We trust medical doctors even though they do all sorts of unpleasant things to us, says St. John Chrysostom. Shouldn’t we trust God to heal our sin—even if the remedy is unpleasant? The physician is not to be praised only when he leads the patient into gardens and meadows, or baths and pools of water, or when he sets a well-furnished table before him. He is also to be praised when he orders him not to eat, when he oppresses... Read more
When we say that Christ is “angry” with sinners, says St. Ambrose, we don’t mean that he’s carried away by rage. We mean that he’s doing everything he can to bring us back into his forgiveness. Isn’t it obvious that the Lord Jesus is angry with us when we sin so that He may convert us through fear of his indignation? So his indignation is not revenge, but rather the working of forgiveness, For these are his words: “If you... Read more
When you’ve been wounded in the battle against sin, says Aphrahat the Sage, penitence is the medicine you need. But you can’t be cured if you’re ashamed to go to the doctor. There is a medicine for every disease, and the disease is healed when the skillful physician finds the medicine. For those who have been wounded in our battle, there is the medicine of penitence, and those who rub it on their wounds are healed. Physicians, disciples of our... Read more
The wise abbot Serapion told St. John Cassian that we should attack the enemy first where he’s strongest. The struggle builds up our spiritual strength, and we know that the rest of the struggles will be easier. Discover your most characteristic sin, and direct your main attack against it, turning all your care and watchfulness of mind to guard against its assault. Send against it daily the weapons of fasting, and at all times hurl against it the constant darts... Read more
Richard Hirtreiter is an attorney, author, entrepreneur and businessman. He is a lifelong Catholic and a dedicated advocate for principled business practices based on the application of Catholic Social Doctrine in entrepreneurial enterprise. He writes about a universal Christian approach to problem solving while focusing on the primacy of the human person and family as the underlying purpose of economic development. Richard believes that our work must be inspired by faith with the goal of achieving our greatest profit, an... Read more
St. Clement of Rome tells us to correct one another, and—more important—to accept correction happily. That’s hard to do, but it’s worthwhile, because God uses our brothers and sisters to show us when we’re headed down the wrong path. So let us also pray for those who have fallen into sin. Pray that they may be given meekness and humility, so that they may submit, not to us, but to the will of God. That way they will have a... Read more
There are many ways to repent, says St. John Chrysostom, and they all lead to heaven. Not one of them is too hard for any of us. Would you like me to talk about the ways of repentance? There are many ways, and various, and diverse—and they all lead to heaven. The first way of repentance is condemning your sins. “Declare your sins, that you may be justified” (Isaiah 42:26, Septuagint). So condemn yourself for your sins. That’s a good... Read more
No one was more wicked than Nebuchadnezzar, says St. Cyril of Jerusalem. Yet even he was forgiven when he sincerely repented. God may send us hard times to remind us that we need to repent, but we can be confident that sincere repentance brigs salvation and an eternal place in the Kingdom. What do you think of Nebuchadnezzar? What great punishments he deserved for murdering kings, setting fire to the Temple, taking the people captive, placing the sacred vessels in... Read more
Why do we confess our sins when God knows them already? St. Augustine tells us that we can’t hide our sins from God, but not confessing them will hide God from us. Lord, the depths of a man’s conscience are bare to your eyes. What in me could be hidden from you, even if I were unwilling to confess it to you? By not confessing I would hide you from myself, not myself from you. For when I am wicked,... Read more
Review by Julie Abell Last year I read Costanza Miriano’s book Marry Him and Be Submissive. It is a wonderful book and I recommend every woman read and internalize the message. Now I just finished a book also by Costanza that by the title and the cover would seem to indicate that it is for men, but it is not – Marry Her and Die for Her. This is another “must-read” book. This newer book gives “Radical advice on how... Read more
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