Harvesting The Fruits of Contemplation

Monday Musings – Be Diligent in Prayer   “Have you noticed that you always have plenty of time for the things that you love, but there's never enough time for the things that you don't? Some people dread, avoid or find little joy in prayer because they spend their time worriedly digging into their troubles, rather than focusing on the Lord. It is so much harder to be diligent in prayer if prayer is more a matter of discipline than desire. Turn your thoughts heavenward, look up to Jesus who walked on water. Keep from peering down into the stormy seas. The more you gaze at Him, the more prayer will be a joy. I have excerpted the words above from a reflection on Diligence in Prayer contained in Mary’s Mantle – Consecration Prayer Journal by Christine Watkins - a book I highly recommend and one which has provided me with much fruit for mediation. Let me share my journal response to Christine’s reflection in hopes that something she or I have written will stir your soul: ...

What if the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was always and everywhere offered in accordance with the dignity, reverence and obedience our God merits? If we truly worshiped Him as He deserves, do you think more Catholics would willingly and lovingly come to Mass and give their Lord the worship and adoration He ought to receive? May the following reflection help move us in that direction wherever there may be a need to do so. (Image Source: Hands at Mass ) When the Host is held on high and a chalice lifted…look up! Look up and see what Mary saw.  See a naked man squirming as He bleeds against a blackened sky; see a battered human body, writhing on a tree, prisoned there by savage spikes that have torn through Sacred hands and feet; see thorn-tortured head tossing from side to side as anguished torso labors, lifts and strains; see the eyes of God roll towards heaven beseeching, as broken lips blurt out that soul piercing cry: “My God, My God, Why has Thou forsaken Me?” What is ...

(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons ) St. Dominic de Guzman founded the Order of Preachers – the Dominicans – to preach the Gospel and to save souls.  His zeal to save souls knew no limits. He reportedly spent every night in prayer tearfully asking God, “What will become of sinners?” Does such zeal for the salvation of souls exist today? I n a recent post on Missio Dei , Kaleb Hammond questioned how many individuals in the world today believe that: “Jesus is the one and only way to salvation, without whom we cannot enter heaven" and “Hell is a real possibility for each of us and that Heaven is guaranteed to no one.” Not many, he concluded, since we live in a culture that believes one religion is "just as good as another" and that all of us will go to heaven.  I highly recommend that you read his post, The Heresy of Universalism .  Here is a link . Sadly, Kaleb is right. Our Church has long abandoned its primary duty - the salvation of souls. Not enough of its leader...

“… let us persevere in Adoration. The Adoration of God will never disappoint us. The patient and silent Adoration of Saint Anne made possible the birth of Mary, the mother of the Savior, the most beautiful, the purest, the holiest of all creatures. To all of you whose hearts bear suffering and sorrow, your Adoration will bear fruit in hope. Persevering and relentless Adoration tears through darkness and brings the light of hope.” (Cardinal Robert Sarah, July 26, 2025 Homily marking the 400 th  anniversary of Saint Anne, mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary, at her shrine in Sainte-Anne d’Auray,)

Pondering Tidbits of Truth is my simple and inadequate way of providing nuggets of spiritual wisdom for you to chew on from time to time. St. Alphonsus Liguori  "With regard to evil thoughts, there may be a twofold delusion. God-fearing souls who have little or no gift of discernment, and are inclined to scruples, think that every wicked thought that enters their mind is a sin. This is a mistake, for it is not the wicked thoughts in themselves that are sins, but the yielding or consenting to them. The wickedness of mortal sin consists in the perverse will that deliberately yields to sin with a complete knowledge of its wickedness with full consent. And therefore St. Augustine teaches that when the consent of the will is absent, there is no sin. However much we may be tormented by temptations, the rebellion of the senses, or the inordinate motions of the inferior part of the soul, as long as there is no consent, there is no sin. For the comfort of suc...

"Eternal High Priest, make me an entirely Eucharistic soul according to the desires of Thy Sacred Heart and the designs of Thy merciful goodness upon my life. I desire only to love Thee more each day, and to be, by Thy grace, the faithful adorer of Thy Eucharistic Face and the consoling friend of Thy Sacred Heart hidden in the tabernacles of the world, where It beats, wounded by love, forgotten, forsaken, and waiting for the adoration and for the love of even one priest. Amen." St. John Marie Vianney