Category Archives: Catholicism

Father Faber remarks: “Graces from God, kindnesses from men; we seem to have stood all our lives under the beneficent drippings of these beneficent showers. . . . Kindness has again and again done the preliminary work for grace in … Continue reading →

Father Faber remarks: “There is always one bright thought in our minds when all the rest is dark. There is one thought out of which a moderately cheerful man can always make some satisfactory sunshine, if not a sufficiency of … Continue reading →

St. Alphonsus de Liguori, founder of the Redemptorists and Doctor of the Church, has this to say about mental prayer: “Prayer is absolutely necessary for our salvation, and mental prayer is necessary to pray well. Without mental prayer we can … Continue reading →

Father Girardey further explains why mental prayer is necessary to live a virtuous life. “In order to know ourselves, we have also to know our relation, our duties towards God and what is required to fulfil them. . . . … Continue reading →

Father Girardey continues his discussion of mental prayer, demonstrating how it promotes the sort of moral introspection that is vital to living a virtuous life. “St. Augustine was wont to pray: ‘Lord, grant that I may know myself, that I … Continue reading →

Father Girardey observes: “A general experience proves that many vocal prayers do not bring much, if any, profit to our souls, and this for several reasons. To pray well, and therefore profitably and efficaciously, we must pray not only with … Continue reading →

Father Girardey distinguishes vocal prayer from mental prayer as follows: “By vocal prayer is meant any prayer we recite with our lips, and this is usually done according to some special formula. . . . Mental prayer is prayer made … Continue reading →