Remember this: without God and what God has done for us in Christ, nothing of who we are matters at all. – Fr. Steve Grunow (source) This quote sheds some light on one of our root sins, pride, that desire to be worthy based on our own existence-being-purpose-meaning, independent of God. That independence from God, […]
Today is the feast day for Saint Nicholas of Flüe. One of his prayers is quoted in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 226, with reference to Mt 5:29-30; 16:24-26) My Lord and my God, take from me everything that distances me from you. My Lord and my God, give me everything that brings me […]
The song “Down to Earth” by Peter Gabriel is a catchy little song played over the closing credits at the end of the movie, WALL•E. The song fits perfectly with the ending of the movie and with its hopeful allusion to the future. After further listening, I noticed that the song is dripping with great […]
I discovered an old interview with Father Gabriele Amorth on the internet concerning Satan and exorcism. It is an interesting article, but this particular piece near the end jumped out at me. How does the Devil go about seducing men and women? AMORTH: His strategy is monotonous. I have told him so and he admits […]
I’ve been listening (and re-listening) to some of Peter Kreeft’s lectures and speeches. (Free to download in mp3 format.) A basic theme that runs through many of his talks (and books) is that every person seeks truth, goodness, and beauty in some form or another. And all three of these are found in God. They […]
From Br. Joseph — This is the last reflection of a series on seven signposts. The first reflection began Lent, and now this one bridges us into the Easter season and beyond. Signposts give us direction. They point to some place. They involve action, movement. Many signposts call us to remember something important, some thing […]
O wondrous exchange, eternal life is promised to us by the humility of the Lord, who bowed himself down to our pride. — St. Augustine, Confessions Thank You.
From Br. Joseph — This is the fifth reflection on seven signposts for the season of Lent (and for all seasons). Gravitate to humility. This signpost points in the exact opposite direction the world points by pointing to the First Beatitude, the Beatitude from which all the Beatitudes spring forth—blessed are the poor in spirit. […]
O wondrous exchange, eternal life is promised to us by the humility of the Lord, who bowed himself down to our pride. — Saint Augustine, Confessions
Signposts point to where we want to go. Follow, or don’t follow. There are seven signposts listed below because seven is the number of completeness. No claim of originality is made for the signs, excerpt maybe for their grouping. Keep hope alive. Dare to trust. Surrender to grace. • • • Reflect love. • • […]
Near the end of the film Into Great Silence (technically it is a film, but it is something more), there is an interview with an old, blind monk. The years of solitude do not wear heavy on him. He is truly happy, and peace envelopes him, coming to you even through the camera lens. His […]
From Br. Joseph — At some point in every faith journey, one finds him or her self taking an inventory of their core, central beliefs. Some of these beliefs are held very tightly, some loosely. The more central a belief, the more one aligns his or her identity. Paula D’Arcy describes her seven central beliefs […]
Thomas Keating, in Manifesting God, says: “Worthiness is not the issue.” Get over it. Stop projecting your own self-esteem issues onto God. God is God, not the god you make Him out to be. The Gospel is not about earning the love of God because we already have it. It is a matter of receiving […]
O God, as once the good angels humbled themselves to adore You appearing before them as a man, may man humbly adore You appearing before us as bread. — from a prayer card [via]
Ask for repentance in your prayer and nothing else, neither for divine lights, nor miracles, nor prophecies, nor spiritual gifts—nothing but repentance. Repentance will bring you humility, humility will bring you the Grace of God, and God will have in His Grace everything you need for your salvation, or anything you might need to help […]
Father, I don’t know. I don’t quite understand it all. I read Saint Catherine of Siena and her words are harsh for sinners. She says in her own style, and in the style of her times, to wake up idiots! Your time is slipping away from you. The window of opportunity for choosing heaven is […]
I happened across a web page full of quotes and started to ponder over this one: I don’t want to be rich and famous. I want to be rich and anonymous. — Anonymous My first thought was sure, I wouldn’t mind the money. Who needs the fame if it means paparazzi hounding you and your name […]
I think of this verse from Micah 6:8 in some of my darker or confused moments: You have been told, O man, what is good, and what the Lord requires of you: Only to do the right and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God. The “walk humbly” part […]