Praying the Psalms ... with Music The Lord Jesus urges us to ask, seek, and knock (Lk 11:5-10), to pray always and not to lose heart (Lk 18:1), and to watch at all times and pray (Lk 21:36). St. Paul also says to “pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances” (I Thes 5:17-18), and to “pray at all times in the Spirit” (Eph 6:18). When we abide in Christ through the receiving His Body and Blood (the Eucharist; Jn 6:56), through bearing fruit (Jn 15:4-5), and by keeping His commandments (Jn 15:10), then we not only share in Jesus’ joy (Jn 15:11; 17:13) and in the same love Jesus and the Father share (Jn 15:10; 17:10-11, 21-23, 26), but Jesus’ words abide in us (Jn 15:7; 17:14), our prayer becomes His prayer (Jn 15:7, 16; 16:26-27), His prayer becomes our prayer (Jn 15:16; 16:25-27). So how do we grow in this abiding, this prayer, so that we might more deeply share in the loving communion and joy of the Blessed Trinity? One very good way is by praying the Psalms. Not just readi...

Abandonment to Divine Providence (Two)       Last week we considered a great Christian classic, “Abandonment to Divine Providence,” by Jean-Pierre de Caussade (1675-1751). In the passage below de Caussade speaks of learning to see God’s hand and His will in the everyday events of our ordinary lives, knowing that God is “speaking” to us, leading us, guiding us continually, moment by moment. Sometimes we just need to have the eyes and ears to see and hear (Mt 11:15).       “You speak, Lord, to each individual soul by the circumstances occurring at every moment of life. Instead, however, of hearing Your voice in these events, and receiving with awe what is obscure and mysterious in these Your words [i.e., the circumstances], men see in their only the outward aspect, or chance, or the caprice of others, and censure everything. They would like to add, or diminish, or reform, and to allow themselves absolute liberty to commit any exc...

Abandonment to Divine Providence (One)       We recently considered the great Christian classic, “Of The Imitation of Christ,” by Thomas À Kempis, which is available for free online and for purchase. Another wonderful Christian classic (also available online for free, and for purchase) is “Abandonment to Divine Providence” by Jean-Pierre de Caussade (1675-1751). The book is comprised of letters Fr. de Caussade wrote to French Visitation nuns in the town of Nancy, after he had been their spiritual director for about 7 years total starting in 1729.       When de Caussade uses the term “abandonment,” he means in the sense of trustful surrender to the One you love and One you know loves you totally: God. Therefore, his words are a spiritual guide for one wanting to come closer to God, to know His love more, and to share intimate communion with Him.       It is an excellent book to reach for when you are suffe...

Of the Imitation of Christ (Three)       For the last two weeks we have considered the book, Of The Imitation of Christ , by Thomas À Kempis, and read short excerpts. It is too good of a devotional classic to move on from too soon, so we will consider another excerpt today from a chapter called (in a modern translation), “Of Intimate Friendship with Jesus.”

Of the Imitation of Christ (Two)       Last week’s article introduced the book, Of The Imitation of Christ  by Thomas À Kempis. It was written about 1418-1427, and has never been out of print since its publication, It has been the all-time best-selling religious book second only to the Bible.

Of the Imitation of Christ (One) In the Fall of 1979, the author of these articles was a Presbyterian seminarian at Princeton Theological Seminary. While perusing books at the Princeton University Bookstore, a paperback book (only $1.95 then!) called, Of The Imitation of Christ , caught my eye. The book was by Thomas À Kempis, identified as a monk. Immediately my then anti-Catholic alerts went off: warning!

Martyrs of Compiegne        July 17th is the feast day of the Blessed Martyrs of Compiegne, all Carmelite nuns.       It is certainly difficult for an average American (Christian or not) to understand martyrdom. “What a waste!” one thinks. What, indeed, does one make of the Lord’s word to Ananias to go to Saul, “for I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of My Name” (Ac 9:15-16)?

Tibéhirine Martyrs Beatified         "Of Gods and Men" is a 2010 French Film (with English subtitles), which (as the DVD cover says) is "loosely based on the life of the Cistercian [Trappist] monks of Tibéhirine in Algeria from 1993 until their kidnapping in 1996." As Islamist extremists arise and killings begin in the area, the monks and villagers all are in fear. The monks, being French and therefore foreigners, are particularly vulnerable. The moral question they face, individually and as a community, is whether to go or to stay. There is no right answer. It is a good versus good dilemma.