Accountable to God    

Mt 25:14-30

At that time Jesus told his disciples this parable: “For it will be as when a man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property;  to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them; and he made five talents more. So also, he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.  And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ Read More

Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist  

Jer 1:17-19

Reading corresponding to the memorial of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist

In those days, I received this word from the Lord: Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak to them all that I command thee. Be not afraid at their presence: for I will make thee not to fear their countenance.  For behold I have made thee this day a fortified city, and a pillar of iron, and a wall of brass, over all the land, to the kings of Juda, to the princes thereof, and to the priests, and to the people of the land.  And they shall fight against thee, and shall not prevail: for I am with thee, saith the Lord, to deliver thee.

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A true conversion

It is with great joy that we look today at St. Augustine, whose conversion brought so much blessing to the Church. We can be sure that the prayer of his mother, St. Monica, and her struggle for him played an important role in Augustine’s finally finding the way to God. He himself wrote down his struggle in his so-called “Confessions”, a book that is always worth reading. He began to write it after the light of faith had shone on him; after he had understood how to live the following of Christ.

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On hypocrisy  

Mt 23:27-32

Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; because you are like to whited sepulchres, which outwardly appear to men beautiful, but within are full of dead men’s bones, and of all filthiness. So you also outwardly indeed appear to men just; but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; that build the sepulchres of the prophets, and adorn the monuments of the just,  and say: If we had been in the days of our Fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. Wherefore you are witnesses against yourselves, that you are the sons of them that killed the prophets. Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. Read More

Human respect    

1 Thess 2:1-8

For you yourselves know, brethren, that our visit to you was not in vain; but though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the face of great opposition. For our appeal does not spring from error or uncleanness, nor is it made with guile; but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please men, but to please God who tests our hearts. For we never used either words of flattery, as you know, or a cloak for greed, as God is witness; nor did we seek glory from men, whether from you or from others, though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nurse taking care of her children. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.

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The blindness of the shepherds

Mt 23:13-22

‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut up the kingdom of Heaven in people’s faces, neither going in yourselves nor allowing others to go who want to. ‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over sea and land to make a single proselyte, and anyone who becomes one you make twice as fit for hell as you are. ‘Alas for you, blind guides! You say, “If anyone swears by the Temple, it has no force; but anyone who swears by the gold of the Temple is bound.” Fools and blind! For which is of greater value, the gold or the Temple that makes the gold sacred? Again, “If anyone swears by the altar it has no force; but anyone who swears by the offering on the altar, is bound.”

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Inner healing in God – (Part IX)

Yesterday, I began addressing the “healing of the subconscious.” Before delving further into the subject, I would like to quote a verse from Psalm 19: “Who can discern his errors? Clear thou me from hidden faults.” (Psalm 19:12). Although, in this case, it refers to faults involving guilt, we can adapt these words and direct them as a request to the Lord: “Deliver me from the chains of which I am unaware. May they not have dominion over me!”

The following example will help us understand what I mean by “healing the subconscious.”

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Inner healing in God – Part VIII

Before moving on to another aspect related to the healing of the soul, which differs somewhat from previous subtopics, I felt it was important to explain the classic healing process through the practice of true Catholic faith.

From the beginning of this series, I have emphasized that true faith is essential for inner healing. By this, I mean that we should avoid resorting to questionable therapies offered in the esoteric realm, and hold fast to the traditional faith within the Church without allowing ourselves to be infected by modernist distortions. Any deviation will have consequences that slow down or prevent inner healing. In the worst case, the wounds of the soul can be exacerbated.

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Inner healing in God – Part VII

Asceticism: Sentinel of Freedom

As we gradually approach the end of the topic we have been developing over the last few days, I realize there are many other aspects of what God offers us for the healing and strengthening of our souls that we have not discussed.

In this series, I wanted to show that we Catholics have an authentic path through which our souls, wounded by original and personal sin, can be restored by God. If we walk this path with perseverance, our souls will heal more and more, and the Spirit of God will be able to permeate our beings.

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Inner healing in God – Part VI

As we can see, God offers many ways to heal our souls in following Christ. The path of sanctification, to which we are all called, wants to lead us to total communion with God, which will reach its fullness in eternity.  Once our wounded souls are completely healed and transformed, there will be nothing separating us from God. We will be totally unified with Him in love and experience the beatific vision—we will see Him as He is. We will experience this in communion with the holy angels and all those welcomed into heavenly glory. Then, man will have reached his eternal destination.

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