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From the Prodigal Son  .  Loud and Clear  .  Letters to a Beginner .  To the Summit .  Longing for Eternity

4th Week of Advent: The Wedding

Dear Beginner, Have you ever witnessed a woman getting ready for her wedding? The dress, the flowers, the table centerpieces, the amount of water with the floating tea candles, the half…
4th Week of Advent: The Wedding

3rd Week of Advent: Two Simple Words

Dear Beginner, There are two simple words that stuck with me from the Gospel during the first week of Advent. And I think that during the next two weeks that we…
3rd Week of Advent: Two Simple Words

2nd Week of Advent: What John the Baptist Wore

Dear Beginner, This Sunday's Gospel is a very good one, recalling that one of the "patron saints" of Advent is John the Baptist, let's see what we can learn from him. How…
2nd Week of Advent: What John the Baptist Wore

1st Week of Advent: Simplicity

Dear Beginner, Simplicity and minimalism, that fresh look, is often one of the leading trends in fashion and design. A great example of how the world takes what is good and…
1st Week of Advent: Simplicity

When Words Lose their Meaning

Dear Beginner, “When words lose their meaning, people lose their freedom” (Confucius). Concise and powerful. Is it true? It seems that one of the things that is happening in society now is…
When Words Lose their Meaning

This should be your New Year's resolution

Dear Beginner, Have you made any resolutions yet this year? I'd say that if you haven't, you probably haven't given it much thought and were most likely going to continue on…
This should be your New Year's resolution

5 ways you could be missing out on Advent

Dear Beginner, Advent is going quick, so make sure you aren't missing out! I know you want to take advantage of it, so reading these 5 tips on how to completely…
5 ways you could be missing out on Advent

3 Rules to become a successful journalist

Dear Beginner,  Follow these rules and you are sure to have success in the world.  1. Always have something bad to say about the Church. This could be something you just “uncovered,”…
3 Rules to become a successful journalist

A word on dirty jokes

Dear Beginner, If you have passed the age of 12 and haven't spent your whole life on a deserted island, I can say with almost complete certainty that you have been…
A word on dirty jokes

Response to Blasphemy on RTÉ

Dear Beginner,  Have you ever witnessed a teen go off to college and, “free from his parents’ rules,” makes a mess of his life? Just over two years ago, as part…
Response to Blasphemy on RTÉ

Still discerning? Do something!

Dear Beginner,   A couple years ago at a catholic conference I met a not-so-young man who told me that he was discerning religious life. And if I remember well, he had…
Still discerning? Do something!

What are you doing this Halloween?

Dear Beginner, I’ve had it on my mind for a while to write about Halloween, but I just can’t bring myself to it. Here in Ireland they are trying to make…
What are you doing this Halloween?

"Mary, give Jesus a tour of my soul."

Dear Beginner,  The other day after receiving Communion, I had a wonderful inspiration and thought I'd suggest you to do: ask Mary to give Jesus a tour of your soul. In…
"Mary, give Jesus a tour of my soul."

“You Want to Count to Five Hundred with Me?”

Dear Beginner,      Two different scenarios:  “You want to count to five hundred with me?” your friend asks you.  Agreeing, you grab your string of beads and begin: “One... Two... Three...” And…
“You Want to Count to Five Hundred with Me?”

How many steps to correctly wash your soul?

Dear Beginner, Have you ever seen those signs in public restrooms that teach you how to wash your hands? Recently I saw one that had TWELVE steps to correctly sanitize your…
How many steps to correctly wash your soul?

