Corinthians 6:19-20 may be one of the hardest passages in the to live by and to teach to our children.

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body.”

This passage is one of the hardest to live by, for the old and young, for a few reasons….

Sacred Heart of Jesus. Growing up I did not know much about this feast, but over the years it has become one of my favorite feasts for many reasons.

First, Jesus promised in visions to St. Margaret Mary many blessings to those who practice devotion to His Sacred Heart including, but not limited to:

Tepid Souls shall become fervent.
- I will give peace in their families.
- I will give them all the graces necessary of their state of life.
- I will be their refuge in life and especially in death.
- I will console them in all their troubles

Randy Hain is an author (whose work has been reviewed at Catholic Dads here and here. Randy just published an article, “A Checklist for Catholic Dads” at the National Catholic Register. It would be well worth your time to read it.

May 31 is the feast day of the second Joyful mystery of the Holy Rosary, the Visitation.  When I reflect on the Visitation, I cannot help but move immediately to the Magnificat of Mary, Mary’s first recorded words after Elizabeth’s greeting.

Every time I read/sing this prayer something different sticks out to me. Recently, what has struck me the most is the way God works in the world…

April 16th is the feast day of one of the most popular saints, St. Bernadette Soubirous. Saint Bernadette is mainly remembered for her experience of meeting the Blessed Virgin Mary at Lourdes, France, when she was only a girl, and her many subsequent visions of Our Lady thereafter. What is not as often remembered is that St. Bernadette struggled with sickness and illness throughout her life. Just as Our Lady of Lourdes said to Saint Bernadette, “I do not promise to make you happy in this life, but in the next.” In light of that, I would like to take the opportunity of St. Bernadette’s feast day to focus on how to talk to our children about sickness and suffering.

Do you know who Pelagius is? Are you a Pelagian and without even realizing it? Pelagius taught that you can, on your own, live a virtuous life. A Christian understanding recognizes this as false. But do we live that or is there a little Pelagius in how we live? Do you focus on acheivement? Do you take charge? Do you measure success in numbers? If so, then perhaps you are a secret Pelagian.

There is no greater spiritual truth and spiritual experience in this life than encountering Christ in the Eucharist. If we don’t intentionally take a step back when we notice ourselves treating Holy Communion as commonplace, then we are in danger of becoming spiritually dense . . . losing our sensibility to the wonder and the awe of this most amazing of all Sacraments.

Of everything that I have read and watched about Father Damien, I must state this is the best. It is an amazing biography of a man not easily understood. We can look back upon Damien’s times, and his conflicts with authorities within and outside the church and it is easy to judge or be harsh. For Damien is a saint. But as this book details, saints are not always easy people, and often their plight is a very difficult path.

You’ve probably heard or read hundreds of responses and reflections on Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation. You’ve likely seen responses that range from sadness to joy, respect to disbelief, and even anger to hatred. I personally was shocked to first hear the news, considering that over the course of hundreds of popes and thousands of years, the Catholic Church has had only a few popes resign.

Why do you think that is?

A 40 Day Spiritual Workout For Catholics
Bob Rice
Servant Publications
ISBN 9781616365264

(Posted with permission a sample day.)

DAY 6 

The Perfect Prayer