PathToHoliness

This isn’t a post on all the elements that make up the discernment of spirits. However, I have spent time doing this from learning during Opus Dei retreats and with a spiritual director who started me on the Ignatian Spiritually. And now, my wife, Cindy and I are meeting regularly with a local priest who is helping us even further to learn and practice more. We started with the discernment of spirits and the differences between non-spiritual consolation and desolation and those things that are spiritual. It has taken a while to learn and spend time every day to look at our life and then just listen to God.

There is a lot to learn as we want to go as close to God as we can.

There are a lot of references if you are interesting and here are a couple:

The Discernment of Spirits: An Ignatian Guide for Everyday Living
The Jesuits website page: The Life of St. Ignatius of Loyola
The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola

This was a very cold day on February 4 this year. I just happened to look up in my backyard and see these incredible clouds. So, I called it Heavenly Clouds.

I all I could think was, “God, all your creation is beautiful.” The clouds didn’t last long but it was one to remember. I should have shot video because they were moving very quick and looked like a river of clouds.

Sometimes we need to just pause and look around, and listen to the wind and nothing else. It is a great way to meditate and grow closer to God. Of course, this can be done anywhere. For me I have a room and chair in my home where I can say daily prayers after which I think to talk to Jesus and ask Him what he wants me to do. I’m lucky to get to go to a weekly Holy Hour in a chapel at St. Mary Catholic Church in Pensacola, FL. There He is in a Monstrance and I say “Your servant is listening.” Sometimes it seems like it has only been a few minutes and yet, it has been an hour.

Here is what the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has to say:

There are as many and varied methods of meditation as there are spiritual masters. Christians owe it to themselves to develop the desire to meditate regularly, lest they come to resemble the three first kinds of soil in the parable of the sower. But a method is only a guide; the important thing is to advance, with the Holy Spirit, along the one way of prayer: Christ Jesus.

Meditation engages thought, imagination, emotion, and desire. . . . Christian prayer tries above all to meditate on the mysteries of Christ, as in lectio divina or the rosary. This form of prayerful reflection is of great value, but Christian prayer should go further: to the knowledge of the love of the Lord Jesus, to union with him.

—Catechism of the Catholic Church, nos. 2707-2708

I’ve had plenty of reason to pray even more than ever this past year. Besides the fact that I’m passing an age where I just can’t do the things I used to, so are family members and friends. I made this list for several reasons. Saints I’m named after and have become very familiar with are on my major list that I ask for help. Who would you ask to the list?

• Saint Charles of Borromeo
• Saint Albert the Great
• Saint Francis of Assisi
• Saint John Paul II
• Saint Josemaria Escriva
• Venerable Fulton Sheen
• Saint Mother Teresa
• Saint Padre Pio
• Blessed Michael McGivney
• Saint Faustina Kowalska
• Saint Therese of Lisieux
• Saint Carlo Acutis
• Saint Dymphna
• Saint Blaise
• Saint Charbel
• Saint Louis Marie De Montfort
• Saint Teresa of Avila

I pray that everyone have a wonderful Christmas.

It has been a while since I posted last. A lot has taken place. It includes work on changing our business by stopping the travel we’ve done for so long and that requires things like websites and web servers that have been changed. We have still been doing work that doesn’t require travel and that’s continuing. But there are other things live some good “old” person pains, etc.

I hope I will have more time to find things on the path to holiness.

You might enjoy a “Christmas Greeting from the Prelate of Opus Dei (2025) – Monsignor Fernando Ocáriz.”

Last week I worked at the Farm Progress Show in Decatur, IL. I flew from home to St. Louis and rented a car to travel to my hotel in Springfield and back and forth from Decatur. I got done early so on Thursday I went to the Basilica of St. Louis, King of France for midday Mass and confession. Then I dropped off my rental and flew back home.

It has been quite a while since I was able to go to Mass at what most people know as the “Old Cathedral of St. Louis.” It’s right next to the St. Louis Arch.

The work I was doing (taking photos, conducting audio interviews) was my next to last time my wife and I are going to travel for work. We announced that in April this year. We can still do some work for our company in our home offices and as of now, that’s the plan. I pray every day that we are making good decisions and what Jesus wants.

I have been dealing with anxiety of the move toward retirement but sitting in the church I found peace. I definitely recommend spending this time to anyone who is suffering in any way.

Just recently I had to work on a conference in Rogers, Arkansas. Since I had to arrive late Saturday I found Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in just a few minutes by Uber to attend morning Mass. The church has all Latin Masses. I attended the early one – Low Mass. It has been some time since I’ve been able to attend a Latin Mass. I have done so when the opportunity arrives. I was just impressed as how full the church was.

BTW. I will not have to work on a Sunday anymore. I’ve not liked it but after the end of this year I won’t be traveling for work at all!

Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church is served by the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP) with the approval and blessing of the Most Reverend Anthony Basil Taylor, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Little Rock. The Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter serves in apostolates around the world. The faithful celebration of the traditional Mass and Sacraments are at the center of their charism.

This past Sunday I helped Fr. Bill Martin who is one of the priests for Unbound. It was started as the Christian Foundation for Children and Aging. Fr. Martin travels around the country telling people about Unbound and he brings packets for potential sponsors to support children and aging. He came to Pensacola at St. Anne’s Catholic Church and I was contacted to assist him at the 8am Mass. My wife and I have sponsored Unbound children for 25 years. There was a lot of interest and we had quite a few people choosing the child or aging they could see since it includes their pictures and age. The boy we currently sponsor is in the Philippines and has learned how to read and write and is now looking at a vocational school. He wouldn’t have been able to do this without help. We can exchange letters and pictures through the Unbound website.

