We can learn many lessons for the spiritual life by studying precious details within the mystery of the Transfiguration. Why did Our Lord select the three particular Apostles to accompany Him? Why did Moses and Elijah appear with Him? Why does Peter suggest building three tents? How is it all connected to the central mystery of Christ's identity and mission?
Marriage is under attack: its roles reversed, ends inverted, and duties abandoned. We must look to the Holy Family. The man has authority and must make difficult decisions for the good of the family. He provides, protects and leads prayers. The woman must embrace [monotonous] house work, support and obey her husband, and guide the children. Children must obey, be respectful, and ease the family’s burdens. (Obedience does have limits; it may never violate God’s law.) Pray for the light and grace to imitate the Holy Family. The Reign of Christ spreads in the world through true families.
God’s grace is absolutely necessary to perform any good work towards obtaining eternal life. The ordinary means for obtaining this grace is prayer. In general, God only gives His grace to those who ask for it and are disposed to receive it. Through the prayers selected for Lent, the Church is teaching us how to pray and prayer's great value. In prayer one 'sets himself apart' so as to be with God. The goal of prayer is to transform the heart and mind (conversion). By prayer, one offers his heart and mind to God.
God calls us to conversion (a change of heart, intellect, and will). This conversion is not easy. We absolutely need God’s grace. One also needs to have faith and to do penance (prayer, fasting, almsgiving). All this comes from grace; so one must ask for these graces and continue to ask. The great and mysterious work of the Holy Ghost is to sanctify men’s souls via divine grace. He shows us what is good and virtuous. He strengthens us to do the good and avoid evil. Don’t let up asking for His help during Lent!
No recibamos la gracia de Dios en vano. La gracia santificante -la vida de Dios- nos da la vida eterna. Pero la gracia actual es una ayuda sobrenatural que Dios nos concede cada día para realizar nuestra salvación. Cuando cooperamos con la gracia, merecemos más gracias. Pero el abuso de la gracia de Dios nos impide recibir más gracias. Hay una relación directa entre la cantidad de gracia en nuestra alma cuando morimos y el nivel en el que experimentaremos la visión beatífica de Dios por toda la eternidad. Cada uno puede llegar a ser santo, pero hay que cooperar con [...]
Esforzaos durante la Cuaresma por ser más fieles y comprometeros en la oración, el ayuno y la limosna. Convertíos al Señor Dios nuestro con ayuno, lloro y llanto. Señor Dios, ayúdanos a cambiar nuestro corazón, nuestra inteligencia y nuestra voluntad. Ayúdanos a crecer en nuestra estima y amor por la lex orandi lex credeni de la Santa Iglesia. Así nos asemejaremos más al corazón inmaculado de María.
The Spirit leads Jesus into the desert to be tempted. The devil always attacks us at our weakest point, where we lack support. He tempts our Lord to satisfy his natural (bodily) needs with illegitimate means. The context of Jesus' scriptural rebuttal is the manna from Exodus, and hence highly Eucharistic. The devil then tempts Jesus with pride and avarice. satan wants to be worshiped as if he were God. This is the root of temptation, by which our first parents fell, the desire to "be like God." Yet Jesus strongly rebukes satan him for violating God's honor. Man should only [...]
The primary end of marriage is to "increase and multiply" (Gn 1:28). God wants souls with which to share His goodness – Himself – for all eternity. Parents are 'stewards' of their children with the duty for help children reach the perfection God has planned for them (think of the parable of the talents). The secondary end is mutual help and the quelling of passion (Gn 2:18,23). Marriage demands a man and woman who are open to all the children God wishes to give them. They must be ready to die for their vocation, and not be motivated by self-interest or [...]
First class in a course taught by Father Rodríguez on the Foundations of the Christian Faith. Father discusses the two most foundational truths of the Catholic Faith. Every Catholic should know them and really believe them. (Father tests all his first communicants on these two points.) These two truths have innumerable consequences for how we live and how we practice the Faith. Knowing these principles helps us rebut those who ask "Well, where is that in the Bible?" or "The pope said such and such, so you have to accept it."
Jesus was born in order to die for us. Colossians 3:17 aptly describes our fitting response. Three 'Christmas' images which help us keep this response in mind are: [1] The Blessed Mother offering her Son in sacrifice in the temple. [2] Jesus teaching the truth in the temple. [3] Jesus the King teaching from His cathedra. It is necessary to hear and transmit the teaching of Christ and to worship God rightly. Keeping these three images in your mind and heart will help you be faithful to God's grace and to grow in His grace.
