Harvesting The Fruits of Contemplation

“He wants you entirely for Himself, He wants you to place all your trust and all your affection in Him alone and it is precisely for this reason that He sends you this spiritual aridity, to unite you more closely to Him.” - St. Padre Pio

"This is the very perfection of a man, to find out his own imperfections." -St. Augustine

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Eucharistic Reflection - Another Food

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September 15, 2026

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A PERMANENT QUESTION

"When we spend time with Jesus we become like Him. Why are we not encouraged to do so?"

PRAYER TO BE PRESERVED FROM SUDDEN DEATH

MOST AMIABLE JESUS "I humbly implore Thee by Thy ignominious Scourging, The Crowning with Thorns, Thy Holy Cross, and by all Thy Goodness, not to permit me to pass out of this world without having received Thy most holy Sacraments." -Prayer of St. Vincent Ferrer

DISCLAIMER

I am blessed to be a Lay Dominican. However, the ideas expressed on this blog are my own and do not represent the endorsement of or position of the Order of Preachers as a whole. I am neither responsible for, nor endorse content (e.g. banner ads, pop-up ads, etc.) that may be linked to this blog.

LET US NEVER FORGET

"For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light." - Luke 8:17

Prayer for Our Priests

"O dear Jesus, look down with love on your priests. Fill them with burning zeal for the conversion of sinners; keep unstained their anointed hands which daily touch Your Immaculate Body; keep unsullied their lips purpled with Your Precious Blood; keep pure and unearthly a heart sealed with the sublime mark of Your glorious Priesthood. Bless their labors with abundant fruit, and may those to whom they have ministered on earth, be one day their joy and consolation in Heaven. Amen. (From Dominican Prayer Book)

PRAYER OF ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA

"Eternal Father, all things are possible for You. Although You created us without our assistance, You will not save us unless we help. Therefore, I pray You re-create their wills so that they wish for what they do not wish for: I ask this of Your infinite mercy. You have created us out of nothing. Now that we exist have mercy on us. Re-make the vessel which You created in Your own image and likeness. Bring them back to Your grace through the grace and blood of You Son, the beloved Jesus Christ."

God's Magnificent Creation

St. Catherine of Siena - Praying With Confidence: "Lord, I shall not move away from Your feet, Your Presence, as long as Your goodness has not conceded to me what I desire, as long as You do not agree to what I ask of You. I want You to promise me eternal life for all those whom I love. Lord put Your hand in mine! Give me proof You shall give me that which I beseech You.”

Monday Musings - Just Saying You Are Catholic Does Not Make You Catholic!

August 05, 2013

If God used Balaam’s donkey to get that prophet’s attention, (Image from Biblebios.com) I guess he can use me to get yours. May these periodic postings on the second and fourth Mondays of each month (God willing) generate fruitful discussion and faithful change. It is so easy to say you are a Catholic. Just read the newspapers and watch television and you will see countless examples of those in public life claiming to be Catholic at the same time they support policies contrary to the teachings of the Catholic Church.

Pondering Tidbits of Truth - October 21, 2021

October 21, 2021

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. Catherine Doherty de Heuck, Servant of God “We eschew any kind of cross. Yet, when we’re discouraged, the cross is the answer. When I’m discouraged, I remember that I have recourse to the only thing I know will keep me from absolute discouragement, and that is Calvary. Whenever I feel that the things of this world are too much for me, I take refuge at the foot of the cross.” (From T he Cross Is The Answer , appearing in February 2021 issue of Restoration ) St. Catherine of Siena "He will provide the way and the means, such as you could never have imagined. Leave it all to Him, let go of yourself, lose yourself on the Cross, and you will find yourself entirely." (From The Dialogue ) St. Bernadette Soubirous "O my God, I do not ask you to keep me from suffering, but to be with me in affliction. Teach me ...

Eucharistic Reflection - Jesus, The Bread of Life

January 06, 2013

"You want to progress without Communion? But Christian tradition is against you! No longer say the Our Father, since you ask in that prayer for your daily Bread, the Bread you think to do without! Without Communion, one is constantly in the heat of the battle. One knows only the difficulties in the acquisition of virtue, not the sweetness of its practice - the joy of working, not simply for oneself and moved solely by the hope of reward, but purely for the glory of God, from love of Him, from affection, like little children. He who receives Communion finds it easy to understand that having received much, he must give a great deal in return. That is piety - intelligent, filial, and loving piety. Besides, even in the severest trials, Communion makes the soul happy, filling it with a tender and loving joy. The height of perfection is to remain united with God in the midst of the most violent interior temptations, and it is when you are most tempted that God most...

A Different Type of Lenten Practice – Living the Fruits of the Spirit

February 09, 2015

A friend provided me with a copy of Leaves , a magazine published by the Marianhill Fathers , which contained an article he had written. I not only enjoyed my friend’s piece, he entered a subscription to that publication on my behalf. I am glad that he did. (Image Source: Wikimedia Commons ) The very next issue offered an interesting Lenten practice proposed by the magazine’s editor-in-chief and columnist, Father Thomas Heier, C.M.M. It is one I intend to try this year. I thought many of you might find it of interest as well. Father has graciously granted me permission to share his suggestion by publishing the following excerpt from his column, Leaflets from the Editor’s Desk.

Eucharistic Reflection - Our Deserted Lord

October 08, 2013

(Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center ) “I want to tell them of the poignant sorrows which filled My Heart at the Last Supper. If it was bliss for Me to think of all those to whom I should be both Companion and Heavenly Food, of all who would surround Me to the End of Time with adoration, reparation, and love. . . this in no wise diminished My grief at the many who would leave Me deserted in My tabernacle and who would not even believe in My Real Presence.

When You're Fed Up with the Drivel on TV...

November 15, 2011

Even those who limit their television viewing find very little worthy of their time. When it is clear to you that you're wasting your life in front of "the box," why not look at the following instead. Let's start with a hearty laugh from this blast from the past! Got 2 minutes? - Have you any idea about the quality of the young men who are answering God's call to be Dominican priests? You will after viewing this . What about 3 1/2 minutes? - Think your kids may be able to relate to this promo ? Can you spare 8 minutes? - Feeling down? Overwhelmed? Think that the obstacles you face are insurmountable? Questioning whether the effort to pick yourself up and go on is useless? You might feel differently after listening to Choi Sung-Bong . Thanks to Faith at The One True Faith for finding and passing this on. Invest 7 minutes and h ear what Father Bill Casey of the Fathers of Mercy has to say about the quality of preaching in our Church today. This 33 m...

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