New Normal is NOT Normal

Dear Beginner, Do you remember when you first heard the phrase "social distancing"? At first you were confused about what it could mean, and the next day you were using it…
New Normal is NOT Normal

Invoke the Holy Spirit with this prayer

Dear Beginner, As the month of May comes to an end and we prepare for the coming of the Holy Spirit, I thought you might like this short yet powerful prayer…
Invoke the Holy Spirit with this prayer

Fr. Henry: Always attentive to God's action in his life

Dear Beginner, "What do you think the Lord is trying to say with this?" A typical phrase coming from the mouth of Fr. Henry Kowalczyk, the first Servant Priest of the…
Fr. Henry: Always attentive to God's action in his life

Holy Week... at Home

Dear Beginner, How's lock down coming along? Have you managed to find the good in all this time at home yet? Try to see it as a break that the Lord…
Holy Week... at Home

Holy Week approaches: Look at the Cross

Dear Beginner, Have you ever written a letter of condolence to someone? You write something, then cross it out and start over... thinking and re-thinking what to say... I feel like…
Holy Week approaches: Look at the Cross

3rd week of Lent: "Jesus, I trust in You"

Dear Beginner, "Jesus, I trust in You" is my prayer at this time. A constant reassurance that, despite all that is happening, the Lord doesn't let anything escape from His hands.…
3rd week of Lent: "Jesus, I trust in You"

2nd Week of Lent: Coronavirus and Communion

Dear Beginner, As we begin the second week of Lent, and the coronavirus is more and more present, I've been thinking about the effect it is having in the world and…
2nd Week of Lent: Coronavirus and Communion

1st Week of Lent: Ten Commandments

Dear Beginner, Happy Lent! (Do people say that?) Looking at the Mass readings for the first week in this penitential time, I didn’t even have to look past Monday’s first reading.…
1st Week of Lent: Ten Commandments

The Valentine's Day that Changed my Life

Dear Beginner, It was on the eve of Valentine's Day, many years ago, when I did a very cheesy thing that marked my life forever. The following day, my best friend…
The Valentine's Day that Changed my Life

Hmm... what are they saying about curiosity?

Dear Beginner,  Have you ever heard the phrase "curiosity killed the cat" applied to you? Do you get annoyed if people don't tell you things right away? Are you capable of…
Hmm... what are they saying about curiosity?

A Meditation before the Nativity Scene

Dear Beginner, Merry Christmas! Among all the things you are doing this Christmas season, make sure you spend time in prayer to remember the reason for the season. Light a…
A Meditation before the Nativity Scene

The Virginity of Mary

Dear Beginner,  Have you ever stopped to consider what we believe when we say that Jesus was "born of the Virgin Mary"? We know that Mary remained a virgin before, during…
The Virginity of Mary

3rd week of Advent: the Messenger

Dear Beginner,  Has the Lord sent a messenger to you? Has He put someone in your life who has been an example to you? Did He give you someone who, despite…
3rd week of Advent: the Messenger

2nd Week of Advent: "Brood of Vipers" in Matthew 3

Dear Beginner,  Looking at the readings for the second week of Advent, I must say how I love to see the vehemence of St. John the Baptist's reproach to the pharisees.…
2nd Week of Advent: "Brood of Vipers" in Matthew 3

1st Sunday of Advent: Wake up!

Dear Beginner,  Wake up! That phrase is the name of a program we have on HM Television about the Persecuted Christians, and it is also a theme for this week's Sunday…
1st Sunday of Advent: Wake up!

Unplanned: What a Great—TRUE—Story!

Dear Beginner,  What a movie! I had heard about the testimony of Abby Johnson, but as you can imagine, it's a lot different seeing it played out in a film. If…
Unplanned: What a Great—TRUE—Story!

Catholic youth listening to mainstream music?

Dear Beginner, Being the youngest of my siblings, I began listening to mainstream music by the time I was 9 or 10. By "mainstream," I mean hip-hop/R&B/rock/techno/pop/rap... I think you get…
Catholic youth listening to mainstream music?

Via Lucis: Way of Light

Dear Beginner, Happy Easter! Once again life has triumphed and the Lord of Hope shows us that He has conquered death and sin. Thanks be to God, He calls us to…
Via Lucis: Way of Light

Console Our Lady in the Passion

Dear Beginner, Now that we are in the midst of Holy Week, just wanted to write a quick note to encourage you to live it close to the Lord and His…
Console Our Lady in the Passion

Now that we're halfway through Lent...

