Harvesting The Fruits of Contemplation

There is nothing more important than the salvation of souls. No wonder Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI challenged all priests to follow the fruitful and courageous example of St. John Marie Vianney. Let us pray that many more may do so!

Thank you once again, Allison Gingras at  Reconciled To You  and Elizabeth Riordan at  Theology Is A Verb   for hosting Worth Revisiting each week. It is a privilege to share our work with you and your followers . Zeal For The Salvation of Souls (Originally posted on July 24, 2011) (Image Source: Wikimedia Commons ) When I asked rhetorically  just a few days ago , “What happened to the zeal for the salvation of souls?” I was not intending to revisit that issue so quickly despite the fact that I and every one else reading this blog are sinners. Several recent experiences dictate that I do so. In 1946, Pope Pius XII warned us that “The sin of the century is the loss of the sense of sin.” Similar sentiments have been expressed by many, including Fulton J. Sheen, Blessed John Paul II and our current Pope. Their observations are verified by the simple and undisputed fact that relatively few Catholics go to confession anymore. Current pol...

Thank you, Allison Gingras at  Reconciled To You  and Elizabeth Riordan at  Theology Is A Verb   for hosting Worth Revisiting each week. It is a privilege to share our work with you and your followers . Hell - The Fiery Forever Furnace (Originally posted on April 15, 2019) Among the many problems within our Church today is the fact that far too many Catholics do not know or live their faith. This is in large measure due to poor catechesis and the reluctance of some priests to teach the full and undiluted Truths of our Faith. Too many are content to tickle our ears and not seek to save our souls. I believe, as did St. Vincent Ferrer, O.P., that we cannot be timid when addressing problems in our Church and the lukewarm manner in which many of us live out our faith. St. Vincent, like the noted Italian Franciscan preacher, St. Leonard of Port Maurice referenced below, was direct and confronted people with the Truth since it is only the Truth that will set ...

Among the many problems within our Church today is the fact that far too many Catholics do not know or live their faith. This is in large measure due to poor catechesis and the reluctance of some priests to teach the full and undiluted Truths of our Faith. Too many are content to tickle our ears and not seek to save our souls. I believe, as did St. Vincent Ferrer, O.P., that we cannot be timid when addressing problems in our Church and the lukewarm manner in which many of us live out our faith. St. Vincent, like the noted Italian Franciscan preacher, St. Leonard of Port Maurice referenced below, was direct and confronted people with the Truth since it is only the Truth that will set hearts and souls free. There is a fear that the average Catholic in the pew can not "handle" the Truth, will not accept the Church's teachings and will take a hike when they are forced to listen to and live them.  Better, many argue, that we skip over the "hard points...

We should have two goals in this life: to save our souls and the souls of all whom we know, love and meet. Nothing can be more important than this. (Image source: Wikimedia Commons ) While none of us should presume upon God's mercy, it is an eternal Gift which He offers to all His creatures who humble themselves and ask for it... How painful it is then for so many of us, when those we know and love and who have separated themselves from our loving and merciful God, refuse to  approach Him and give little or no concern to their eternal home. Few Saints cared more about the salvation of souls than St. Catherine of Siena, as evidenced by this excerpt from Catherine of Siena by Sigrid Undset: "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 create...