Hope in the Desert. Fr. John Lovell interviews David Rodríguez. They discuss the Feast of St. Joseph, Our Lady of Sorrows, Marian apparitions, and how the most significant events in human history have taken placed on March 25.
What most calls man to conversion is the Passion and Death of Jesus Christ; specifically, how it manifests His infinite love (and the horror of sin). Christ’s Passion will produce a change of life in us. The problem is we do not take the time to truly contemplate His blessed Wounds. We must contemplate His Passion attentively, and for a due space of time, not hurriedly. He will grant the grace needed for a complete transformation of life, but you have to make the effort.
Jesus Christ always places before us His Passion and Death. The entire Old Testament points to it. Nothing is more profitable for our sanctification than meditation upon Our Lord’s suffering. Every Sacrament and sacramental flows from the Cross. Blessings and prayers begin with the Sign of the Cross. At the very center of our life is the actualization and mystical representation of Christ’s sacrifice: the Mass. You will derive greater efficacy from the Sacrament of Penance if you prepare for it in light of Christ’s Passion.
Jesucristo nos da un gran ejemplo: eleva los ojos al cielo para orar. Cada misa dominical de Cuaresma comienza con el llamado a rezar. La necesidad de orar es tan grande que nada más puede suplir su omisión. Todos pueden orar, y todos están obligados a orar. A menudo no rezamos como deberíamos. No te limites a las formas externas, sino dedícate a la oración con diligencia, fervor y, sobre todo, con gran fe y amor. Debemos orar siempre: en las pruebas, en las alegrías, en las dudas, en la tentación, y después de haber pecado. Hay que también rezar con [...]
Sin la gracia de Dios, el hombre no puede hacer nada para su salvación. Sin embargo, en la providencia ordinaria de Dios, la gracia no se concede más que a quienes la piden. Por eso, la oración es necesaria para la salvación. La oración es una elevación de nuestra alma hacia Dios para ofrecerle nuestro homenaje y pedirle sus favores a fin de crecer en santidad para su gloria. La oración tiene cuatro fines: adoración, acción de gracias, súplica y propiciación. Debemos pedir siempre por: el amor a Dios, el amor a la oración, el perdón de nuestros pecados y la [...]
The testimony of St. John the Baptist fulfills the prophecies and confirms that the Messiah has come. The religious authorities want to ascertain his identity. Is he the Christ, Elias, the Prophet? He does not deny his identity or dissimulate. He is the voice crying in the wilderness. Each one of us can only know our true identity in Christ. It is only by God’s grace and favor (baptism) that we are children of God.
We are to walk in love, with the charity of God in our soul. This begins by God giving us His sanctifying grace so that we are lovable and have the ability to love Him in return. That grace is meant to increase until we die. Yet we often forget how necessary it is to show this love of God every day and abide always in a state of grace. Our soul is divided, wanting things of this world. We become complacent falling into a state of sin and then returning to a state of grace. Let not your soul become [...]
Christ intentionally set up His Church with three parts to mirror the Blessed Trinity. Likewise, Our Lady’s Rosary has three sets of mysteries. Sadly, the majority of Catholics no longer have true faith in the Mystery of the Church. For example, they think the Mass has only to do with them. They forget, that the Mass is also offered for the Church Suffering. Many also forget that the Four Last things are the inescapable destiny of every single human being.
Es un dogma de fe que el hombre sin la gracia de Dios no puede hacer nada por su salvación eterna. Ahora bien, el medio ordinario para recibir la gracia de Dios es la oración (y los sacramentos). Cada día, Dios nos llama a orar. Dios concede sus bendiciones a quienes se las piden con sinceridad, fe, amor, confianza y perseverancia. La razón principal por la que nuestras oraciones no son eficaces es porque carecen de estas cualidades. Comunicarnos con Dios es un privilegio que debemos atesorar por encima de todo.
Jesus goes into the desert for 40 days. We follow His example in order to break the hold that the world has on us. We will be tempted, especially by our flesh. We must shut this down right away and not attempt to dialogue with the temptation. We must also not tempt God by trying to force His help with imprudent penances. Not should we impose lenten menaces upon another. Remain humble because pride goeth before the fall. Take one day of lenten penance at a time. Don’t beat yourself up if you fail. Instead ask God for help and keep [...]
