Virtue

Presentation and Purification

DVRodriguez2022-02-19T13:14:54-05:00

Consider the Twelve Mysteries of Christ's Infancy and Childhood. The Holy Family suffers much and endures many trials. Why? Because they are obedient to God's holy will. So how should we respond to these Mysteries? With obedience. What of those who are fearful and have heard this 'virus-crisis' excuses them from Sunday Mass? Meditate upon the connection between Christ's Presentation in the Temple, His Sacrifice on Calvary, and the Mass. Imitate Our Lady.

Presentation and PurificationDVRodriguez2022-02-19T13:14:54-05:00

Mysteries of His Sacred Infancy

DVRodriguez2022-02-07T09:49:04-05:00

Devotion to the Child Jesus means devotion to the Mystery of the Incarnation. Meditate on the mysteries of His sacred Infancy to grow in love for Him. These mysteries highlight His humility, poverty, obedience and love. In particular, consider that He purposefully chose each of these events to begin His saving mission on earth. To love Him you must strive to imitate Him. For example, every one of us can be more detached from the world; by this we imitate His poverty.

Mysteries of His Sacred InfancyDVRodriguez2022-02-07T09:49:04-05:00

Three Brief Lessons on Holiness

DVRodriguez2021-11-20T06:36:59-05:00

Holiness consists in being united to Christ. [1] Jesus Himself calls us to holiness through the Church Triumphant and the Church Suffering. [2] We are the Church Militant because we are fighting for what? for holiness! To be Catholic is to strive to be holy. God's plan for our holiness is His Church, and outside His Church there can be no true holiness. [3] Holiness consists in conformity to the will of God.

Three Brief Lessons on HolinessDVRodriguez2021-11-20T06:36:59-05:00

Suffer With Jesus and Mary

DVRodriguez2021-11-02T12:05:20-04:00

A basic rule of the spiritual life is to imitate Jesus and Mary. Marian devotion is not something "invented" by Catholics. Rather, Christ requires it — for He Himself gave His Sorrowful Mother to us at the foot of the Cross. We can never fully appreciate her sorrows for we can't fathom the depth of her love for her Son. However, we can pray for many graces to be more like Jesus and Mary: to hate sin and to ensure insults and ridicule with patience as they did. Pray for the grace to love Jesus and suffer for Him as Our [...]

Suffer With Jesus and MaryDVRodriguez2021-11-02T12:05:20-04:00

Four Virtues for Spouses

DVRodriguez2021-10-31T07:10:03-04:00

God speaks to you in the lessons for Mass. Today, God calls you to practice four specific virtues: Humility, Meekness, Patience and Charity. These are the four virtues which Our Lord most clearly exhibits in His Passion. You are called to walk worthily in your vocation, and although we have different vocations, each Christian is called to deny himself and carry his cross daily.

Four Virtues for SpousesDVRodriguez2021-10-31T07:10:03-04:00

Fathers Provide Truth and Obedience

DVRodriguez2021-08-10T08:12:19-04:00

During the Miracle of the Sun, the saintly children received a vision of St. Joseph holding the Christ Child and blessing the world. Fathers, bring Christ into your marriage and home. Fathers, imitate and teach two very important virtues of St. Joseph: truth and obedience. This is why God has given you authority over your family: teach the truth and obedience to Christ's doctrine and the inspirations of the Holy Ghost. Fathers, you do this primarily by example (though words can help). The world, the Church, and families are in dire straits on account of the many failings on the part [...]

Fathers Provide Truth and ObedienceDVRodriguez2021-08-10T08:12:19-04:00

The Church Seemingly Possessed

DVRodriguez2021-03-09T08:01:31-05:00

Consider Bl. Miriam of Jesus Crucified (+1878) as a type for the Church. God allowed the devil to possess this Carmelite mystic for forty days as a victim soul. She suffered terribly but never sinned as God preserved her soul in grace. Could Holy Mother Church presently be enduring a similar trial? The Church has so many failures and is seemingly possessed, yet she remains the holy and immaculate Bride of Christ. This has caused a breakdown in authority. All faithful souls feel a certain aloneness as they struggle to defend their fortress. We need great patience, perseverance and fortitude to [...]

The Church Seemingly PossessedDVRodriguez2021-03-09T08:01:31-05:00

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

Humility Builds Great Things to Gods Glory

DVRodriguez2020-11-13T21:49:49-05:00

In today's gospel, the pharisee tithed and fasted, but all to no avail as his motivation was false. The pharisee prayed badly, looking instead to see what the publican was doing... and criticizing him. This is a tendency in sinful man. Avoid this at all costs for it stems from human pride and is destructive. The best way to contribute towards building up any community (including our families) is through a concerted effort to grow in the interior life; to grow in holiness. Pray with humility as did the publican. Bear in mind that God exalts the one who humbles himself. [...]

Humility Builds Great Things to Gods GloryDVRodriguez2020-11-13T21:49:49-05:00

Six Means of Preserving Gods Grace

DVRodriguez2020-11-13T21:49:49-05:00

God wishes all men to be saved. Thus, He provides all the graces necessary for our salvation (this is infallible). However, man also has to cooperate with God's grace (this is often forgotten, unsaid, or not emphasized). St. Alphonsus Liguori, the great moral doctor of the Church, teaches there are six means of preserving God's grace: [1] Flee from occasions of sin; [2] Mental prayer; [3] Frequenting the Sacraments; [4] Hearing Mass; [5] Visiting the Blessed Sacrament and the Blessed Virgin; [6] Prayer. He guarantees that the one who lives by them faithfully will be saved. This sermon includes a brief biographical sketch of St. Alphonsus and his prayer to [...]

Six Means of Preserving Gods GraceDVRodriguez2020-11-13T21:49:49-05:00