“Morning by morning the Lord wakens my ear to hear as those who are taught” (Is 50:4).
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A SERIES ON THE SPIRITUAL LIFE: “Prayer of the Heart” (Part II)
The prayer of the heart-or Jesus prayer-requires a certain preparation. In this regard, let us listen again to Metropolitan Serafim Joanta:
“The dispositions for the Jesus prayer are, as for any other prayer, the following: To be at peace with one’s neighbor, to be free from excessive worries, a certain disposition of the soul, a quiet place…. No one can pray a pure prayer – that is, a prayer that is not tainted by extraneous thoughts, by external impressions of the senses and memories – as long as he is not at peace with his neighbor. The lack of forgiveness and the presence of discord fill us with negative forces that cloud the heart. The same is true of excessive worry. Read More
TRUST IN THE LORD IN THE DARKNESS
“Who among you walks in darkness and has no light, let him trust in the name of the Lord and rely upon his God” (cf. Is 50:10b).
The Heavenly Father will sustain us in all of life’s situations, at all times, and wherever we are. Read More
A SERIES ON THE SPIRITUAL LIFE: “Prayer of the Heart” (Part I)
Those who wish to enrich and intensify their prayer life will find a very valuable practice in the tradition of the Eastern Church: the so-called “prayer of the heart” or “Jesus prayer”.
In order to avoid misunderstandings, it is worth clarifying that this form of prayer is part of the rich treasure of the Universal Church, although it is practiced mainly by the faithful of Orthodoxy. It is by no means a foreign practice that comes from the forms of meditation of other Eastern religions; it is genuinely Christian. It is now being introduced more and more into the Roman Catholic Church as well. Indeed, the prayer of the heart can respond fruitfully to our longing for silence and recollection. Read More
THE VIGILANCE OF LOVE
“Time is pressing” (Message of the Father to Sister Eugenia Ravasio).
The Eternal Father tells us that time is short; the Apostle Paul exhorts us to “making the most of the time” (Eph 5:16). So there is no time to lose! Read More
THE HUMILITY OF GOD
“Look, now I am putting aside My crown and all My glory to take on the appearance of an ordinary man!” (Father’s message to Sister Eugenia Ravasio).
A SERIES ON THE SPIRITUAL LIFE – The Holy Rosary
Having reflected on the sufferings of prayer and on Eucharistic Adoration, let us now turn to the various forms of prayer. Although prayer is in itself a simple thing, it is not always easy for us to pray, and even less so to pray well. This too is an art, and in order to learn it, we need to study the various forms and methods of prayer that exist and, above all, to practice prayer fervently. One prayer that is quite widespread and beloved in our Catholic Church, especially in certain circles, is the Holy Rosary. In many of her authentic apparitions, the Virgin Mary tells us how important it is to her that we pray the Rosary. That is why it is worthwhile to meditate on this valuable prayer. Read More
A SERIES ON THE SPIRITUAL LIFE – Eucharistic Adoration (Part II)
Eucharistic adoration and inner healing
People in general – including we, the faithful – are often wounded within because we have not received enough love or have experienced an abuse of our love. As a result, serious deficiencies can arise in the soul, and the emotional sphere can suffer such a disturbance that it could become closed inwardly.
A PROOF OF THE FATHER’S LOVE
“I cannot give My beloved Son another time to prove My love for men! I am now coming among them in order to love them and to make them know this love, assuming their image, their poverty. Look, now I am putting aside My crown and all My glory to take on the appearance of an ordinary man!” (Father’s message to Sister Eugenia Ravasio).
THE MASTERPIECE OF CREATION
“It is My pleasure and delight to come among men, the masterpiece of My creation!” (Father’s message to Sister Eugenia Ravasio).