Editor’s note: a powerful new book by well-known essayist and literary critic Anthony Esolen entitled In the Beginning Was the Word: An Annotated Reading of the Prologue of John was recently published by Angelico Press, from whom we obtained permission to share a part of it with our readers. Our own contributing editor Dr. Peter…
Lent is just around the corner, which means a season of fasting and penance is upon us. If you grew up outside of Tradition, Lent in your average Novus Ordo parish or Diocesan setting was nothing to write home about. The idea that you would actually do something difficult or that would cause any real…
Fasting is a Virtue which is Necessary for Holiness Among the many things from our fathers which are necessary for the restoration of Tradition, there are few things which are more neglected yet also more necessary than bodily fasting. Even among faithful Catholics who strive with zeal for the restoration of the Holy Mass and…
To see the true spirit of Christian mortification, we must consider what our Lord says about it in the Gospel and how the saints understood it and lived it. The Savior did not come upon earth to carry out a human work of philanthropy, but a divine work of charity. He accomplished it by speaking…
Editor’s note: without a doubt, it is spirit of the martyrs that must be rekindled in the hearts of the faithful in our age. Hence our serialization of St. Alphonsus’ great devotional work before Advent last year (which we hope to resume again soon, God willing). It is here that we find the great militant…
Editor’s note: below is a selection from the modern spiritual classic Divine Intimacy: Meditations on the Interior Life for Every Day of the Year. This is reproduced with permission from Baronius Press. — Presence of God: I place myself in the presence of Mary Immaculate, my loving Mother, and listen to her invitation: “Come over to me…
By St. Alphonsus Liguori The Christian religion had been for a long time persecuted in Persia, but during the reign of King Isdegerdes it had enjoyed a peace of twenty years. A certain bishop, named Abdas, set fire to a temple, in which was an idol worshipped by the Persians; and this circumstance gave rise…
Editor’s note: below is a selection from the modern spiritual classic Divine Intimacy: Meditations on the Interior Life for Every Day of the Year. This is reproduced with permission from Baronius Press. — Presence of God: O Jesus, Prince of Ages, King of Nations, be the sole Ruler of my mind and heart. Meditation The…
Beyond Holy Writ, there has been one book which has helped form, edify, and nourish me spiritually. I have read it time and again. It is The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis. By no means am I the only Christian soul to find refuge in its pages. Apparently, behind the Bible, it is…
Collect: Keep Thy household, O Lord, with continual loving-kindness, that by Thy protection it may be free from all adversities and devoted to Thy name in well-doing. Epistle: Ephesians vi. 10-17 Gospel: Matthew xviii. 23-35 An image of the torments of Hell attributed to spiritual writers of note, in particular St. Augustine of Hippo (+430), caught…
“Brethren: Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Eph 5:15-16 RSV). True in St. Paul’s day. Perhaps even more so in our day. If…
