CSD Book Club – 33 Days to Morning Glory (Week 5 of 6)

The Intimacy of Devotion [Let] us try in a special way to come as close as the human heart can come to the Heart of Jesus and try to understand as much as possible Jesus’ terrible pain caused him by our sins and His Thirst for our love…Thank God our Lady was there to understand fully the thirst of Jesus for love.  She must have straight away said, “I satiate Your thirst with my love... Read More

CSD Book Club – 33 Days to Morning Glory (Week 4 of 6)

A Kiss from His Sacred Heart Do we yet realize the mysterious link between the darkness we sometimes experience in our own lives and that of the Lord’s suffering?  Let us ponder Mother Teresa’s words on suffering that come from her own experience and so, like her, become better lovers of the Heart of Jesus: Suffering, pain, sorrow, humiliation, feelings of loneliness, are nothing but the... Read More

CSD Book Club – 33 Days to Morning Glory (Week 3 of 6)

The Power of Humility We’ll close these reflections on the wonderful benefits of Marian consecration by letting St. Louis describe how this way is also a secure path, meaning that, as we walk it, we’re particularly protected from and defended against evil: Mary puts herself around [her true children], and accompanies them “like an army in battle array” (Cant. 6:3). Shall a man who has... Read More

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux and Loving God

In the wisdom of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, there is great reason to be confident as we begin to learn to love God.   He is not ignorant of the fact that most of us often fall short in our efforts to seek God and live according to His commands.  His exhortation stands, not on the quality of our own initiative, but on God.   Saint Bernard of Clairvaux proposes that God Himself is the cause... Read More

CSD Book Club – 33 Days to Morning Glory (Week 2 of 6)

The “Surest and Quickest Way to Heaven” Marian consecration basically means giving Mary our full permission (or as much permission as we can) to complete her motherly task in us, which is to form us into other Christs.  Thus, by consecrating ourselves to Mary, each of us is saying to her: Mary, I want to be a saint.  I know that you also want me to be a saint and that it’s your... Read More

CSD Book Club – Navigating the Interior Life (Week 6 of 6)

Exterior Piety vs. Interior Joy  Millions stand within just a few feet of the grace necessary to ascend to the heights of heaven in this life (with limitations, of course) and to meet the smile of God face-to-face in the next. Many of these souls attend Mass weekly, or even daily, and they are engaged in devotions like praying the Rosary, Adoration, and regular Scripture reading. The great... Read More

CSD Book Club – Navigating the Interior Life (Week 4 of 6)

Mother Mary Many persons delude themselves maintaining that they reach union with God without having continuous recourse to our Lord who is the way, the truth, and the life. Another error would consist in wishing to go to our Lord without going first to Mary…Protestants have fallen into this last error. Without going as far as this deviation, there are Catholics who do not see clearly enough... Read More

CSD Book Club – Imitation of Christ (Week 10 of 10)

Has God “Hugged” You Lately? You must seek the grace of devotion with perseverance, ask for it with earnestness, await it with patient confidence, receive it with thankfulness, retain it with humility, and use it with great care. But, while you await its coming, entrust to God the time and manner of this heavenly gift. When you feel little or no devotion within you, you should especially... Read More

The Truth about Movies and Les Miserables

I don’t usually go to movies to be entertained; instead, I go to engage with truth, beauty, and goodness. I find that movies often allow the voice of God to break into my soul in a way that no other medium can. Movies to me are like living icons – windows to God and truth. As such, I have little regard or appreciation for the common kind of analysis that movie critics provide (with... Read More

CSD Book Club – Imitation of Christ (Week 4 of 10)

 Running to Win   For a pittance men will travel a great distance, but for eternal life many will scarcely take a single step. They look ahead to puny gains and sometimes shamefully wrangle over a single penny; neither do they hesitate to wear themselves out working day and night for some foolish promise or trifling object. But for the good that never changes, for the prize beyond all prizes,... Read More

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