How to engage the world while remaining pure of heart

What is the basis on which I can partake in contemporary culture without being corrupted by those aspects of it which are opposed to my Catholic identity?

Here are some thoughts, which probably need refining:

1. We need to have an interior sanctuary which is pure and innocent. In other words, we need a robust spiritual life focused on allowing the Lord to purify us. This is the heart.

2.  Around that we need to cultivate the natural and supernatural virtues and be docile to the gifts of the Spirit.

3. Around that we need assent to the truths of the Faith and the right use of reason.

4. Around that we need to cultivate a Catholic imagination.

5. Around that we need harmony with nature.

One must keep these things secure in order to negotiate the culture without being compromised or corrupted in mind, will, imagination, or spirit.

We can't do it alone. We need to be part of a community that is intentionally pursuing the same goal.

Wherever there is order...

I found this quotation on a piece of paper. It is in my handwriting, but it is in quotation marks, so I assume it is someone else's.  I have no idea where it came from. If you have any ideas, put it in the comments.

Wherever there is order, there is consolation; wherever there is a work of love of the Spirit, there are His divine fruits.

Coronavirus

One of the things the coronavirus does is give us the opportunity to ask ourselves what we can do for those who suffer? If our exclusive concern is self-protection, we are only accomplishing half of what this challenge is presenting to is.

Of course, avoiding unnecessary exposure to the contagen has a social value. It isn't just selfish.

But we may be called to take sure risk in order to he of assistance and a consolation to those who become ill.

This is a reminder to me, lest I get obsessed, as I can see me doing.

What is a saint?

One of my colleagues at work, Dr. Steven Shippee, is preparing a catechetical talk on the saints. He has given me permission to share the following paragraph, which is the introduction to his talk. I think he expresses well and creatively the importance of the saints in understanding the Catholic faith.

[The saints] are not an appendix to Catholic faith, not something you can skip but still really understand the book of Catholicism.  They are not an ancient holdover as an odd list of names recited at the Mass. They are, rather, manifestations of Christ and the Holy Spirit and the essence and fruit of their work of salvation.  And so they are actually the living book of Catholicism; this is why we join with them in prayer at the Mass.