Living Lent All Year!

I experienced a grief moment this morning. That's not uncommon during my prayer and meditation time. When you're almost 79 you've had plenty of sorrows over the years: deaths, estrangements, betrayals, unkindness, accusations. They turn into the muck that makes up the slough of despond. Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for me.

Fr. Tom Collins: Overcome Evil by Embracing Authentic Repentance

"If you didn't want me to sin, why did you give me that woman, God?"

Editor's note: Fr. Tom raises important issues in this post. Do you have a sincere conscience or a "sin-seared" conscience? How do you form your conscience -- by the opinions on The View and Good Morning America or by the dogmatic teachings of the Church? Unless each of us examines his life with a well-formed, sincere conscience, he can never overcome his evil actions or avoid the appeal of seductive temptations. Rationalization has been man's weakness since  Adam pointed his finger at God and said, "The woman you gave me, she gave me the fruit and so I ate it." We are all tempted to rationalize and imitate Adam saying, "You made me do it, God! It's your fault!" 

On the 99th Anniversary of the First Apparition of Mary at Fatima...

...Let us reflect on her messages.

To help us reflect, here are a few articles with excerpts:

Alice Von Hildebrand Sheds New Light on Fatima

After Pope John Paul asked him to begin a new Pontifical Institute for studies on marriage and the family, [Monsignor, now Cardinal] Caffarra wrote to Sister Lucy, simply requesting her prayers for this venture. He has recently made known his surprise at receiving “a very long letter with her signature. . . . In it we find written: ‘The final battle between the Lord and the reign of Satan will be about marriage and the family. Don’t be afraid, because anyone who works for the sanctity of marriage and the family will always be contended and opposed in every way, for this is the decisive issue.’ And then she concluded: ‘however, Our Lady has already crushed its head.’” 

St. Jean Vianney, pray for us.

Not long ago I was reading a story about a lesbian who abandoned the lifestyle. The catalyst was her mom saying, "I'm afraid after I die I'll never see you again." At Mass this morning I couldn't stop thinking about her story and my own extended family. Like this mom, I'm afraid there are members of my family I will never see again after I die, and it grieves my heart to think so. Are all the people turning their backs on God's law invincibly ignorant? How many who should know God's will are choosing to stay ignorant? 

Today is the feast of St. Jean Vianney, the curé of Ars, who turned a parish of sinners into a parish of sinners striving to be saints. He wasn't a particularly gifted preacher, but he was a champion intercessor. Like the three little children of Fatima, he had a zeal for souls that motivated him to spend 12-14 hours a day in the confessional. He often boiled a pot of potatoes at the beginning of the week and ate them every day -- and little else. He got almost no sleep because the devil attacked him most nights literally shaking his bed. We'll never know this side of heaven all the heroic sacrifices that holy priest performed for the salvation of souls. He loved his parishioners that much!

St. Jean Vianney, please intercede for me that I might be on fire with love and zeal for souls. Help me to have your spirit of sacrifice, through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Religious Liberty Under Attack: It's Not the First Time

Thomas More is a great model for us as the persecution against the Church increases. We may never face Thomas More's bloody martyrdom, but there is no doubt we will experience a white martyrdom of ridicule and vitriol, job loss, and hatred -- something that is already happening. If we go the way of Canada, some of us will land in prison for "hate speech" or be fined into poverty. Praise God if that happens. Persecution makes saints. Don't forget the Fortnight4Freedom. Today is day two. How will you pray and sacrifice today for our poor country?