Harpa Dei

Download PDF The most difficult spiritual vice to overcome is undoubtedly pride. It takes a constant struggle and a strong grace from God to flee from pride and to live in that humility which counteracts and decisively weakens it. John Cassian describes pride in these terms: “It is a cruel beast, which fiercely attacks even […]

Download PDF On our journey towards the great Feast of the Resurrection, we have to go through each day consciously and with God’s grace, as a stage on the way. For this we need perseverance, for on our journey we may encounter a demon which the desert fathers called “acedia” or the “demon of the

Download PDF In our Lenten itinerary, we continue today with the struggle against vices, which is part of the purgative way. On this occasion, we will focus on the vice of “tristitia”, i.e. sadness. Fight against sadness “Chase sorrow far away” says the sage Ben Sirach, ” for sorrow has been the ruin of many,

Download PDF Continuing the theme of fighting against vices, we will talk today about greed and wrath. The fight against greed John Cassian points out that this vice should be easier to fight, because its object is not rooted in our nature. However, if we have given greed a place, then, according to Cassian, it

Download PDF Yesterday we reflected on the passage of the purification of the Temple, and then applied it to our “inner temple,” which also requires purification. At the beginning of our “Lenten itinerary” I quoted the prayer of St. Nicholas of Flüe, the first part of which said, “My Lord and my God, detach me

Download PDF Having heard in yesterday’s reading how the “wrath of the Lord” because of the wickedness of the City of Nineveh was appeased by the penitence of its inhabitants, so that the punishment did not fall on them, it is fitting that today we meditate on the passage of the purification of the Temple

Download PDF Following the lectionary of the Novus Ordo, today’s reading tells us the story of Jonah and the city of Nineveh (Jn 3:1-10). Its inhabitants were converted and consequently exempted from the punishment that would have befallen them. Let us take this passage of Holy Scripture to heart during our Lenten journey and try

Download PDF In both the Traditional Rite and the Novus Ordo today’s reading proclaims this passage from the Prophet Isaiah about the Word of God: “As the rain and the snow come down from the sky and do not return before having watered the earth, fertilising it and making it germinate to provide seed for

Download PDF The reading read today at the Traditional Mass (Ez 34:11-16) is preceded by the Lord’s accusation against the shepherds of Israel: “For lack of a shepherd they have been scattered, to become the prey of all the wild animals; they have been scattered.” (v. 5). There were no shepherds left to tend the