“The saint is not presenting an abstract theological point of interest only to specialists. This is advice as practical as any you’ll find in a self-help manual.” – Glenn Dickinson
“The mortification is never an end in itself, but a means by which we become better followers of Christ.” -Fr. John Bartunek
“Saint Ignatius created the Rules of Discernment for us as a sort of spiritual ‘flare’ or night vision device to cut through the fog.” – Megan Hjelmstad
“Discernment is a marvelous gift from God. Like many of his gifts, it needs to be cultivated and nurtured through consistent effort.” – Fr. Derek Sakowski
“It would be impossible to underestimate how revolutionary this way of thinking is and how contrary it is to the way of the world. For a Christian, one’s true self, their ultimate identity, has nothing to with one’s career, social status, ethnicity, or the many other external things the world often associates to be part of one’s identity, i.e., their true self.” – Fr. Jeremiah Shryock
Debra Black reflects on how to make this Lent truly transformative.
When God chooses our penance, it is far more powerful than any cross we pick up ourselves. Claire Dwyer reflects on passive purification.
“Choose mortifications that don’t mortify others.” Claire Dwyer expounds on this saying of St. JosemarÍa Escrivá in today’s reflection.
Elizabeth of the Trinity made tremendous progress in the spiritual life simply by offering up little things. Claire Dwyer continues the series of reflections based on her life.
As we begin the spiritual discipline of Lent today, let us reflect on why it is important to unite ourselves to the sufferings of Christ both spiritually and corporeally.