So you want to be joyful… The world tells us that in order to be happy we need to make lots of money, be retired, travel the world, eat great food and drink expensive wine, wear luxurious clothes and drive fancy cars. But look at these cloistered nuns. They literally own nothing. They have no …
It’s good to be reminded. As my wife and I run our kids to soccer practice, make dinner, see that they do their homework, it is good to be reminded of our true purpose in raising them. The priest in the video below says that virtually all parents want their kids to be happy, and …
Cross-post from St. Louis Catholic via nonvenipacem.com. I love the sentiment in this post: to keep up the good cheer no matter how bleak things appear to be. Never focus on the negative, turn always your eyes to God. As Saint Paul writes in Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always, again I will say, …
“You Are Exactly Where God Has Placed You, at the Exact Time You Should Be There” Read More »
The Decline and Restoration of the Catholic Church I recently watched this fascinating talk by Fr. Chris Alar about Our Lady of Good Success, a Marian Apparition of the 16th and 17th centuries. Here is the story: “In the years between 1594 and 1634, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to a cloistered Conceptionist sister in …
Our Lady of Good Success – “Every Prophecy Has Come True Except One” Read More »
Here is a list of the virtues and corresponding vices copied from Father Ripperger’s talk, found here (beginning at 9:20). Support this great priest! The 4 Infused Virtues – Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, TemperanceThe 3 Theological Virtues – Faith, Hope and Charity Why grow in virtue? Because it makes you good and inclines you to good …
This is a great talk from Sensus Fidelium on youtube called Abandonment to Divine Providence. Stress, worry and anxiety are chronic in modern america, and they are all self imposed, many times because we want to impose our will upon our lives rather than submit to the will of God. Read the full transcript of …
I recently watched A Christmas Carol (1984 version) and was struck by the beauty of Marley’s words, when he came back to warn Scrooge of endlessly chasing wealth above all things: ″‘Business!’ cried the Ghost, wringing its hands again. ‘Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were, …
Great Quotes From Jacob Marley On The Purpose Of Life Read More »
I took these notes from Fr. Ripperger’s talk on “The Rosary, A Spiritual Weapon.” I wasn’t planning on posting them but there is so much beauty in this talk I had to. All words below are from Fr. Ripperger (video at bottom). Bold is mine. “We are at war. A spiritual war that not only …
The Rosary, a Spiritual Weapon – Notes from Fr. Ripperger Read More »
This is from Fr. Ripperger’s talk on St. Joseph (see the full video here, see my notes here). I thought this part about increasing devotion to St. Joseph was interesting enough to give it its own post. All words below are Fr. Ripperger’s, and I left his example of St. Joseph: “There are different ways …
In the Q&A period at the end of his talk on Rule of Life, Fr. Ripperger spoke about the qualities, especially virtue, children should have by certain ages. I had never thought about what I wanted my children to know by the time they turn 14 or 18 – I just thought, “My child is …
In modern America, wealth is made to be the greatest of goals. To be rich will make you happy, so they say. But St. John Chrysostom says the opposite, that if you see a rich person you should weep for them. For the man with a thousand acres of crops will fret that he doesn’t …
This video shows the global population change from 1800 to 2100. What I find interesting is the religious makeup of the most populous countries by 2100. Christianity is the majority in 4 of the top 10 – the US, Congo, Ethiopia, and Tanzania. Percent of Christians in the 10 most populous countries (using 2022 data): …
Video: Global Population Change From 1800-2100, and Religious Makeup Read More »
These notes are from Fr. Ripperger’s talk: Devotion to St. Joseph is among the most powerful of all the devotions. If for no other reason because he is called St. Joseph most powerful. Christ, who, seeing His mother, in fulfilling the 4th commandment will deny her nothing. So also with St. Joseph, but to a …
Devotion to St. Joseph is Among the Most Powerful Read More »
I love this sentiment from St. John Damascus. He writes how a person will go to great lengths to meet a king, or secular famous person – a movie star, politician, or athlete. But he says that the saints, who are infinitely more powerful than politicians and stars, have true powers. They can help you …
Below is an excerpt from The Fathers of the Church by Mike Aquilina. In it, he discusses the life of St. Benedict, who lived during Rome’s collapse. I just wanted to highlight the similarities between Rome and America: Advanced stage of moral and cultural decadence The desire among the population to ‘head for the hills’ …
When America Collapses The Catholic Church Will Take Its Place Read More »
I remember hearing a story about Murray Rothbard years ago. I forget who told it but they said that Mr. Rothbard, if he was asked to go out to dinner with whoever he was with, would always go to the closest restaurant to them. Why he did this the teller didn’t know, but I always …
Always Go to the Nearest Restaurant or Church – Murray Rothbard and St. Augustine Read More »
Fr Ripperger is a great genius of our time. I know he would dismiss this, but the fact remains. In this talk (embedded below) he discusses why you should actually strive for the good life: “Aristotle said – the reason we develop virtue is because once we have the good habits, the moral life becomes …
In this, our enlightened modern age, physical beauty is the lodestar of romance. Everyone aspires to be trim, botoxed and ‘beautiful’. Men are looked up to for having many romances. But it’s a fools errand – for it is only passion which sees physical beauty and that lasts but a month or two, “but then …
I read this recently here, and thought it was a beautiful example for all parents to follow, especially those who have children that are making bad decisions. It is especially tragic when a loved one turns to drugs, as you can’t help but feel powerless. How are we to feel? Do we turn away from …
I am so glad to have read The Fathers of the Church by Mike Aquilina. In the book, he gives a brief overview of the many early Church fathers, along with samples of their writing. It’s a buffet. One father in particular – St. John Chrysostom – writes beautifully. I have seen his name at …
Great Advice For Parents – From the Saint Whose Name I Disliked Read More »