Saint Catherine of Siena – the Key of Obedience
April 28, 2013 by Anthony Lilles
Filed under Catholic Spirituality, Featured, God's Will, Humility, Loving God, Suffering, Virtue
Saint Catherine of Siena spent her life encouraging a deeper obedience to God the Father. Although the earthly life of this Doctor of the Church ended over six hundred years ago, her spiritual teaching has passed into the universal patrimony of the Church. In particular, the personal relationship she enjoyed with the eternal Father through her faith in Christ crucified can help us reassess our own attitudes toward the... Read More
Gethsemane’s Night and the Hope of Christian Prayer
March 9, 2013 by Anthony Lilles
Filed under Contemplation, Divine Mercy, Eucharist/Mass, God's Will
Gethsemane: Those who enter into this hidden garden of prayer with fear of the Lord and right reverence are permitted to overhear part of the Son’s conversation with the Father in secret. Extending the blessing He offered at the Last Supper, Christ offered perfect praise with bold confidence in the Father while cherishing everything about his human existence, especially His friends. He was vigilant that they should... Read More
Blessings that are Difficult to Receive
March 1, 2013 by Anthony Lilles
Filed under Catholic Spirituality, Difficulties, Featured, God's Will, Prayer, Rosary, Suffering
When our prayer takes us to the Mount of Olives, we discover the mystery of the Cross in all kinds of trials. Before that impending evil life throws at us, we often find our desires on a collision course with God’s desires. Some of these trials come from “without” in the form of difficult circumstances. This could be in the form of a grave injustice or natural catastrophe. The Lord does not always... Read More
Spiritual Liberty in the Night
February 21, 2013 by Anthony Lilles
Filed under Carmelite Spirituality, Conversion, Featured, Free Will, God's Will, John of the Cross
In order to secure our true liberty, even while we were enslaved to sin, Christ suffered the night of death and ransomed us by His blood. This is why the Lord respects human freedom, even when it is the source of great sorrow. Aware of our frailty, God does not overpower our freedom but delights to work through it in a very gentle and beautiful way. As a result, it is easy to frustrate His work in us. At the same... Read More
How can I know the will of God in my life? – Part II of II
June 27, 2011 by Fr. John Bartunek, LC
Filed under God's Will, Q and A
Q: Dear Father John, How can I know what the will of God is in my life? I have been suffering physically for almost a year. I have been praying for healing and others have been praying for me. How do I know if it is God’s will that I continue suffering? I don’t know whether to keep on praying for healing or to just accept this suffering as God’s will. I pray that I may know His will but so far can’t... Read More
A prayer of surrender
June 25, 2011 by Anonymous
Filed under God's Will, Prayers
Loving Father, I surrender to you today with all my heart and soul. Please come into my heart in a deeper way. I say, “Yes” to you today. I open all the secret places of my heart to you and say, “Come on in.” Jesus, you are the Lord of my whole life. I believe in you and receive you as my Lord and Savior. I hold nothing back. Holy Spirit, bring me to a deeper conversion to the person of Jesus Christ. I surrender all... Read More
How can I know the will of God in my life? – Part I of II
June 20, 2011 by Fr. John Bartunek, LC
Filed under God's Will, Q and A
Q: Dear Father John, How can I know what the will of God is in my life? I have been suffering physically for almost a year. I have been praying for healing and others have been praying for me. How do I know if it is God’s will that I continue suffering? I don’t know whether to keep on praying for healing or to just accept this suffering as God’s will. I pray that I may know His will but so far can’t... Read More
What does it really mean to give your life to Christ and to trust God? – Part II of II
February 14, 2011 by Fr. John Bartunek, LC
Filed under Faith, God's Will, Q and A
Q: Dear Father John, I have been grappling a lot lately with spiritual progress, and I think what it boils down to is trust. The whole idea of believing God is with me throughout my day, and even more so, the idea (or need) to turn everything over to Him… But what does that actually look like? How do you get there? I still have to go through the steps/tasks of life as a wife, mother, and other things… What... Read More
What does it really mean to give your life to Christ and to trust God? – Part I of II
January 31, 2011 by Fr. John Bartunek, LC
Filed under Faith, God's Will, Q and A
Q: Dear Father John, I have been grappling a lot lately with spiritual progress, and I think what it boils down to is trust. The whole idea of believing God is with me throughout my day, and even more so, the idea (or need) to turn everything over to Him… But what does that actually look like? How do you get there? I still have to go through the steps/tasks of life as a wife, mother, and other things… What... Read More
I have been out of work and am struggling with discernment…
December 23, 2010 by Anonymous
Filed under Discernment, God's Will, Q and A, Suffering
Q: Dear Father Edward, I have been out of work for a while. I know God is not in the employment business, nor is he that concerned with how we make a living. His concern is for our soul. That said, I’m told I will know God’s will … and that he is leading me to something just right for me. But how do we know the direction he’s leading us in? And how do we pray about this … and how do I keep from... Read More
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