We have been taught in our catechism that the seven sacraments are the principal channels of God’s grace to us His children in His Mystical Body, the Church. Among these seven sacraments, there are three that have a privilege and peculiarity in themselves. They are, indeed, very special because they give life, or restore life,
Lepers are called the “impure ones,” but, thanks to the work of several associations, Raoul Follereau’s in particular, people’s minds are changing. The medical profession now knows that leprosy is not a curse but an illness that isn’t very contagious and that, above all, it can be treated. However, lepers are still living on the
The phone rang in the parish office. Moments later, the call was transferred to Father Reed’s desk. He answered and said, “Hello, this is Father Reed.” His caller replied, “Good morning, Father. My name is Bob Johnson. You don’t know me, but my wife, Julie, made the retreat you gave three months ago. She loved
In the early years of my work, I was employed as a full-time psychological services specialist in the Pennsylvania prison system, but I would sometimes be called to different dioceses to help with cases on the weekends. This time, I was told that a couple had become involved in paranormal investigating and gotten into trouble.
Wisdom of St. Thérèse “No, there is no joy comparable to that which the truly poor in spirit experience.” Thérèse was acutely aware of the transient nature of material things and of the impermanence of this present life. Even at a very young age she understood that even those who believe themselves to be good
A Bright Cloud of Spirituality Rising from Every Home and Every Heart (Letter of Don Dolindo to E.C., a spiritual child of his) I am writing to you in the light of the Holy Rosary, the prayer that brings us so close to Our Lord and is today the object of a feast day on
Do Penance 1. “Do penance, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” It was thus that “Jesus began to preach” (Matt. 4:17). And thus, already before Jesus had, St. John the Baptist proclaimed in the desert to those who came out to hear him: “Do penance: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”
Guard Your Senses We are beings of a composite nature, made up of body and soul. And although these are, in a certain sense, quite distinct from each other, they are nevertheless intimately joined together, one acting upon the other, one strongly affecting and influencing the other. The sense-impressions naturally are the more powerful ones
“I Just Can’t Pray” John looked out the window. Streetlamps and windows in neighboring homes lit the darkness of the approaching night. His gaze dropped to the desk before him. There, a few inches before his hand, lay the Bible. Normally at this time, he read from it for ten to fifteen minutes. Tonight, nothing
“How well do you pray?” To that question, the average Catholic probably would answer, “Not as well as I’d like to.” The better the Catholic, the more likely it is that such would be his answer. To those of us who are dissatisfied with our efforts at prayer, it is a comfort to remember that
