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.
At the East of the Garden of Eden God Placed the Cherubim, and a Flaming Sword To Guard the Way
Part III in a Series by Pseudo-Ermatinger
The space shuttle Challenger lifts off from the Complex 39A launch pad, National Archives, 1983.
The soul’s journey towards the divine may travel outward from herself, might propel herself outward and upward under her own power, her own ingenuity, her own vainglory. To be sure, the powers of man, of body, mind, and will are vast, multifaceted, and capable of circumscribing and bending the material order to his will. Man’s gaze is outwards towards the horizons, knowing that the Earth, though it be where he sojourns, be not his home. Like Icarus of old, man seeks to fly upward […]
Spiritual Retreats Need Piety and Modesty
Originally Published at TAN Direction
A charitable young man, a former parishioner of mine, heard that I was stuck in quarantine. He texted me, indicating that he had just finished a weekend retreat, was in the neighborhood, and could drop off some victuals for his reclusive ex-pastor.
Not only was I moved by his kindness, I wanted to know more about his retreat. He was respectfully silent for a moment, and then thoughtfully said :
“There were good elements in the retreat, but disconcerting things, as well. We were told to sit in circles and share our woundedness, manifest our vulnerability. More than once, the soliloquies ended up blaming one’s father for his weakness […]
St. Augustine, May I Pray With Just My Speech?
Question 005
So prayer is more than words?
Let the “inner man” in whom Christ dwells by faith (Eph. 3:17) cry out to the Lord, not with the noise of lips alone, but with the affection of the heart…Unless you cry out to the Lord with your thought, the Lord does not hear you.
from St. Augustine Answers 101 Questions on Prayer by Fr. Ermatinger.
Man’s exterior actions must be in harmony with his interior acts; if it is not, there is disorder present. When a man prays to the Lord, it is right that he prays with his exterior voice; […]
St. Augustine, What Else Might Help Me in Prayer?
Question 004
What else will help me along the way in the life of prayer?
Fasting and abstinence from satisfying sensual pleasure..along with almsgiving…. How can God, intangible Spirit, be touched by hands by any other way than by good works?”
from St. Augustine Answers 101 Questions on Prayer by Fr. Ermatinger.
As has been discussed (Question 2), the work of prayer is the gradual letting go of the goods that one personally prefers and instead desiring to receive those things which God deems good, according to His pleasure. Fasting and abstinence help one for in those activities one sets aside those truly good things of […]