The Spiritual Life

How to Develop the Spirit of Silence So That the Soul May Grow in the Virtues of Humility, Charity, and Piety

February 26, 2024

Servus Mariae “Servus Mariae Nunquam Peribit” “Servus Mariae” translates as “the servant of Mary” or “the slave of Mary.” This title reflects the spirituality of the Congregation of Mary Immaculate Queen. That spirit is one of Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary, as taught by St. Louis Marie de Montfort. The column title also reflects the motto of CMRI: Servus Mariae nunquam peribit (“The servant of Mary will never perish”). by Rev. Fr. Dominic Radecki, CMRI (Fall, 2016) Using the Gift of Speech as God Intended Speech is defined as “the power of expressing and communicating thoughts by speaking,” while silence is defined as “the absence of sound or noise; stillness, quiet” (New Scholastic Dictionary of American English). Since speech is a gift from God, it is a good thing unless we abuse its purpose. Nowadays, charity and moderation in speech are rare virtues. Even in Christ’s time, St. James

How to Make the Greatest Evil in Our Lives Our Greatest Happiness

January 15, 2024

(Winter-Spring, 2006) by Fr. Paul O’Sullivan, O.P. (E.D.M.) Suffering is the great problem of human life. We all have to suffer. Sometimes small sorrows, sometimes greater ones fall to our share. We shall now tell our readers how to avoid much of this suffering, how to lessen all suffering and how to derive great benefits from every suffering we may have to bear. The reason why suffering appears so hard is that, first of all, we are not taught what suffering is. Secondly, we are not taught how to bear it. Thirdly, we are not taught the priceless value of suffering. This is due to the incomprehensible neglect on the part of our teachers. It is surprising how easily some people bear great sufferings, while others get excited even at the smallest trouble. The simple reason is that some have been taught all about suffering; others have not. Suffering is

Eugene de Blaas, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Spirituality: How to avoid sins of the tongue

January 2, 2024

For Confraternity Readers: Servus Mariae “Servus Mariae Nunquam Peribit” by Rev. Fr. Dominic Radecki, CMRI (Summer, 2017) In the book of Proverbs, we read: “In the multitude of words there shall not want sin” (Proverbs 10:19). Sins of speech are prevalent and many people simply talk too much. St. Francis de Sales advises us to “be brief and virtuous, brief and gentle, brief and charitable, brief and amiable,” in our speech, and St. Ignatius likewise exhorts us to be simple, direct and brief. Our words should be elevating to others, reflecting goodness and truth. Like the saints we should practice silence as an aid to recollection, prayer and union with God. Consequently, we should speak only when required by charity or duty. When a doctor begins a routine examination, he often begins by looking at the tongue. In ancient Chinese medicine, that organ indicates, to some degree, a person’s health.

For Third Order Readers: Servus Mariae

December 18, 2023

(Fall, 1998)by Rev. Fr. Dominic Radecki, CMRI Knowledge of Self Many people are fond of looking at themselves in a mirror to check their physical appearance. Few, however, are willing to look at themselves in the mirror of their conscience to check their spiritual condition. They fear to see themselves as they really are and are equally fearful of making the necessary changes. Nevertheless, the saints have taught that self-examination, or examination of conscience, is one of the chief means of spiritual advancement. Examination of conscience helps us to get to the core of our spiritual problems and forces us to come face to face with the true state of our soul. “By daily repenting of our sins, we hinder them from taking deeper root in the soul, and prevent our bad habits from growing stronger.” 1 Necessity of Examination of Conscience Knowledge of self is the foundation of the

Advent: Docility to God’s Grace

December 3, 2023

A Sermon preached by Fr. Louis Kerfoot, CMRI on the Second Sunday of Advent (1998) My dear friends, today’s Gospel relates how St. John the Baptist, having been imprisoned for rebuking Herod for living with his brother’s wife, sent two of his disciples to ask Christ if He is the Messias: “Art Thou He Who is to come, or look we for another?” Did John the Baptist know that Jesus Christ was the Messiah? As the Precursor of Christ, John the Baptist had the mission of preparing the way for the Messias. Why, then, did he send his followers to Christ? Was it so that he himself might know whether or not Jesus is the Messias? Certainly not. John the Baptist knew that Jesus Christ was the Messias. He had even pointed Christ out to his followers at the Jordan. In the first part of the Gospel of St. John,

What is our relationship with the Persons of the Most Holy Trinity? (Sermon)

June 4, 2023

What is the Most Holy Trinity? What is our relationship with each Person?