The battle against impurity might be the most crucial spiritual struggle of our time. In this Lenten reflection, we explore what St. Gregory the Great called "the most common cause of man's damnation" – the devil of impurity that seeks to transform souls from spiritual beings into carnal ones, degrading human dignity below even that of animals.
When children as young as eight are being exposed to pornography, we must recognize the urgency of this fight. The beatitude "Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God" reminds us what's at stake – our very capacity to encounter the divine. Through practical wisdom from tradition and modern application, this reflection offers a roadmap for maintaining purity in a world designed to compromise it.
The sacraments provide our strongest defense – Confession heals wounds already inflicted while the Eucharist strengthens our spiritual immune system against future attacks. Yet the enemy is clever, using shame to keep us from confession while removing it during the act of sin itself. We must be "ashamed of the sin, but not of admitting the sin."
Beyond supernatural means, practical strategies matter: implementing technological safeguards, carefully selecting media, avoiding occasions of sin, practicing custody of the eyes, and eliminating idleness – "the mother of all vices." The battle begins not in society but in our own hearts and homes, creating environments where innocence can flourish and virtue is celebrated.
Join us this Lent in recommitting to purity of heart. Share your own strategies for maintaining dignity in a challenging world, and remember that this fight isn't about prudishness but about preserving our capacity to see God clearly, both in this life and the next.
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Christ is risen! The glorious transformation we've been preparing for through forty days of Lenten sacrifice has arrived, but what happens to our spiritual journey now?
This meditation explores the profound significance of Eastertide—not merely as the end of Lenten disciplines but as the beginning of a new way of living. From the triumphant moment when "light has triumphed over darkness," we are called to understand that Easter isn't about abandoning our spiritual progress, but redirecting it toward a fuller expression of our life in Christ.
As St. Paul reminds us, being "risen with Christ" means elevating our desires toward heaven while detaching from mere earthly satisfactions. For newly baptized Catholics, this season marks their first days in the faith, while for all believers, it offers a time to balance joyful celebration with continued spiritual growth. The Easter octave specifically highlights this transition as we learn to live out the new life received in baptism.
The meditation offers ...
The sacred stillness of Holy Saturday holds a unique place in our spiritual journey - that profound pause between the Crucifixion and Resurrection, where we are invited to contemplate the mystery of Christ's rest in the tomb. Through ancient liturgical texts and thoughtful meditation, we explore this day not as empty waiting, but as fertile ground where the seed of Resurrection quietly germinates.
"Today I am plunged in anguish, but tomorrow I will break my bonds." This powerful antiphon sets the tone for our reflection on what appears as defeat but secretly harbors victory. We join Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus at the hasty burial of Jesus before walking through the profound symbolism of the Easter Vigil ceremonies—the blessing of new fire, the lighting of the Paschal candle representing Christ risen, and the gradual illumination of darkness as this light spreads throughout the congregation.
The beautiful paradox of Holy Saturday emerges as we contemplate both loss and anticipation. "The ...
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A good (long) read by Fr. Z.
The following is a good point to keep in mind:
“ Allow me to go back to my food analogy for liturgy. This might seem a little insulting but it is just intended to make a point about the continuum we are on.
In 99% of a man’s day and activities, it is beneath his dignity to scrunch up his face and make airplane noises while moving a spoon around with his hand. People would think he was nuts. OR… if he is sitting in front of the high-chair of his little son, who can only eat goop and must sometimes be convinced to eat it, then that man is not doing anything beneath his dignity. On the contrary, he is performing a sacrificial act of love for his child. He sacrifices his dignity – becoming more dignified yet – for the sake of his boy’s eating something that will help him to grow out of the need to eat that sort of thing in that sort of way. He helps his boy move up the food and eating continuum to more complicated foods eaten in a more human way....
