Speaker

Penance Requires Prudence Humility and Prayer

DVRodriguez2026-03-02T11:26:56-05:00

Jesus goes into the desert for 40 days. We follow His example in order to break the hold that the world has on us. We will be tempted, especially by our flesh. We must shut this down right away and not attempt to dialogue with the temptation. We must also not tempt God by trying to force His help with imprudent penances. Not should we impose lenten menaces upon another. Remain humble because pride goeth before the fall. Take one day of lenten penance at a time. Don’t beat yourself up if you fail. Instead ask God for help and keep [...]

Penance Requires Prudence Humility and PrayerDVRodriguez2026-03-02T11:26:56-05:00

Four Kinds of Sin

DVRodriguez2026-03-01T17:44:01-05:00

God become man to save souls and destroy the works of the devil. In the Gospels, Christ works many healings but only sends cleansed lepers to the priests. The Old Testament priests can’t cure or forgive, merely declare the truth of a matter. The Old Law has no grace, it can merely identify sin. Leprosy represents sin which keeps us out of the community. There are sins of malice, of weakness, of passion and of ignorance. Christ is the one who forgives sins and He gives this power to His priests. All He requires is that we have contrition and confess.

Four Kinds of SinDVRodriguez2026-03-01T17:44:01-05:00

Holy Family Calls us to Conversion

DVRodriguez2026-03-01T08:10:08-05:00

A simple way of thinking about Conversion is doing something good for the love of Jesus, that you have not done in the past, and offering it to Him as a gift. Ask yourself “What do I do for the love of Jesus?” The Holy Family provides the perfect model for each of us. Strive to imitate them. It is never easy to make true and lasting changes in our life. It is impossible without God’s grace. Confession is indispensable for conversion. The Sacrament has five necessary steps; work at doing all five well.

Holy Family Calls us to ConversionDVRodriguez2026-03-01T08:10:08-05:00

Mother of Our Soul and Our Salvation

DVRodriguez2026-03-01T10:51:23-05:00

The Feast of the Divine maternity of Our Lady is Her fundamental mystery. She derives a certain infinite dignity from it. It makes her greater than all the angels. By it she has the greatest holiness and purity. Whatever privilege of grace any saint has been given, she is given in even greater abundance. At the Annunciation and on Calvary, she became the mother of our soul and our salvation. Her apparition at Guadalupe beautifully highlights her maternity. So as we pray her Rosary, let us truly meditate upon the mysteries so as to pray it with greater efficacy.

Mother of Our Soul and Our SalvationDVRodriguez2026-03-01T10:51:23-05:00

Ven en Mi Auxilio Espíritu Santo

DVRodriguez2026-02-22T16:07:15-05:00

Dios nos llama a la conversión (un cambio de corazón, intelecto y voluntad). Esta conversión no es fácil y no es posible sin la gracia de Dios. También se necesita fe, hacer penitencia (oración, ayuno, limosna), y ser fiel a la lex orandi, lex credendi autentica de la Iglesia. Estos son los medios por los cuales cooperamos con la gracia de Dios. La gran obra del Espíritu Santo es santificar las almas de los hombres mediante la gracia divina. (Repasamos un catecismo básico sobre el Espíritu Santo.) ¡No dejes de pedir Su ayuda durante la Cuaresma!

Ven en Mi Auxilio Espíritu SantoDVRodriguez2026-02-22T16:07:15-05:00

Faith and Charity of the Blind

DVRodriguez2026-02-17T16:19:12-05:00

In calling ‘Son of David!” the blind man acknowledges Jesus is the Messiah. In begging for mercy, he professes Jesus is God. The crowd -symbolic of our sins– rebukes the blind man because it lacks faith. The crowd is just a noisy gong; a tactic of the devil. The blind man calls out because he has hope. His desire for the Messiah proves his charity. Jesus hears him above the tumult and works a miracle. The healed man now follows Jesus. Pray, that you too will have faith by hearing, cry for mercy above your sins, and then follow Christ in [...]

Faith and Charity of the BlindDVRodriguez2026-02-17T16:19:12-05:00

Lent is Here to Help Us Save Our Souls

DVRodriguez2026-02-17T14:38:03-05:00

Holy Mother Church calls us to see this holy season of Lent with the grace of sight. ‘To do battle’ is the spirit of Lent. We must weaken our body by mortification because that weakens the passions which lead us to sin. We must do penance because that makes up for our sins. Every sin weakens our will to live a good Catholic life; every penance strengthens that will. Making peace with our sins is not a Catholic life, so give up something that hurts. (If we are not suffering, something is wrong with our Lent). Give up the electronics, the [...]

Lent is Here to Help Us Save Our SoulsDVRodriguez2026-02-17T14:38:03-05:00

Communion of Saints

DVRodriguez2026-02-17T08:05:15-05:00

The Church transcends time and space: triumphant in Heaven, suffering in Purgatory, and militant on Earth. Jesus is the center of the Church and it is He who unites it. Members of the Church can honor and help one another because of the charity of Christ and the power of His grace. Far too often we only think of the Church in terms of this world and goods and values of this world. For those on earth, our duty is to fight the enemies of our soul and grow in God’s grace. Our goal must be to save our soul and [...]

Communion of SaintsDVRodriguez2026-02-17T08:05:15-05:00

Hell is Real

DVRodriguez2026-02-15T23:09:07-05:00

The Magi were guided by a star with represents truth and symbolizes Heaven. They brought gifts to adore the Lord. The most acceptable gift we can offer is a contrite and loving heart. Jesus calls us to conversion; to become like Him. How narrow is the gate that leads to life and few there are that find it. We must be guided by the desire to reach Heaven. We should also reflect upon the reality of hell. The soul that seriously considers hell will be moved to conversion and be saved.

Hell is RealDVRodriguez2026-02-15T23:09:07-05:00

St Hilary, Spring of the Church

DVRodriguez2026-02-10T13:42:23-05:00

St. Hilary (~310-368 A.D.) is known as the 'Hammer of Arians' and the 'Athanasius of the West'. Born of pagan parents, he received an excellent education which led him into the Church. Contrary to his desire, he was consecrated bishop of Poitiers (Gaul). He was persecuted and exiled for faithfully defending the doctrine of the Trinity and Christ's divinity. St. Hilary insisted that if the Church made friends with the world then it was doomed. Yet where the Church holds fast to true doctrine, that is where she flourishes. How clearly we see the truth of his prophetic words today! Pray [...]

St Hilary, Spring of the ChurchDVRodriguez2026-02-10T13:42:23-05:00