So… how’s your Lent going? Are you still waking up early to exercise and go to Mass? Are you still making an effort to be kind to that annoying person?…
Now that we're halfway through Lent...

Mary's Smile at Lourdes

While Our Blessed Mother doesn’t appear very much in the Bible, we have received the great gift of her presence here on earth many times. Through these apparitions we can…
Mary's Smile at Lourdes

Young Men Martyred for Purity

Dear Beginner, We have girl saints for chastity, but male saints? I recently heard the story of several young men who died for the faith, protecting their chastity against homosexual…
Young Men Martyred for Purity

"Mary, Greet me this Advent"

Dear Beginner, How’s your Advent going? Can you tell that you’re in Advent? Recently I have been praying with the story of the Visitation, and I thought I’d share a…
"Mary, Greet me this Advent"

4 Tips for a "Not Just Another Advent"

Dear Beginner, First off, Happy New Year! That is, liturgical new year. We are now entering into the first part of the liturgical year: where the Church has us meditate…
4 Tips for a "Not Just Another Advent"

Help to Empty Purgatory

Dear Beginner,  When I was about nine years old, I came across a prayer that "frees 1,000 souls from purgatory each time it is prayed." What a deal! I began to…
Help to Empty Purgatory

Was Jesus Tolerant?

Dear Beginner, It seems to me that in society now, one of the most important “virtues” is tolerance. If someone isn’t tolerant, or doesn’t agree with the way the world is…
Was Jesus Tolerant?

Why get a Spiritual Director?

Dear Beginner, I think that I have mentioned it already a few times, but here I want to talk more about what is a spiritual director. Imagine that you are going on…
Why get a Spiritual Director?

5th Week of Lent

Dear Beginner, Here are some thoughts for the fifth week of Lent. PRAYER“The contemplation of My painful wounds is of great profit to you, and it brings Me great joy.” Jesus said…
5th Week of Lent

Final Stretch of Lent

Dear Beginner, We're nearing the end-- this is where it counts, everything you did up to now was training you for this moment. As we enter into Holy Week, prepare yourself…
Final Stretch of Lent

4th Week of Lent

Dear Beginner, Lent is more than half over! How are you living it? PRAYERThis week I encourage you to continue meditating on part of the Stations of the Cross. I read recently…
4th Week of Lent

3rd Week of Lent

Dear Beginner, Here you are for the third week of Lent! PRAYERA couple years ago, our founder, Fr. Rafael gave some advice for prayer during Lent, and it was the following… Pick…
3rd Week of Lent

2nd Week of Lent: Some Ideas

Dear Beginner, Something to think about this week: PRAYERThis week the Gospel is about the Transfiguration of the Lord, and the second reading prepares us for it with the second letter from…
2nd  Week of Lent: Some Ideas

Tips for the 1st Week of Lent

Dear Beginner, For Lent, here’s something that may help you out to live more intensely each week. Short readings for each of the 3 pillars: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Examples of…
Tips for the 1st Week of Lent

Kick him away

Dear Beginner,     Last week we had a big weekend encounter with families, and I, along with a few other sisters, helped out in the nursery, taking care of the…
Kick him away

The Passion

Dear Beginner,        I don’t know if you’ve discovered it yet, but something extremely beneficial to the soul is the meditation of the Passion of the Lord.  It’s really too…
The Passion

14 Rules for Discerning Spirits

Dear Beginner, I’ll leave you here with the first 14 Rules for Discerning Spirits, very profitable to anyone who is serious about becoming a saint.  If you’re going into war, you…
14 Rules for Discerning Spirits

14th Rule of Discernment

Dear Beginner, There are two sets of rules in the discernment of spirits.  In the first set, there are 14 rules for beginners in the spiritual life.  In the second, there…
14th Rule of Discernment

13th Rule of Discernment

Dear Beginner, Since we spoke about evil women the last time, I think it’s only just that we speak about evil men this time.  St. Ignatius, it seems, thought the same. The…
13th Rule of Discernment

