God’s best and perfect gift is Jesus Christ, Whom God willed to give us through the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is God’s plan since before time began and it does not change. He manifested this truth at Bethlehem, then again at Fatima, and still at every Mass. Let us deepen this understanding by considering three of Our Lady’s titles and seven things she requested at Fatima.
Christians are made perfect in the bond of charity. We ought to have a constant mutual charity for one another. This comes about through grace in our souls and it unites us in the one Faith. Now charity for our neighbor must be based in God. It means desiring the best for another. It means we comfort and support one another. It necessarily involves prayer and sacrifice. Spouses, families, and parishes must be built upon this charity. We must strive hard against sins of the tongue - like complaining, criticizing, and murmuring - which destroy charity.
In the Easter liturgies, Christ issues a call to faith and a call to carry our Cross. It is by these means that one enters eternal life. The cross represents all those trials in life which God permits; things which are unpleasant, difficult, sorrowful, even evil. Today, we Catholics find ourselves in a very grave situation because we have largely rejected the Cross. We see this in worship, doctrine, and morality. Yet the good shepherd carries his cross, for he will even lay down hill life for his sheep.
Eric Bermingham, Catholic author, creationist, and aerospace engineer comes back on our show to discuss the election of the new pope. Topics include: What might we expect? * Cardinal Prevost's background * Three crucial dossiers yet to be acted upon * Catholic prophecy and Peter the Roman
Consider three interrelated themes: resurrection, faith, and the Cross, which holds these themes together. We often lack faith, turning from the Cross and preferring the easier path. We fail to believe the Cross is the source of all blessings and what brings us sanctification. Eternal life comes through faith and the cross. The saints, who enjoy eternal beatitude, are models in faith and in carrying their cross. In fact, every saint carried a heavy cross. The cross purifies and strengthens your charity. And the more you love the cross, the more God works through you.
The Church calls us to mourn the sufferings and death of Our Savior, especially because our sins caused His passion and because we show Him such ingratitude. Do not flee from the Cross but welcome it. Make the effort to die to yourself. Everyone must experience suffering; how we face it determines our eternity, As St. Paul teaches, to be Christ’s disciple –to be Catholic– means to walk faithfully and constantly on the path of the Cross. Look to the example of Simon of Cyrene.
Fr. Michael Rodríguez issues a heart-felt open letter to the new pope, Leo XIV. It includes twelve pleas or requests. The world's Catholic faithful will come to learn much about the new pontiff given how he responds over the coming months (years?) to these pleas.
La Pascua es el día más importante del año, pues celebramos la gran victoria de Cristo. Sin embargo, la resurrección sólo llega por medio de Cristo crucifcado. Su cruz es la fuente de toda gracia y bendición. La liturgia ofrece muchos ejemplos de esta realidad profunda, por ejemplo el Exsultet, el Cirio Pascual, la Secuencia Pascual y la Veneración de la cruz. Ten siempre en cuenta estas dos verdades [1] Jesús nunca puede ser separado de su cruz. [2] en la cruz está la salvación. Debemos creer y vivir de acuerdo con estas verdades.
La Semana Santa es la semana de la pasión y muerte de Nuestro Señor Jesucristo. Haz un esfuerzo especial de considerar las penas que Jesucristo sufrió por amor a nosotros, pecadores. La Santa Misa es una presencia perpetua de la Cruz y de la muerte de nuestro adamisimo salvador, de la que todos podemos sacar vida, fuerza y gracia.
Ahora se velan las estatuas y las imágenes. Es un tiempo de luto; un tiempo para llorar los sufrimientos y la muerte de Cristo. Pero el Vía Crucis se deja al descubierto para recordarnos que nuestros afectos y pensamientos deben centrarse enteramente en la pasión y muerte de Cristo. Es por la cruz que los santos alcanzaron la santidad. Esforzaos por cumplir sinceramente este deber espiritual, ahora y durante todo el año.
