“At the earlier stages of the spiritual life, the emphasis falls on weeding out the sinful and self-centered habits that are constricting the action of God’s grace in our lives. As we grow, the emphasis changes.” – Fr. John Bartunek
“His mercy is free except for this price: we must surrender our pride, admit our need, and open the door.” – Monsignor Charles Pope
A Reflection from “God’s Influencer” by Andrea Acutis and Antonia Salzano Carlo Acutis’s Plan of Life Carlo was mature as a child and mature as
“In the First Luminous Mystery, Jesus humbly and obediently repeats both consent and descent—this time taking His own deliberate step into the waters of the Jordan to be baptized, a sign He is willing to take on not only our physical condition but our spiritual condition as well. – Grace Abruzzo
“What the monks learned by experience was that such practices prepare the mind to receive special illuminations from Holy Spirit for purposes of understanding Scripture.” – Fr. James Brent
Appendix D – Quotations on Hell St. Alphonsus Liguori: Our most important affair is that of our eternal salvation; upon it depends our happiness or misery
“The Lord is inviting us to regularly inspect our own fortress—our invaluable soul—to learn its vulnerabilities and build up our defenses with His help.” – Megan Hjelmstad
“I knew deep down that I was likely being tempted, but it was difficult to cut through the noise on my own.” – Megan Hjelmstad
“St. Benedict leaves us with this sound advice from his renowned Rule: ‘As soon as wrongful thoughts come into your heart, dash them against Christ and disclose them to your spiritual father.’” – Megan Hjelmstad
“Though everything for 1,875 square miles around the chapel’s 5-acre property burned (by way of comparison, the Great Chicago Fire burned 3 ½ square miles), the flames never touched the land where Mary had appeared.” – FB Smit