I’ve had an ongoing series of False Devotion to Mary posts and if you link to this previous one, from there you can link back to the others. Saint Louis de Montfort wrote a treatise in which he identified false devotion to Mary in seven different ways. In this post I want to talk about the sixth mark of false devotion to Mary which is that of the hypocritical devotees.
False Devotion to Mary – Hypocritical Devotees
Saint Louis de Montfort said this about the hypocritical devotees: “These hide their sins and evil habits under the mantle of the Blessed Virgin so as to appear to their fellow-men different from what they are.” I can’t help but think of a situation in my own life in which this false devotion seems to be present. I’m not making a judgment, but I am going to present the scenario the way that it was recently presented to me.
Just before the … [Read More...]
I had today’s post all planned; what I’d say, the major points I’d cover. It was to be part of my Search for Peace series. I had intended to continue where I’d left off the other day. Well, I sort of took another direction. Though this post has everything to do with peace, it isn’t about a search; it’s about a discovery.
I’ve had a pretty rough evening. I won’t go into too much detail because that would take a few chapters and probably a few months worth of writing. Because it isn’t about this evening, it’s really more about the last several years of evenings. And days. And everything in between. Well, now I’m only confusing things, aren’t I? I’ll try to explain.
To make a long story as short (or long) as a blog entry will allow, let me just say that tonight I turned a page. I made some decisions and I closed some doors. I opened … [Read More...]
Over the last few days I was so busy with the Thanksgiving holiday and guests in town that I wasn’t able to spend much time on this blog. I’m happy to say that I’m finally back on schedule and will be posting another entry tomorrow which is part of my Search for Peace series. Please be sure to stop back then!
In the meantime, since it is now so very late at night and I have an early day tomorrow, I’m just going to keep this short and simple and close with a prayer that one of the readers shared. This prayer was given to Saint Gertrude the Great by Our Lord with His promise that every time it is said, 1000 souls will be released from Purgatory. The prayer has been extended to include living sinners as well. Saint Gertrude the Great is invoked for souls in Purgatory and for living sinners.
“Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most … [Read More...]
I hope all of you American readers had a safe and happy Thanksgiving. I have family and a friend in town, and therefore haven’t been able to spend as much time on this blog as I’d like. But, by tomorrow I should be back to my usual routine, and of course that means that I will be continuing with my posts.
In the meantime, I wanted to share a simple, yet powerful prayer with you. I’ve been flitting around my house in a hustle bustle flurry over the the last few days and that includes passing through my hallway where my Crucifix hangs. I look at it as I go by and find myself regretting the fact that I have been so busy with all the busyness lately that I haven’t been giving Our Lord the amount of time and attention He deserves! Anyway, here is the prayer:
Prayer Before a Crucifix
Look down upon me, good and gentle Jesus… [Read More...]
Well, as is often the case with my posts, I needed to make a Part Two for my Search for Peace post that I wrote two days ago. In fact, I started Part Two yesterday but wasn’t able to finish it until today. (And there just may have to be a Part Three as well.) As I was writing Search for Peace, I was realizing that there really is so much to say on the topic of peace, simply because peace is at the root of all things good and all that is worthy of God’s favor.
My own personal search for peace began a long time ago, before I’d even realized it. I was young, confused and opening all the wrong doors in order to find whatever it was I thought I was seeking. As I’ve said before, it was my ego that kept getting in the way. Please understand that I wasn’t even aware that … [Read More...]
One thing that people around the world seem to have in common these days is the search for peace. Our day and time is one of fear and anxiety; everything feels so restless. I can’t really put a finger on exactly what it is that feels different today than 15 or 20 years ago, but things are certainly different, and the world seems angry. I’ve noticed that everyone appears to be longing for a sense of peace and well-being, but I’ve also noticed that many are going about obtaining it in all the wrong ways. Sometimes I feel the urge to find a grassy field or a dark thicket and just get lost in the simplicity of a caterpillar on a blade of grass. It’s either some sort of quiet rebellion against all this noise or it’s my longing for a simpler time. I haven’t quite figured that out yet.
As Christians, we need to have a clear understanding of … [Read More...]
I want to thank everyone for all the recent comments and emails I’ve received on my latest posts and on some earlier posts that I’d linked to. It’s encouraging to find that people are interested in what I’m writing about and it gives me hope and inspiration to continue!
I am working on some new material that will take a few days to complete. I’m hoping by the weekend or early next week it will be finished and ready to post on here. I’ve decided to write some entries based on the most popular topics, according to the responses on this blog. Thanks to the readers who post comments and share their personal thoughts, insights and experiences, I am able to expand on what they say and turn their feedback into new entries. I enjoy hearing from people and learning from people. I had always intended for this blog to be interactive and I’m happy to see that it is!… [Read More...]
Yesterday I wrote a post about Catholic exorcism and today I’m continuing where I left off with something that’s called demonic oppression. According to Father Gabriele Amorth who is the Chief Exorcist of Rome, there are a few different types of demonic affliction that Satan uses to attack mankind. In yesterday’s post, I touched on the type called demonic possession, which most of us have heard of and associate with the practice of exorcism. Demonic oppression (also referred to as diabolic oppression) is different because it involves symptoms that vary from a very serious to a mild illness but it is not nearly as severe and intense an affliction as demonic possession.
When a person is suffering from demonic oppression, he/she does not lose consciousness and there is no involuntary word or action; there is no possession at all. While possessions are relatively rare today, still a great number of people are struck by the Devil in their … [Read More...]
Catholic exorcism seems to be making a comeback in the United States and elsewhere around the world. Frankly, I’m glad and I think it’s about time. I’m not quite sure why I always run into such resistance when I even so much as mention the word “exorcism” to people in my personal circle. Perhaps it’s fear of something bigger and scarier than they care to admit just might exist (the Devil), or maybe it’s just that they associate it with fantasy thinking and Hollywood movies to the point where it doesn’t seem real. In any case, exorcism is real, and the demand for it appears to be on the rise.
Over this past weekend in Baltimore, Maryland there was a conference held by American bishops which was attended by more than 100 bishops and priests. At this conference, lessons were provided which outlined the biblical definition of evil, discernment as to whether a person is truly possessed or simply needs … [Read More...]
Through this blog, I had the pleasure of hearing from a person who created one of the most beautiful Catholic websites I’ve ever seen called Catholic Devotions. His site features all of the important prayers and devotions that Catholics need in order to grow in their faith and love for Our Lord and His Blessed Mother. You will find everything on there from the Chaplet of The Divine Mercy to the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary. There are lovely images and descriptions to go along with the prayers and devotions, complete with narration and soft music.
One of my favorite features of Catholic Devotions is the Rosary movies. These movies are absolutely beautiful! It’s one thing to pray the Holy Rosary in the silence of one’s heart, but Catholic Devotions adds a visual and audio dimension to it which truly captures the full essence of what Our Lady’s prayer of predilection is all … [Read More...]
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Hello, my name is Margo. When I was 23 years old and working as a part-time nanny in New York City I had the pleasure of caring for a little 5-year-old boy named Alexander. One day I had been overcome with sadness and in a weak moment, I found myself confiding to this little boy about a friend I couldn't find because he was lost. Alexander, quickly responded without missing a beat, “Follow a trail!” [