Category: Mystical

Do you feel weighed down by the sneaking suspicion that you’re not doing enough? I know firsthand the crushing weight of the thought, “I’m not doing enough to be loved.” There was a time in my life when I wasn’t even conscious of thinking it—I was just driven to do more and more, and I… Continue reading Chosen and Loved: The Annunciation

Editor’s note: This is part 24 of a series, “The Kingdom of Grace.” Part 23 can be found here. The wonders of the Eucharist are so many and so marvelous that no one could ever tell them all, but one marvel is how the Eucharist is the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Whoever participates in the… Continue reading The Eucharistic Sacrifice – SpiritualDirection.com

The Art of Prayer Conchita learned the art of prayer from a young age growing up in a pious family. As a child, she felt as though Jesus had stolen her heart. From my tenderest childhood, I felt in my soul a strong inclination toward prayer, penance, and, above all, purity. Penance was always a… Continue reading Blessed Conchita on Prayer – Kathleen Beckman

Sarah was fully possessed. As a young woman, she had given herself to Satan. In subsequent years, she had become sullen, hopeless, and suicidal. While she wanted to be freed, Satan frequently reminded her that she had given herself to him. They had a contract. He regularly tempted her to suicide. Eventually, she found her… Continue reading Exorcist Diary: Satan – Bringer of Death

“Make your way in by the narrow gate.” Christ, our Lord, died for the salvation of all mankind, and we know from Scripture that it is God’s will that all men should be saved (1 Tim. 2:4). Yet a man’s salvation can only be secured by his own cooperation with grace, for God has given… Continue reading How to Enter the Narrow Gate

Editor’s note: This is part three of a series.  Part one can be found here and part two here.  In the previous article, we reflected on human marriage, which “has profounder origins than the sexual instinct, and is connected above all with the spiritual nature of the human person.” Marriage on earth is but a… Continue reading You Are My Beloved: The Lord Takes Delight in His People

Many of us can feel a little squirmy about writing or sharing about ourselves; after all, aren’t we supposed to be humble?  Hidden?  And allow the Lord to have the stage? There are seasons of anonymity for sure; seasons to bury ourselves in Christ and let Him do some deep work.  Being ‘unseen’ itself can… Continue reading Hey, Catholic Writer: Writing About Our Story Can Make Us Holier

One of the things that scared me when I was a little boy was being caught down in the basement with no light. Sometimes my brother, my sister, and I would occasionally tease each other and shut off the basement lights when we were down there playing. What frightened me the most about this action… Continue reading Spiritual Direction Questions, Part 1: Why is Spiritual Direction Needed?

As stated before in Part I, there is a clear pastoral need for sound spiritual directors in the church who are both priests, religious, and lay faithful with solid formation. We will continue our conversation on what are particular seasons and scenarios in the life of faith that every member of the faithful will need… Continue reading Spiritual Direction Questions, Part 2: What Are Some Seasons of Life Where I Have A Need For Spiritual Direction?

It was eight o’clock in the morning. My day was in full swing. I had already driven my children to school and was back home again. I had unloaded and reloaded the dishwasher. As I was heading to my weekly Holy Hour, I checked my calendar and email. And I noticed a message from a… Continue reading With God, it is Always Yes