Fr. Iakobus

Penance Requires Prudence Humility and Prayer

DVRodriguez2026-03-02T11:26:56-05:00

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 [...]

Penance Requires Prudence Humility and PrayerDVRodriguez2026-03-02T11:26:56-05:00

Lent is Here to Help Us Save Our Souls

DVRodriguez2026-02-17T14:38:03-05:00

Holy Mother Church calls us to see this holy season of Lent with the grace of sight. ‘To do battle’ is the spirit of Lent. We must weaken our body by mortification because that weakens the passions which lead us to sin. We must do penance because that makes up for our sins. Every sin weakens our will to live a good Catholic life; every penance strengthens that will. Making peace with our sins is not a Catholic life, so give up something that hurts. (If we are not suffering, something is wrong with our Lent). Give up the electronics, the [...]

Lent is Here to Help Us Save Our SoulsDVRodriguez2026-02-17T14:38:03-05:00

Right Order in the Family

DVRodriguez2026-02-09T23:26:59-05:00

To be happy a family does not need great wealth or pleasure, yet right order is essential. The husband must lead, making difficult decisions, always for the good of the whole family. The wife is the heart, inspiring love and peace; a magnet pulling everyone back to the home. The chief duty of children is obedience. They are to help their parents and lighten their burdens. Love and peace abound when families work together, have common goals, communicate well, and each member exercises humility. Families are sanctified by suffering. In the Holy Family, God has provided the perfect model for all [...]

Right Order in the FamilyDVRodriguez2026-02-09T23:26:59-05:00

Be Not Wise in Your Conceits

DVRodriguez2026-01-30T10:51:49-05:00

We humans are weak, think our way of seeing things is always right, don’t want to own up to our own faults, and seek to force our plan for life upon others. We resort to evil means to reach a sought after good, then justify our actions that are not right. We do this in small things and it becomes a habit in our soul. We are blinded to our own faults and can’t see how our way of acting destroys the peace in our family, parish, and society. This pride of man also prevents God from speaking to our souls. [...]

Be Not Wise in Your ConceitsDVRodriguez2026-01-30T10:51:49-05:00

Why Are Our Marriages Unhappy?

DVRodriguez2026-01-27T20:03:20-05:00

Our Lord performed His first public miracle at the Wedding of Cana. He elevated marriage to a sacrament, meaning it became a stable state of life which produces grace. He did this at the request of His Mother. The overabundance of wine represents grace and great joy. All society benefits from this, not only the married couple. Yet we have deviated from how Christ has instituted marriage. Even Catholic Canon Law has confused the proper ends of marriage. NFP is used by so many Catholics, but it easily fosters a spirit of selfishness and pleasure that runs contrary to marriage. The [...]

Why Are Our Marriages Unhappy?DVRodriguez2026-01-27T20:03:20-05:00

Savior and King of Love

DVRodriguez2026-01-11T12:00:20-05:00

The name Jesus was decreed by God from all eternity. This Name means Savior. It has great power. Use His Name with reverence frequently (when sad, it brings joy; when tempted, it makes the devil flee; when in trouble, it brings aid). Parents have a grave obligation to make this Name known to their children. It is not enough to just be Catholic. Many Catholics do not go to Heaven. We must live good Catholic lives and strive to be models of Christ. If we are, He WILL help us. What must you do in 2026 to grow in His love, [...]

Savior and King of LoveDVRodriguez2026-01-11T12:00:20-05:00

Show Jesus to Others

DVRodriguez2025-12-18T12:07:18-05:00

Despite being in prison, St. John the Baptist sends his disciples to Jesus. It is the duty of every Catholic to point out Christ, even subtly. A spouse does so when showing love even when not treated rightly. A child does so by honoring its parents when it doesn't receive all it wants or deserves. A worker does so by giving a good day's work when he could slack off. Consider the example of Captain Guy Gruters, a US Air Force pilot and Vietnam POW who suffered terribly in the hot box at the ‘Hanoi Hilton’. The world rejects the cross, [...]

Show Jesus to OthersDVRodriguez2025-12-18T12:07:18-05:00

Noise and Silence of Advent

DVRodriguez2025-12-05T11:02:16-05:00

It is the first day of the new [liturgical] year and time for a fresh start – to put things in the right order. We commemorate Christ’s coming in the flesh and prepare for when He will come again. So we must “look up” with our minds. We often fail to do this on account of the noise all around us: from the world which we can’t avoid, from technology that is self-inflicted, and from our own lips. Strive to have a spirit of silence this Advent that you may hear and love God more than you did the past year.

Noise and Silence of AdventDVRodriguez2025-12-05T11:02:16-05:00

The Sweet Yoke of Christ

DVRodriguez2025-11-05T11:23:22-05:00

All nations are to be bought under the sweet yoke of Christ’s rule. Christ must first reign in our souls. Then He can use us to transform souls and extend His kingdom to others. But have we been infected by the spirit of the world? Do we think the Catholic life is too difficult, that we can’t live as the Church calls us to or as our ancestors did? This is simply not true. Christ is King and He remains so for all eternity. His power extends over everything. We have to know Him and His truth. Be confident that Christ [...]

The Sweet Yoke of ChristDVRodriguez2025-11-05T11:23:22-05:00

Bear One Another’s Burdens

DVRodriguez2025-10-23T16:14:38-04:00

Faith has to show forth in actions. Exercise charity by bearing one another’s burdens, especially those in our household [of faith]. This is our duty and it is also very fatiguing. Prudently give others the benefit of the doubt. Wisely know when to bear a wrong in silence. This is more challenging when we have the same defect, as seeing it another pricks our conscience. It is also harder when dealing with those who are close to us and whom we love. But carrying a heavier cross brings greater graces. Let us not tire in doing good. May those who encounter [...]

Bear One Another’s BurdensDVRodriguez2025-10-23T16:14:38-04:00