As a companion to my previous post about St. Alphonsus

In this month dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, I offer this reflection from St.  Alphonsus Liguori as a companion piece to my previous post. How often have we despised love and returned ingratitude for the suffering and sacrifices, not only of our Savior Jesus Christ, but of others. How often have we taken for granted the love of Christ and failed to thank Him? Let us get up every morning thanking God for the new day, for everything that will take place in it, for all our blessings and benefits. And let us remember our duty to "love your neighbor as yourself."

Today, the bishops of the United States consecrate our country to the most Sacred Heart of Jesus. May that heart strengthen all our faithful bishops, our good shepherds for whom we are so grateful and convert the hearts of all our unfaithful bishops, the wolves and hirelings, for whose conversion we sacrifice and pray.

A Poem in Honor of St. Alphonsus Liguori

Every now and then I write poetry, not especially good poetry, mind you, just flights of fancy. It happens a lot when I'm on five-day silent retreats. Perhaps I'm a bit stir crazy by the fourth day, but I have lots of poems in the back of my retreat journals.

"Fire is not put out by fire!" New year's wisdom from two great saints.

Happy New Year! Welcome to the start of another journey on the road to heaven. Want a good start? Use a good roadmap and find wise guides. You can't go wrong with St. Francis de Sales and St. Alphonsus Ligouri. I love them both!

Sunday Meditation: A Most Necessary Virtue in Times of Tribulation and Chaos

When the world seems to be falling into chaos and tribulation, that is exactly when we need to embrace the virtue of hope! When everything seems to be out of kilter and the earth under our feet seems more like quicksand, that is exactly when we need to turn up the volume on hope!

Sunday Meditation: Meet Your Guardian Angel in Silence

One of my favorite spiritual masters is St. Alphonsus Liguori. What a body of wisdom he left us. Today I want to share his thoughts about our "Noisy World" from Love God and Do What You Please.

To such as these [those attached to worldly things] the Lord does not even speak; He sees it would be a waste of time. That is what He said one day to St. Teresa: "There are many to whom I long to speak, but the world makes such a noise in their ears that they cannot hear Me. If they would only detach themselves a little from the world!"

Even after over a decade of attending silent Ignatian retreats, I still have a long list of things to which I know I'm overly attached. Detachment is a lifetime struggle, but if we don't detach ourselves from creatures we can never fully belong to the God Who loves us so much and longs for our whole-hearted love in return. One of the greatest helps in the struggle is your guardian angel. 

St. Alphonsus continues:

St. Alphonsus Liguori, a Saint for All Liturgical Seasons

Today is the feast of St. Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church. Reading about him in Butler's Lives this morning made me realize I really need him for a friend and intercessor. I had to laugh when I read his statement, "By the grace of God I have never confessed having acted from passion." Would that I could make that statement. But now I have a friend in heaven to ask for help! I have no doubt he will respond to my request because he had such zeal to save souls. 

A Great Idea: Stations of the Cross Workout Challenge for Lent!

Remember the ice bucket challenge? Well, there's a new challenge out there -- the Stations of the Cross Workout Challenge for Lent. First they do the prayer and workout; then they challenge others to do it as well.