Harvesting The Fruits of Contemplation

 

"..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)

 

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. Ignatius of Loyola "Man was created for a certain end. This end is to praise, to reverence and to serve the Lord his God and by this means to arrive at eternal salvation. All other beings and objects that surround us on the earth were created for the benefit of man and to be useful to him, as means to his final end; hence his obligation to use, or to abstain from the use of, these creatures, according as they bring him nearer to that end, or tend to separate him from it." (From The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius ) Deacon Alex Jones "How do you tell God no? How do you look into the face of truth and say, ‘That’s nice, but it will cause me problems?’ I said yes, and that yes has cost me dearly. But deep down in my heart is a passion for our Lord and a love for his Church. I...

Adore Me always and in all places by a simple movement of your heart.   (Photo ©Father Lawrence Lew, O.P. Used with Permission) "Consider that wherever you are, I see you and know your heart's desire.   Desire to adore Me always, and know that I accept that desire of yours with great delight.   Come to Me as frequently as you can. Use every opportunity to come before Me in the Sacrament of my Love.   There is no need to calculate the length of time you give Me in the course of a day.   If your heart is always in a state of adoration, you will find your way to My tabernacle frequently and you will abide in My presence willingly and gratefully.   Allow Me to lead you and instruct you in the life of adoration to which I have called you. The Holy Spirit will be your infallible guide and the teacher of your adoration."   ( In Sinu Iesu , The Journal of a Priest)

 

A Call To Be A Militant Catholic   How will these words impact the way you live your Faith?  “If I am truly grateful for the fact that our Lord is my God and my Savior, Who shed His blood to the last drop for me and would have done it for me alone, I must react, when I see Him attacked, insulted, derided, blasphemed and His Church persecuted. That is the logical consequence of adoration. "What good is a Holy Hour, filled with good feelings and emotion, if, as I come out and witness an offence to God, I do not take a stand? What is the sincerity of that love I pledged to Our Lord, if I remain indifferent when I see Him attacked? If my adoration is sincere, I must be ready to fight for His cause to the last breath. If we consider that our Lord Jesus Christ is the head of the Mystical Body, which is the Catholic Church, and that the Church on earth is called the Church Militant; if we consider that it has been the Church's lot to be attacked, contested, denied, betrayed and p...

I enjoyed reading Father Dismas Sayre, O.P.s Theology for the Laity column in the May-June 2025 issue of LIGHT and LIFE , in which he discussed God’s Omniscience.   I highly recommend you contact the Dominican Western Province’s Rosary Center & Confraternity at rosarycenter.org   and subscribe to this publication. You can read Father’s full column here. When I read the  following excerpt Father used from the Baltimore Catechism I knew I had to share it with those who read my blog. Many have suggested that parishes should make the Baltimore Catechism the center piece of faith formation programs. Few have done so. After you read the answer to question 18 as it appears in the 4 th edition of the Baltimore Catechism , you will understand why we should be using this Catechism and how desperately we need to be shaken out of our complacency and taught the truths of our faith. Sin, as you are about to discover or rediscover, is not a private matter. May the foll...

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. Hubert Van Zeller, O.S.B. "The weight of evil in the world seems overwhelming. We feel it everywhere and our effort to resist is smothered. But God does not  see things in this way. God must still see the world as good or he would not allow it to continue its existence. H e prefers, so St. Augustine tells us, to draw good out of evil rather than not to permit any evil at all." (From The Mystery of Suffering) Father Benedict Baur, O.S.B.  "Think of all of our omissions with regard to opportunities for and impulses toward prayer. All those free moments we have in the course of each day: we could use them for prayer, but we omit to do so…Think of all the inspirations of grace and all the impulses to good we neglect or to which we turn a deaf ear. We know that God is speaking to us ...

"But I hear You complain, O my Sacramental Jesus:  I was a stranger, and you took Me not in (Matt. xxv. 43); that You came on earth to be our guest for our good, and that we have not welcomed You. You are right, Lord, You are right; and I am one of these ungrateful creatures who have left You alone, without even visiting You. Chastise me as You please; but not by depriving me of Your presence, which is the chastisement I deserve. No, I will repair my fault, and the indignities which I have heaped upon You. From this day forward I will not only visit You often, but will remain with You for as long a time as I can."   (St. Alphonsus Liguori from Visits  to the Most Blessed Sacrament and to the Blessed Virgin Mary)

I wrote the following review nearly eight years ago. The Church dedicates the month of June each year to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Now is the perfect time to bring this book to your attention. In one clear and engaging volume, the author has skillfully assembled a treasure trove of information, prayers and personal witnesses to the efficacy of true Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. You will learn of its history, God’s astonishing promises to those who promote and live out this Devotion, related prayers and even a step by step directions as to how to consecrate your home and your family to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. You will be uplifted and encouraged by the many stories Anne shares of those whose lives have been forever changed. Read this book. Ponder its pages. Do the suggested exercises and reflections.   Ask for the grace to faithfully live out this Devotion individually and within your families. Our Lord has assured us that countless blessings and grace...