“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever.  This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him because he abides with you, and he will be in you. John 14:15-17 Now is the time of prayer. I have felt this of late. Less and less has the Lord poured words over me as he did in the past. I feel compelled towards the Rosary often. As the world spirals into the ways of destruction, it is as if we are to ..read more

American Bald Eagle in free flight – by Mary Josephine Green Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.  This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. Proverbs 3:7 I went last night to the Good Friday Veneration of the Cross and I was struck by the second reading from Hebrews. In the days when he was in the flesh, he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.  Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he s ..read more

The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, you mighty warrior.” Judges 6:12 Mary Josephine Carr Green June 3, 1940 – March 25, 2024 My mom passed away this morning. Please pray for the repose of her soul. I will be updating this post later in the day, but for now, please pray for my family and the soul of my mom ..read more

Carrivagio – The Calling of Saint Matthew Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.  When they saw him, they worshiped him, but they doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:16-20 I apologize I hav ..read more

Mary Magdalene (c. 1598) by Domenico Tintoretto, depicting her as a penitent “Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. Job 7:11 I came across a German Mystic named Anne Marie Lindmayr the other day. She was a 17th Century Carmelite nun who is known as a Purgatory Mystic. She stated of purgatory that, “the types of souls that dwell the least amount of time in purgatory are those that willingly accept death.” In hearing this quote, it was like a light bulb went off in my head. “Of course,” I thought ..read more

Agony in the Garden – Andrea Mantenga 1460 Wake up and strengthen what remains and is on the point of death, for I have not found your works perfect in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, then, what you received and heard; obey it and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you. Revelation 3:2-3 I have been pondering of late what it means to be awake and asleep as so often is referred to in scripture. Being awake is being aware of the Spiritual realm and reality that exists beyond what we can see. Being asleep is being t ..read more

Lastly, we know they will be true disciples of Jesus Christ, imitating his poverty, his humility, his contempt of the world and his love.  They will point out the narrow way to God in the pure truth of the holy Gospel and not according to the maxims of the world.  Their hearts will not be troubled, nor will they show favor to anyone; they will not spare or heed or fear any man, however powerful he may be.  They will have the two-edged sword of the Word of God in their mouths and the blood-stained standard of the Cross on their shoulders.  They will carry the crucifix in th ..read more

If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you. James 1:5 Over the years I have had the privilege of reading the writings of my friend and fellow Catholic, Rob Marco.  He is one of the few I read regularly for his deep insight and male perspective on the things of faith and reason.  In the divisive times in our church I have found Rob one of the few voices that cuts through the rhetoric to what is good, true, and beautiful. He makes me think, “now there is a true disciple of Jesus Christ.” I am overjoyed that Rob h ..read more

Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say…. Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman (the church); Serpent: Did God really say you can’t bless same sex attracted persons? Woman (the Church): God said that we can’t bless sinful unions. God desires recognition of sin and repentance. Individual people have always been able to be blessed, the Mass closes daily with blessing. Spontaneous blessings are almost always granted to ..read more

The Triumph of Christianity over Paganism – Gustave Doré. If you would hearken to my commandments, your prosperity would be like a river, and your vindication like the waves of the sea. Isaiah 48:18 I am taking a refresher course in Discipleship Deliverance from Jansen Bagwell because it is always good to be reminded of the things that set us free. In last night’s class Jansen said that there is only one verse in Scripture where the Holy Spirit speaks. While there are many where the Spirit acts or falls upon someone, the only one that specifically refers to the Spirit speaking says, But t ..read more