The movement of the human soul, and human society in general, from its fallen chaotic state towards divine order is at the heart of the Blog of Padre Pio Press. Writings, ponderings, and reflections on this movement of the soul are authored by Fr. Cliff Ermatinger and by the occasional Guest Contributor. The articles and recordings are relegated to the following areas:
During the Month of June, Which is Devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus,
Padre Pio Press Invites Its Readership to Join In Saying:
in the morning The Litany of Humility
The Litany of the Sacred Heart at night 
In Reparation for All the Ways He is Blasphemined,
Consolation for All The Times He is Ignored,
and Veneration for All that He Continues to Give to Us.
During the Month of June, Which is
Devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus,
Padre Pio Press Invites Its Readership to Join In Saying:
in the morning
The Litany of Humility
:
and at night,
The Litany of the Sacred Heart
In Reparation for
All the Ways He is Blasphemed,
Consolation for All the Times
He is Ignored,
and Veneration for All that
He Continues to Give to Us.
St. Augustine, Is There Anything We Can Do On Our Own?
Question 024.
Do we really have to pray for God’s grace? Can’t we make it on our own?
Give to me what you command of me, and demand of me whatever you want… When the Lord tells us “convert to me and I will convert to you”, what else is he saying than: ‘do what I command you’? And when we say to the Lord: ‘turn to us, Lord, and we will turn to you,’ what else are we saying than: ‘give us what we need to accomplish what you command’? (for) the law was therefore given, in order that grace might be sought [through prayer]
St. Augustine, What is the Synergism between Prayer and Grace?
Question 023.
What is more important, prayer or grace?
God has desired that in spiritual combat we might fight with prayers than with our own strength… God does not command the impossible, but when he commands, he orders you to do what you can and to ask for what you cannot do on your own in order that he help you to do what you cannot accomplish on your own… Join yourself to the eternity of God, and together with him wait for those things which are beneath you. Because when your heart cleaves to God, all mortal things are beneath you. God gives help so that the command becomes possible… He […]
Palm Sunday — Homily by Fr. Ermatinger
Audio
Christ Enters Jerusalem, Coptic Icon, Modern
Transcription of Homily
All of Matthew’s Gospel, up until this point of the entry, on a donkey, into Jerusalem, has been something of a didactic preparation/explanation of the Kingdom of Christ. And from Chapter 21, through the rest, all of this Gospel takes place in Jerusalem. And now it transforms itself; it becomes a sacramental presentation of the Kingdom of Christ. And so there’s this transformation that happens when Christ enters Jerusalem on a donkey.
And how does this happen? He sends two of His Apostles to go collect the donkey and a colt, and He tells them where they’re going to […]
St. Augustine, How Should the Converted Live Their Lives?
Question 022.
What is the relationship between prayer and conversion?
Part V: Counsels for the Converted
For living among things human, we cannot withdraw from things human. We must live among evil men with forbearance, because when we used to be evil men, the good men lived with forbearance among us. If we do not forget what we have been, we will not despair of those who are not what we once were.
from St. Augustine Answers 101 Questions on Prayer by Fr. Ermatinger.
All men are called to undertake the journey to God; none are not called. They do not, however, all undertake the journey at the same […]
