Don’t blame the world for your failings No temptation is irresistible, says Origen. No matter what the allurement, your will can resist it—if you strengthen it by exercising virtue. If anyone says that the outward world is made in such a way that one cannot resist it, let him study his own feelings and movements, and see whether there are not some plausible motives to account for his approval and assent, and the inclination of his reason to a particular... Read more
Set one vice against another St. John Cassian shares the wise advice of Abbot Serapion in Egypt: sometimes you can make use of one of your vices to combat a worse one. If you’re vain, think how much people will admire you for overcoming lust! But in one matter we find vanity to be a useful thing for beginners—by which I mean those who are still troubled by carnal sins. If (for example) they are troubled by the spirit of... Read more
This week publisher Ignatius Press sponsors the giveaway. One lucky winner will receive a copy of The Smile of a Ragpicker: The Life of Satoko Kitahara (you can read guest reviewer Maura Zagrans’ review of the book here). I use Rafflecopter to run my giveaways which makes it simple for you and me! Enter below. The contest starts at midnight tonight EST and will end 12AM EST 5/22 with a winner being announced later that day. a Rafflecopter giveaway Read more
No matter how strong your defenses against the worst vices, says St. John Cassian, opening the gate for one lets them all in. It is impossible that the fiery motions of the body can be extinguished before the incentives of the other chief vices are utterly rooted out. For you will never feel sure that someone can strive against the opposition of a stronger enemy, if you have seen him overcome by weaker ones in a higher conflict. The nature... Read more
Today my friend and author Maura Zagrans returns to The Catholic Book Blogger to lend a hand as guest reviewer. She reviews two great books by Father Paul Glynn. Take it away Maura! Love Songs and Love Letters to Mary May is the perfect month to read books highlighting miraculous blessings that often flow from heartfelt devotion to the Blessed Mother. Two such books are A Song for Nagasaki: The Story of Takashi Nagai (Ignatius Press, 2009)and The Smile of a... Read more
Envy is listed among the deadly sins for a good reason. As St. Cyprian tells us, envy just keeps gnawing at us unless we get rid of it. There will always be people who have more than we have; we need to learn to rejoice with them rather than envy them. The way we do that is by turning to Christ. What a gnawing worm of the soul it is—to envy someone for his virtue or for his happiness; to... Read more
Commodianus tells us that all our wars and fights come from our evil desires. If we want a glorious victory, we should overcome our passions. You wish to wage war, you fool, as if war were peace. From the beginning of the day to the end, you fight. Lust gets you started, and there is war. Fight your lust. Luxury persuades you. Forget about it, and you win the war. Do not drink too much wine, so that it will... Read more
St. Jerome was known for his hot temper and for some reason—we don’t know why—had not been on speaking terms with his own aunt for a long time. Here he writes her a letter begging for a reconciliation, remembering that he will be judged if he cannot forgive his old grudges. The Apostle and evangelist John rightly says that “any one who hates his brother is a murderer” (1 John 3:15). For since hate often leads to murder, the one... Read more
Welcome back to “The Clergy Speaks”, a recurring feature here at The Catholic Book Blogger. “The Clergy Speaks” is a column focusing on one question I have asked various members of the clergy. That question is: What five books would you recommend as must-reads for Catholics today? I left the responses open to current or classic books with the only restriction being that the Bible and the Catechism could not be used as they are a given. This week we... Read more
Don’t rejoice when your enemies fall When someone who hates you is in trouble, says St. Ephrem the Syrian, you should be in pain and mourning. Otherwise you fall into secret sin—and there will come a time when all secret sins are laid bare. You must not slander anyone, or that person may call you “Satan.” Do you hate the name? Then do not go near the act. But if you love the act, do not be angry at the... Read more
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