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 : [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Listen, While I Tell Again the Story of the Lord’s Mercies, What Renown the Lord has Won
Part II in a Series by Pseudo-Ermatinger Bergidyll Hans Dahl (ca. 1900) The little of our Heavenly Father that we see in this world below is enough to cry out to Him Glory! -- at least it should be. Creation cries out to Him unceasingly, praising Him for the sundry multitude and pluralform of its many and varied existences (cfr. Ps 19:1-4; Dan 3:52-90). We, who are a part of creation, far off from God [...]