Harvesting The Fruits of Contemplation

It's been awhile since we've ended a Sunday on this blog with a song. Thanks to  Chris Tomlin , YouTube and " The Happy Priest " - Father James Farfaglia, the drought is ended. It's nice to be reminded of what awaits us when the spirtual combat on this earth comes to an end. God's blessing on all those who visit this blog.

Now is the time to stand up for religious freedom. Begin by visiting the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops here.  Take action NOW! If you do not understand why contraception is such a serious evil and sin and why God and His Church prohibit artificial contraception get a copy of Pope Paul VI's Encyclical ,  Humanae Vitae . Prayerfully read and ponder it. Share it with the many other Catholics you know who may never have read or understood this vital teaching.  If you had previously read this prophetic document, re-read and study it more carefully. Humane Vitae is not very lengthy and very easy to understand. Equip yourself and those you love for the battle that lies ahead. If you are among the substantially large number of Catholics in this country who reportedly are engaging in or have  engaged in this eternally lethal practice, this is God's clarion call for you to ask Him for the grace to accept His teaching and for His forgiveness in Sacramental Confession.

Thomas Aquinas was born to a noble family in Aquino ( Italy ) in 1225. They objected to his entering the Order of Preachers (Dominicans) but he did so in 1244. At the age of nineteen, he went on to study under Saint Albert the Great.   His life is succinctly but beautifully summarized in today’s “Supplement to the Liturgy of the Hours for the Order of Preachers”:  “He devoted all his energy to the service      of  truth,  eagerly searching it out, lovingly contemplating it, and imparting it to others through his writing, his teaching and his preaching. His life was marked by devotion to the Passion of the Lord, to the mystery of the Eucharist, and to the Virgin Mary, Mother of God.” Known as the Angelic Doctor, he is often described as one of the greatest philosophers, theologians and Catholic teachers of all time. This is the man who produced the Summa Theologiae , the theological master piece that has survived centuries of scrutiny, continues to guide the Church, and is

"..Jesus has been the Bread of life for so many centuries, and yet during all those centuries countless souls have died of hunger. many never knew Him, many never saw him again once the day of their First Holy Communion was over. Even now there are many who are at once sick and tired of it, not to say disgusted, when you begin to speak to Him; many only then make up their minds to receive Him when a threatening voice speaks within them and fills them with fear...So there He is, the God who has loved them from all eternity and Who ceases not to love them now; and He must look upon them while they waste away and die of hunger. He can do nothing for them; their sad indifference repels Him when He would approach, bind those divine hands that would bless and do good. The Savior without souls! Poor Jesus!" ( Eucharistic Whisperings , Father Winfrid Herbst, SDS)

A must see - complements of Elizabeth Scalia - The Anchoress How often we forget  The Power of Words

Today we commemorate the life of St. Francis de Sales, Bishop and Doctor of our Church. His Introduction to the Devout Life is a timeless spiritual treasure that has had a profound impact on many a searching soul - including myself. I am indebted to my first spiritual director for having given me his personal copy of this classic and for putting me on a solid spiritual path. I consider this one of the most important and life changing spiritual books that I have ever read.     To wet your appetite, take a reflective look-see at how Saint Francis so exquisitely puts our ability to accept suffering in its proper perspective: “The Everlasting God has in His wisdom foreseen from eternity the cross that He now presents to you as a gift from His innermost heart. This cross He now sends you is considered with His all-knowing eyes, understood with His divine mind, tested with His wise justice, warmed with loving arms and weighed with His own hands, to see that it be not one inch too larg

I joined more than a hundred others individuals in Syracuse, New York today in the annual March For Life. It was cold - an insignificant inconvenience in comparison to the innocent ones in our community and throughout this nation and the world who have lost their lives at the hands of an abortionist. May our physical witness there today be a source of consolation to them and encouragement for more Catholics to become engaged in this essential battle to protect and save lives. I stood in the back of the group as it assembled after the march to hear the words of local pro-life leaders that included, among others, a mother of eight, the local coordinators of Forty Days For Life, and this area's stridently pro-life and courageous Congresswoman, Ann Marie Buerkle. Thank God they are among us. Pray for these women and for who sacrifice and suffer much in their efforts to protect and save lives. As inspiring and encouraging were the words of these women and of the prayers offered th

