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									<h2><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Opening Prayer</span></h2>
<p>I view the Book of Psalms as a memorial of human emotions, a mirror in which I can see the stirrings of my own soul. In these words, the whole of human existence and the movements of the mind have been encompassingly measured out for our instruction.</p>
<p>Lord, as I pray the Psalms, help me to recognize the words as my own. Let me see my reflection in the Spirit’s words—whether in the trials of the 3rd Psalm, the confidence of the 11th and 16th, the repentance of the 50th, or the persecutions of the 53rd, 55th, 56th, and 141st.</p>
<p><b>Amen.</b></p>								</div>
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<p><b>Matthew 11:28-30</b></p>
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<p><i><sup>28</sup>Come to me, all you that labour, and are burdened, and I will refresh you.&nbsp;</i><i><sup>29</sup>Take up my yoke upon you, and learn of me, because I am meek, and humble of heart: and you shall find rest to your souls.&nbsp;</i><i><sup>30</sup>For my yoke is sweet and my burden light.</i></p>
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					<h5 class="elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default">St. Athanasius</h5>				</div>
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									<p><b>St. Athanasius</b>&nbsp;commends the<b> Book of Psalms </b>because it displays a certain charming precision of expression. He evaluates the Psalms as “a mirror to the one who sings them”. Athanasius notes that in the <b>Psalms</b>, “the words become his very own”. The narrative of grace is that the whole of human existence has been “measured out” in the <b>Psalter</b>.</p>								</div>
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									<p>The <b>Book of Psalms</b> serves as a unique “mirror” where the believer can recognize the movements of their own mind and the emotions of their soul. Whether in tribulation, repentance, or confidence, the words of the<b> Psalter </b>become the believer’s own, setting both a standard and an example for prayer. Every disposition of human existence is encompassed within these inspired songs, providing a vocabulary for the stirrings of the heart and a framework for holy living.</p>								</div>
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<p><span style="color: #161616; font-family: Crimson Pro, serif;"><span style="font-size: 24px;"><i>“Use the Psalms as a mirror to see your own emotions, recognizing your own voice in the prayers of the Spirit.”</i></span></span></p>
<p>—&nbsp;<b>St. Athanasius</b></p>
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									<h4><strong><span style="color: #161616; font-family: 'Crimson Pro', serif; font-size: 24px; letter-spacing: 0px;">Mary and the Magisterium</span></strong></h4>
<p>The Psalms are a “mirror to the one who sings them”, reflecting every emotion and disposition of the human spirit. This <b>Mariological</b> reflection finds its peak in the<b> Magnificat</b>. In her canticle, the “stirrings of the soul” found in the<b> Psalter</b> are perfectly synthesized. Mary shows us that the Word is not just a text to be studied, but a standard by which the “movements of the mind” are measured and expressed.</p>
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										<span class="elementor-icon-list-text">Am I "looking deeply into the mirror" of the Psalms to know myself and God aright?</span>
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										<span class="elementor-icon-list-text">Do I recognize the "emotions of my soul" in the words of the Psalter?</span>
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									<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #161616; font-family: 'Crimson Pro', serif; font-size: 36px; letter-spacing: 0px;">Closing Prayer</span></p>
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<p>Lord, thank You for the Psalms as a mirror for my soul. Open my ears to hear Your voice there.</p>
<p><strong>Amen.</strong></p>
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July 16: Mirror of the Soul, Psalms as Interior Standards

<P>“What we have attempted here in this book is to provide in laymen’s terms how to defeat the infernal enemy through adherence to the teachings of the Catholic Church, a renewed prayer life, and radical return to the sacraments.”</P><P>—From the Introduction</P><P>Ever since our first parents were expelled from the Garden, mankind has lived a life of physical and spiritual struggle against a fallen world determined to undermine our reconciliation with God. Because this spiritual warfare is inevitable, it behooves Christians to prepare themselves for battle with the weapons made available to them by the Church. These arms come to us in the form of prayers and devotions, sacraments, and doctrines developed over the centuries based on the teachings of Christ. From this powerful cache of spiritual weapons, fully explicated in <I>Spiritual Warfare Q&amp;A</I>, believers can better prepare themselves against attacks from demonic forces whose sole mission is to seek out and destroy the souls of men.</P><P>Intended as a how-to manual for the Church militant, <I>Spiritual Warfare Q&amp;A</I> is organized as a question-and-answer catechism. Dan Schneider and Jesse Romero collected six dozen questions, both theological and practical, about spiritual conflict asked of them on their radio program over several years. The topics it contains range from exorcism and the occult to magic, horror films, yoga, haunted houses, Freemasonry, and much more. While geared toward the layman, there is a section devoted to questions asked by priests about the proper roles they must perform in the battle. The most authoritative sources are cited, from official church documents to the testimony of highly regarded exorcists and theologians, on the nature of the danger and on how best to respond. The reader will not find any other treatment as comprehensive and plainspoken on the spiritual battle being waged today.</P>

