Originally posted at Frassati Reflections. Today’s saint, St. John of the Cross, is known for his writings on the “dark night of the soul.” He was a man of prayer who was intimately close to God; however, he suffered a great deal throughout his life as he attempted to reform the Carmelite order. St. John,… Read More Frassati Reflection: Advent and the Dark Night of the Soul

Originally posted at Frassati Reflections. And out of gloom and darkness, the eyes of the blind shall see. —Isaiah 29:18 Throughout this season of Advent, amid the cold and lingering darkness, we seek out light. We surround ourselves with flickering lights that gleam amidst the night, reminders of hope and beauty even in the darkest… Read More Frassati Reflection: Hope in the Darkness

Originally posted at Frassati Reflections. Today begins the St. Andrew Christmas Novena, also called the Christmas Anticipation Prayer. I first heard about this tradition a few years ago, and it’s a really beautiful prayer: Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin… Read More Frassati Reflection: At Midnight, in Bethlehem, in Piercing Cold

Originally posted at Frassati Reflections. This weekend we will celebrate Christ the King Sunday, and today we honor the feast of Blessed Miguel Pro, who is known for his last words, uttered before a firing squad: “¡Viva Cristo Rey!” (“Long live Christ the King!”). As we reflect on Christ’s role as king within our own… Read More Frassati Reflection: ¡Viva Cristo Rey!

Originally posted at Frassati Reflections. In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus presents to us a startlingly bold exhortation: Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses it will save it. —Luke 17:33 This does not mean, of course, that we should be careless about our own lives. On the contrary; if our… Read More Frassati Reflection: Everything Is Grace

Originally posted at Frassati Reflections. Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his Body. —John… Read More Frassati Reflection: Sacred Spaces

Originally posted at Frassati Reflections. The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them. They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction and their going forth from us, utter destruction. But they are in peace. —Wisdom… Read More Frassati Reflection: Memento Mori

Originally posted at Frassati Reflections. Jesus said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west you say immediately that it is going to rain–and so it does; and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south you say that it is going to be hot—and so it is.… Read More Frassati Reflection: The Cave

Exciting announcement: the new Frassati Reflections website is live! If you want to check out some other great writers from the Frassati Fellowship of NYC, head over there and subscribe. These reflections will be cross posted there as well. I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body but… Read More Frassati Reflection: Martyrdom of St. Isaac Jogues

“When an unclean spirit goes out of someone, it roams through arid regions searching for rest but, finding none, it says, ‘I shall return to my home from which I came.’ But upon returning, it finds it swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and brings back seven other spirits more wicked than… Read More Frassati Reflection: Whom Do We Let In?