St. John of the Cross – Catholic Stand

Fixing Us First

Dom Cingoranelli April 30, AD2025 3 Comments

Many people possess a profusion of plans for “fixing” the Church, the government, the economy, and other folks. But rarely do we give priority to

Warming Wintertime Drinks and Devotions

Masha Goepel November 21, AD2023 1 Comment

It gets dark so early now. Here in New England, the sun is setting well before dinnertime. I wake in the morning to a dark,

love, cross, Lent, sanctity, repentance for sins, trust

Sanctity is All About Holy Gap Management (HGM)

Gabriel Garnica June 2, AD2023 1 Comment

Scripture tells us that we grow closer to God to the extent that we are content with what we have and realize that God is

Diving Deeper into the Seven Deadly Sins

Hunter Leonard April 24, AD2023 8 Comments

Most Catholics are familiar with the Seven Deadly Sins, also known as the Seven Capital Sins. These are those sins that engender all other sins,

Prefer Nothing Whatever to Christ

Dom Cingoranelli September 10, AD2022 1 Comment

Not that many years ago, 21 men showed what it means to prefer nothing whatever to Christ. Twenty of them, Coptic Christians, refused to apostatize

universe, milky way, creation, holy presence

Our Dark Night

Daniel Mark March 17, AD2021 11 Comments

We claim that we follow Christ but sometimes that relationship asks us for so much more than we realize at first. More than one saint

Walking in His Footsteps in Word and Truth

Richard Van Kirk June 7, AD2020 1 Comment

We know that God is in control of our lives, our families, our nation and our planet. We know that He has promised to come

ashes. Lent, memento mori, sins, fasting

Lent Is a Season of Sight

Father Nicholas Blackwell O. Carm. February 27, AD2020 No Comments

The humility God has shown to humanity never ceases to astound me. The Incarnation of the Lord is the poignant foundation stone of that spirit

A Carmelite Insight Into Framing Your New Year’s Resolutions

Father Nicholas Blackwell O. Carm. January 8, AD2020 No Comments

Even as a religious order priest, I live in the world. But the world I find myself in currently focuses a great deal on the

Growing in Wisdom With St. John of the Cross

Father Nicholas Blackwell O. Carm. October 3, AD2019 2 Comments

I am in a moment of transition. I am preparing to return to active ministry in the Bronx at our Carmelite Parish there, but I

An Act of Spiritual Malfeasance Against St. John of the Cross

Father Nicholas Blackwell O. Carm. January 30, AD2019 9 Comments

As a Carmelite friar and priest in the Archdiocese of New York, I hear quite regularly the religious laments from the socially-liberated class that sees

saints, discipleship, sainthood, St. Dymphna, diversity, All Saints Day

Witch-Hunters and the Hunted

David Torkington December 7, AD2018 4 Comments

The heresy of Quietism (1687) involved a complete misunderstanding of the classical mystical authors by various groups of religious enthusiasts that led to all sorts

Five Traits for a Contemplative Life

Father Nicholas Blackwell O. Carm. November 29, AD2018 18 Comments

One of the fundamental characteristics of contemplation for a Carmelite is the understanding that it is an invitation: an invitation into another’s presence. God invites

St. John of the Cross on Appetite

Father Nicholas Blackwell O. Carm. November 3, AD2018 9 Comments

Words have power. As Christians, we believe that we are saved by the Word of God, Jesus Christ. Yet, even in human language words have

Is The Present Crisis the Church’s Dark Night of the Soul?

Father Nicholas Blackwell O. Carm. September 18, AD2018 4 Comments

In the wake of the Pennsylvania Sexual Abuse report and the former Cardinal McCarrick’s dark revelation, I have received a multitude of emails, social media

Remaining Obedient to God: Understanding the Tools of Our Enemies

Father Nicholas Blackwell O. Carm. March 6, AD2018 3 Comments

The Season of Lent can be seen through many different lenses, all correct and important. This diversity makes lent a truly rich season for any Christian

With Love: To Desire What God Gives Us

Mike Eisenbath April 23, AD2017 No Comments

desire The day’s temperature climbed to 77 degrees, quite warm by Segovia standards for a mid-afternoon in October. Not a cloud graced the sky. We

Authentic Prayer: Battling Distractions

David Torkington March 23, AD2017 No Comments

Did you know that you can’t really pray without distractions? Don’t take my word for it, take the word of St Teresa of Avila. When

All People Are Walking Tabernacles Of Grace

Mike Eisenbath February 1, AD2016 6 Comments

“People are walking tabernacles of grace.” — Father Christopher Seiler For monk and author Thomas Merton, a famous revelation hit him at the corner of Fourth