In his book, Consecration to St Joseph: The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father, Father Donald H. Calloway, MIC, tells about the 16th century devotion of meditating on the Seven Sorrows of St Joseph, and how, during the 18th century, the Seven Joys of St Joseph were added.
St Joseph's marriage to Mary isn't included--probably because it isn't mentioned in the Bible--but as we're...
Fat Tuesday, Skinny Wednesday
While it may be difficult to imagine a modern Mardi Gras parade along the Narrow Way, it is good to know that the origins of Mardi Gras were actually quite honorable and tied to the liturgical celebration which quickly approaches: LENT.
Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday".
Back in the day, before people had refrigerators and freezers and when ...
The Examen is a prayerful reflection of the state of our soul, during the course of each day, in the presence of God. This effective tool has been a constant in Church tradition and became much more common through the practical framework of St. Ignatius of Loyola’s Spiritual Exercises. It is a powerful help in seeing the movements of God in our day-to-day life.
We talk about "the...
Our beautiful, inspirational saint started life on an air base, appropriate for a person whose soul flew to Heaven within while she was yet on earth. She was born Elizabeth Catez on July 18, 1880. Her army officer father died when Elizabeth was seven. That same year, she made her first Confession and discovered that Her Father in heaven was merciful. Although she had been a proud, hot-temper...
“Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing away:
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things
Whoever has God lacks nothing;
God alone suffices.
These are the words that can start a quest in your heart. Simple to understand. Difficult to live, even in a life where each day begins with mental prayer. It is a singular gift to reali...
On October 7, the Church celebrates the yearly feast of Our Lady of the Rosary,, which for several centuries was known as Our Lady of Victory.
By 1453, troops of the Turkish Ottoman Empire invaded and occupied the Byzantine. This brought a large portion of an increasingly divided Christian world under Islamic law.
Over the next hundred years, the Turks expanded their empire west on land....
St. Thérèse's of Lisieux was a discalced Carmelite nun, known as "The Little Flower of Jesus" or simply, "The Little Flower." She was one of nine children. Her parents were Saints Louis and Zelie Martin.
Born January 2, 1873, Thérèse felt an early call to religious life, and a the age of 15, joined her two older sisters in the cloistered ...
On August 26th, Discalced Carmelites and the community of Apostoli Viae celebrate the Feast of the Transverberation (or Transpierecing of the Heart) of St. Teresa of Avila, Virgin, Doctor, and Reformer of the Carmelite Order.
The term transverberation comes from the Latin transverberare which means to pierce through. In mystical theology, it is also known by the Italian word ferita (wound) o...
Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell:
nor wilt Thou give Thy holy one to see corruption.
--Psalm xv. 10
On the third day after Mary's death, when the apostles gathered around her tomb, they found it empty. The sacred body had been carried up to the celestial paradise. Jesus Himself came to conduct her thither; the whole court of heaven came to welcome with songs of triumph the Moth...
