There is an amazing, awesome place called Castel Gandolfo. It has nothing to do with the Lord of the Rings, or the White Wizard. Castel Gandolfo is the Pope’s summer home. The Pope usually goes to this beautiful villa when it’s crazy, crazy, hot in Rome. When you are walking up to this beautiful villa, you will see an amazing image of our Lady. And this image of our Lady, underneath it says, in Latin means, “My heart is vigilant.”
In the Gospel for this Sunday, Christ is calling us to always be vigilant. And so Mary is the perfect example of being vigilant. Just having her heart always pondering the Lord and thinking about Christ. My invite this Sunday is to be like Mary, who is always pondering everything about her Son in her heart. Do we do that? Reject anything that is not from Christ. Be like Mary.
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Eight Words To Reject Satan
Eight simple words can change everything: “In the name of Jesus, I reject temptation.”
In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus confronts temptation directly, and rejects it with clarity and authority. We’re invited to do the same. Whether it’s lust, gossip, pride, anger, or any other struggle, we don’t fight alone. We dare to use His name.
As Pope Benedict XVI taught, Christianity isn’t just an idea, it’s an encounter with a Person. And nothing is more personal than calling on His name. This Lent, make it simple. Use the name of Jesus and reject whatever pulls you away from Him.
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The Best Institution
St. John Paul II once said that the greatest institution that has ever existed and ever will exist is the family. Greater than any corporation, league, or system we can imagine. On the Feast of the Holy Family, we’re reminded that Jesus, Mary, and Joseph placed their family life entirely in God’s hands and that trust led them into the greatest adventure of all. Their home wasn’t perfect or easy, but it was rooted in surrender. No matter how messy, broken, or complicated our own families may feel, we’re called to do the same. If we want to change the world, it has to begin with healing and holiness, in our families.
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Something That Lasts
I recently took my college kids on a pilgrimage to Orvieto, Italy. Orvieto is the home to a Eucharistic Miracle, and I could talk about the Eucharistic Miracle all day. What is so crazy is that St. Thomas Aquinas lived during the time of this Eucharistic Miracle. St. Thomas Aquinas fell so deeply in love with Jesus and the Eucharist that he wrote “The Tantum Ergo.” “The Tantum Ergo” is sung every day around the world…
