The following is "Advice to Parents," by St. Alphonsus Liguori, Saint and Doctor of the Church: The gospel tells us, that a good plant cannot produce bad fruit, and that a bad one cannot produce good fruit. We learn from this, that a good father brings up good children. But, if the parents are wicked, how can the children be virtuous? Our Lord says, in the same gospel, Do men gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? (Matt. 7:16). So, it is impossible, or rather very difficult, to find children virtuous, who are brought up by immoral parents. Fathers and mothers, be attentive to this sermon, which is of great importance to the eternal salvation of yourselves and of your children. Be attentive, young men and young women, who have not as yet chosen a state in life. If [...]

Lay folks are getting more and more into Carmelite theology.  And that is a great thing.  Carmelite theology is all about detaching from creatures in order to attach to the Creator.  For a Carmelite priest like St. John of the Cross, this was ascetically difficult but strategically simple:  Detaching from creatures will automatically make a soul in grace cling more closely to the Creator.  Thus, a monk can live alone with The Alone. What Eastern Rite Christians call askesis is to detach from all creatures (people, food, pets, comforts, pleasures, locations) in order to go deeper into the prayer life. Some of the greatest authors on this topic of ascetical theology include the Desert Fathers. Every old-school canonized saint was a master of the ascetical life, even if they were married saints. But how can married people do this?  How can [...]