of the world. This is a fatal mistake. Offer reparation, not because it is logical, but out of faith. Be faithful in prayer, not because you see its effects, but out of faith. Always carry the Faith in your mind and heart.

Do You Act Based on Faith?DVRodriguez2026-05-17T08:13:33-04:00

Death to Sin New Life in Christ

DVRodriguez2026-04-28T19:57:54-04:00

During the Easter Octave, the Church provides readings which prefigure baptism. Why? Because, as the Church Fathers teach, baptism is a practical consequence of the Resurrection. Every single day we must make efforts to be faithful to our grace of baptism, to guard our faith and to live by it, so that it may continue to grow. As long as our earthly pilgrimage lasts, we must pursue this double work of dying to sin and living for God. This is our call in Baptism. This is why Christ died and rose.

Death to Sin New Life in ChristDVRodriguez2026-04-28T19:57:54-04:00

Will You Reject God’s Invitation

DVRodriguez2025-11-04T10:43:01-05:00

Have you ever wondered why Our Lord told a parable where a king has a wedding guest bound and cast into the exterior darkness for simply failing to have proper attire? Father explains this parable (Matthew 22:1-14), noting that the Church is signified by the wedding feast. Clearly, it is not sufficient to simply be a member of the Church. Now those who preferred worldliness –or killed the messengers– are the Jews, and their city is destroyed (70 AD). Their fall opened the Church to the Gentiles, bad and good alike. In baptism, the soul “puts on Christ,” I.e. Jesus’ mind, [...]

Will You Reject God’s InvitationDVRodriguez2025-11-04T10:43:01-05:00

The Life of Grace

DVRodriguez2023-09-16T09:43:27-04:00

On the occasion of his niece's christening, Fr. Rodríguez invites us to consider the profound connection between Our Lady of Sorrows and the Sacrament of Baptism.

The Life of GraceDVRodriguez2023-09-16T09:43:27-04:00

Easter, Baptism and Faith

DVRodriguez2021-04-26T08:33:41-04:00

All the Gospels of the Easter Octave clearly have in common Our Lord's call to faith. This is of great significance. Christ exhorts us to truly place our faith in His passion, death and resurrection. In fact, with two words we can easily summarize the Church's focus during the Easter Season: Baptism and Faith. By Baptism we die and rise with Christ. What overcomes the world is our faith. A great danger is for the world to contaminate, and thereby overcome, our faith. To fight against such danger, pray for a lively faith and a greater devotion to Holy Communion. Know [...]

Easter, Baptism and FaithDVRodriguez2021-04-26T08:33:41-04:00

Baptism not Transhumanism

DVRodriguez2020-11-13T21:49:50-05:00

Some elitist secular humanists are dreaming of a futuristic 'bionic man' who does not suffer, is filled with knowledge and has immortality. Yet this "transhuman" would not be divine; he'd be more like a 'walking smart phone.' The false promise of such an 'evolved being' reminds us of satan seducing Eve, 'You will be like gods.' No, such an artificial 'evolution' would make us more akin to preternatural demons. On the other hand, the baptized Catholic IS filled with the Holy Ghost and participates in the Divine Nature itself. Through grace, we don’t become simply spirits or angels, but we become divinized. At every Baptism, the Holy Ghost comes [...]

Baptism not TranshumanismDVRodriguez2020-11-13T21:49:50-05:00

More Saving Patterns from Cana and Baptism

DVRodriguez2020-02-11T10:42:53-05:00

Let us consider a few more patterns laid down by our Savior, as presented to us by Holy Mother Church, in Christmastide feasts: The Baptism of the Lord and the Wedding at Cana. (Both feasts are also part of the Mystery of Epiphany.) Note that Baptism [1] is the sure and clear way to Heaven; [2] brings about the indwelling of the Holy Ghost and habitual sanctifying grace; [3] and produces faith in the Triune God. The Wedding of Cana establishes patterns for validity in marriage, the purpose of marriage, and the importance of Our Lady and of sacrifice in marriage. [...]

More Saving Patterns from Cana and BaptismDVRodriguez2020-02-11T10:42:53-05:00