Month of Mary #17 ( 10min) Play – Tonight we move from St. Maximilian Koble onto Bl. Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Sts Montfort and Kolbe have helped us to see the theology of Marian Consecration, and Blessed Mother Teresa helps us see it within the context of our relationship with Jesus. Fr. Matthias gives us an overview of her life, her vocation, her “call within a call”, and her spirituality–especially focusing on her teachings on suffering. Do we realize the link between our own suffering and Our Lord’s? Father closes with a quote from Blessed Teresa:

“Suffering has to come because if you look at the cross, he has got his head bending down—he wants to kiss you—and he has both hands open wide—he wants to embrace you. He has his heart opened wide to receive you. Then when you feel miserable inside, look at the cross and you will know what is happening. Suffering, pain, sorrow, humiliation, feelings of loneliness, are nothing but the kiss of Jesus, a sign that you have come so close that he can kiss you. Do you understand, brothers, sisters, or whoever you may be? Suffering, pain, humiliation—this is the kiss of Jesus. At times you come so close to Jesus on the cross that he can kiss you. I once told this to a lady who was suffering very much. She answered, ‘Tell Jesus not to kiss me—to stop kissing me.’ That suffering has to come that came in the life of Our Lady, that came in the life of Jesus—it has to come in our life also. Only never put on a long face. Suffering is gift from God. It is between you and Jesus alone inside.”
-Bl. Mother Teresa

Today’s Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit, living in Mary. Help me to find the love of the Heart of Jesus hidden in the darkness.

Ave Maria!

Audio (MP3)

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The post Month of Mary 17 – To Satiate the Thirst of Jesus first appeared on AirMaria.com.

In the homily for the memorial of St. Ignatius of Loyola (Jul 31, 2019), Fr. Matthias summarizes and explains the principal points in St. Ignatius’ doctrine on the discernment of spirits. While applying God’s law to life can sometimes be complex and challenging, we can rest assured that it is always possible and never harmful to us or to others. Father uses logic in conjunction with Ignatius’ principles to expose current errors in moral theology.

Ave Maria!

Mass: St. Ignatius of Loyola – Mem

Readings: Wednesday 17th Week of Ordinary Time
1st: Ex 34:29-35
Resp: Ps 99:5, 6, 7, 9
Gsp: mat 13:44-46

More on the Readings: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/073119.cfm

Reference: The Spiritual Life: A Treatise on Ascetical and Mystical Theology, by Adolphe Tanquerey, S. S., D. D., paragraphs 951-957 (https://www.tanbooks.com/index.php/spiritual-life-a-treatise-on-ascetical-and-mystical-theology-1881.html).

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The post Discernment: 14 Rules of St. Ignatius of Loyola – Jul 31 – Homily – Fr Matthias first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Many souls do not reach union with God as they are unwilling to try the way of the cross, the only way which leads to it. It is necessary to take quite another way: the narrow and obscure way where the soul discovers all its misery, experiences all its powerlessness, where consolation from God and man is wanting.

You know, too, that you must accept having to walk on this road for as long as it will please God. How many months or years will suffice? Only God knows. He often keeps souls a long time in the dark night of the spirit, and it might even be said that, in general, even after the principal stages have been passed, there is always a little of the night as long as one lives upon earth. The wisest course to take is to surrender yourself completely to the divine will of God, without setting limits either to the duration or the nature of your trials.

God knows what is best for you; He, who knows the world and the weaknesses and necessities of your soul, will know how to prescribe exactly the treatment to cure your ills. Do not be hasty, but, on the contrary, have much patience, and you will not expose yourself to deception. Let your patience be long-suffering and trustful because, although you truly suffer, the sufferings do not come to you from an enemy but from your greatest friend, from God, who loves you much more than you could love yourself, who wills your happiness, your sanctification much more than you could ever desire them.

Hope in Him and you will never be confounded; and trust yourself to Him blindly and you will have nothing to fear.

+Father Gabriel of Saint Mary Magdalene

The post On Spiritual Darkness first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Ave Maria!

Fr. Terrance explains the simplicity of St Therese’s spirituality that characterized her Little Way. He starts with biblical references, that perfection consists in simplicity, just as God is simple and seeing all things in relation to our Creator. He relates this to prayer, including, distractions, intentions, mystical experiences, ecstasy, and to being childlike, being trusting children, also the darkness of faith, and persevering in faith when in spiritual darkness.

This is the first talk of four from his retreat on the Little Way of St Therese that focuses on her simplicity, love of neighbor, and love of God. It took place in August 2021 at the Mother of the Redeemer Retreat Center in Bloomington, IN: https://maryschildren.com/

Retreat Notes (PDFs):
Talks 1-2: https://airmaria.s3.amazonaws.com/conf/conf0564-Simplicity.pdf
Talk 3: https://airmaria.s3.amazonaws.com/conf/conf0567-Love%20of%20God.pdf
Talk 4: https://airmaria.s3.amazonaws.com/conf/conf0566-Love%20of%20neighbor.pdf

Also on YouTube: https://youtu.be/3UISSKH4aZ4

For more on this retreat:
AirMaria: http://dev.airmaria.com/tag/st-therese-retreat-2021/ and
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UISSKH4aZ4&list=PLejh_e0-LN4zxO5D3FlwNYWzSmG7-PMJ9

Previous Retreat on St. Therese, focusing on Confidence in God: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLejh_e0-LN4z6-gNFgBC47JBq4hsWvcwz or http://dev.airmaria.com/tag/st-therese-retreat-2020/

Source Books:

“The Complete Spiritual Doctrine of St. Therese” by Fr. Francois Jamart https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Spiritual-Doctrine-Therese-Lisieux/dp/0818903473

“The Spiritual Life: A Treatise on Ascetical and Mystical Theology”, by Fr. Adolphe Tanquerey – Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/Spiritual-Life-Treatise-Ascetical-Mystical/dp/1626540888

Online version here but it is in several sections (completeness uncertain):

Sect 1 – https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/spiritual-life-12628
Sect 2 – https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/spiritual-life-12629
Sect 3 – https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/spiritual-life-12630
Sect 4 – https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/spiritual-life-12631
Sect 5 – https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/spiritual-life-12632
Sect 6 – https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/spiritual-life-12633
Sect 7 – https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/spiritual-life-12634
Sect 8 – https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/spiritual-life-12635
Sect 9 – https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/spiritual-life-12636
Sect 10 – https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/spiritual-life-12637
Sect 11 – https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/spiritual-life-12638
Sect 12 – https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/spiritual-life-12639

“The Theology of Christian Perfection” by Antonio Royo Marin:

Sect 1 –  http://thecatholicarchive.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/147a.pdf
Sect 2 – https://thecatholicarchive.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/147b.pdf

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