Reflecting on Mary's Encounter: The First Resurrection Appearance

Fr. Mike French's latest blog post is about the Resurrection. He dives into the significance of Jesus' appearance to His mother Mary and how it can give us comfort and assurance in our own lives. Don't miss out on this inspiring read!

Resurrection, Religious Insights, Faith and Reflection, Ignatian SpiritualityPepe RuizApril 26, 2023Montserrat Jesuit Retreat HouseMary, Resurrection, Spiritual Exercises, Ignatian Spirituality, Fr. Mike French SJ

Embracing the Mystery: Believing in the Holy Spirit

"We are stardust, breathed to life by the Holy Spirit. Baptized in Christ, we're called to bring peace and kindness to a desolate world. We are the leaven, the Kingdom right at hand.We live in Christ, and the tree of faith keeps growing. Let's keep praying to truly mean it. #IgnatianSpirituality"

Christian Living, Faith and Reflection, Ignatian Spirituality, Personal Growth, Religious Insights, Spiritual PracticesPepe RuizApril 12, 2023Montserrat Jesuit Retreat HouseHoly Spirit, Faith, Baptism, Christian Living, Fr. Joe Tetlow SJ

Navigating Sorrow with Compassion: Lessons from St. Paul

In difficult times, we turn to our friends in the Lord to share our struggles. St. Paul, who also endured similar conversations, reminded the early Church to be kind, forgiving, and bear one another's burdens. As we support our friends in their mournful moments, we remember Jesus' words, "Happy are those who mourn."

Christian Living, Compassion, Faith and Reflection, Personal Growth, Religious InsightsPepe RuizApril 5, 2023Montserrat Jesuit Retreat HouseCompassion, Empathy, Friendship, Christian Living, Fr. Joe Tetlow SJ

Embracing the Call to Evangelize: A Reflection on the New Evangelization

All Christians, not just clergy, are called to evangelize by loving and hoping in Jesus Christ in day-to-day lives and in everything give thanks to the Lord to do the 'new evangelization'.

Christian Living, Faith and Reflection, Evangelization, Spiritual Practices, Religious InsightsPepe RuizMarch 29, 2023Montserrat Jesuit Retreat HouseEvangelization, Mission, Christian Living, Fr. Joe Tetlow SJ

Reflecting on God's Love: Three Characteristics to Consider This Lent

As we enter the Lenten season, it's essential to pause and contemplate the significance of this time in our relationship with God. Lent is a period to rejoice in God's love, and here are three key characteristics of His love to ponder:

Christian Living, Lent and Easter, Faith and Reflection, Personal Growth, Religious Insights, Spiritual PracticesPepe RuizMarch 22, 2023Montserrat Jesuit Retreat HouseLent, God's Love, Reflection, Spiritual Growth, Fr. Derek Vo SJ

Reflecting on the Easter Duty: A Joyful Act of Reconciliation

Joyful duty of Easter Duty: Confession and Communion at least once a year to remember God's love and accept reconciliation.

Lent and Easter, Personal Growth, Religious InsightsPepe RuizMarch 15, 2023Montserrat Jesuit Retreat HouseEaster Duty, Lent, Repentance, Confession, Communion, Reconciliation, God's Love

Exploring Lenten Practices: Prayer, Almsgiving, and Fasting in Relationships

The blog explores Lenten practices of prayer, almsgiving, and fasting in relation to becoming more loving in three aspects. Prayer helps refocus on God, almsgiving sensitizes to others' needs, and fasting helps heal our relationship with ourselves. Ultimately, these practices can transform our relationships.

Christian Living, Faith and Reflection, Lent and Easter, Personal Growth, Religious InsightsPepe RuizMarch 8, 2023Montserrat Jesuit Retreat HouseLent, Lenten Practices, Prayer, Almsgiving, Fasting, Relationships, Spiritual Growth

Exploring Inner Freedom: A Lenten Perspective

Three Lenten practices. Three ways to grow in freedom this year.

