Fr. Michael Rodriguez

Our Lady’s Message from Heaven, uttered nearly 100 years ago at Fatima, explains the WHY behind the terrible crisis which we are living through to this day. Have we listened? Have we obeyed? The “Fatima Plan” has four great pillars: [1] Reparation and Sacrifice; [2] Prayer and Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary; [3] The Sacrament of Confession, and [4] The Holy Rosary. Let us consider the relation between the Immaculate Heart and the Cross, so that we may grow in our love and devotion for the Immaculate Heart.

In 19151, Pope Pius XII was urging all Catholics to faithfully pray the Rosary, so that through this prayer to our Lady, better times might quickly return to the Church and society. These better times have not returned, in part because man has not heeded this urgent call. Let us mediate on twelve brief points that summarize Pius XII’s encyclical, Ingruentium Malorum, on the Rosary.

St. Charles Borromeo is one of the four great reformers of the Catholic Church in the 16th century. He was Cardinal Archbishop of Milan and a Council Father at Trent. He was rigorous in discipline and had great solicitude for the poor and the sick. He was extremely devoted to the saints and supremely concerned for the salvation of the soul of one who was dying.

Two brief daily sermons on death, Our Lady, and the holy souls. [1] It is appointed unto men once to die, and after this the judgment. “Memento Mori” (Remember Death). One cardinal had a skull upon his desk with the words: “What you are, I was, and what I am, you shall be.” [2] The souls in Purgatory are consoled and assisted by the most holy Mother of God. She exercises a plenitude of power over the holy soul, not only to relieve their suffering, but also to release them from imprisonment.

Continuation of the sermon Devotion of Devotions [On the Sacred Heart]. Following a review of the four immediate and three ultimate aims of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Father explains how, on a daily basis, we can practice and grow in this essential devotion. [1] To excite our heart to love Jesus more we ought to: (1) Do what pleases the Heart of Jesus; (2) Avoid what displeases Him most; (3) Consciously carry out daily thoughts, words and actions out of love for Him; (4) Consecrate one’s self and family to the Sacred Heart; and foster (5) Devotion to Our Lord’s Passion; and (6) Devotion to Blessed Sacrament. [2] To do reparation to the Sacred Heart we should:(1) Pray Acts of Reparation, (2) Offer Mass and Holy Communion in reparation, (3) Be faithful to the First Friday devotion, and (4) Offer Holy Hours in reparation. [3] To increase our veneration, we can honor the Image [...]

The essence of sanctity is love of the will of God. Our holiness depends on the degree to which we conform ourselves to God’s will (and not our will). It helps to distinguish between God’s signified will and His will of good pleasure. Our country is in a terrible spiritual state because the vast majority of Americans are not being faithful to the will of God. Let us pray for the conversion of our country. St. Louis de Montfort teaches that we can never honor Jesus and Mary enough. St. Ildephonsus, Archbishop of Toldeo, Spain in the 7th century, wrote a treatise defending Our Lady’s purity. The Lateran Synod of 649 accepted it to fight against heresies [...]

So often we fail to appreciate the astounding reality of the Precious Blood.Why? One of the major reasons is because our mind and heart are too attached to the things of the earth. For example: health of body over health of soul, physical adornment over virtues of the soul, abiding by secular law over God’s law, human respect over respect for God, or even despairing over the shepherd’ in wolves’ clothing. Yet the three greatest Apostles teach us that the Mystery of the Precious Blood is the Mystery of Jesus (and of the Mass!). As one grows in devotion to the Precious Blood, one values eternal things ever more. Remember: A single [...]

Lucia of Fatima described an intense experience of God: “This light penetrated us to the heart and allowed us to see ourselves in God, Who was that light, more clearly than we see ourselves in a mirror.” This knowledge of God and knowledge of self came through the maternal mediation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In these two things is contained all Christian sanctity, for by them we come to know God’s greatness and our smallness. The only thing truly necessary is a singular focus on God (on knowing, loving and serving Him).