Dear Father Edward, would you be willing to post the virtues to overcome the root sins of vanity and pride also? Whole libraries could be written on how to overcome pride. Pride is the mother of all root sins. Take any sin and you can ultimately trace its roots back to pride. This vice arises … Read more
Dear Father John, I tend to have a perfectionist personality combined with the cross of scrupulosity. My family of origin does love me but it wasn’t the best environment growing up so I really lack in understanding of a loving father figure hence having trouble seeing God as a loving and forgiving father. I am … Read more
Do you ever have trouble shedding distractions and entering into prayer and meditation? A powerful way to open up your time of prayer, meditation, or scripture reading is through acts of faith, hope, and love. These acts can be the recitation of prayers like the ones below or others that you can write on your … Read more
Merry Christmas! Blessed and Merry Christmas! Christ is born for us! Let us rejoice and be glad! * Dearly beloved, today our Savior is born; let us rejoice. Sadness should have no place on the birthday of life. The fear of death has been swallowed up; life brings us joy with the promise of eternal … Read more
Dear Father Edward, I have been out of work for a while. I know God is not in the employment business, nor is he that concerned with how we make a living. His concern is for our soul. That said, I’m told I will know God’s will … and that he is leading me to … Read more
Dear Father John, between caring for my four young kids and husband, running my household, and working a part time job, I sometimes find that prayer time gets pushed aside again and again until it’s almost non-existent (or only on Sunday mornings). I need some help prioritizing my prayer time and making my faith a … Read more
Haste Not, Want Not! Haste is, generally speaking, the enemy of the spiritual life. Guard your heart in this glorious Advent season, a season which, secularly, tends towards hustle and bustle and rushing to and fro, exhausting effort! The only haste that reflects holiness is when we hasten to return to God … and he … Read more
Dear Father John, I went to Adoration this morning with my prayer group. There weren’t too many of us, but I always have a feeling that there is too much talking during our Adoration, and I just don’t get the “purpose” of a “litany” (which we pray together during Adoration). Each time I hear a … Read more
Come let us celebrate the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary; Let us Worship her Son, Christ the Lord! Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, Solemnity Mary Immaculate, star of the morning, Chosen before the creation began, Chosen to bring, for thy bridal adorning, Woe to the serpent and rescue to man. Here in an … Read more
Dear Father John, Advent is usually a season of hope. But what about when there is little reason for hope? When life is far from joyful, how can we experience the true joy and peace of the Advent season? Our family has suffered many losses this year and even my children are despairing at what … Read more
Dear Father John, I went to Adoration this morning with my prayer group. There weren’t too many of us, but I always have a feeling that there is too much talking during our Adoration, and I just don’t get the “purpose” of a “litany” (which we pray together during Adoration). Each time I hear a … Read more
Advent Questions? Dear Friends, Happy Advent! We would like to hear from you! What are your Advent questions, joys, or struggles with the Advent season? Are you anxious about the season? How is your spiritual life? Does your family have spiritual issues that come to the front at this time of year? How does your … Read more
Dear Friends, Last year, the note below came as a portion of my first post of the new liturgical year and my first personal note to you. Looking back on this today I was moved with particular gratitude. I was struck with the tremendous measure of joy I was feeling because of the coming of … Read more
Advent Prayer of Preparation Advent Prayer of Preparation: O my God, Word of the Father, Word made flesh. For the love of us, You assumed a mortal body in order to suffer and be immolated for us. I wish to prepare for Your coming with the burning desires of the prophets and the just who … Read more
Seek the Things that are Above … Seek the Things that are Above … If you be risen with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Mind the things that are above, not the things that are upon the earth. For you are dead to … Read more
I have a question after reading Fr. John’s meditation and prayer on a recent Sunday’s Gospel in The Better Part (26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, #208. Money and Fire (Luke 16:19-31). In the section Christ in my Life Fr. John writes, “I admit, it’s possible to get obsessed with the afterlife, but it would be … Read more
Christ the Divine King Oh, divine King, most amiable Jesus, my Redeemer, my Savior, my Spouse, my Master, and model, I renew today the total consecration of my being to You, begging You to take absolute dominion over me. Be my Sovereign, my Ruler, my Guide. Direct and govern me entirely, so that everything may … Read more
Dear Father Edward, my friends were asking last night about the idea of total detachment from sin as a requirement for plenary indulgence- they were desperate that such a goal is unattainable- total detachment from venial sin- did Father clarify that on the SD site or somewhere else or can you point me to another … Read more
© 2026 Spiritual Direction. All rights reserved.
