On July 13, 1917, Our Lady vouchsafed to the three children at Fatima a vision of Hell (this is the content of the “First Secret”): Our Lady showed us a great sea of fire which seemed to be under the earth. Plunged in this fire were demons and souls in human form, like transparent burning…
A few days ago, Sandro Magister wrote an article on his widely followed blog Settimo Cielo entitled “Worldwide Attack against the Seal of Confession: Either Prison or Excommunication.” He was referring to the pillar of Catholic doctrine on sacramental confession, which holds that what is said by the penitent in the confessional — including whatever…
Epistle: Romans 8:12-17 Gospel: Luke 16:1-9 Bestow upon us, O Lord, we beseech Thee, the spirit to think and do always such things as are right; that we who cannot exist without Thee, may be able to live according to Thy will. – From the Collect for the Eighth Sunday after Pentecost How much do…
Epistle: Romans 6:19-23 Gospel: Matthew 7:15-21 O God, whose providence faileth not in its designs, we humbly entreat Thee: to put away from us all hurtful things, and to give us all things which be profitable for us. – From the Collect for the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost Sunday’s readings revolve around the imagery of…
Epistle: Romans 6:3-11 Gospel: Mark 8:1-9 O God of hosts, to Whom all that is best belong, graft in our hearts the love of Thy name, and grant us an increase of true religion: that Thou mayest foster what is good, and with tender zeal guard what Thou hast fostered. – From the Collect for…
The Church tells us we should venerate Sacred Scripture, study it, pray with it, because it is the Word of God spoken to mankind, to the Church, to the heart and mind of each believer. It is uniquely inspired by God Himself, free from error, and always beneficial to the soul [i]. Yet this does not…
Epistle: 1 Peter 3:8–15 Gospel: Matthew 5:20–24 O God, Who hast prepared for them that love Thee good things unseen: pour into our hearts such love towards Thee, that, loving Thee in all and above all, we may obtain Thy promises, which exceed all that we can desire. —From the Collect for the Fifth Sunday…
The Dubious Consciousness of Contemporary Man The modern doctrine on the dignitatis humanae, or dignity of man, has encouraged and even ensured the laïcité, or secularization of the political sphere. The Second Vatican Council’s Dignatis Humanae at first approaches this doctrine in a descriptive manner, noting that “[a] sense of the dignity of the human…
Epistle: Romans 8:18-23 Gospel: Luke 5:1-11 Grant us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, that both the course of this world may be peacefully ordered for us by Thy governance, and that Thy Church may rejoice in quiet devotion. —From the Collect for the Fourth Sunday after Pentecost Although this Sunday is the Fourth Sunday after…
Note: Skip to the On the Contrary if you are not familiar with a Thomistic article. Objection 1: It seems that Patriotism is not a virtue. For our Lord said, My Kingdom is not of this world (Jn. xviii. 36) and, further, we are strangers and pilgrims (I Pt. ii. 11) whose citizenship is in heaven…
(Note: In some areas, this Sunday is celebrated as the Third Sunday after Pentecost. See last week’s reflection for an explanation of “External Solemnities.”) Epistle: Ephesians 3:8-19 Gospel: John 19:31-37 O God, who in the Heart of Thy Son, wounded by our sins, dost mercifully vouchsafe to bestow upon us the boundless treasures of Thy love:…
