Category: Mystical

It was a joy to talk recently about the High Calling Program with it’s director, Dr. Joseph Hollcraft, and hear him share about the impact this rapidly growing and much-needed program is having on the Church and the hearts of her precious sons.  There truly is cause for hope! Would you briefly describe what the… Continue reading Cause for Hope: The High Calling Program

The bonds of love that the Trinity have formed among us on earth do not end at death, nor do those we have loved on earth abandon us when they die. They are still with us, and more dearly than ever. We can speak to them and enjoy their sweet embrace deep in our souls. We… Continue reading The Blessed in Heaven Are with Us

“Listen carefully, my child, to the master’s instructions, and attend to them with the ear of your heart. This is advice from a father who loves you; welcome it, and faithfully put it into practice.” So begins The Rule of Saint Benedict, one of the most enduring spiritual works of all time. Consisting merely of… Continue reading St. Benedict and Obedience – SpiritualDirection.com

This was given as a homily for a Mass for the Feast of Saint Teresa of Avila for the Apostoli Viae Connecticut Chapter at Saint Mary’s Church, New Haven, Connecticut, October 15, 2021 I remember seeing a vineyard for the very first time in Europe. I was traveling on a ten-day pilgrimage to Rome and… Continue reading St. Teresa of Avila and the True Vine

I have noticed a troubling trend in past years when the Gospel reading about Mary and Martha’s encounter with Christ surfaces. Of course, we all know the passage: “Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named… Continue reading The Danger of Martha’s Vindication

Editor’s note: this post was originally published here on 6/30/09. Dear Father John, what is a “Program of Life” and why is it important to my spiritual progress and spiritual direction? One of the enemies of good spiritual direction is excessive subjectivity. We all have urgent personal issues that come and go; they occupy our… Continue reading Program of life – Roman Catholic Spiritual Direction

  For many, St. John Paul II is a model pastor for our age.  So many priests of our day have looked up to him in admiration.  Some have discovered their vocation, in part, thanks to his influence.  Then there’s the JPII generation or JPII Catholics.  And his canonization confirms this devotion to the man… Continue reading St. John Paul II and Pastoral Ministry as a Gift

A curse always becomes a vexation, and exorcisms are done even if there is only a vexation, which is an evil influence. The Cat­echism of the Catholic Church is clear: an exorcism is done even when there is no possession. But some exorcists, if they do not see that there is possession, do nothing. They are mistaken.… Continue reading The Devil is Afraid of Me

I can’t remember exactly how old I was, but as a young boy, I asked myself an important question: who am I? It appeared, at least to me, like a natural question. After all, I thought, what was the point of living if you didn’t know who you are? In my childlike innocence, I assumed… Continue reading Mistaken Identity – SpiritualDirection.com

When Pope Francis declared this to be the Year of St. Joseph, he was continuing a long tradition of the Popes before him. At that time, I wondered how this would make a difference in my life. Now, ten months later, I reflect on what St. Joseph has meant to me throughout the years. Specifically,… Continue reading Joseph, Mary and Me – SpiritualDirection.com