Here is the mission of Unbound:

Our vision is to build a world free from poverty where all people have access to resources, community support and the ability to make decisions that improve their lives and uphold human dignity.

Unbound offers a practical way for sponsors, donors and volunteers to make a personal and direct impact as partners in our global community. Through walking with a child and family, youth, elder or community on their path out of poverty, our supporters have an opportunity to expand their worldviews and be part of creative solutions to poverty.

So, if you would like to be a sponsor through Unbound I highly recommend it.

This past weekend I attended my retreat at the Roseaire Center in Delray Beach, FL. As I have said before, it’s a beautiful center and throughout the year has lots of activities. We had a large group of men with some participating on their first retreat.

It is long days of prayer and meditation and that’s what it should be. Our focus is on God and talking to Him and working on our spiritual life. I take lots of notes and leave with a couple of resolutions for the year. I highly recommend this for men and women.

I will share some of my notes on my X.com account for PathToHoliness.

I’m getting ready to go to my annual retreat and really looking forward to it. I have a list of things I’d like to accomplish and, of course, mostly for my personal talk with Jesus. But I also want to pray for my family and others who are suffering, have left the church or have never learned about our Catholic faith.

While doing this I have another list of saints that I’m praying to for help. How about you? Do you have one or more saints that you prayer to? Here are my main ones.

St. Charles Borromeo, St. Albert the Great, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Josemaria Escriva, St. Pope John Paul II, St. Louis de Montfort, St. Faustina, St. Mother Theresa, St. Theresa of Avila, St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Padre Pio, St. Dymphna, St. Anthony, St. Blaise, Blessed Carlo Acutis, Venerable Fulton Sheen, Blessed Michael McGivney. There are so many counting just the Apostles for example.

If you want or need prayers for any of these saints or would like to know more about them, it’s easy just to search in your browser.

Father Grant Sennott was ordained priest with three other men on Saturday. Then yesterday Father Sennott celebrated his first Mass at the Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church. It was a packed church and there were six other priests with him on the altar.

I believe Father Sennott will be a great priest. He did get a little choked up during one prayer and I understand and felt the same for him.

In addition to Father Sennot here are the names of the other newly ordained priests for our diocese: William Gibson, Christopher Holcomb and Peter Jutras. You can watch the ordination Mass here.

The local KofC brought a big smile to Eli’s face at the end of Mass yesterday. Eli, has been an Altar Server for three years and might be longer now that he’s graduated high school and will attend local college. He is very serious about his ministry job and has always been there when needed.

Presenting Eli with a gift from the Knights of Columbus Council #8589 at the Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel is Mark Fanfalone and Father Joseph Fowler. Eli received a framed montage of his work on the altar and a check of $500 to help his college.

It’s getting close to time for my annual retreat. Once again this year I will be at the Roseaire Conference Center, located in Delray Beach, FL, for a retreat organized by the Tekesta Study Center. I can’t wait to charge my spiritual batteries!

Retreats at Roseaire are traditional, silent retreats, preached by priests of Opus Dei, a personal prelature of the Catholic Church.

For those who wish to attend, the retreat includes Holy Mass, meditations given by a priest, exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, and oration of the rosary. The priests are available to hear individual confessions as well as for personal spiritual guidance.

I have attended retreats for many years. After moving to Florida from Missouri I have made retreats in different locations so I thought I’d add a list of the ones I have attended (for men).

• Featherock Conference Center – Westcott Study Center
• Villa Maria Conference Center – Wespine Study Center
• Carmel Retreat Center – Magnalia Foundation

I am very happy that we have a new Pope so quickly and with the Holy Spirit guiding the Cardinals I know he will be just what the church needs. One of our local churches ends Mass with a Holy Mary prayer for our new Pope. Something that I think we should all do. He needs our prayers

“Peace be with all of you!” – the first words of Pope Leo XIV. The Conclave has elected Robert Francis Cardinal Prevost as the 267th Bishop of Rome. The new pope was announced to the waiting crowds by Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti.

You can find a biography of Pope Leo XIV on the Vatican News website.

The Inauguration Mass will be May 18 in St. Peters Square.

I was planning to do a post about Easter but this happened just this morning. Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, passed away. It is a time for prayer for his soul and for those who will be having to go through the process for a new pope. Here is some info from the Vatican News.

At 9:45 AM on Easter Monday, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, spoke these words at the Casa Santa Marta:
“Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God.”

Vatican News also has an overview of the highlights of Pope Francis’ pontificate, his journeys, reforms, writings, work for peace and human fraternity, and outreach to the poor and migrants.

On another note, the Canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis will be postponed. I’m sure we’ll find out more about this very soon.

The first in a series of four talks during the year focuses on the topic of “Christ Alive in Us” by Dr. Dave Snyder, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church of Pensacola. His talk was after our Holy Hour and midday Mass. These talks are organized by the Veronica Guild Honoring Life in the Basilic of St. Michael the Archangel. Our mission is Promoting the dignity of all human life, especially through our “Fridays for Life.”

Dr. Snyder prefaced his talk on a passage from Galatians, 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ and yet I am alive; yet it is no longer I, but Christ living in me. The life that I am now living, subject to the limitation of human nature, I am living in faith, faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.” One of his questions was “What does it mean to have new life in Christ?” Another was “What am I doing with the life God has given me?” These are great to meditate on, perhaps in a daily time you take to pray and spend time with Jesus. He will always listen.

We will have three more talks throughout the year and you can find the schedule on the Basilica website.