Harvesting The Fruits of Contemplation

It's been awhile since we've ended a Sunday on this blog with a song. Thanks to  Chris Tomlin , YouTube and " The Happy Priest " - Father James Farfaglia, the drought is ended. It's nice to be reminded of what awaits us when the spirtual combat on this earth comes to an end. God's blessing on all those who visit this blog.

Now is the time to stand up for religious freedom. Begin by visiting the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops here.  Take action NOW! If you do not understand why contraception is such a serious evil and sin and why God and His Church prohibit artificial contraception get a copy of Pope Paul VI's Encyclical ,  Humanae Vitae . Prayerfully read and ponder it. Share it with the many other Catholics you know who may never have read or understood this vital teaching.  If you had previously read this prophetic document, re-read and study it more carefully. Humane Vitae is not very lengthy and very easy to understand. Equip yourself and those you love for the battle that lies ahead. If you are among the substantially large number of Catholics in this country who reportedly are engaging in or have  engaged in this eternally lethal practice, this is God's clarion call for you to ask Him for the grace to ...

Thomas Aquinas was born to a noble family in Aquino ( Italy ) in 1225. They objected to his entering the Order of Preachers (Dominicans) but he did so in 1244. At the age of nineteen, he went on to study under Saint Albert the Great.   His life is succinctly but beautifully summarized in today’s “Supplement to the Liturgy of the Hours for the Order of Preachers”:  “He devoted all his energy to the service      of  truth,  eagerly searching it out, lovingly contemplating it, and imparting it to others through his writing, his teaching and his preaching. His life was marked by devotion to the Passion of the Lord, to the mystery of the Eucharist, and to the Virgin Mary, Mother of God.” Known as the Angelic Doctor, he is often described as one of the greatest philosophers, theologians and Catholic teachers of all time. This is the man who produced the Summa Theologiae , the theological master piece that has survived centuries of...

"..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)

A must see - complements of Elizabeth Scalia - The Anchoress How often we forget  The Power of Words

Today we commemorate the life of St. Francis de Sales, Bishop and Doctor of our Church. His Introduction to the Devout Life is a timeless spiritual treasure that has had a profound impact on many a searching soul - including myself. I am indebted to my first spiritual director for having given me his personal copy of this classic and for putting me on a solid spiritual path. I consider this one of the most important and life changing spiritual books that I have ever read.     To wet your appetite, take a reflective look-see at how Saint Francis so exquisitely puts our ability to accept suffering in its proper perspective: “The Everlasting God has in His wisdom foreseen from eternity the cross that He now presents to you as a gift from His innermost heart. This cross He now sends you is considered with His all-knowing eyes, understood with His divine mind, tested with His wise justice, warmed with loving arms and weighed with His own hands, to see that it be not one inch...

I joined more than a hundred others individuals in Syracuse, New York today in the annual March For Life. It was cold - an insignificant inconvenience in comparison to the innocent ones in our community and throughout this nation and the world who have lost their lives at the hands of an abortionist. May our physical witness there today be a source of consolation to them and encouragement for more Catholics to become engaged in this essential battle to protect and save lives. I stood in the back of the group as it assembled after the march to hear the words of local pro-life leaders that included, among others, a mother of eight, the local coordinators of Forty Days For Life, and this area's stridently pro-life and courageous Congresswoman, Ann Marie Buerkle. Thank God they are among us. Pray for these women and for who sacrifice and suffer much in their efforts to protect and save lives. As inspiring and encouraging were the words of these ...