“Let us always keep before our eyes the fact that here on earth we are on a battlefield and that in paradise we shall receive the crown of victory; that this is a testing-ground and the prize will be awarded up above; that we are now in a land of exile while our true homeland is Heaven to which we must continually aspire.”
-St. Padre Pio
The original Portiuncula is located within the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels in Assisi (Wikicommons)
On the Franciscan calendar, August 2nd marks a very special Marian feast day, one which commemorates the remarkable connection between Our Lady of the Angels and Saint Francis of Assisi. The story behind this connection is well worth telling.
DM asks: “My kids have gone bonkers over Fortnite and it’s becoming a daily war to get them to stop playing. Are other parents experiencing these problems? And is this game really safe for kids?”
This hard-hitting letter by Ralph Martin, president of Renewal Ministries in Ann Arbor, Michigan and director of graduate programs in the new evangelization at Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit, addresses the fallout from the serious charges that have been leveled against Washington DC’s retired Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick. It not only addresses the problem, but offers common-sense advice for everyday Catholics who are struggling to come to terms with this new scandal.
August 1
“Jesus said to his disciples: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.’”
The Gospel of Matthew does an incredible job with imagery, here- treasure, finds, joy, sells all, buys, Heaven, fine pearls, great price. Wow, what a vision! You can picture the Gospel while reading it. // Even more than imagery, the truth underlying this Gospel is so real you can touch it. How often has this been a reality in your own life— that you find something that exceeds everything in your imagination? Not very often, I would guess. That’s because fine pearls and treasure are rare and priceless.
The first thing I think of in a natural sense is marriage. A real, true love is a joy that can’t be found every single day. And when you find it? You give everything you can to hold onto it. You let go of anything that keeps you from becoming all you’re created to be in order to allow Him to work wonders. You don’t squander it, and you know you can’t replace it.
That’s like Heaven. It requires us to find Him again and again, and to never stop searching for the treasures of virtue He places in our midst.
Tonight, thank God for the fine pearls He has put in your life, and ask Him to change your heart ever more in order to prepare you for the ultimate treasure of Heaven.
Commentary by Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
The abortion industry has a long history of giving bad advice to women, but a recent article in SELF Magazine which offers “15 Ways to Mentally and Physically Prepare For Your Abortion” goes way over the top by suggesting women listen to Beyonce tunes during the procedure and bring coloring books to stay calm in the waiting room. Seriously? You’d be surprised about how many people use music therapy to calm their anxiety and stress.
August 1
July 31
“He said in reply, ‘He who sows good seed is the Son of Man, the field is the world, the good seed the children of the Kingdom. The weeds are the children of the Evil One, and the enemy who sows them is the Devil.’”
Lately I’ve recognized that when I pray Night Prayer (as my last prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours each day), I rush through the actual examination of conscience and avoid looking over my day and my actions. I assume I haven’t done anything “bad” enough to justify actually pondering the last 24 hours, so I jump straight into the other prayers.
Here’s my first mistake: I’m rushed. And the goal for me of praying the Liturgy of the Hours is to formulate a lifestyle that revolves around prayer and not the other way around. So when it comes to Night Prayer? Y’all, I’m failing at it.
But there’s good news— I have a loving Father who is ready to meet me where I am and to sow something beautiful out of my, well, laziness. He is the sower of good seed…and if I let Him, I can become whatever He allows me to be.
Who are you allowing to sow the seeds in your life? It’s so easy to wash our hands of the things that seem small; but in reality, all the “small” things add up. And before we know it, we aren’t letting Him sow anymore.
Tonight, on this special Memorial of St. Ignatius of Loyola, let’s honor him and do a simple examination of conscience. And see how large your faith grows as a result!
If you want to see Planned Parenthood lose up to $60 million of Title X taxpayer dollars, today is the last day to submit your comment to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) asking them to enact the Protect Life Rule.
July 31
