Saints

St Benedict Joseph Labre

DVRodriguez2020-03-24T09:45:00-04:00

Sometimes people accuse the saints of suffering from mental illness. Yet canonizations are generally good indications that one practiced heroic virtue, had great generosity, was spiritually mature, had a healthy and well-developed personality, and lived in profound union with God. Consider the example of St. Benedict Joseph Labre (1748-1783). At age 16 he resolved to live a religious life, attempting to join the strictest religious orders. Yet this was not God's will for him. Instead he had a unique call to live a most painful, penitential, lonely, and pitied life as a pilgrim outcast. The world served as his cloister, and he [...]

St Benedict Joseph LabreDVRodriguez2020-03-24T09:45:00-04:00

Foster Devotion to St. Joseph

DVRodriguez2025-03-03T12:48:17-05:00

Three brief daily sermons. After the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph is the saint dearest to God. His intercession is universal and exceedingly powerful. Among many patronages, he is the Protector of the Universal Church and Helper of Christians in times of difficulty. Thus, we should go to Him and obey him as Jesus and Mary obeyed him. We ought to consult, honor and thank him as they did; and love him as they still love him. The best form of devotion to St. Joseph is to imitate his virtues; to think, speak and act as he did. These sermons also [...]

Foster Devotion to St. JosephDVRodriguez2025-03-03T12:48:17-05:00

Saint Simeon and a Faithful Servant

DVRodriguez2020-02-20T06:59:50-05:00

Tradition tells us that as St. Simeon translated the Scriptures, an angel prevented him from adjusting the word 'virgin' to 'young maiden' in Isaias' prophecy (7:14). The angel then revealed that Simeon would not die until he had seen the long-awaited Messiah (Lk 2:26). Upon that predestined day, though he was quite old, he hastened to the Temple with the spring of youth. Simeon’s eyes immediately noted the Child Jesus, he reverently approached the Holy Family, and falling to his knees, adored the Divine Child in Mary's arms. The old man then prayed to God to release him from this life (Nunc Dimittis). St. [...]

Saint Simeon and a Faithful ServantDVRodriguez2020-02-20T06:59:50-05:00

Humility Heaven’s Stairway

DVRodriguez2020-01-27T09:03:19-05:00

The saints have often praised the humility of Our Lady, unsurpassed by no other human person. God finds humility irresistible. In fact, many saints have noted that it was the Blessed Virgin Mary's humility which drew the Lord down from Heaven. You see, God will not be outdone in humility. If our Lady humbled herself so greatly, God would humble Himself even more by taking on human nature within her so as to suffer for our sins. The teachings of St. John Climacus (+649), a desert monk, and of Bl. Mary of Jesus Crucified (+1878), a Carmelite nun, can help inspires [...]

Humility Heaven’s StairwayDVRodriguez2020-01-27T09:03:19-05:00

Resolutions of St Dominic Savio

DVRodriguez2020-01-27T06:26:45-05:00

St. Dominic Savio teaches us the importance of making holy resolutions, especially in conjunction with our reception of Holy Communion. The piety with which he received his Dear Savior is shown by the zeal of his resolutions: to dread mortal sin, to flee from the occasions of sin, to avoid bad companions, never to read bad books (today we might add any bad from of entertainment), to guard his eyes not looking upon evil, and to pray often. We should resolve to love Jesus for this is why we have been placed upon this earth. Resolve to love the Catholic Church and [...]

Resolutions of St Dominic SavioDVRodriguez2020-01-27T06:26:45-05:00

Wounds Healing Wounds

DVRodriguez2019-12-24T07:53:16-05:00

How might modern ecclesiastics evaluate Our Lord's selection of Twelve Apostles? Thomas the doubter would surely have been guilty of lowering morale. It seems Advent is a time when all are somewhat affected thus. The only way to be healed is the same way St. Thomas was cured of his doubt. Suffering (wounds) must be offered redemptively for the healing of ourselves and others.

Wounds Healing WoundsDVRodriguez2019-12-24T07:53:16-05:00

St. Andrew

DVRodriguez2019-11-30T06:49:15-05:00

St. Andrew was a disciple of St. John the Baptist and brought his brother, Peter, to Our Lord. He preached throughout the lands that bordered the Black and Caspian Seas. He was martyred on a cross (X-shape) for converting pagans, including the wife of the proconsul, and refusing to sacrifice to pagan idols. Pray to sat Andrew, especially for these three graces: [1] To be a more faithful disciple of Jesus Christ; [2] To lead others to Christ; and [3] For a greater love for the Cross.

St. AndrewDVRodriguez2019-11-30T06:49:15-05:00

Forgiving Enemies to Free Poor Souls

DVRodriguez2019-11-14T06:30:31-05:00

We can help the poor souls in Purgatory by our seeking to be reconciled with those who have offended us here on earth. St. Teresa of Jesus liked to forgive her enemies because she would then turn to God and ask Him to fulfill His promise to forgive her all her faults. A powerful example comes from the life of St. Gerard Majella, reputed for his pace-making ability. Through him God shows that our forgiveness can even cancel the debts of the poor souls. This is yet another reason not to let enmity simmer or desire revenge, but to seek a [...]

Forgiving Enemies to Free Poor SoulsDVRodriguez2019-11-14T06:30:31-05:00

Strive for the Eternal not the Perishable

DVRodriguez2019-11-14T06:11:18-05:00

We belong to God. Thus, we must do our very best to fulfill His holy will and our primary focus has to be on the world to come. During November, Holy Mother Church focuses us on the world to come in a more intense manner. She turns our attention to the saints and poor souls in Purgatory, reminding us that the Church is much more than those here on earth. On the other hand, a common trait shared by the three enemies of our soul's salvation is 'the insatiable craving for things perishable with complete forgetfulness of things eternal.' The more one learns [...]

Strive for the Eternal not the PerishableDVRodriguez2019-11-14T06:11:18-05:00

Heresy of Apollinarianism and the Tilma

wpengine2024-12-20T12:26:04-05:00

We have reason to rejoice in our Holy Mother: The Church and Our Lady. Mary is the perfect type of the Church. The miraculous tilma of Guadalupe points to numerous truths about the Church: She is divine, she is alive, Jesus lives in her, she is indestructible, she is sweet even as she corrects and reproves. We also recently celebrated Pope St. Damasus (+384), who battled an anti-pope, upheld the Sacred Scriptures, and condemned heresy. He defended the Person of Christ and His two natures. These truths dispel today's popular errors that animals may be resurrected, redeemed or have eternal souls.

Heresy of Apollinarianism and the Tilmawpengine2024-12-20T12:26:04-05:00