Too often we complain to God, we doubt God, or even think He is cruel. Our error lies in interpreting God based on our experience and understanding. Instead, the foundation must be the Blessed Trinity. All the mysteries of our faith flow from and lead us to that Ultimate Reality. God’s was are incomprehensible to us. We must trust and make continual acts of faith in His infinite wisdom and goodness. In hindsight, I see how great blessings have come from my trials and sorrows. This is true for everyone who remains faithful.

Holy Mother Church teaches us perseverance; not so much in words, but more so in her prayers, her sacraments, her disciplines, and her saints. The Catholic life, including every vocation, requires perseverance. If you pray with a sincere and pure heart – and persevere – you will receive. A great failure by many is they simply don’t persevere or their prayers are imbued with a worldly spirit. So pray with ever greater devotion and an ever purer heart. May Our Lady be our model and great intercessor.

Holy Mother Church teaches us perseverance; not so much in words, but more so in her prayers, her sacraments, her disciplines, and her saints. The Catholic life, including every vocation, requires perseverance. If you pray with a sincere and pure heart – and persevere – you will receive. A great failure by many is they simply don’t persevere or their prayers are imbued with a worldly spirit. So pray with ever greater devotion and an ever purer heart.

Devotion to Mary is necessary for salvation! In giving us the Incarnate Word, Our Lady has obtained all the graces we need and she continually pours them out upon us. So have an ever greater union with the most Holy Virgin and depend more on her intercession and assistance! Here are five saintly examples to help inspire you: [1] St John Damascene, [2] St Ignatius Loyola, {3] St. Philip Neri, [4] Bl. Elizabeth Picenardi of Mantua, and [4] Four year old St. John Marie Vianney. Consider ten simple ways to practice devotion to Our Lady

The world speaks endlessly about love but knows not how to love. This we must learn from Christ on the cross. His Easter message calls us reflect upon and contemplate His glorious wounds. The waters of salvation flow eternally from His open side (vidi aquam). Familiarize yourself with the private relations of Sister Marie-Martha Chambon (+1907) concerning devotion to Christ’s Holy Wounds (these include a Rosary, a Chapel, and beautiful promises). How unfathomable that to offer to the Father the Sacred Wounds of Christ is to offer to God adequate honor and glory!

The vast majority of men live as if there is neither hell nor Heaven; as if God will not judge us. Perhaps we believe these truths, but don’t reflect upon them. Man takes all possible care for worldly affairs, but attends not to the salvation of his soul. Impress upon yourself three great truths. [1] Few shall be saved. [2] The salvation of your soul is the most important of all affairs. [3] You have to work hard to save your soul. Judge the value of all things from the vantage point of your soul’s eternity. Do not follow the great majority of mankind. Never relax your efforts, by day nor night. Faithfully strive in the Lord’s vineyard and always labor more.

Time belongs to God. It is not ours to do with as we wish. Time is meant to be used in the service of God and to save our immortal soul. We need much conversion with regards to how we think about time. This is why the Church gives us the Liturgical Year. Every day is focussed upon one of its three great cycles. Do you best to live according to the liturgical year. The better you do this, the more you draw upon the graces you need for salvation. As brief examples, consider how you view and live Septuagesima and Lent.

Consider the Twelve Mysteries of Christ’s Infancy and Childhood. The Holy Family suffers much and endures many trials. Why? Because they are obedient to God’s holy will. So how should we respond to these Mysteries? With obedience. What of those who are fearful and have heard this ‘virus-crisis’ excuses them from Sunday Mass? Meditate upon the connection between Christ’s Presentation in the Temple, His Sacrifice on Calvary, and the Mass. Imitate Our Lady.

Devotion to the Child Jesus means devotion to the Mystery of the Incarnation. Meditate on the mysteries of His sacred Infancy to grow in love for Him. These mysteries highlight His humility, poverty, obedience and love. In particular, consider that He purposefully chose each of these events to begin His saving mission on earth. To love Him you must strive to imitate Him. For example, every one of us can be more detached from the world; by this we imitate His poverty.

How are we to respond to Epiphany – to this great manifestation of Jesus’ divinity? We must [1] believe, [2] adore and [3] obey. This is the example of Mary and Joseph, the angels, the shepherds and the Three Kings. Obedience is first given to God. The star represents Faith, the light that comes from God. Then obedience is given to the human authorities God places on earth. This priority must be respected. Human authority can be abused; yet the virtue of obedience exists to conform our will to God’s holy will.