Christian Living, Faith and Reflection, Lent and Easter, Religious Insights, Spiritual PracticesPepe RuizMarch 1, 2023Montserrat Jesuit Retreat HouseLent, Inner Freedom, Stephen Covey, Seven Habits, Lenten Practices, Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving

Embracing Lent: Reflections on Earthly Existence

EARTH: JESUS’ HUMBLE HOME AND OURS - Lent reminds us of our final return to the earth. But this earth, where Jesus lived and loved, is our humble home too.

Faith and Reflection, Personal Growth, Lent and Easter, Spiritual Practices, Religious Insights, TransformationPepe RuizFebruary 22, 2023Montserrat Jesuit Retreat HouseLent, Earthly Existence, Reflection, Mortality, Divine Promise, Lenten Journey, Renewa

Overcoming Loneliness: A Spiritual Perspective

Studies report that Loneliness is like a plague today. Thankfully our faith can give us resources that go deeper than the best resources you can find in the secular sphere.

Faith and Reflection, Personal Growth, Religious Insights, Spiritual PracticesPepe RuizFebruary 14, 2023Montserrat Jesuit Retreat HouseLoneliness, Spiritual Perspective, Loving-Kindness Meditation, Prayer, Connection, Faith Journey

Understanding Jesus: Beyond the Nicene Creed

"We won't know ourselves unless we know Him, because as St. Paul explained to the Romans: God decided beforehand those who were destined to be formed in the image of the Son—and that’s us (Rom.8:29)."

Christian Living, Faith and Reflection, Personal Growth, Religious Insights, Spiritual PracticesPepe RuizFebruary 8, 2023Jesus Christ, Nicene Creed, Human Experiences, Divine Teachings, Compassion, Humility

Discover the Grace of the Angelus: A Daily Prayer of Promise

Mike French reflects on the power of daily prayer, specifically the Angelus, and how it guides them to consider the "promises of Christ." They delve into the promise in Luke 11:9, and how it is a "Blessed Assurance" but also the beginning of a conversation with Jesus, inviting them to humility and dependence on His love and providence. The post encourages readers to take time to reflect on the promises that the Lord is making to them, as it will lead to grace.

Faith and Reflection, Personal Growth, Religious Insights, Spiritual Practices, TransformationPepe RuizFebruary 1, 2023Montserrat Jesuit Retreat HouseAngelus, Daily Prayer, Promises of Christ, Spiritual Reflection, Fr. Mike French SJ

The Profound Mystery of the Incarnation

God became a human in Jesus. God didn't just become a man, but he actually became flesh and blood, just like us. All the matter and energy in the universe is connected to God because he created it. So, in a way, we are all made of the same stuff as God. And when Jesus was here on earth, he went through all the same stuff we go through, like happiness and sadness, and he understands us because of it. God isn't just some distant being, but he's right here with us, and he knows us inside and out.

Faith and Reflection, Personal Growth, Relationships, Religious Insights, Spiritual PracticesPepe RuizJanuary 25, 2023Montserrat Jesuit Retreat HouseIncarnation, St. John, Cosmic Matter, Enfleshed Spirits, Spiritual Reflection, Fr. Joe Tetlow SJ

The Power of the Psalms: Connecting Generations Through Prayer

The psalms were a source of comfort and faith for the people of the Old Testament, who sang them in both good times and bad, and passed them down through the generations. Jesus prayed them too. At Mass, we continue this tradition and remember the perseverance and faith of those who came before us.

Christian Living, Faith and Reflection, Personal Growth, Religious Insights, Spiritual PracticesPepe RuizJanuary 11, 2023Montserrat Jesuit Retreat HousePsalms, Jesus, Faith, Old Testament, Prayer, Fr. Joe Tetlow SJ

Overcoming the Temptation of Feeling Unworthy in Prayer

Sometimes when we're trying to pray, we might feel like we're not good enough or important enough for God to care about. But that's just a temptation, it's also an insult to God who created us and loves us as we are. When we're thinking that way, we're not really turning our minds towards God but towards ourselves, instead of remembering that God's promise is to answer us when we call on Him. We would do good to remember that Jesus showed us through His actions that He cares for everyone, no matter how insignificant we might feel, so when we feel like we're too miserable to pray, we should turn to Him and ask Him to heal us too. He's waiting for us to ask.