The Vatican website has posted the Address of Pope Leo XIV to Participants in the Meeting of Studies on Cardinal Rafael Merry Del Val. I recommend you read it because it is very edifying. There are critics of the post-Vatican … Continue reading
Category: Spiritual Life
On Great Souls and Little Souls
Is there really a difference between “great souls” and “little souls” or “great” saints and “little” saints? St. Therese thought so. Actually, she did not just think so in an abstract, theoretical sort of way — she was walking, talking … Continue reading
When the Going Gets Tough — The Tough Get Mary: Five Secrets of Catholic Battle Joy
Three soldiers rose up from their tents And went to join their regiments. And one said: “Captain, I report Because I think that war is sport!” And one said: “Captain, I am here Because my duty makes it clear.” And … Continue reading
St. John Eudes’ Meditation on the Innocence of the Child Mary
Quotes Worth Contemplating for September 8 (Taken from page 267 of The Wondrous Childhood of the Most Holy Mother of God by St. John Eudes) Consider that an innocent person is one who knows not what it is to injure another, … Continue reading
Heavenly Intel: A Must-Have for Spiritual Combat
“What would happen,” asks St. Maximilian, “if a soldier — who did not always know the plan of the general — began to act on his own: open fire when he must remain silent, or march forward when he must … Continue reading
The Inseparability of the Three Hearts
Heart of Jesus I adore thee; Heart of Mary, I implore thee; Heart of Joseph, pure and just; In these three hearts I put my trust. August 22 in the traditional calendar is the feast of the Immaculate Heart of … Continue reading
St. Alphonsus de Liguori and the Dispelling of Spiritual Vertigo
Quotes Worth Contemplating for the Feast of St. Alphonsus de Liguori St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696–1787) knew all about spiritual vertigo. He had lived with it. He had lived through it. For those of us who struggle with an ordered … Continue reading
The Rampart of Faith
It is one thing to have the supernatural virtue of faith as it is instilled in us at baptism: the virtue by which we firmly believe all those truths God has revealed. It is another thing to have the personal … Continue reading
Wielding the Holy Saber of Love
We are all pretty familiar with the idea of sacramentals as weapons. We know St. Maximilian called Miraculous Medals his “bullets”; we have often heard the Rosary spoken of as a “sword.” We probably have at least a vague sense … Continue reading
Yes, We’re Slaves, and We’re Free!
When this morning’s weekly bulk mailing went out advertizing someting in our bookstore, the email promoted a booklet our Congregation has in the works: Made For Heaven. Upon noticing that the book is “by the Slaves of the Immaculate Heart … Continue reading
The Problem of Superficiality
In Philosophy in Our School of Thought, I cite the six reasons that Brother Francis listed to explain why we must study philosophy. The fourth reason is this: “True philosophy is the handmaid of theology, ancilla theologiae. Without solid philosophic … Continue reading
Did You Ever Notice This Liturgical Connection to Sister Lucy’s Vision of the Trinity?
Today, at the parish where we assisted at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the priest celebrant offered the Votive Mass for the Sacred Heart, no doubt because today is both an open liturgical day in the traditional rite, and … Continue reading
How Not to Be Orcs
You may remember the scene in third Lord of the Rings movie where Frodo is unconscious up in the tower of Cirith Ungol, and orcs who captured him start fighting over his “shiny shirt.” One ugly orc fellow pushes the … Continue reading
On Roses, Thorns, and Graduates
The following is a cut down version of the introductory speech I gave at IHM School’s graduation last Saturday. Readers should know that our school in rural southern New Hampshire is very small. We had three graduates this year — … Continue reading
The Reconquest of Peace
Pope Leo XIV has, during the first hours and days of his pontificate, spoken much about peace. Whether or not his pontificate will see some time of peace in the Church and the world is a matter of history that … Continue reading