Yes, I’ll admit it. I love everything I ever read that was written by the late Servant of God, Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. You will find more than two dozen of his gems included in my book, Forgotten Truths To Stir Faith Afire! –Words to Challenge, Inspire and Instruct” .   The following, however, is one that got away. I don’t know how I overlooked it: "America is suffering not so much from intolerance, which is bigotry, as it is from tolerance, which is indifference to truth and error, and a philosophical nonchalance that has been interpreted as broad-mindedness." (Servant of God, Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen )  

Sword of Peter: Weirdo !

“I told Him this morning in Holy Communion that I want to belong wholly to Him and that always…What a loving glance He gave me then!...O how far away from Him my thoughts already are…how far away my heart…how far! O why do I treat Him so? Poor Jesus! He always thinks of me, and I think so seldom of Him.” ( Eucharistic Whisperings , Father Winfrid Herbst, SDS)

In my last post, building upon the observations of the late Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, I suggested he would agree that many who flocked to pyschologists and psychiatrists would be better served by spending less time on the couch and more time at the foot of Jesus’ Cross, on their knees in front of His tabernacle and in the confessional from which flows the spiritual cleansing and healing graces they seek and which our loving and merciful Lord offers in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Today, a friend Mary T. shared this with her Facebook friends, of which I am one. I don't think I could have found a more appropriate follow-up to my previous blog. May many more come to discover the mercy, forgiveness, and graces that flow from the Sacrment of Reconcilation! (Video credit to RomanCatholic33 and YouTube.com)

We marvel at the physical miracles, big and small, that Jesus performed during His time here on earth – for example raising Lazarus from the dead and healing St. Peter’s mother-in-law of her fever. And well we should. But what we often overlook is the frequency with which Jesus spoke to and expelled demons – as is mentioned in today’s Gospel. Isn’t it foolish to think that there is less demonic presence in our current times then when Jesus walked this earth? The reality of Satan and the never ending spiritual battle to which we are subjected during our earthly lives are two topics rarely discussed or considered these days. Too few among us recognize that we are engaged in spiritual combat with the unseen demons roaming the world in search of our souls. This is not, according to Father George P. Schommer, O.P., a good thing: “The devil is real.   We fail to recognize the reality of his existence and power and therefore we often fall prey to his many tricks.   Satan’s

That we may show fitting reverence when entering Your holy temple . We beseech You hear us! That we may make suitable preparation before approaching the Altar. We beseech You hear us! That we may receive You frequently in Holy Communion with real devotion and true humility. We beseech You hear us! That we may never neglect to thank You for so wonderful a blessing. We beseech You hear us! That we may cherish time spent in silent prayer before You. We beseech You hear us! That we may grow in knowledge of this Sacrament of sacraments. We beseech You hear us! That all priests may have a profound love of the Holy Eucharist. We beseech You hear us! That they may celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in accordance with its sublime dignity. We beseech You hear us! That we may be comforted and sanctified with Holy Viaticum at the hour of our death.    We beseech You hear us! That we may see

Great news! The Kindle version of Forgotten Truths To Set Faith Afire! - Words to Challenge, Inspire and Instruct just became available on Kindle. It will take a few days for it to appear along side the soft copy currently available on Amazon.com. You don't have to wait for Amazon to merge the two, You can go right here and buy your Kindle copy right now. Would you help pass the word?

One of the many pearls you will find in Forgotten Truths To Set Faith Afire - Words to Challenge, Inspire and Instruct  is this beautiful prayer  attributed to  Blessed John Cardinal Newman: God has created me to do Him some definite service; He has committed some work to me, which He has not committed to another. I have my mission – I never may know it in this life, but I should be told it in the next. Somehow, I am necessary for His purposes, as necessary in my place as an Archangel in his – if, indeed, I fail, He can raise another, as He could make the stones children of Abraham. Yet, I have a part in this great work; I am a link in the chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for naught. I shall do good, I shall do His work; I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it, if I do but keep His commandments and serve Him in my calling. Therefore I will trust Him. Whatever, wherever I am, I can ne