Some time before Vatican II, a certain prelate in a major U.S. archdiocese gave the invocation at an interfaith meeting at which Jews were present. So as not to offend, he began his prayer thus: “In the name of God. … Continue reading
Category: Spiritual Life
St. Francis de Sales: Great Soul, Little Soul, or ‘Middle Soul’?
In my article, “On Great Souls and Little Souls,” I tried to show the very tangible criteria by which we may safely see Little Souls like St. Therese, St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, and Servant of God Marcel Van as … Continue reading
Mary and the Holy Ghost at Christmastime
True to his intense devotion to the Incarnation and the divine economy flowing from that great Mystery, Saint Francis of Assisi gave the Church the first living Nativity scene, in order to show, in a vivid and very present manner, … Continue reading
Sister Talk: When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Mary: Five Secrets of Catholic Battle Joy
In this powerful talk, our own Sister Marie Gabrielle breaks open the idea of Catholic battle joy — the supernatural joy that comes from fighting for God, for the Faith, and for souls, under the banner of Our Lady, the … Continue reading
Sister Talk: ‘Blessed Are the Helpless’ — The Story of St. Eustace & the Gift of Suffering
When life feels out of control and completely helpless, God is often closer than ever. In this powerful Catholic conference talk by Sister Marie Gabrielle, M.I.C.M., we follow the dramatic life of St. Eustace — a Roman general who loses … Continue reading
Theresian ‘Littleness’ — What Is It Really?
It is impossible to read The Story of a Soul and not be struck by St. Therese’s marked predilection for the word littleness. She likes to compare herself to a little toy or a little ball belonging to the Infant … Continue reading
Human Love: How Much Is Too Much?
“You are so deeply engraved on my heart that the more I realize how truly you love me from the depths of your soul, the more incapable I am of forgetting you, and the more constantly you are in my … Continue reading
On the Boy Jesus and the Doctors of the Law
Saint Luke, the only Gentile author of the New Testament, and the “historian of Christ’s meekness” (as Dante styles him), narrates several episodes in the life of Jesus that no other evangelist writes of, including the second, fourth, and fifth … Continue reading
Edification from the Servant of God, Cardinal Merry Del Val, and Pope Leo XIV
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
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
