God's gift of St. Joseph is a cause for great rejoicing. No saint's intercession, excepting Our Lady, is more powerful. Know the seven privileges granted those who invoke St. Joseph in a devout and proper manner. Meditate upon his life (as seen by the mystics). Appreciate his patronage more and grow in your devotion to him.
The Roman Empire's Fall sent shockwaves throughout the world. The unthinkable had occurred. Then God sent a holy man - St. Benedict - to revitalize a continent in darkness. The Benedictines most important work was true divine worship. Today another great fall threatens: the collapse of the Roman Liturgy. No one should dare touch its essentials, for fidelity to the liturgy is fidelity to Christ and confession of the True Faith. But we have witnessed a liturgical rupture. Tradition is the guiding principle for all Christian Liturgy. It is handed down, not artificially constructed. It originates from Christ and is guided [...]
Epiphany is one of the five holiest days of the year, yet nearly everyone has 'moved past' Christmas. You must think and act like Catholics. The feasts of Church should shape your mindset. Know that the purpose of your marriage and family is to lead people to Christ, to inspire a greater love for Him – find great joy in this! The light that guides the Three Kings also represents faith. They are men of great obedience and faith who follow the light from God. Catholic, do the same!
At the start of November we celebrate all the saints. For a time, they were ordinary men and women similar to us. They suffered from the same temptations, faults, discouragements, obstacles. So what did they do differently? Each of us has something we can get rid of that will make a huge difference. At our judgment, it's not about excuses or justifications. God keeps it simple: Why did you choose to not make that change. So examine yourself. You are supposed to be a saint. Decide now.
Draw your attention to the Church’s Collect Prayer in general and today in particular. We beg God for an increase of faith, hope and charity. We can’t grow in them based on our own will and effort. God promises them to us and they are His free gifts to us. Nevertheless, we must do our part to merit them. We also ask God to help us love His Commandments. Too often men erroneously view God’s law as burdensome; yet it is an expression of His love.
The greatest fruits of the Precious Blood are the saints and martyrs. Consider, for example the life of St. Christina of Bolsena. Many don't realize her connection to the great Eucharistic Miracle which took place over her relics one thousand years after her martyrdom. The link to the Precious Blood is seen in other great saints we venerate in July, such as St. James the Greater, St. Ann, and St. Mary Magdalene. Pray for the specific graces exemplified by these saints and specifically associated with the infinite power of the Precious Blood.
The Church recently celebrated two great monarchs: St. Louis IX of France and St Stephen of Hungary. What a great blessing for a nation to have a virtuous Catholic ruler! But what a curse it must be to have an bad [apostate] Catholic in power – as we do today. Apparently heeding Machiavelli's advice, he acts as if the ends justify the means and prefers to be feared than loved. He eschews natural and divine laws, following instead Alinsky's Rules for Radicals. His cruel methods serve to anger, hurt and polarize. Might this signal a twilight of 'The American Experiment?'
What an extraordinary 'miracle' on the Feast of the Sacred Heart and the Nativity of John the Baptist. These feasts teach us many pertinent lessons. There never was a right to murder the unborn. This 'constitutional right' has been forever eliminated. Truth is on the side of life. Now the real battle begins, in the political area and to win minds and hearts. We must cry out in condemnation of the culture of death and the demons behind it: 'Non licet!' Now is our time to act.
Saint Monica is a mother par excellence. Her prayers, tears, and sacrifices ultimately converted her husband and children. Today we celebrate motherhood, remembering our mother's love and her labor pains (which often endure into our adult years). Yet our world is trying to destroy femininity and the motherly instinct. Abortion has even become an explicit satanic ritual act. This culture of death is in desperate need of much healing. Even if Roe v. Wade is overturned, we need to win hearts and minds.
Devotion to Mary is necessary for salvation! In giving us the Incarnate Word, Our Lady has obtained all the graces we need and she continually pours them out upon us. So have an ever greater union with the most Holy Virgin and depend more on her intercession and assistance! Here are five saintly examples to help inspire you: [1] St John Damascene, [2] St Ignatius Loyola, [3] St. Philip Neri, [4] Bl. Elizabeth Picenardi of Mantua, and [4] Four year old St. John Marie Vianney. Also, consider ten simple ways to practice devotion to Our Lady.
