Harvesting The Fruits of Contemplation

Today we celebrate the feast day of another Dominican Saint and Pope, St. Pius V (1504-1572). He led the Catholic Reformation. He also organized a Rosary Crusade throughout Catholic Europe which is believed to be the reason why the Catholic naval forces were able to decisively defeat the Ottoman Turks in the Battle of Lepanto, effectively thwarting their plan to take over the rest of Europe .   The Supplement to the Liturgy of the Hours for the Order of Preachers offers us this glimpse of Pius V:   “Pius used to say that the special duty of the Roman Pontiff was to strive with all his power to preserve divine worship, ecclesiastical discipline, and the upright morals of all who lived in Rome . Therefore he took great care to restore the liturgy to its original splendor in those places where it had been neglected and to restore the life and morals of all ranks of persons to the way of true piety.   Since Pius clearly saw that nothing was more odious to G...

If God used Balaam’s donkey to get that prophet’s attention, 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. (Image from Biblebios.com)   More than fourteen months ago, I offered my few cents on the unprecedented attack on our religious liberty. Sad to say, not much has changed since I wrote those words. If you not already done so, I suggest you read those comments here if the rest of this entry is to make sense.   The current Administration still refuses to acknowledge our God-given right to freely practice our religion. In fact, it has expressed frustration and annoyance with our on-going verbal refusal to acquiesce to its intrinsically evil regulations and our stated unwillingness to bow down to their “god” of reproductive rights. One of its agencies had actually classified Catholics as terrorists. Litigation, tho...

This is the feast day of the great Dominican Saint, Lay Dominican, Doctor of the Catholic Church, and mystic, St. Catherine of Siena (1347-1380). Many have heard of Dialogue of Divine Providence, the spiritual jewel she left our Church, but few have taken the time to really study it. I am still working on it. It is a priceless treasure worth mining. Here is an excerpt that should provide you with sufficient food for contemplation: Jesus to St. Catherine of Siena : "I require that you should love Me with the same love with which I love you. This indeed you cannot do, because I loved you without being loved. All the love which you have for Me you owe to Me, so that it is not of grace that you love Me, but because you ought to do so, while I love you of grace, and not because I owe you my love. Therefore to Me, in person you cannot repay the love which I require of you, and I have placed you in the midst of your fellows, that you may do to the...

It's time to join an interesting group of Cathloic bloggers at RAnn's place  where you are sure to find something that will speak to your soul. Take a few minutes and visit!   Thank you RAnn for your continuing hospitality!   Here are my two offerings:   Pondering Tidbits of Truth- April 25, 2013   Who Do You See When You Look At Yourself And At Others?      

The two videos that follow were passed on via Creative Minority , a place I frequently visit. You should too. Since we are to believe that each of us are made in the image and likeness of God, these videos raise a host of questions worth pursuing. Let me suggest just two. Answer each question first before viewing the video.           Have you ever stopped to think whether or not other people see you in the same way you view yourself?        When you look at or pass someone by, do you see them for whom they really are?       Do your original answers to these questions remain unchanged?

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.     Dr. Ralph Martin   “The reason for the command [in Matthew 28:18-20 and Acts 1:8 for example] – namely, that the eternal destinies of human beings are really at stake and for most people the preaching of the Gospel can make a life-or-death, heaven or hell difference – need to be unashamedly stated. This is certainly why Jesus often spoke of the eternal consequences of not accepting his teaching – being lost forever, hell – and did not just give the command to evangelize. This is why Mark 16:16, which is referenced in LG [ Lumen Gentium] 16 but not directly quoted, makes explicit that what is at stake in being “saved” or “condemned.” Jesus makes clear that Christianity is not a game or an optional enrichment opportunity but a precious and urgent opportunity to find salvation and escape damnation. In fidelity to the t...

It's Sunday and time to join an interesting group of Cathloic bloggers at RAnn's place  where you are sure to find something that will speak to your soul. Take a few minutes and visit! Two Simple Thoughts On Today's Gospel Eucharistic Reflection - Christ Our Daily Banquet The Sinful, Senseless Slaughter of Innocent Human Life Struggling to Promote Eucharistic Adoration? This Video Will Definitely Help!