Skip to main content
Soul of Christ, sanctify me. Body of Christ, save me. Blood of Christ, inebriate me. Water from the side of Christ, wash me. Many of you will remember that this is the opening lines from the prayer by St. Ignatius of Loyola called Soul of Christ. It is a very intimate prayer that indicates a close, loving relationship with Jesus Christ. So how did Ignatius move from his life of materialism and debauchery to a life dedicated so fully to God? His life before his conversion could best be described as lukewarm or perhaps even cold towards his spiritual development. St. Ignatius even had a police record for some of his antics. But by reading about the lives of the saints and the Bible itself, Ignatius became one of the Lord's most fervent supporters. As an American Catholic, I know how hard it is to adhere to the life that Christ requires. We are so ingrained with thoughts of becoming rich and famous. Television makes "stars" out of folks who have no discernible talent other than they will allow the cameras to roll in their "homes." while they "live." Can you even keep track of the award shows Hollywood now has? How many times are they going to pat themselves on the back for memorizing lines and looking pretty? Not judging, just observing. Revelation 3:16 says, "So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth." What a sobering thought. That by being bland and boring when it comes to our relationship with the Lord, we will be spit out of His mouth. It is not a pretty image. But He does offer a solution in Revelation 3:18-19, "I advise you to buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich, and white garments to put on so that your shameful nakedness may not be exposed, and buy ointment to smear on your eyes so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and chastise. Be earnest, therefore, and repent." This gold is not the kind you put on your finger or wear around your neck. This is the gold of Heaven that will last forever. It is purchased by falling in love with God. It is kept by making God the number one relationship in your life. You can have these riches from God by being in relationship with Him. I don't know about you but I do not want God to spit me out. I want the white garment of salvation. I am praying that we each develop a deeper, constant love affair with our God.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Praying With The Five Wounds Of Jesus

I am just beginning to dive into the beautiful, ancient devotion to the Five Wounds of Jesus, and I wanted to share a bit of the journey with you. It can feel a little overwhelming at first to look at the Crucifix this closely, but I’ve found such a gentle guide in St. Bernard of Clairvaux . In his Jubilee Rhythm on the Passion, Bernard doesn't treat the wounds of Jesus as distant historical facts or sights to be avoided. Instead, he approaches them with the tenderness of a friend, speaking directly to the feet, hands, side, and face of our Lord. For someone like me who is just starting out, his rhythm teaches that prayer isn't just about reciting words; it’s a holy hide-and-seek. Bernard invites us to literally hide ourselves within these wounds, seeing them as clefts in the rock where we can find shelter when our own lives feel turbulent or heavy. As I start this process, I’ve been practicing what I call gazing and greeting. Following Bernard’s lead, I look at the Crucifix an...
Post a Comment
Read more

Woman, Behold Your Son

The spiritual climax of the Gospel of John, as Father John Waiss points out, occurs at the foot of the Cross, where Jesus utters his parting words: “Woman, behold, your son!” and “Behold your mother!” (John 19:26-27). While these words were addressed to the Apostle John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, the Church has long understood this moment as a universal adoption. To truly image Christ, we must share in His parentage; if we embrace God as our spiritual Father but reject Mary as our mother, we treat Christ as a half-brother rather than our "firstborn among many brethren" (Rom. 8:29). As Origen noted as early as the third century, the profound depths of the Gospel are only accessible to those who, like John, rest their heads on Jesus’ breast and receive Mary into their own homes. This maternal role is deeply rooted in biblical typology, positioning Mary as the fulfillment of the great mothers of the Old Covenant. She is the New Eve , the mother of all the living according ...
Post a Comment
Read more

From Fisherman to Foremen: Peter’s First Act as Shepherd

In the immediate aftermath of the Ascension, we see a profound transformation in Peter, moving from the impulsive fisherman who once fled in the garden to the courageous shepherd of the early Church. By standing up in the heart of Jerusalem to deliver his first great "sermon" at Pentecost, Peter is not merely offering an inspired speech; he is stepping into the primordial role of the Papacy. He was specifically commissioned by Christ on the shores of Galilee to "feed my sheep," and here we see that nourishment take the form of the Word. He takes control of a frightened and confused community, providing the definitive interpretation of the Resurrection and anchoring the fledgling Church in the truth of the Gospel. This moment in the Acts of the Apostles reminds us that the authority of Peter was never about personal power, but about the sacred duty of unity and guidance. By taking the lead in the upper room and before the crowds, Peter demonstrates that the "key...
Post a Comment
Read more