Fr. Michael Rodriguez

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

Bendiciones Navideñas

DVRodriguez2021-02-09T06:35:13-05:00

Es muy significativo que al comenzar el año, por los cuarenta días de Navidad (25 diciembre - 2 de febrero), estemos mirando la imagen de la Sagrada Familia con el fin de inspirarnos a nosotros a imitarlos con mayor fidelidad. Noten como Jesús comienza su obra salvadora en una boda. Su primer milagro publico es por medio de la intercesión de la Virgen María. La Madre de Dios siempre nos aconseja ‘Haced lo que Jesús os dirá’ (solución de cualquier problema matrimonial y familiar). También es tiempo en cual los hogares reciben gracias especiales por medio de la bendición de la [...]

Bendiciones NavideñasDVRodriguez2021-02-09T06:35:13-05:00

Tres Verdades del Matrimonio

DVRodriguez2021-02-11T08:04:18-05:00

Con su encarnación y nacimiento, el Hijo de Dios dio origen a la más santa de todas las familias. Consideren tres realidades fundamentales tocante el matrimonio y la familia que Cristo nos enseña por medio del misterio navideño. [1] El matrimonio es sumamente sagrado. [2] El matrimonio existe para producir vida, específicamente ‘la vida en Cristo.’ [3] La sagrada familia es el modelo para todos los matrimonios y familias. Les doy dos recomendaciones de cómo vivir más fiel a estas verdades: [i] Todas las heridas que afectan nuestras vidas se deben a pecados contra el matrimonio. Por eso, rueguen mucho por [...]

Tres Verdades del MatrimonioDVRodriguez2021-02-11T08:04:18-05:00

The Mission of Husband and Wife

DVRodriguez2021-02-11T08:03:35-05:00

Keep your Nativity Scene up until Feb 2 so as to continue looking upon the Holy Family - our exemplar model. Families should also strive to imitate the Three Kings, who offered gifts of love, prayer and mortification. By the command of Christ, marriage is meant to give rise to a people, fellow citizens with the saints in Heaven, who render fitting worship to the true God. Marriage is a sacrament and it symbolizes exalted mysteries, such as the union of Christ and His Church. Husband and wife must strive to subject themselves to God and hold their passions check. Chastity, [...]

The Mission of Husband and WifeDVRodriguez2021-02-11T08:03:35-05:00

Christ Establishes Marriage and Blesses the Home

DVRodriguez2021-02-11T08:04:46-05:00

At the year’s start, for forty days, we look upon the Holy Family in the manger scene. At the Wedding at Cana, Christ establishes marriage as supremely sacred (man can’t alter it). A great tragedy is that so many misguidedly think they, or ‘their love,’ is the foundation of their marriage. Wrong! On account of our fallen condition, we have very little genuine and sincere love (symbolized by having no wine). Christ is the foundation of marriage; pray Him to bring His divine love into your marriage. Seek our Lady’s intercession, and keep her words in your heart throughout the year: [...]

Christ Establishes Marriage and Blesses the HomeDVRodriguez2021-02-11T08:04:46-05:00

Jesus is Inseparable from the Holy Family

DVRodriguez2021-02-11T08:05:14-05:00

Jesus brings us salvation — but He does not come alone. He comes as a member of the family. With His Incarnation and Nativity, He brings the model for all families. Through this Christmas feast, Christ teaches: [1] Marriage is something supremely sacred. It comes from God. He has willed it to be a primary instrument of our salvation and provides the laws which govern it. (Never fall into the deadly trap of thinking man can redefine marriage or determine how it ought to be lived.) [2] Marriage is meant by God to bring forth life — specifically life in Christ. [...]

Jesus is Inseparable from the Holy FamilyDVRodriguez2021-02-11T08:05:14-05:00

Jesus Deliver Us

DVRodriguez2021-02-11T08:05:32-05:00

God often exercises His power in hidden and mysteries ways that we do not expect. An example of this is His Holy Name. The Holy Name of Jesus inflames us with love for Jesus and protects us from evil. The devil is strong and cunning, so we must specifically invoke Jesus’ Name to deliver us from spiritual evils. To love Jesus is to imitate His love. Our love suffers from many defects and it must be purified and strengthened. That will only happen by God’s grace. Pray the Litany of the Most Holy Name, the Divine Praises, and brief aspirations devoutly [...]

Jesus Deliver UsDVRodriguez2021-02-11T08:05:32-05:00

Apostle of Christmas

DVRodriguez2021-02-11T08:05:44-05:00

St. John helps us to believe in - and live - Christmas. More than anyone else, he provides profound insight into the [1] Incarnation and [2] Holy Eucharist, both mysteries which are central to Christmas. These two mysteries each elicit from us a more profound faith. St. John shows that faith and adoration go together. He presents Christ as the light and life of the world. He teaches us what it means to truly believe and love. St. John gives us an example of perfect devotion to Our Blessed Mother and to the Sacred Heart. He calls us to remain faithful [...]

Apostle of ChristmasDVRodriguez2021-02-11T08:05:44-05:00