12th Rule of Discernment

Dear Beginner, Fellow women, take no offense at the next rule, but I think that you will understand because you’ve seen it happen in yourself or in others… St. Ignatius in the…
12th Rule of Discernment

10th and 11th Rule of Discernment

Dear Beginner,    The tenth and eleventh rules are pretty straight forward so I’m going to combine them here.  The tenth says: “Let him who is in consolation think how he will…
10th and 11th Rule of Discernment

9th Rule of Discernment

Dear Beginner,In the ninth rule, St. Ignatius gives us the 1-2-3 about being in desolation.  Since lists are always helpful, I’m going to go ahead and follow along.  Drum roll…
9th Rule of Discernment

8th Rule of Discernment

Dear Beginner,        Since we need guidance in how to act during desolation more than in consolation, St. Ignatius has provided for us a few more rules with this topic. …
8th Rule of Discernment

7th Rule of Discernment

Dear Beginner,    This rule helps to prepare you how to live in moments of desolation, explaining what’s going on.  Assuming that you are going through it right now, you are…
7th Rule of Discernment

6th Rule of Discernment

Dear Beginner,  I left the last letter thinking about bullies, and it reminded me about something that helps, but is very difficult.  I’m the youngest in my family, and I have…
6th Rule of Discernment

5th Rule of Discernment

Dear Beginner,    Don’t think that the Rules end with the fourth, talking about spiritual desolations. Here, in the fifth, St. Ignatius tells what you have to do when the desolation…
5th Rule of Discernment

4th Rule of Discernment

Dear Beginner,    The fourth rule is quite the opposite from the third.  This one talks about spiritual desolation, which is everything contrary to consolation.  St. Ignatius says: “Spiritual Desolation. I…
4th Rule of Discernment

3rd Rule of Discernment

Dear Beginner,    The third rule explains more about consolations, which I wouldn’t be surprised if you have probably already experienced some. St. Ignatius says: “I call it consolation when some…
3rd Rule of Discernment

2nd Rule of Discernment

Dear Beginner,I already talked a little bit about the second rule when I spoke about the first, as you will see.  It says: “In the people who are intensely purging…
2nd Rule of Discernment

1st Rule of Discernment

Dear Beginner,    I shall begin here with the first Rule for Discerning Spirits, according to St. Ignatius of Loyola.  It goes something like: “For the person who goes from mortal…
1st Rule of Discernment

Rules for Discernment of Spirits

Dear Beginner, I’m going to try and share with you something that seems to me to be completely unknown by many people trying to grow in the spiritual life.  In all…
Rules for Discernment of Spirits

Holy Mass

Dear Beginner,Everything has rules.  Sometimes, instead of being called rules, they are known as norms, principles, etc.  It’s part of nature that everything has an order, a way of acting. …
Holy Mass

Merry Christmas

Dear Beginner,Merry Christmas! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas with your family, celebrating the birth of Our Lord Jesus.I noticed that the stores have already taken down their Christmas…
Merry Christmas

A New Year, A New Start

Dear Beginner, We have started a new year. It’s common that people make resolutions to start off the New Year, you know… a new year, a new start. It would be…
A New Year, A New Start

Are you thinking about yourself, or Jesus?

Dear Beginner,     A few letters back I mentioned that after receiving the Eucharist, you shouldn’t be thinking about yourself so much.  Reading that, your reaction may have been, well…
Are you thinking about yourself, or Jesus?

Mortification of the eyes

Dear Beginner, Have you ever heard about mortification of the eyes? It is a fantastic little way to help your soul rise into prayer. I am not talking about not…
Mortification of the eyes

Fighting Mediocrity: One manifestation of False Piety

Dear Beginner,     I met someone once who had been advised to receive the Eucharist less frequently—in order to appreciate It more.  That´s a good idea to have—if you´re talking about…
Fighting Mediocrity: One manifestation of False Piety

Living my faith for real

 Dear Beginner,    I never paid much attention to the words perseverance and fidelity until I began concentrating on the spiritual life—living my faith for real.  Obviously, you don't need to…
Living my faith for real
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