The Spiritual Life

Gaining Indulgences in This Life Helps Pay Our Debt of Sin and Gain Heaven Faster

August 3, 2026

by Sr. Mary Cabrini, OP (Fall, 2017) What are Indulgences and Why is There So Much Importance Attached to Them? While taking a routine morning walk along a popular path, a young man’s attention was drawn to many sparkling flecks amid the dirt and gravel. His curiosity urged him to stoop down and gather a handful of these bright objects. With further study, he discovered he had a treasure of gold fragments. Each day after, he would effortlessly gather more and more. He wondered why others ignored the shimmering tidbits, but he continued this easy task that would eventually amount to a considerable sum. Similarly, we can gain indulgences with as little effort, slowly amassing an eternal fortune. I am often asked, “Sister, can you please explain indulgences to me?” First of all, Christ gained infinite merits by His death on the cross. In addition to that, Our Lady obtained

Is the Great Promise of the Brown Scapular an infallible Ticket of Predestination?

July 24, 2026

by Rev. Fr. Gabriel Lavery, CMRI (Summer, 2013) What are the two privileges attached to the scapular of Mt. Carmel? There are two privileges which Our Lady has attached to the wearing of the Scapular of Mt. Carmel. One is called the Sabbatine Privilege and is based on a vision of Pope John XXII in 1322. This privilege promises an early release from Purgatory, especially on the Saturday after death. It has certain conditions attached such as praying daily the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin, for those who can read, or abstaining from meat on Wednesdays and Saturdays for those who cannot read. The second privilege is the original promise made by Our Lady when she gave the scapular to St. Simon Stock in 1251. She promised: “This shall be a sign to you and to all Carmelites: whosoever dies wearing this shall not suffer eternal fire.” This is

Despite the Difficulties of Living a Christian Life in the Modern World, You Can Develop a Joyful Spirit

July 13, 2026

(Fall, 2006) by Sister Marie Vianney, CMRI “And these things we write to you, that you may rejoice, and your joy may be full.” (1 John 1: 4) Generation X, the culture of death, gang warfare, terrorism—these and other familiar phrases of our day reveal a sad, hopeless world. Yet such is not the natural state of man. In his famous book Orthodoxy, G. K. Chesterton writes, “Man is more himself, man is more manlike, when joy is the fundamental thing in him… melancholy should be an innocent interlude, a tender and fugitive frame of mind; praise should be the permanent pulsation of the soul.”1 Hopelessness and despair, then, are unnatural and make us less human. It is joy that makes man most truly human and shows his true nature. Since joy is a fruit of the Holy Ghost and is not based on the emotions or temperament, it has

What is the Importance of the Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and How Do We Live It?

August 18, 2025

From the Lectures of Father Messias D. Coelhoon the Message of Fatima, August, 1967 Fr. Messias D. Coelho, an outstanding authority on the message of Our Lady, was the editor of the Portuguese religious newspaper, The Message of Fatima, as well as professor in the seminary at Fundao, Portugal. Although his English is not the most fluid, his words are an important historical commentary on the Fatima Message. This article is the eleventh in this series of lectures, which, we believe, are appearing for the first time in a periodical. How does Mary care for us when we are consecrated to her? Those of us who have made a consecration to Our Lady belong to her in a special way, more than others who have not consecrated themselves to her. If Our Lady came to Fatima to ask us to accomplish our own daily duties, she herself is always

Doing Battle for the Rights of God: Fr. Mateo, the Sacred Heart, and the Spanish Civil War

June 30, 2025

(Winter 2008) Some ten miles southeast of Madrid lies a hill marking the geographical center of the Iberian peninsula. Here, at the Cerro de los Angeles, occurred two remarkable events in the 20th century, which signify the battle raging in the world between Christ and Satan, between the Catholic Church and the enemies of God, between good and evil. These two events were polar opposites, indicating to us the struggle that is being daily waged for souls. On the one hand we see the merciful love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, yearning to save souls; on the other we see the diabolical hatred towards God and His Church displayed by the devil’s henchmen. To understand the significance of this struggle, let us begin with a brief survey of the life and work of Fr. Mateo Crawley-Boevey, SS.CC. What was Fr. Mateo’s Background? Edward Crawley-Boevey was born in Arequipa, Peru,

With Christ’s Ascension, We Must offer Him the Kingly Honor He Refused on Earth

May 9, 2025

(Fall-Winter, 2005)A Sermon for the Feast of the Ascension Delivered by the Very Rev. Fr. M. Casimir Puskorius, CMRI In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. My dear parishioners, this feast of the Ascension of Our Lord into Heaven is one of the feasts of His Kingship. Our Lord was always a King. Even before He assumed our human nature He was always the Lord and King of creation. When He was conceived by the Holy Ghost in the womb of the Virgin Mary, He was the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. But we see thus far in His life Christ makes no effort whatsoever to seek the honor that was His due. As a matter of fact, one time in His public life after He had worked a miracle, the people were so thrilled and so grateful

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Gaining Indulgences in This Life Helps Pay Our Debt of Sin and Gain Heaven Faster

Is the Great Promise of the Brown Scapular an infallible Ticket of Predestination?

Despite the Difficulties of Living a Christian Life in the Modern World, You Can Develop a Joyful Spirit

What is the Importance of the Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and How Do We Live It?

With Christ’s Ascension, We Must offer Him the Kingly Honor He Refused on Earth

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