Harvesting The Fruits of Contemplation

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...

Anne Costa’s books are always challenging, clear, informative, necessary, and timely.    A Little Book of Reparation – First Friday Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is no exception. In this brief volume, Anne explains the origin of the Frist Friday Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, its spirit and purpose, the dispositions one must have in making this devotion, and the benefits awaiting those who do so -one offers this devotion by going to Mass on the first Friday of nine consecutive months, receiving Holy Communion with the intention of honoring Christ’s Sacred Heart and making reparation to It. In a world which has lost any sense of sin, reparation is a word foreign to many contemporary ears. This devotion, as Anne makes clear, is a gift God has given us “not just to atone for our own faults and sins, but also to obtain grace for others who may be confused or steeped in sin or rebellion”. This devotion shows how much we love God and draws us nearer to Him. Je...

Despite the fact that Jesus has told us over and over that we should not be afraid or anxious about anything, most of us continue to be Martha's, forgetting His Truth the minute some challenge or trial enters our life. We are all flawed and sinful creatures. We need constant reminders to trust Him at all times and under all circumstances.  Admittedly, this is easier said than done. Most of us find it difficult to run away from anxiety and fear. Left to our own devices, we are not likely to outrun or outsmart these devilish inclinations. We should never attempt to go it alone.  Thanks to noted Catholic author, Anne Costa, we will not have to go solo in this unending spiritual battle. She has gifted us with another gem, Encouraging Words to Live By - 365 Days of Hope for the Anxious and Overwhelmed. We can now begin each day - less like Martha and more like Mary - with a Scripture passage, an inspiring reflection and a prayer. By gifting God with our undivided attentio...

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 graces will follow. Be sure to thank Him for the love that flows forth from His Pierced and Sacred Heart and for using Anne Costa as His faithful messenger and guide. Then, go [run] to yo...

I am blessed to be reading Embracing Edith Stein - Wisdom For Women from St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross , written by a good friend and gifted author, Anne Costa. I highly recommend this book to you. We banter the word and concept of "freedom" about, mistaking real freedom for the counterfeit being offered by many in this very confused and lost world we inhabit. How might this world look if we saw freedom for what it actually is and as our loving God intended?  May the words of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein) open our eyes, heart, minds and souls  to the possibilities awaiting those who choose to be truly free:

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons ) I knew several weeks ago when my friend and noted author, Anne Costa, posted the following excerpt on her website , that there would be a perfect time for me to share it directly with my readers. Today is that time. What an ideal and complimentary reflection to share on Divine Mercy Sunday: "We have been trained in the habit of looking at our dark side, our ugliness, and not at the purifying Sun, Light of Light, which He is, Who changes the dust we are into pure gold. We think about examining ourselves, yet we do not think before the examination, during the examination or after the examination to plunge ourselves, with all our miseries into the consuming and transforming furnace of His Heart, which is open to us through a single humble act of Confidence. I am not telling you ‘You believe too much in your own wretchedness’. We are much more wretched than we ever realize. But I am telling you ‘You ...

(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons ) Hey, sometimes we little fish in the big pond of Catholic writers must shout to get some attention. Fewer and fewer Catholics believe that our Lord is really and substantially present Body, Blood Soul and Divinity in the Blessed Sacrament. How painful and horrible it is to acknowledge this sad fact! Help re-ignite awe amazement and reverence for our Savior's Eucharistic Presence here among us!  Get a copy of  I Thirst For Your Love. Donna Marie Cooper O’Boyle  thanked the author for writing this book , and highly recommended it to her followers as “an excellent collection of beautiful poignant Eucharistic reflections”. Catholic blogger, Barbara Schoeneberger , (Suffering With Joy ), found this book – “full of little reminders as eye-opening as they are stimulating and, in some cases, conscience pricking” – and believes it needs “to be promoted in every parish for the sake of evangelizing ourselves and others.” ...

The refrains of O Come Let Us Adore Him reverberate through many of our Churches and communities this Advent Season. For many, this is the most joyful time of year, filled with hope and love and thoughts which go beyond oneself and which seek to touch the hearts of others. But is it an authentic Joy? Truth be told a sense of Joy is absent from so many of us during the rest of the year. We are called to be joyful people, EVERY DAY, regardless of the individual circumstances and daily struggles of our lives. Not easy to do admittedly. We can never be truly joyful if we rely solely on ourselves.

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. Saint John Paul II "As Catholic lay people you have an important moral and cultural contribution of service to make to the life of your country. Much will be required of the person entrusted with much (Lk 12:48). These words of Christ apply not only to the sharing of material wealth or personal talents, but also to the sharing of one's faith." (Remarks to Laity, San Francisco California, September 1987)