Even when the evil angels turn their strength against us, says St. Augustine, they’re actually weapons in our struggle against Satan. If we don’t despair when we run into trouble, then Satan loses, and we’re made stronger by the struggle. You have made me the reproach of the foolish. You have so willed it, that I should live among those, and preach the Truth among those, who love vanity; and I can’t help being laughingstock to them. For “we have become... Read more
God uses the evil angels as his instruments for correcting us, says St. Augustine. The purpose of these punishments is to bring us back to the right path, so that we won’t be condemned forever at the last judgment. “God is a just judge, strong and patient: is he angry every day?” (Ps. 7:11). What God is judge, but the Lord, who judges the people? He is just; “he will repay every man for what he has done” (Matt. 16:27). He... Read more
The devil wills evil, says St. Augustine, but God’s will is always done even through the wickedness of the devil. Nevertheless, Satan will be rightfully pun- ished, because his will was, and is, to hurt us. Even the power of those who are hurtful is from God alone. For it is not unrighteous that, when the wicked receive the power of being hurtful, both the patience of the good should be tested and the iniquity of the evil punished. Through... Read more
If you have never heard the name Dietrich von Hildebrand or had the opportunity to read one of his books, you are missing out on the thought of one of the leading Catholic philosophers of the 20th century. You also may not realize than he was one of the first in Germany to challenge Hitler and his concept of National Socialism that eventually morphed into Nazism. That topic was covered extensively in the book My Battle Against Hitler: Faith, Truth,... Read more
God’s plan is so well thought out that even the sinful free will of Satan and the wicked angels could not go against it. In fact, says St. Augustine, God contrives to use their sin, and ours, to bring about his will. These are the great “works of the Lord: sought out according to all his wills” (Ps. 111:2). In fact, they are so wisely “sought out” that, when his angelic and human creation sinned—that is, did not do what he... Read more
Satan tempted Christ by promising to give him all the kingdoms of the world. But those are not his to give, says St. Cyril of Alexandria. All the kingdoms of the world already belong to Christ, and any power Satan has is his only by fraud. “And the devil took him up, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time” (Luke 4:5). Malignant, wicked, and cursed being! How did you dare show the Lord all... Read more
This week we have an awesome TWO title giveaway! One lucky winner will receive a copy of Praying the Rosary for Spiritual Warfare by Father Dwight Longenecker, sponsored by Our Sunday Visitor (you can read my review here) and one copy of Sacred Reading: The 2017 Guide to Daily Prayer by Douglas Leonard, the Executive Director of Apostleship of Prayer (you can read Julie’s review here). I use Rafflecopter to run my giveaways which makes it simple for you and me! Enter below.... Read more
Why does the Psalmist ask God to “arise in your anger”? St. Augustine suggests that this is actually a prayer of charity. The “anger” of the Lord should punish the devil by taking the souls of sinners away from him and bringing them back to God. “Arise, O Lord, in your anger” (Ps. 7:6). We say he is perfect. Then why does he incite God to anger? Shouldn’t we ask instead whether he was perfect who, when he was being... Read more
Many of us may have a sense of something not being quite right with the world today. We see news reports filled daily with acts of violence, terrorism, crime, political corruption, and attacks on human life at nearly all stages. To put it simply we are at war and the war we are engaged in is on the spiritual level. Father Dwight Longenecker recognizes this and arms the faithful with a weapon to go into battle with. That weapon is... Read more
Meditating on the first appearance of Satan in Job, St. Gregory the Great looks at the setting: “there was a day.” Why does Scripture specify a certain day? St. Gregory offers one symbolic interpretation. Or, considering that Satan was there as well, was Holy Scripture intend- ing to point out, by saying that this happened on a certain day, that in the light God saw the darkness? We cannot take in light and darkness in the same view. When the eye looms... Read more
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