Ten spiritual literary classics Fr. Ed Broom, OMV One of the most renowned conversions in the History of the Church is in the person of St. Ignatius of Loyola. Proud, vain, contentious, sensual and worldly were all; words that described the character of this pompous Spanish soldier until a cannon ball in the battle of […] The post A GOOD BOOK CAN BE A TRUE AND LOYAL FRIEND appeared first on Fr. Ed Broom, OMV Oblates of the Virgin Mary ..read more

It was said of Jesus, the Master-Teacher, that He taught with power and authority unlike the scribes and Pharisees.   Jesus indeed described Himself in many ways, among which were: “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.”  He also said: “I have come that they might have life and life in abundance.” (Jn. 10:10)  Now more […] The post TEACHING WITH POWER AND AUTHORITY: KEY POINTS! appeared first on Fr. Ed Broom, OMV Oblates of the Virgin Mary ..read more

Fr. Ed Broom, OMV Most people are called to the married life, consisting in raising a family by receiving from God the gift of the child, and often the gift of children. God created Adam and said that it was not good that man should be alone; so after creating plants and animals, the seas […] The post CELIBACY: A CHARISM AND A GIFT TO BE TREASURED appeared first on Fr. Ed Broom, OMV Oblates of the Virgin Mary ..read more

If we have the final goal before our eyes, it is much easier to exert our time our energy and efforts to attain that final goal.  A long-distance runner having the goal before his eyes can pace himself so as to win the race and the well-deserved prize.  The Olympic athletes strive to get the medal, bronze, […] The post HAVING THE GOAL BEFORE OUR EYES: HEAVEN!!! appeared first on Fr. Ed Broom, OMV Oblates of the Virgin Mary ..read more

The Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel The first two things I do every morning upon hearing the alarm clock is to offer my day to Jesus though Mary by praying my morning offering. All that I have and do, I give to Jesus though the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  Then spontaneously I kiss my Scapular and bless my forehead, eyes, ears, lips and heart with the Brown Scapular that I have worn for decades. A GREAT START.  By faithfulness to these two simple but fervent gestures I have a great start to a new day that through Mary’s most powerful intercession will be filled with many ble ..read more

As human persons we are all called to be fertile and to multiply. This was God’s first command to humanity. Man and woman who unite in the marital bond and become one flesh can, with the help of God’s grace, be instrumental in bringing forth new life. They can be father and mother; God Himself infuses the immortal soul in the moment of conception. What a sublime and glorious vocation: that of Holy Matrimony and the ability and gift of bringing forth new life in collaboration with God. Technically, we call this Procreation. 1. SPIRITUAL PATERNITY.  However, it must be asserted with utmost ..read more

Jesus called the Rich Young man to follow Him and Jesus promised this man blessings and eternal life. Unfortunately, “possessed by his own possessions” the rich man departed from Jesus sad. He preferred his things, his wealth above and beyond the treasure of Jesus’ friendship in this life as well as in the next, heaven forever. (Mk. 10:17-31) This Gospel passage relates, at least indirectly, to the call to the Religious Life, to the radical following of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The fact of the matter is that Jesus calls and invites the person to follow Him, but Jesus is never going to ..read more

Our Lady of Fatima appeared to three young shepherd children six times in the year 1917, from May 13th up to the great miracle of the sun on October 13th.  These three shepherd children were brother and sister, Jacinta and Francisco Marto, and their older cousin, Lucia de los Santos. In every one of the six apparitions, Our Lady exhorted them, as well as the whole world, to pray the most holy Rosary on a daily basis. Our Lady appeared during the course of World War One in Europe. Many lives were taken, and families devastated. Our Lady revealed some little-known statements to Jacinta ..read more

Has it ever happened that you are with some Catholic friends one Saturday afternoon and about 4:30 you get up to leave (your custom and habit is to go to Confession every first Saturday), and right before exiting, one of your friends asks, “Where are you going”?  You reply: “Going to Church!” Your friend’s rebuttal, “Why now, this is Saturday!” Quite frankly you respond, “I am going to Confession!” His rejoinder: “What have you done that you have to go to Confession? Are you really that bad?” Your next response is: “Well, like all, I am a sinner and in need of conversion, and Confession i ..read more

The well-known, loved, and admired 50-year stigmatic, Saint Padre Pio, was known to have demanded something that may have shocked the listener: “GIVE ME MY WEAPON!” Why would such a prayerful, holy, and peaceful Friar, Franciscan, and priest be requesting a weapon? The Beatitudes! Is not one of the Beatitudes, “Blessed be the peacemakers for they will be called the children of God”? (Mt. 5:9) The reason for this insistent request was because the Modern saint had in mind a different type of weapon—this weapon: the most holy Rosary! (Read I Samuel 17) The young Shepherd David, taken from the fi ..read more