(a historical document commonly attributed to Don Antonio Valeriano, and written around 1556; a translation by Father Real Bourque) Here is the account, in its proper order, of how quite recently, miraculously, there appeared the Perfect Virgin Holy Mary, Mother of God, our Queen, at the Tepeyac Hill, known as…
From “The Secret of Mary” by Saint Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort: As it was through Mary that God came into the world the first time in a state of self-abasement and privation, may we not say that it will be again through Mary that He will come the second time?…
(from an essay by Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross) The Savior is not alone on the way of the cross. Not only are there adversaries around Him who oppress Him, but also people who succor Him. The archetype of followers of the cross for all time is the Mother…
(from “The Interior Castle” by Saint Teresa of Ávila) Fix your eyes on the Crucified One, and all will seem easy. If His Majesty proved His love for us by such stupendous labours and sufferings, how can you seek to please Him by words alone? Do you know what it…
(an excerpt from “All You Who Labor” by Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński) Work is certainly hard enough on its own, but when sadness is added to it, the burden is all the heavier. An impatient man tires himself out more and for longer at work: not only does he suffer from…
An excerpt from the book “What Is Heaven” by Mother Angelica: The first Christians sang all the time, sometimes even as they were in the arena waiting to be devoured by lions. Can you imagine what a beautiful song that must have been to God? And can you imagine the…
“On one occasion when St. Mechtilde had received Holy Communion for the departed, our Lord appeared to her, saying: ‘Recite for them an Our Father.’ The saint understood that she was to recite the prayer in the following manner. After she had done so, she saw a multitude of the…
(an excerpt from the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska #1489-1490) Soul: My Lord and Master, I desire to converse with You. Jesus: Speak, My beloved child, for I am always listening. I wait for you. What do you desire to say? Soul: Lord, first let me pour out my…
(excerpted from “The Foot of the Cross: or, The Sorrows of Mary” by Father Frederick William Faber) Mary is kneeling on the ground. Her fingers are stained with Blood. She stretches the clean linen cloth over her arms and holds them out to receive her Son, her Prodigal come back…
That is not enough, my son! That is not enough, because love cannot be reduced to the indispensable minimum; love demands the maximum! Do you think that I could practice charity if I did not ask Jesus every day to fill my heart with His love? Do you think that…