Could anything be more important than being in the presence of Jesus in His glory? Anywhere else one rather be? St. Peter on Mt. Tabor give us a good model for how we should respond to Holy Mass: "Lord, it is good for us to be here!" The Council of Trent teaches we must attend Mass with devotion and purity (exterior) and a pure heart (interior). What is a pure heart? Consider the visions of St. Mechtilde.
After the words of Consecration, the same Blood that flowed from Christ's side on the Cross is in the chalice at Mass. This is a tremendous mystery; a profound truth we can't see with our eyes or even understand with our mind. One must accept it on faith. Christ sprinkles the souls of the faithful with His Blood which is shed for them in the Mass. The greatest cry that goes up to Heaven begging for our forgiveness comes from the Precious Blood. Father provides seven petitions to pray to the Precious Blood at Mass.
Every person is created to profess true Faith in Jesus Christ and to truly love Him. This is precisely what we do when receive Holy Communion worthily. This is the path to Heaven. It applies to us all. And Mary is an integral part. She suffers so much because she loves so much. On the occasion of his nephew's First Holy Communion, Fr. Rodríguez considers Our Lady of Sorrows role in the Sacrifice of her Son and Its fruits.
On the occasion of his niece's christening, Fr. Rodríguez invites us to consider the profound connection between Our Lady of Sorrows and the Sacrament of Baptism.
To 'walk in the Spirit' is an apt description of the Catholic life, of grace at work, and of the Holy Ghost bringing about salvation and sanctification. Yet we all suffer from concupiscence, a consequence of original sin. This is our inclination to evil that desires what seems agreeable whether good or evil, true of false. It operates upon every aspect of our being, exterior and interior senses. This battle is not easy and lasts all life long. Take this struggle seriously. As soldiers of Christ we are called to fight this battle. Where do we get the grace to conquer?
Devotion to the Precious Blood is an excellent way to participate well at Holy Mass. Adore and thank the Precious Blood; invoke Its infinite power; and beg It to atone for our may sins. This is devotion to the Person of Christ. It leads to a deeper union with Him. Jesus shed every drop of His Precious Blood for our salvation; It is the fountain of every grace we need. Practical ways to grow in this devotion come from the saints and the Church's prayers.
In today's Gospel, Our Lord speaks directly about what one must do to enter Heaven. It is not enough to call on Him in speech. Rather, the chief disposition of our heart must be to do the will of His Father. Holy Mass has the purpose of helping us become more committed to doing God's will by uniting ourselves to Christ. These are the same goals of the Brown Scapular. This is where its power to save comes from: the unlimited intercessory power of Our Lady, the omnipotent Blood of Christ, and the Father's perfect divine will.
What will help us most, in our spiritual and material well-being, is true and faithful participation in the Holy Sacfrice of the Mass. This applies to every single person. The best thing we can do for our neighbor is help him carry out this chief duty, which is also his supreme dignity. Strive to have the dispositions Jesus had when He offered Himself. (See Pius XII's Mediator Dei, No, 80-81.) Deny yourself, do penance, detest sin, offer reparation, and die a mystical death: to your will, you desires, and your sense of self-importance.
By the Feast of the Assumption (which honors numerous events), we call to mind the happiness, gory and power with which God crowned Mary at the end of her earthly life. [1] The glory she receives corresponds exactly to the life she lived. This encourages us to imitate her so as to mirror her glory. [2] Our Lady is all powerful by grace. She opens the abyss of the mercy of God and no sinner, however great, is lost if Mary protects him. May these two truths give you much hope and encouragement.
The world is being plagued by a more wicked and perverse society than Sodom of old. There is no logic upon which it can be based. Its confusion is an effect of communism, which attacks womanhood. A woman is a copy of the great original, the Blessed Virgin Mary. She is the indispensable helpmate of man; his complement not replacement. She is his beloved and treasured heart. She is captivatingly mysterious and intuitive. She strives for modesty and self-effacement. She suffers the same wounds as her man, but inwardly and quietly. She saves by supporing her man and by bearing and [...]
