Fr. Iakobus

When It All Seems Too Much

DVRodriguez2026-07-14T08:31:11-04:00

Cast all your cares upon the Lord; He will sustain you. We forget this so often because we see the evil in the world. We get anxious, overwhelmed, angry, and discouraged (all tricks of the devil). We try to push through but fail. Sometimes we hit rock bottom. God allows this to humble us, so we realize our weakness and how much we need Him. So that we run to Him, fleeing the worst of evils –one venial sin– and are prompted to do penance. When we acknowledge God is in charge of all things, then it doesn’t look so bad. [...]

When It All Seems Too MuchDVRodriguez2026-07-14T08:31:11-04:00

Grow in Faith for a Little While

DVRodriguez2026-05-09T23:04:06-04:00

Jesus prepares and strengthens His disciples to live by faith. The faith is our path to salvation. Too often our faith is weak; we are tempted to think evil is too strong or we wish we did not live in this time. Instead of trying to escape where God has placed you, strive to grow daily in faith. You do this by living a basic Catholic life. You must get to know God. And you must desire Heaven. If we live for Christ, then sufferings endured will win many graces. Your sorrow will only last a little while, for then God [...]

Grow in Faith for a Little WhileDVRodriguez2026-05-09T23:04:06-04:00

Don’t Be Discouraged

DVRodriguez2026-04-18T14:58:56-04:00

God brings good out of all things, even the sin of Thomas. By his act of disbelief, God shows the credibility of the Catholic Faith. Do we believe our Faith is the victory that has overcome the world or do we get discouraged by all the evil in the world? The Faith is an unchanging road map that shows us how to get to Heaven. It is not complicated. And Jesus is in charge of all things. This brings us great peace. For if we are faithful, we will rise with Christ, no matter what happens in the world.

Don’t Be DiscouragedDVRodriguez2026-04-18T14:58:56-04:00

On What Does the Veil Descend?

DVRodriguez2026-03-29T13:53:18-04:00

Passiontide begins. Everything is somber. The Church is veiled. This is the most intense phase of Lent. The gospels of the week indicate why Our Lord is hiding. He has healed a blind man and raised Lazarus from the dead. Those who oppose Him refuse to believe He is God. We can fall into the same deception, especially when we see the power of evil in our world. We are tempted to distrust Our Lord, to veil our minds and our hearts. Do not be discouraged. Rather, blind your mind and heart to the world. In the midst of the evils [...]

On What Does the Veil Descend?DVRodriguez2026-03-29T13:53:18-04:00

Great Danger of the Lukewarm State

DVRodriguez2026-03-11T07:48:57-04:00

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 [...]

Great Danger of the Lukewarm StateDVRodriguez2026-03-11T07:48:57-04:00

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