The Long Dark Night of Mother Teresa

Saints have told of their spiritual torments and feelings of abandonment by God. In the sixteenth century, St. John of the Cross described the experience as “the dark night of the soul.” But we would be hard-pressed to find another saint who suffered a darkness so thick or a night so long as Mother Teresa suffered. John of the Cross and others wrote poems and spiritual canticles to describe their... Read More

Why Human Suffering?

Theology of Divine Mercy, Conversion, and Human Suffering   One of the beautiful things about the Catholic Church is its willingness to ask tough questions in pursuit of the truth. Popes, theologians, and saints have never been afraid to ask the hard questions about human suffering. The tradition of the Church is full of people pursuing answers to the hardest questions about the meaning of life,... Read More

Avoiding Bitterness in Suffering

Description: When faced with tragedy, loss, failure, illness, or any difficulty in life, how can we learn to suffer well? Author Dr. Ronda Chervin uses the lives of the saints to help us cope with suffering in her book Avoiding Bitterness in Suffering: How Our Heroes in Faith Found Peace Amid Sorrow. Topics/Questions covered in the show: What was the motivation for this book? How did the saints... Read More

How Your Suffering Can Help Make the World a Better, Kinder Place

How Your Suffering can Make the World a Better, Kinder Place   Beautiful Mercy (Week 4 of 5) Nothing makes us more effective ministers of comfort than having suffered ourselves. Not one of your tears of pain will be wasted if you allow them to be redeemed in the life of another. God can use every ounce of what you have been through to make this world a better, kinder place. “Beautiful... Read More

Fighting for Marriage – St Teresa of Calcutta’s Wisdom on Prayer

Fighting for Marriage St Teresa of Calcutta's Wisdom on Prayer   One of the ways Mother Teresa of Calcutta fought poverty was that she taught families to pray together. Typically, she would teach the Rosary. Getting parents to pray with each other and their children gave people hope where there seemed to be none and it helped married couples find love when love seemed most absent. Ironically,... Read More

St. Teresa of Calcutta Canonization – Saint of Mercy

Saint Teresa of Calcutta – Canonization Saint of Mercy   Saint Teresa of Calcutta – it has a nice ring to it, doesn't it? Today, the Church officially canonizes she who was revered as the “Saint of the Gutters” during her lifetime. This world admires her for what it sees as her social work and humanitarianism and for her selfless charity. But, she could not do anything... Read More

Living God’s Mercy – Mercy Mission (Part III of III)

Living God's Mercy Mercy Mission (Part III of III) Today, we bring you part III of the “Mercy Mission” which Father Michael Najim preached just prior to Holy Week.  In part one, he spoke of understanding God's mercy. Part two dealt with experiencing God's mercy.  And today, Father will focus on living God's mercy and giving it to others. Part three of this “Mercy Mission”... Read More

Aridity and Dryness in Prayer Series

A comprehensive listing of spiritual direction posts on this site regarding dryness in prayer, or aridity, and the difficulties this can cause with one's prayer life. Some posts on the dark night which touch on dryness or aridity, are included as well.  Click on the titles of the post to access them. Adoration, Silence and the Lamp of Fire – Part II of II Aridity – Navigating the Interior... Read More

The Rosary Is Our Spiritual Weapon of Mass Destruction Against Satan

“The Rosary Is Our Spiritual Weapon of Mass Destruction Against Satan” I just returned from leading a retreat in Los Alamos, New Mexico. It was organized by those belonging to TOOL, which stands for “Teams of Our Lady”. What an exceptional group of Catholics, who witnessed to me while I witnessed to them. Considering the location, you might say the retreat was radioactive! Now, if you... Read More

How Do We Know God’s Will?

How Do We Know God's Will? Many people after discovering the faith soon realize that it is sometimes difficult to discern God's will in a given situation.  Most people think that knowing God's will is impossible.  After all, He gave us our natural capacity to reason and He has revealed Himself to us – so the rest is up to us.  There is some truth to this, especially at the beginning of the... Read More

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