Fr. Michael Rodriguez

Rejoice Over the Crosses God Sends You

DVRodriguez2021-03-21T15:56:06-04:00

Today, the Church calls those who have been in sorrow to rejoice. This joy is not one connected to pleasures of the senses, but is a fruit of the Holy Ghost which brings great peace and tranquility of soul. It is a spiritual joy that comes from following Christ. It is a lenten joy that does not come without the Cross. It is a joy that comes through much pain and sorrow, yet it endures (unlike the passings joys of the senses). The Cross alone nourishes our love of God. So rejoice and be glad when God favors you with one [...]

Rejoice Over the Crosses God Sends YouDVRodriguez2021-03-21T15:56:06-04:00

Never Jesus Without His Cross

DVRodriguez2021-03-19T08:10:46-04:00

We must always adore Christ - that is at the center of our holy religion. We just die to our self love and offer Him our body, mind and heart. Yet no one can truly adore Christ without adoring His holy Cross. Our love of God is weak because our love of the Cross is weak and our rejection of the Cross all too frequent. Attachment to the world and love of self are so strong in us, that we must unceasingly strive to purify ourselves by fasting, prayer and almsgiving. This is the only way to grow in our love [...]

Never Jesus Without His CrossDVRodriguez2021-03-19T08:10:46-04:00

Amar y Aceptar a la Cruz

DVRodriguez2021-03-16T13:20:22-04:00

La voluntad de Dios es vuestra santificación. ¿Qué es lo que nos santifica? ¡La Cruz! Jamás la cruz sin Jesús, ni Jesús sin la cruz. No somos más santos porque en vez de aceptar a la cruz, la rechazamos. Pero si soportas tu cruz con valentía, te llevara al cielo. La Cruz nos asemeja a Jesucristo. La Cruz es la causa, el alimento, y la prueba del amor. La Cruz produce para quien la lleva un peso inmenso de gloria en el cielo. Hay que rezar por la gracia de aceptar y amar a la Cruz.

Amar y Aceptar a la CruzDVRodriguez2021-03-16T13:20:22-04:00

Pray to Accept and Love the Cross

DVRodriguez2021-03-16T13:03:11-04:00

Without the Cross, there is no growth in holiness. If we eliminate the Cross, we eliminate Christ. The sign of the Cross is a most terrible weapon against the devil. And yet the Cross remains a scandal and stumbling block - even for very devout Catholics. In theory, we praise it; but in practice, we lose courage, complain, and run away as soon as the possibility of suffering arises (just think how Mass and the public practice of our faith have recently been cancelled). The Cross is precious because: [1] It make us resemble Christ. [2] When well carried, it is [...]

Pray to Accept and Love the CrossDVRodriguez2021-03-16T13:03:11-04:00

O Cruz Fiel

DVRodriguez2021-03-17T03:27:00-04:00

La cuaresma trae ante nosotros de una manera más intensa espiritualmente la Cruz de Nuestro Señor Jesucristo. La cuaresma nos ofrece una gracia especial para verdaderamente centrar nuestras vidas en la Cruz y así poder beneficiar y gozar de sus poder salvificio. La Cruz tiene el poder de superar cualquier mal, convertir cada corazón, y santificar cada alma. La Cruz nos hace santos. Todo en nuestra santa religión apunta a la Cruz. Jesús nos dice "Si alguno quiere venir en pos de mí, niéguese a sí mismo, y tome su cruz, y sígame" (Mt 16:24). Pídanle a Dios la gracia de [...]

O Cruz FielDVRodriguez2021-03-17T03:27:00-04:00

Crux Fidelis

DVRodriguez2021-03-16T10:13:47-04:00

The Cross has has the power to convert and sanctify, even the most hardened sinners. Lent brings the Cross before us in a more spiritually intense way. Consider the Good Friday Liturgy as a powerful example. Jesus prays and fasts in the desert for forty days and endures temptation, especially to prepare Himself for His passion and death on the Cross. Should not we catholics do the same? Do your best this Lent to grow in devotion for the Cross. Prayer, fasting, and alms giving are the means to detach us from sin, the world, selfishness and attach us profoundly to [...]

Crux FidelisDVRodriguez2021-03-16T10:13:47-04:00

Requiem for Francelia

DVRodriguez2021-03-05T06:33:58-05:00

Only one things is necessary, the salvation of our soul. Baptism is necessary to enter a state of grace, but we must die in a state of grace. The sad reality is that today there are many problems in our beloved Church and the path to salvation has been greatly obscured. I encourage you to: [1] Pray for the eternal rest of Francelia. [2] Give thanks to God. All too often man is tempted to question God, especially when confronting death. [3] Take to heart the example Francelia gave of working for the salvation of her soul, by loving God above [...]

Requiem for FranceliaDVRodriguez2021-03-05T06:33:58-05:00

Three Pillars of Penance

DVRodriguez2021-02-27T06:38:57-05:00

Prayer, fasting and almsgiving are at the very foundation of our spiritual life as Catholics. We must practice them in order to grow in God’s grace. All three require a profound interior disposition. Prayer grows our love for God, almsgiving increases our love of neighbor and detachment from the world, and fasting requires our death to self. These pillars of penance are the most important ways to store up treasures in Heaven and combat the obstacles to receiving God’s grace. This Lent, I exhort you to pray the Rosary more devoutly, meditate upon the Stations of the Cross, grow in your [...]

Three Pillars of PenanceDVRodriguez2021-02-27T06:38:57-05:00

Immensity of Gods Infinite Goodness

DVRodriguez2021-02-27T06:27:11-05:00

God, and His infinite perfections, is always the starting point of our religion. For example, He always teaches us the truth. His patience and kindness is unfathomable. God bestows His graces so liberally; yet man remains terribly unappreciative. God is disposed to give us whatever we need, if we but turn to Him with faith. The more we become aware of how good God is, the more our hearts shall be inflamed with love for Him. So what are the obstacles to God’s word and grace taking root in our hearts? The devil. The weakness of our mind, heart, and will. [...]

Immensity of Gods Infinite GoodnessDVRodriguez2021-02-27T06:27:11-05:00

The Mass Must Instill Deep Reverence for God

DVRodriguez2021-02-17T17:53:39-05:00

The foundation of the Catholic Religion is a very deep reverence for the supreme majesty of the true God. As Catholics, we must be filled with this reverence. At the start of the year, leading into Lent, the Church presents us with examples par excellence of those who rightly adore Jesus as our God and King. More than anything else, it is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass which imbues this profound reverence for God within us. And a lack of this reverence lies at the root of the grave crisis in the Church, in families, and in society. Insufficient reverence [...]

The Mass Must Instill Deep Reverence for GodDVRodriguez2021-02-17T17:53:39-05:00