The Camp Logo

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This engraving is from the front endpaper of a very old copy of Father Frederick Faber's Foot of the Cross. With a little altering of the words circling Jesus and Mary we thought it a nice engraving for the Camp at Littlemore.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, we give you our hearts and our souls.  

 

Bishop Barron's Sunday Sermon

Friends, the readings for today are really magnificent, and they are all about something central to the spiritual life—namely, fear. Years ago, I was on a retreat, and the retreat director said that there are two basic questions always to ask. First; Deep down, what do you want? Second: Ultimately, what are you afraid of? In a way, answering those two questions will tell you everything you need to know about yourself, spiritually speaking.

Mass Readings

• Reading 1 – Jer 20:10-13
• Psalm – Ps 69:8-10, 14, 17, 33-35
• Reading 2 – Rom 5:12-15
• Gospel – Mt 10:26-33

Discover more sermons from Bishop Barron here.

Translators Foreword

Easy Index

 

St. Alphonsus, in telling us what prayer is, takes his definition from St. Thomas Aquinas: "Prayer is the raising up of the mind to God." Actually all his teaching in this book is based on the teaching of the Fathers of the Church, but particularly on the teaching of the great St. Thomas, the Master of the Schools. These Doctors and Fathers are quoted extensively throughout the work.

We are told by the Masters of the Spiritual Life that prayer has four ends, namely: To give God honor and glory; to thank Him for His benefits, to make atonement for our sins; and to ask Him for His benefits. So the ends of prayer are: loving adoration, thanksgiving, atonement, and petition.

Now, because petition comes last in this order, there are some who have the idea that petition is not quite so elevated, and really less perfect than the other forms of prayer. In a word, they think that there is something selfish about asking God for favors, instead of giving him glory and telling Him how we love Him. This idea is not only incorrect, but it could result in grave damage to our love of God and our spiritual progress.

The truth is that Petition in itself is neither good nor evil. It takes its nature and its value from its object. Thus if you ask for something that is neither good nor evil, your petition itself is indifferent; but if you ask for something good, e.g., the love of God, your petition itself is an act of virtue. The Our Father,  the most perfect prayer ever uttered, is throughout, a Prayer of Petition. If you go carefully through the Missal, you will find that there is not a single prayer in the Mass that does not ask God for something.

St. Alphonsus points out (he does this especially when speaking of our hope of heaven) that there is a vast difference between asking favors of men and asking favors of God. In asking favors of men we are asking them for their goods, and this can indeed arise from a selfish motive. But in asking favors from God if our prayer has the qualities it should have) we are asking Him for Himself, and the possession of God is the whole object and end of our existence.

Method of Mental Prayer

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I. Preparation

A recollected life and regular Spiritual Reading are the best remote preparation.

For the immediate preparation, make three short but fervent acts:

(1.) An Act of Adoration of God present to the soul.

Example: O my God, I believe Thou art really here present; I bow down in body and soul to adore Thee. Thou art so good, I am so sinful; Thou art so great, I am only nothingness; etc.

(2.) An act of Sorrow for Sin.

Example: O my God, I am heartily sorry for all my sins of thought, word, deed, and omission, and by the help of Thy holy grace I will never sin again.

(3.) A Petition of Light and Strength.

Example: O my God, give me light to see Thy holy Will, give me grace to do Thy Will. O Wisdom of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, direct me in all my ways. O Love of the Sacred Heart, consume me in Thy fire.

Add Hail Mary to the Blessed Virgin and an ejaculation to St. Joseph, your Patron Saints and Angel Guardian.

II. Body of Prayer

To help your mind, read a text of Scripture or a short Meditation out of a book. St. Teresa read a book in her Meditations for seventeen years.

Meditate for a few minutes on any thought that has struck you; that is, think for a short time on what it means, what lessons it teaches you, and ask yourself: What have I done about this hitherto? What shall I now do? But remember, you think only in order that you may pray.

The great benefit of Mental Prayer consists less in meditation or thinking that in acts, prayers and resolutions, which are the fruits of Meditation. The thinking is the needle which draws after it the golden thread of acts, prayers and resolutions. The thread is more important than the needle. The chief part of the time of Mediation should, then, be spent in making:

1. Acts and Affections:

The word Act will suggest the most important. A stands for Adoration, C for Contrition, T for Thanksgiving and Love. Love is the golden chain binding us to God. St. Thomas says: Every act of Love merits eternal life." One act of Contrition, hating sin for the Love of God,  obtains pardon for sin. Make many acts of love and sorrow.

2. Prayers of Petition:

In Mental Prayer it is extremely useful, and perhaps better than all else, to make many earnest petitions for the graces you want. Always ask for (a) the Perfect Forgiveness of all past sin; (b) Perfect Love of God; (c) the grace of a Holy Death." In the beginning," said Father Paul Segneri, S.J., "I used to employ the time of Meditation in reflections and affections, but God opened my eyes, and then I gave myself to petitions, and if I have any good in me, it comes from that practice."

