We must learn to pray as Holy Mother Church prays. Make petitions in union with her solemn prayer. It is clear that many of us are failing in our fundamental duty. We are living through the consequences thereof. Discern the false shepherds by their fruits. Consider as well the wondrous fruits of the Precious Blood. His Blood is shed for us at Holy Mass. Do you really believe?
The Mass' Collect Prayer is a solemn petition on the part of the Universal Church. Today we ask God, "Graft in our hearts love for Thy Name and grant us an increase of religion." Religion is the highest moral virtue; by it we render to God the worship and honor due to God. This virtue necessitates being convinced of God's greatness and our own nothingness. It calls us to overcome our self-love and pride, both great obstacles which prevent us from loving God. At Mass, make a special effort to consider the Sacred Heart. "O Jesus, take my heart and change [...]
Most Catholics never learn what it truly means to participate at Mass or having a true conversion of heart. The Sacred Heart is instrumental in these matters. He manifests His love to us especially from the crib in Bethlehem, the Cross on Calvary, and the Holy Eucharist in every church. Yet this Heart which loves without limit is not loved in return. At Mass, look to share the sentiments of the Sacred Heart. Pray for the grace to change your heart!
Man's chief duty is to participate in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. it is not enough for one to simply be present. How many times are we distracted and daydreaming? Rather we must assist with earnestness and concentration, uniting ourselves with Christ the High Priest. Note, what is most essential to our participation is not perceptible to our senses. Rather, it is of the Faith. If the majority of us don't participate well, then what will happen to our families and our Church? "Eternal Father, permit to offer Thee the Heart of my Savior Jesus Christ."
Pope Pius XII teaches that man's fundamental duty is to orient his person and life towards God. Man does this by [1] accepting all divinely revealed truths, [2] obeying the law of God and His Church, [3] rendering God right worship, [4] and centering all his acts and aspirations on God. These four are carried out perfectly by the Sacred Heart. Devotion to the Sacred Heart is a compendium of our holy religion. It comprises a devotion of love, reparation and imitation. Attaining this fundamental duty is hard. Hence, we must pray to the Holy Ghost for His assistance.
Why is the Synod discussing so many un-Catholic things? Why is the Latin Mass being suppressed? Why is Russia once again at war? We must seek the cause. And we shall find an all encompassing answer to these problems. Christ's truth requires that man first conquer in the interior life; then he can conquer on the outside. Yet modern man has sought new avenues according to his own wisdom. He seeks an easy way apart from the cross. He chooses compromise with the world to accomplish only an external peace. Yet false peace brings perpetual war. As we ignore Our Lady [...]
"The devotion of all devotions is love for Jesus Christ – and frequent meditation on the love which this amiable Redeemer has borne and still bears to us" (St. Alphonsus). Our holy religion is not primarily about saying prayers, following the commandments, or doing good deeds. Rather, all we do should first and foremost be a conscious and intentional expression of our love for Christ. We make little progress in the spiritual life and remain in the same sins because we take little care to acquire the love of Christ. This has great relevance for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, [...]
The popes teach devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is the summary of our religion, of the whole mystery of our redemption. This makes perfect sense as it has to do with the infinite love of the Blessed Trinity for us. This devotion is directed towards the love of God for us. We are to adore His Sacred Heart, give thanks for It, and live so as to imitate It. It entails three kinds of devotion: of love, of reparation and of imitation. Consider the example of three saints: Gertrude the Great, Catherine of Siena and Clare of Montefalco. O [...]
Anyone who has authority - religious or secular - has that power from God and each one who exercises authority must exercise it in accordance with God's law. It is a public crime to act as if there is no God or that the true religion can't be known by a state. In Immortale Dei (1885), Pope Leo XIII explains the duties of the state towards God. He provides the doctrine all Catholics must believe; we must draw out its practical conclusion.
What Jesus desires above all is our hearts and He wants to reign and rule in our hearts through His love. The Sacred Heart has a very special love for sinners and a great desire for their conversion. We must promote the kingly and social aspects of His reign. Civil society has to be organized according to Catholic principles. The state has the responsibility to safeguard God's law and make sure it is obeyed by all. Yet Christ's Heart, love, and reign are almost universally scorned, despised and rejected. Incredibly enough, this is also true within the Catholic Church. Do the [...]
