I want to put you on guard right now against the danger of sensible love. How often I have heard the objection, “I tell Jesus that I love Him, but I don’t feel it. It seems to me that I am not being sincere.” Not to doubt that you love Him when you feel cold and arid demands great faith, the forgetting of yourself, and a true understanding of sanctity. The greatest saints pass through the dark night of the soul, painful periods of dryness. Yet in those hours of purification, they loved. Love is not sensible piety. Never forget this distinction.

Holiness is a disposition of the soul, of the heart, and, above all, of the world, toward God; the senses may play a role, but that is not necessary. Little Terese writes that dryness was her daily bread, but that she was nevertheless the happiest of creatures. She define sanctity as “a disposition of the heart which makes us humble and small in the arms of God, conscious of our weakness, and confident to the point of audacity in the goodness of our Father.”

Love is the uniting of our will to the will of God. It is abandoning ourselves totally into His hands, as a habitual disposition, even if we feel nothing. When Jesus sees this disposition in our hearts, He looks on us as His cherished children. Is not a father very indulgent toward his child? He finds excuses for his child’s feelings, and he admires the least of his good qualities. Jesus is like this with those who are His children, because they sincerely want to be such.

+ Father Jean du Coeur de Jesus d’Elbee

The post Spiritual Dryness first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Fr Matthias gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Feb 09, 2026, explaining how God’s presence in the spiritual life often feels like a dark cloud, as seen in the Book of Kings, calling us to trust and persevere for profound growth.

In this homily, Father draws from the Book of Kings, where the Ark of the Covenant enters the temple, and God’s presence appears as a dark cloud, preventing the priests from ministering. He teaches that in our spiritual journey, God sometimes reveals Himself this way too—through moments of darkness, dryness, or confusion. This isn’t a sign that God is absent; it’s a real, special presence in which He takes over to purify us and lead us into the mystical stage of faith. Father encourages us to trust, let go, and continue doing God’s will during these times, as this builds great merit and virtues such as faith, hope, and love, preparing us for the clear vision of God in heaven.

1 Kings 8:10-11 – Divine glory fills temple – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1kings/8?10
Catechism of the Catholic Church – Spiritual senses and purification – http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/272.htm
Catechism of the Catholic Church – Mystical life and union – http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s1c3a2.htm#IV
Exodus 40:34-35 – Cloud covers tabernacle – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/exodus/40?34
Franciscan Media – St. John of the Cross – https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-john-of-the-cross/

Ave Maria!

Mass: Monday 5th Week of Ordinary Time – Wkdy
Readings:  – http://usccb.org/bible/readings/020926.cfm
1st: 1ki 8:1-7, 9-13
Resp: psa 132:6-7, 8-10
Gsp: mar 6:53-56

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1589

Also on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Pf104-f5MNc

The post Embracing God’s Presence in Spiritual Darkness – Feb 09 – Homily – Fr Matthias first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Fr Josemaria gives the homily at Griswold, CT, on Apr 03, 2026, urging frequent meditation on Christ’s Passion and wounds as unshakable proof of His merciful love and forgiveness, especially when doubting His words, and calls for standing with Mary at the foot of the cross to enter His wounds.

In his Good Friday homily, Fr. Josemaria encourages everyone to think often about Jesus’ suffering on the cross. This helps us love God more, hate sin, and carry our daily crosses better. Jesus told St. Faustina to remember His Passion, and if we don’t trust His words like “your sins are forgiven,” we can at least trust His wounds—they’re real proof of His love. Even after rising from the dead, Jesus kept His wounds to show doubting apostles like Thomas. On this day, we gaze at the cross and unite with Mary to feel the full depth of Christ’s love for us.

USCCB – Christ loves own to end – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/13?1
Catholic Catechism – Christ’s freely willed Passion – http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/571.htm
Catholic Catechism – Wounded for our transgressions – http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/616.htm
Catholic Catechism – Mary at Passion’s foot – http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/964.htm
USCCB – Thomas touches Jesus’ wounds – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/20?27
USCCB – Mary stands by cross – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/19?25
USCCB – Dimensions of Christ’s love – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ephesians/3?18
Catholic Answers – Meditate on Christ’s Passion – https://www.catholic.com/qa/why-meditate-on-the-passion-of-christ

00:00 – The Significance of Good Friday
00:48 – Meditating on the Passion
01:26 – Believing the Wounds of Christ
02:20 – Finding Hope in Times of Spiritual Dryness
03:19 – The Wounds as an Apologetic for Mercy
04:19 – The Risen Lord and His Wounds
05:11 – Standing with Mary at the Foot of the Cross

Ave Maria!
Mass: Good Friday – Wkdy – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Friday
Readings:  – http://usccb.org/bible/readings/040326.cfm
1st: Isaiah 13, 53:12
Resp: Psalms 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-16, 17, 25
2nd: Hebrews 14-16, 5:7-9
Gsp: John 1, 19:42

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1776

Also on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXvB_fQK2ys

The post Meditate Frequently on Christ’s Passion for Spiritual Growth – Apr 03 – Homily – Fr Josemaria first appeared on AirMaria.com.