3. Resolutions:

The progress of a soul," says St. Teresa, "does not consist in thinking much of God, but in loving Him, and this love is gained by resolving to do much for Him." Make one practical resolution that you can, and mean to keep that day.

III. Conclusion

Three short fervent acts―

(1) Thank God for the light He has given you; (2) Renew your resolution to abstain from some fault or to do some good thing that day; (3) Ask the Eternal Father, for the love of Jesus and Mary, to help you to keep it.

The acts and prayers of petition should occupy the most of the time of Medition. Thus in a half-hour's Meditation, give three minutes to the Preparation: think for five minutes, and then pray.

St. Alphonsus' advice to a saintly Religious who found it hard to make her meditation. He writes―"First read a little then make a determined number of acts and prayers. For example―fifty acts of love; fifty offerings of yourself; fifty prayers to obtain perfect love and holy conformity to the will of God. It matters little whether you perform these acts with sensible devotion or not. Address acts of love and prayers to the Blessed Virgin. 

Dedication to Jesus and to Mary

Easy Index

 

O Eternal Word, you have shed your blood and laid down your life in order to give to our Petitions (according to your promise) the great power of obtaining as much as we ask; whilst we, O my God, are so careless of our salvation that we do no even wish to ask for graces that we need to be saved! The key to all our divine treasures you have handed over to us, with this means of Petition; whilst we, by refusing to ask, make the choice of remaining in our own misery! Then, O Lord, pour your light upon us and make us understand what power our Petitions have when they are made in your name and through your merits in the presence of your Eternal Father. 

     

It is to you that I dedicate this little book of mine, begging you to bless it. Bring it about that all those into whose hands it may come will be stimulated to constant Petition, and that they may use their influence to spur on others that they also may take advantage of this great means for their salvation.

     

Mary, Great Mother of God, to you also I recommend this little work of mine. Give it your protection, while at the same time obtaining this spirit of Petition for all those who shall read it, that they may seek aid from your Son and from you always and in their every need. For you are the dispenser of graces, and you are the Mother of Mercy; you do not know how to leave disconsolate anybody who goes to you for help. But on the contrary you are that powerful Virgin who obtains from God whatsoever your children ask.

To Jesus Christ―the Eternal Word.

Beloved of the Eternal Father.

Blessed One of God,

Author of Life,

King of Glory, 

Saviour of the World,―Alphonsus, a sinner, dedicates this work

Bishop Barron's Sunday Sermon

 

Friends, as we resume Ordinary Time, I want to talk to you about vocations—specifically, vocations to the priesthood. Our Gospel for today from Matthew shows us the call of the priest: to be a shepherd of lost sheep, a warrior against unclean spirits, and a healer of sin-sick souls—one that teaches and preaches and proclaims the kingdom of God. This summons from Christ has been the greatest joy in my life. If you are feeling the call, don’t ignore it; follow it.

Mass Readings

• Reading 1 – Ex 19:2-6a
• Psalm – Ps 100:1-2, 3, 5
• Reading 2 – Romans 5:6-11
• Gospel – Matthew 9:36—10:8

Discover more sermons from Bishop Barron here. 

Bishop Barron's Sunday Sermon

Friends, we come now to the marvelous Feast of Corpus Christi, of the Body and Blood of Christ. What has been on my mind a lot recently is the famous story of the feeding of the five thousand—the only miracle, with the exception of the Resurrection, recounted in all four Gospels. Jesus multiplying the loaves and fishes to the feeding of this great crowd must have made a massive impression on the first Christians. With this feast in mind, let’s look at the earliest version of this story in the Gospel of Mark, because every part of it is worthy of meditation.

Mass Readings

Reading 1 – Dt 8:2-3, 14b-16a
Psalm – Ps 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20
Reading 2 – 1 Cor 10:16-17
Gospel – Jn 6:51-58

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Bishop Barron's Sunday Sermon - Trinity Sunday

Friends, today we come to Trinity Sunday, which has been called “the preacher’s nightmare.” But as you probably know from previous sermons of mine, I don’t agree with that at all. I think every Sunday is Trinity Sunday. The Trinity names what is most fundamental and basic in our whole theology and spirituality, and we should rejoice in talking about it! Today, let’s look at the Trinity through three lenses: the words of Scripture, an analogy from St. Augustine, and the viscerally real “so what” of salvation.

Mass Readings

Reading 1 – Ex 34:4b-6, 8-9
Psalm – Dn 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56
Reading 2 – 2 Cor 13:11-13
Gospel – Jn 3:16-18

Discover more sermons from Bishop Barron here.