The Spiritual Life

Quotes from 10 Mystics That Help Us Meditate on Mary’s Sorrows

September 15, 2024

by Alexis M. Lepicier, OSMtranslated by Marge Radford (Winter, 2017) What good can come from our meditating on the sorrows of the mother of God and her Most Holy Son? St. Alexis Faconeri (+1310), one of the seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order. A 14th century historian cites him as having said these memorable words: “The spirit of our foundation and order is to meditate often, or better still continually, on the sorrows of the Most Holy Mother of God, leaving no stone unturned to make the rest of the world meditate also. . . . The Most Holy Virgin is waiting for us not only to move our hearts to sympathy for her in her sorrows, but to go much further: not add to them by offending God; that is to say, she wants us to fear God and be free from sin. . . so that we

The Blessings that Come With Enthroning the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts as King and Queen of the Home

August 30, 2024

by Rev. Fr. Gregory Drahman, CMRI (Summer, 2007) A Brief History of the Sacred Heart Devotion and Fr. Mateo Crawley-Boevey, SS. CC. Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is nothing new; it comes to us from the pages of Sacred Scripture itself. The significance of St. Longinus’ piercing Christ’s side on Mt. Calvary helps us reflect on the mystery of the love of Our Lord’s Sacred Heart for men. Providence always indicates, especially by the establishment of new feasts and ceremonies, the specific devotion that God knows we need in any particular day and age. Popes, saints, and even Christ Himself have enjoined upon us the need for a deeper devotion to the Sacred Heart as an antidote for the evils of our day. As we celebrate the Centenary Anniversary of the Ceremony of the Enthronement of the Home to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, let us take a

The picture depicts the Virgin Mary on an early 20th century painting (the painter is unknown). It is exhibited in the Greek Catholic Cathedral of Hajdúdorog, Hungary. This painting decorates the Western wall of the Southern side-nave. It represents the typical symbols of the Blessed Virgin: the crescent under her feet that symbolizes Mary's chastity and the sunbeams that appear as a halo around the Virgin Mother's head.

“Mary, My Mother, Help Me Love My God; Help Me to Fight for Him and for Souls!”

August 1, 2024

by Rev. Fr. Eugen RisslingTranslated from the original German by a Marian Sister (Fall, 2015) Being Able to Invoke Mary as Our Mother in All Our Needs is a Great Blessing for Us (The following article pertains to a German prayer that may or may not be familiar to English-speaking Catholics; nevertheless, these reflections can be applied to a vast number of Marian prayers which help promote a more intimate conversation with our Heavenly Mother.) We all know the ancient and beautiful popular prayer to the Mother of God which begins with the phrase, “Virgin Mother of God and mine, let me be entirely thine.” Perhaps it enjoys a great popularity among the faithful for the very reason that in our various needs we can pray to the Mother of God, who in turn will intercede for us with her Son. Upon delving into other prayers, one comes across a

The Precious Blood of Jesus is the Symbol for the Whole Mystery of Redemption

July 12, 2024

A Sermon Preached by Rev. Fr. Bernard Uttley, O.S.B., on June 29, 2014 My beloved people, this Tuesday is the feast of the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and in popular piety the entire month of July is dedicated to the devotion of the Precious Blood. Although Our Lord’s entire Sacred Humanity is worthy of divine honor, since it is united to a divine Person, the Church allows public veneration and official liturgical worship for only two parts of His humanity: His Sacred Heart and His Precious Blood. The reason would seem to be that these two parts are most closely connected with our Savior’s redeeming work. His Heart is the symbol of the love which urged our Blessed Lord to deliver Himself to death for us, and the shedding of His blood was the actual means by which expiation for the sins of the world was

Loving Reparation for Sin Consoles the Hearts of Jesus and Mary

July 5, 2024

A Sermon Preached by Rev. Fr. Francisco Radecki, CMRI(The Fatima Conference, October 10, 2013) Sin and the Need for Reparation Although millions today seriously offend God by their wicked lives, apathy, and indifference, there are still faithful souls throughout the world who console Him by a life of sacrificial love and perseverance in virtue. Imagine the joy the Hearts of Jesus and Mary must feel when They see those who choose God over sin, faithfully observing the Commandments and living lives of charity, purity, and patience, following Jesus’ words: “If you love Me, keep My Commandments.” When we think of reparation, the word repair comes to mind. Cloistered monks and nuns are not the only ones who can repair for the sins of the world; priests, religious and laity can all placate God Who has done so much for us. In appreciation, we will receive a special reward and a

The Long and Eventful History of the Miraculous Icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help

June 27, 2024

(Fall-Winter, 2005)by Sr. Mary Agatha, CMRI The following is the fascinating story, dating back more than 500 years, of the miraculous icon which the Blessed Virgin herself commanded to be venerated between the churches of St. Mary Major and St. John Lateran in Rome. The icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help is one of the most well-known and loved images of the Blessed Virgin known to Catholics. For many years, a weekly holy hour or novena in honor of Our Mother of Perpetual Help was common in many parish churches all over the world, and indeed, the custom continues in many places to this day. The history of the original icon, which is now enshrined in the Redemptorist Church of St. Alphonsus in Rome, can be traced back to the year 1495, when the image, already considered ancient, was enshrined in a church on the island of Crete. When

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Quotes from 10 Mystics That Help Us Meditate on Mary’s Sorrows

The Blessings that Come With Enthroning the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts as King and Queen of the Home

“Mary, My Mother, Help Me Love My God; Help Me to Fight for Him and for Souls!”

The Precious Blood of Jesus is the Symbol for the Whole Mystery of Redemption

Loving Reparation for Sin Consoles the Hearts of Jesus and Mary

The Long and Eventful History of the Miraculous Icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help

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