Category: Ascension

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3 Virtues to Grow Closer to God

Can you guess what 3 virtues are needed to grow close to God?

In his book, “Introduction to the Devout Life”, St. Francis de Sales lists patience, humility, and meekness as the most essential virtues to live holy lives devoted to God.

What makes these so important?

Patience gives us the ability to endure trials and suffering, humility helps us see ourselves as we truly are in relation to the greatness of God, and meekness calms our tempers so that we may show God’s peace to others.

Cultivating these virtues is just the beginning.

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Temptation or Sin? How to Tell the Difference

There’s a difference between temptation and sin. Simply put, temptation is an invitation to sin, and sin is the acceptance of that invitation.

To help tell the difference, St. Francis de Sales offers a helpful illustration of a woman who is extended an indecent proposal.

The woman is unable to control the fact of the proposal, but she can control her reaction.

We will never be rid of temptations, but we should do everything we can to root out sin.

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How the Eucharist Changed My Life

Why do less than 30% of Catholics believe in the Real Presence? It seems like many have forgotten that Jesus gave his flesh for the life of the world.

Today, Fr. Mike reminds us of the gift of the Eucharist and shares the way it transformed his own life. It is the heart of our faith, our spiritual nourishment, the bread that we live for, and the teaching worth dying for.

Meet Fr. Mike Schmitz:

Fr. Mike Schmitz serves as Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of Duluth and as chaplain for the Newman Catholic Campus Ministry at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. He is a presenter in Ascension’s Chosen, Altaration, and The 99 programs, and has a channel on Ascension Presents. He is also the host of the Ascension podcast The Bible in a Year.

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Feeling Far from God?

What to Do About Feeling Far from God (Desolation) (feat. Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P.)

Click on the link to play video:

https://youtu.be/wV2CYZSnxq4

We think feeling far from God (desolation) is bad, and feeling close to God (consolation) is good, but St. Francis de Sales has a different take.

Even if desolation doesn’t go away, and consolation doesn’t last forever, God allows these periods to draw us closer to Him. How?

Periods of desolation can be opportunities to turn away from sin.

St. Francis recommends:

  1. Eradicate any and all habitual mortal sin
  2. Address lingering attachments to sin
  3. Eliminate distractions
  4. Let go and trust that God loves you, even if you don’t feel it

What about consolation?

  1. Give thanks to God
  2. Acknowledge that this isn’t something you accomplished
  3. Consider confiding in a trusted friend or spiritual director to keep you grounded
  4. Remember that consolation is not the goal of the spiritual life

In the end, St. Francis reminds us that you are not the sum total of your emotional experiences, you are the sum total of the Father’s love for you.

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The Disciples Doubted the Eucharist. Do You?

You may have heard that Jesus is present in the Eucharist, but have you really heard those words? You may have been in the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, but have you really seen him in the Eucharist?

Today, Fr. Mike challenges us to take Jesus at His word (John 6:6) and to grow in our faith in His real presence, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity in the Eucharist!

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The Secret Sauce of Holiness

How is it that a young French girl who entered the convent at 15 years old and died at only 24 years old would become a Doctor of the Church? How is it that on her deathbed her own sisters thought her life was so unremarkable that they struggled to write her obituary?

Today, Fr. Mike reflects on how the “Little Way” of St. Thérèse of Lisieux contains a secret to holiness for every modern Catholic.