I studied Theology and Philosophy in college, and I loved it.  Recently, I started to delve back into reading philosophy, and I still love it.  In fact, I forgot how much I enjoy reading it.  I posted the following on the members section of The Personalist Project:

In Christian spirituality we often refer to growth in the “interior life.”  The more I ponder this gift of the interior life, the more I am amazed by the very mystery of human interiority.  The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that the human heart is “the place of encounter.”  It is in our very interiority that we encounter the living God.  Because we possess interiority, we are able to be conscious of God, to communicate with God, to know God and his love for us.

It is because we possess interiority that we are able to receive the revelation of God; in fact, there would be no such thing as revelation without our interiority, for in order for there to be revelation there needs to be one who is able to receive it.

The deeper I enter into the mystery of my interiority, the more open I become to receiving the mystery of God’s presence within me, the revelation of his love.  The more I receive God’s love, the more my interiority deepens, expands.  As I become interiorly aware of the gift of God’s love, this pure gift that has been given to me, I become aware that I must become a gift to others.

This is the paradox of interiority in the Christian tradition: As I ponder my interiority, I do not become absorbed in myself; rather, I become aware that I am a gift to myself, and I must live my life as a gift.  The more deeply I am aware of my interiority, the more deeply I am aware of my capacity for transcendence.  From the depths of human interiority springs the capacity to both receive and to give.

If you asked me to choose my “favorite” station of the Cross, it would be the 6th station: Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus.  For many years I’ve been drawn to this station because I see in this scene what actually happens to us when we meditate on the life of Jesus.

The name Veronica means “true image.”  Tradition tells us that this faithful woman approached Christ in compassion and tenderly wiped the blood, sweat, and tears from His face as He carried the Cross to Calvary.  In return, He left the image of his beautiful face upon her veil.

Veronica’s veil is symbolic of our interior life.  As we meditate on the mysteries of Christ’s life, His image is perfected in us.  The more we contemplate Jesus, the more we become like Him.

During this Holy Week, may each of us commit to spending extra time with Jesus.  If we do, He will give to us what He gave to Veronica: the stain of sin will be washed away, and His image will be perfected in us.

A blessed Holy Week to each of you!

What is true freedom?  It’s when I am standing in the fire of temptation and I decide to choose virtue over vice, right over wrong, good over evil.  By remaining in Christ and His Word, I am able to grow in true freedom.  This week, I will use my freedom to choose holiness rather than sin.

The Way of the Cross is the way to happiness, because the Way of Cross is self-giving love.  It’s not possible to be happy by living selfishly; the only way to authentic happiness is to be selfless.  Embrace the Cross in your daily life, and you will know true happiness.

There’s a path you can walk that leads to peace
A path that leads to joy
There’s a path you can walk that leads to faith
A path that leads to hope
There’s a path you can walk that leads to love
A path that leads to God

It’s the path of prayer

On the path of prayer you will find peace
You will find lasting joy
On the path of prayer you will find faith
You will find shining hope
On the path of prayer you will find love
Safe in the arms of God

Do you know that the Heart of Jesus aches for you?  Yes, the Heart of Jesus aches for you to be whole, to be happy, to be filled with peace.
So, let Him love you.  Let Him hold you.  Let Him heal you.

Give Him your burdens; He wants to take them from you.

Give Him your sorrows; He wants to fill you with joy.

Give Him your sins; He wants to forgive you.

Give Him your fears; He wants to fill you with hope.

Give Him your doubts; He wants to increase your faith.

Give Him your resentments; He wants to fill you with love.

Give Him your heart; He wants to give you His heart so that you can be
His love, be His light, be His peace.

His Heart aches for you.  Let Him heal you.  Let Him hold you.  Let Him love you.