The movement of the human soul, and human society in general, from its fallen chaotic state towards divine order is at the heart of the Blog of Padre Pio Press. Writings, ponderings, and reflections on this movement of the soul are authored by Fr. Cliff Ermatinger and by the occasional Guest Contributor. The articles and recordings are relegated to the following areas:
Throughout the Month of August,
Padre Pio Press Cordially Invites Its Readership to Join in Saying:
Litany of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
St. Augustine, How do I Begin to Pray?
Question 003
What do I need to begin to pray?
Your desire is itself your prayer. And if your desire is continuous, then your prayer is continuous as well.
from St. Augustine Answers 101 Questions on Prayer by Fr. Ermatinger.
Like all labors in this life, the beginning of labor is first the desire to undertake the labor. The labor of prayer is no different. However, there is the tendency to complex prayer into a work that needs more effort to start than the simple attraction of the soul to begin the undertaking. The hurdles of doubts about God and myriad other trepidations are in reality but […]
St. Augustine, What is the Work of Prayer?
Question 002
What happens in prayer?
“The Lord our God wants us to petition him, not in order to inform him…but that we might be prepared to receive what he wants to bestow upon us…in proportion to our simplicity of faith, firmness of hope, and ardor of desire, we will be able to be more open to receiving what is immensely great, which neither eye has seen, nor ear has heard…”
from St. Augustine Answers 101 Questions on Prayer by Fr. Ermatinger.
The life of prayer begins with our petitioning our Father for the things that we desire; initially focused on the desires of the self – a child’s prayer for […]
Come, Let Us Go Up to the Mountain of the LORD
Part I in a Series by Pseudo-Ermatinger
Soria Moria by Theodor Kittelsen (1881)
Gregory the Sinaite instructed those who desired to pray to take a guide, lest they get lost in the venture. Who then should we take for our guide? There is a two-fold temptation; the first, to chart our course using our wiles or to despair that no sure guide can be found. The first is to wander aimlessly in the dark of hubris and the second is to remain fixed in place blinded by the noonday devil.
If the Sacred Scriptures were before us, would we […]
