The movement of the human soul, and human society in general, from its fallen chaotic state towards divine order is at the heart of the Blog of Padre Pio Press. Writings, ponderings, and reflections on this movement of the soul are authored by Fr. Cliff Ermatinger and by the occasional Guest Contributor. The articles and recordings are relegated to the following areas:
Throughout the Month of May,
Padre Pio Press Cordially Invites Its Readership to Join In Saying:
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Ritual of Baptism
Jesus Christ is Head of the Mystical Body and His Body is the Church. The rites and rituals of the Catholic Church are the rites and rituals of Jesus Christ himself. St. Thomas Aquinas tells us: “The whole rite of the Christian cult is derived from Christ’s priesthood” (S. Th.III, Q. 63, a. 3). The Church also teaches us: “Thenceforth the priesthood of Jesus Christ is a living and continuous reality through all the ages to the end of time, since the liturgy is nothing more nor less than the exercise of this priestly function” (Mediator Dei, 93).
The […]
How to Advance in Holiness: Lectio Divina
Originally Published for TAN Direction
How do we advance in holiness? This not an impractical question. The Church teaches us that we have three necessary means of salvation and, those same, according to degree, attain holiness: sacramental grace, prayer, and virtue. All three pistons have to be running in unison for the motor of the spiritual organism to advance.
By grace we:
- are elevated by God to participate in His nature (cfr. II Pet 1:4);
- made pleasing to Him (gratia gratum faciens)
- begin to enjoy a foretaste of heaven (gratia inchoatio vitae aeternae);
- and are put in an objective state of friendship with God (cfr. Jn 15:14);
Virtue orders our relations with God, others, and self;
And through prayer our relationship with God is solidified and deepened.
Laying the […]
Battle Ready: No Mental Prayer, No Holiness
Originally Published at TAN Direction
“Nonne militia est vita hominis super terram, et sicut dies mercennarii dies eius?”
—Job 7:1, Vulgate
The book of Job asks, “Is not the life of man on earth warfare, and are not his days like that of a hireling?” He seems to think that the answer is obvious, since the question is less a question than an affirmation of an undeniable fact; hence the enclitic particle -ne on the word non. Such a construction says, more or less, “Isn’t it so that . . . ?”
As undeniable as this may have been to Job, we worldlings run into some problems:
- Not all of us recognize the present warfare.
- Many do not know who the enemy is.
- And those of us who do […]
An Exorcist Goes to the Movies
What better way to inaugurate a blog than to have a guest writer? Per his request, he shall remain anonymous.
Coming home from the office after a hard day’s work presents several possible scenarios for the today’s modern exorcist (henceforth known as TME):
Tune up the cello and saw off an homage to Johann Sebastian B.;
Uncase the ukulele and sing a verse of “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary” as his faithful hound humors him with an adoring gaze. By the way, TME and FH have an understanding: TME knows that his dog knows the playing is quite pedestrian and both know that the adoring gazes last as long as the food and water bowls are […]