Harvesting The Fruits of Contemplation

Thank you Allison Gingras at  Reconciled To You   and Elizabeth Riordan at  Theology Is A Verb   for  hosting Catholic bloggers at  Worth   Revisiting .  It is a privilege for us to share our work with you and your readers .  Stop by for a visit now .    Life Is A Warfare, A Battle (Originally posted June 25, 2014) [If we are to enjoy the Beatific Vision for all eternity, we must, as so many spiritual writers teach, first know and identify who our enemy is. Who seeks to sever our relationship with the Source of eternal life? Who is it that seeks our eternal damnation? How do we defeat this enemy? Father James F. McElhone, C.S.C answers these questions with some specific and sage advice about spiritual combat, prayer and the acquisition of virtue:] (Source: Wikimedia Commons )   “…to acquire any virtue, pray. Life is a warfare, a battle. The greatest battles have been fought, not on fields re...

If our nature or health doesn't allow us to think always about the Passion, since to do so would be arduous, who will prevent us from being with Him in His risen state?  We have Him so near in the Blessed Sacrament, where He is already glorified and where we don't have to gaze upon Him as being so tired and worn out, bleeding, wearied by His journeys, persecuted by those for whom He did so much good...Certainly there is no one who can endure thinking all the time about the many trials He suffered. Behold Him here without suffering, full of glory...our companion in the most Blessed Sacrament. (Saint Teresa of Avila from Interior Castle )

Every author writes in hopes of touching the mind and souls of those who read what he has put on paper. It is always humbling to receive feedback from those who have something to say after finishing your book.  Here is what my fellow Lay Dominican sister and friend, Mary Lothers, had to say about Stirring Slumbering Souls - 250 Eucharistic Reflections : "So many craddle Catholics have been fortunate enough to live their entire lives surrounded by beautiful examples of what it means to live their lives as TRULY practicing vs. à la cart Catholics. They openly and joyfully profess their love not just for Jesus Christ, but also for His Church. So, what does it mean to BE Catholic? To live as one every single day?  I'm reminded of a series of talks given by the Dominican friars in our parish several years ago. Some suggestions were made that we should fully embrace ALL THINGS that 'show' the world we are Catholic, such as never taking the Lord's name in ...

Thank you Allison Gingras and Elizabeth Riordan for another opportunity to re-publish our favorite posts on  Worth Revisiting .      Go there now  and be nourished spiritually. Be sure to visit Allison at  Reconciled to You   and Elizabeth at   Theology Is A Verb   during the rest of the week. You will be glad you stopped by.   This is what I decided to share: Listen Once Again to the Venerable Fulton J. Sheen   (Originally published July 24, 2012)  There have always been prophets among us. Unfortunately, far too often we either do not hear them or intentionally ignore them. How different our Church and world might have been had we listened to Venerable Fulton J. Sheen. (Image Source: Wikimedia Commons ) The good news is that much of what he wrote still is readily accessible to anyone who wants to read what this often ignored messenger tried to share during his earthly life and what God is now allow...

"In my view the greatest challenge in our own age is the erosion of faith. Eucharistic Adoration can be seen as the antidote, the remedy, both personal and communal, to the weakening of faith.  We adore because we believe...In Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, we put these words into practice: “Lord, to whom shall we go, you have the words of eternal life”. In adoration, we recognize that the Lord is here in our midst and that He is the Holy One of God... (Image Source: Wikimedia Commons ) The beautiful experience of adoration increases our faith and it also increases our love. There are so many fruits of Eucharistic adoration; vocations to the priesthood and religious life flourish when there is adoration. Adoration should also lead us to a greater love of our brothers and sisters, especially those who are most forgotten, marginalized; the poor, the elderly, unborn children in their mothers’ womb...And finally adoration leads to joy... My brothers an...