Fr. Michael Rodriguez

Called to Be Especially Devoted to the Immaculate and Sorrowful Heart

DVRodriguez2025-10-20T10:49:21-04:00

Our Lady’s Immaculate and Sorrowful Heart has loved God more purely and ardently than all the holy hearts of angels and saints combined. God used the blood in her heart to create the human nature of His Son. Christ depended upon His Mother’s Heart for His existence. Mary’s heart preserves and glorifies the marvelous mysteries of Her Son’s life, passion, death and resurrection. This is in fact the very mission of the Church. It is also an aim of the Rosary. We all need conversion and Mary’s heart serves as a marvelous ‘road map’ in this necessary work. Being devoted to [...]

Called to Be Especially Devoted to the Immaculate and Sorrowful HeartDVRodriguez2025-10-20T10:49:21-04:00

Fiestas Marianas de Septiembre

DVRodriguez2025-10-08T10:55:08-04:00

A principios de septiembre, la liturgia nos presenta una serie de fiestas marianas (su nacimiento, su santo nombre, sus dolores). Es evidente que la Iglesia nos llama a ser más devotos de la Santísima Virgen María. Nuestra pequeña capilla está dedicada al corazón inmaculado y doloroso de María, por lo que debemos ser especialmente devotos a su corazón. En la imagen única que tenemos aquí, su pureza inmaculada está representada por rosas blancas y sus penas por siete lágrimas de cada ojo. Imploremos a Dios que haga nuestros corazones cada vez más semejantes al corazón de María.

Fiestas Marianas de SeptiembreDVRodriguez2025-10-08T10:55:08-04:00

San Joaquín

DVRodriguez2025-10-06T17:32:02-04:00

Una forma de ser más devoto a la Virgen María es practicar la devoción a sus padres: San Joaquín y Santa Ana. La gloria de San Joaquín en el cielo y su intercesión ante Dios son proporcionales a su mérito y dignidad por haber sido elegido como padre de la Madre de Dios y abuelo de Jesucristo. Ahora bien, la gracia con la que uno muere corresponde a la gloria que tendrá en el cielo por toda la eternidad. Por lo tanto, una gran ventaja que tienen los que viven en la tierra es que pueden crecer en la gracia de [...]

San JoaquínDVRodriguez2025-10-06T17:32:02-04:00

More Spiritual Lessons from the Assumption

DVRodriguez2025-09-30T07:30:21-04:00

The Mystery of Mary’s Assumption provides valuable lessons. It shows the centrality of Christ and how Mary is the path to Christ. Since Our Lady shared in Jesus’ sufferings in a completely unique way, so she too shares in His glory in a completely unique way. Yet there is great glory for ALL who carry their cross faithfully. Imitating Our Lady, we are to persevere in God’s grace and keep our focus always on Heaven. May this mystery also inspire us to seek God’s will above our own in all things, especially as regards sickness and death. Our Lady willingly denied [...]

More Spiritual Lessons from the AssumptionDVRodriguez2025-09-30T07:30:21-04:00

Our Lady of Perpetual Help

DVRodriguez2025-10-02T09:23:04-04:00

Tradition holds that four famous portraits of the Virgin and Child were painted by St. Luke the Evangelist. One of these is the icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, located today in the Church of St. Alphonsus in Rome. The order St. Alphonsus founded, the Redemptorists, have done much to promote this devotion after it was already greatly venerated in the East. St. Luke painted it on a table top crafted by Our Lord. The image was blessed by Our Lady, and she promised: “My grace will accompany it.” In this icon, Mary directs us to her Son. The Child [...]

Our Lady of Perpetual HelpDVRodriguez2025-10-02T09:23:04-04:00

The Prayer of St. Anne

DVRodriguez2025-09-08T12:26:58-04:00

“By their fruits you shall know them.” Let us apply our Lord’s words to St. Anne. She is Our Lord's grandmother and Our Lady's mother. St. Anne is a patroness for many, although her intercession is particularly focused on the family. She excelled in charity for the poor and love of God. She fervently prayed for a husband who would help her live according to the divine law. She and St. Joachim bore very heavy crosses with faith and humility. In fact, her deeds and prayers and deeds serve as a powerful example and inspiration. May we each grow in our [...]

The Prayer of St. AnneDVRodriguez2025-09-08T12:26:58-04:00

Look Upon Me

DVRodriguez2025-09-08T12:24:20-04:00

The devotion of all devotions is love of Jesus Christ and meditating upon the love He bears us. The saints mastered this devotion because they meditated upon Our Lord’s Passion. For example, consider St. Bridget of Sweden and St. Veronica Giuliani. They teach that nothing helps us hate sin more – and love Jesus above all things – than looking upon Him covered in blood and wounds for our sake. Jesus’ sacrifice and His Precious Blood are present to us at Holy Mass. Adore, thank, and pray to the Precious Blood for it has infinite power to sanctify, expiate, protect, and [...]

Look Upon MeDVRodriguez2025-09-08T12:24:20-04:00

Devoción de Devociones

DVRodriguez2025-08-30T08:34:57-04:00

La devoción de las devociones es el amor a Jesucristo y la meditación frecuente en su amor por nosotros. Cristo nos enseña a amar hasta el extremo y a sufrir por amor a Él. Los santos lo aman profundamente y, por eso, sienten un dolor profundo por sus pecados. Consideremos dos ejemplos: Santa Brígida de Suecia y Santa Verónica Juliana. La Preciosísima Sangre tiene poder infinito para santificar, expiar, proteger e interceder y se hace presente en el altar católico. En respuesta, debemos adorar y dar gracias a la Preciosísima Sangre y pedir su intercesión.

Devoción de DevocionesDVRodriguez2025-08-30T08:34:57-04:00

Secret of Matrimonial Poison or Happiness

DVRodriguez2025-08-23T15:11:12-04:00

We ask God to grant us an increase in religion; that we recognize His infinite majesty and our own nothingness. The natural fruit of religion is sacrifice. Today we apply this prayer to marriage. In marriage, God calls us to renounce ourselves (our senses, passions, will, judgment) for the good of our spouse and children. If you are not sacrificing in your marriage, how can you sacrifice to God? Self will spoils and corrupts marriage. Spouses must crucify the ‘old self’ and be motivated by the desire to do God’s will.

Secret of Matrimonial Poison or HappinessDVRodriguez2025-08-23T15:11:12-04:00

Receive with Greater Devotion

DVRodriguez2025-08-23T15:12:22-04:00

The reason why souls make so little progress in virtue and remain in the same defects, even frequently lapsing into previous sins, is because they take little care (and are not sufficiently admonished) to acquire the love of Christ. The devotion of all devotions is love for Jesus. Yet, our faith remains weak. We are always looking for signs, for God to do what we want. Yet if we but believed and loved –like the saints– we would see the Greatest Sign is right there before us!

Receive with Greater DevotionDVRodriguez2025-08-23T15:12:22-04:00