Spiritual Warfare Q and A: For Priests and Laity

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									<h2><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Opening Prayer</span></h2>
<p>I acknowledge the journey from loving self for self to loving Thee for Thy own sake. Having tasted how sweet and kind Thou art, I desire to pass into that stage where I love Thee for Thyself. Lead me toward that fourth stage where I may eventually lose myself in Thee, wonderfully forgetful of all but Thy glory.</p>
<p>I petition Thee for the grace to find Thee “sweet and kind” enough to move my love beyond my own interest. Grant me the grace to be absorbed altogether in Thy divinity, becoming one spirit with Thee. Draw me little by little through prayer and obedience until my soul remains stable in Thy love alone.</p>
<p><b>Amen.</b></p>								</div>
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<p><b>Luke 12:1-8</b></p>
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<p><i><sup>1</sup>And when great multitudes stood about him, so that they trod one upon another, he began to say to his disciples: Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.&nbsp;</i><i><sup>2</sup>For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed: nor hidden, that shall not be known.&nbsp;</i><i><sup>3</sup>For whatsoever things you have spoken in darkness, shall be published in the light: and that which you have spoken in the ear in the chambers, shall be preached on the housetops.&nbsp;</i><i><sup>4</sup>And I say to you, my friends: Be not afraid of them who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.&nbsp;</i><i><sup>5</sup>But I will shew you whom you shall fear: fear ye him, who after he hath killed, hath power to cast into hell. Yea, I say to you, fear him.&nbsp;</i><i><sup>6</sup>Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?&nbsp;</i><i><sup>7</sup>Yea, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: you are of more value than many sparrows.&nbsp;</i><i><sup>8</sup>And I say to you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God.</i></p>
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					<h5 class="elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default">St. Bernard of Clairvaux</h5>				</div>
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									<p><b>St. Bernard of Clairvaux </b>outlines four stages of love, ending in “loving ourselves only for the sake of God”. This<b> Church Father </b>insight maps the<b> Spiritual </b>progress within the <b>Mystical Body</b>. This journey is sustained by the <b>Sacraments</b>, as we approach Him by meditation, reading, prayer, and obedience. It leads to the “fourth stage” in heaven, where we are “intoxicated with the fullness” of God’s house. This “Science of the Saints” requires us to “find Him sweet and kind” before we can be absorbed altogether in God.</p>								</div>
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									<p>Bernard admits the “fourth stage”—loving oneself only for God—is nearly impossible in this life. It requires the soul to be “exhilarated” and forgetful of itself. He describes the transition from “loving God for one’s own interest” to the third stage, where one “finds the Lord sweet” and loves Him for His own sake.</p>								</div>
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<p><span style="color: #161616; font-family: Crimson Pro, serif;"><span style="font-size: 24px;"><i>“In the first stage… a man loves his own self for the sake of himself… in the third stage, he loves God no longer on account of his own interest, but for the sake of God himself.”</i></span></span></p>
<p>—&nbsp;<b>St. Bernard of Clairvaux</b></p>
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									<h4><strong><span style="color: #161616; font-family: 'Crimson Pro', serif; font-size: 24px; letter-spacing: 0px;">Mary and the Magisterium</span></strong></h4>
<p>Mary reached the “fourth stage” perfectly, absorbed altogether in God. She is the “Mirror of Virtue” whose outward appearance was the image of her soul. The <b>Magisterium</b>, through the <b>Bishop</b>, acts as the “servant leader” who guides the flock through these stages. The <b>Bishop</b> must correct those who fail to advance, acting as a “good physician” of the soul. Mary, as the “Window”, helps us become “well disposed” to reach the joy of our Lord.</p>
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										<span class="elementor-icon-list-text">Am I still in the second stage, loving God primarily for "my own necessity"?</span>
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										<span class="elementor-icon-list-text">What specific act of "meditation or prayer" can help me find Him "sweet" today?</span>
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									<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #161616; font-family: 'Crimson Pro', serif; font-size: 36px; letter-spacing: 0px;">Closing Prayer</span></p>
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<p>Lord God, my love for you is imperfect, but I trust that it’s growing nonetheless. Draw me to yourself by grace.</p>
<p><strong>Amen.</strong></p>
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June 26: The Stages of Loving God

<P>;I went from an indifferent, apathetic, Sunday-Mass-attending Catholic Christian to an on-fire Catholic Christian in a few short years. What reignited my faith? The many encounters I had with the occult and diabolical.; So says renowned Catholic apologist and retired veteran of the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department Jesse Romero. Now, for the first time in print, Romero reveals the harrowing details of his experiences with the demonic while working for the LASD. Discover the true stories of spiritual warfare being waged in the streets and alleys of L.A., including: </P><P></P><P>Romeros encounters with Richard Ramirez, the infamous ;Night Stalker; </P><P>How the Rosary drove out a demon that had taken hold of a young man </P><P>What happened when inmates involved in the occult would try to say ;Jesus is Lord; </P><P>How a young man who had committed suicide returned to beg his parents for prayers to release him from the pains of Purgatory </P><P>And much more. </P><P></P><P>The Devil in the City of Angels is much more than a catalog of strange and terrifying events. It exposes Satan as the Father of Lies so we can see how he works and how to defeat him. Drawing on his own experiences as well as the most authoritative sources, Romero offers the reader numerous cautionary tales. Ultimately, he also conveys that hope that is only found in Jesus Christ and His Church.</P>

The Devil in the City of Angels

01 - Opening Credits

02 - Translator's Introduction

03 - Preface

05 - Chapter 1 

06 - Chapter 2

07 - Chapter 3

08 - Chapter 4

09 - Chapter 5

10 - Chapter 6

11 - Chapter 7

12 - Chapter 8

13 - Chapter 9

14 - Chapter 10

15 - Chapter 11

16 - Chapter 12

17 - Chapter 13

18 - Chapter 14

19 - Chapter 15

20 - Chapter 16

21 - Chapter 17

22 - Chapter 18

23 - Chapter 19

24 - The Masterplan

25 - Closing Credits

<P>“<I>Death has no terrors for a sincere servant of Christ who is laboring to bring souls to a knowledge of the truth.”</I></P><P>—Bl. Ramon Llull (c.1232–1315)</P><P>Blessed Ramon Llull’s ultimate act of final perseverance was not one single decision made by grace, but the culmination of a life spent adhering to the will of God. <I>The Memoirs of Blessed Ramon Llull</I> is a thrilling narrative, reading almost like an action novel. In this autobiographical work, he humbly details his triumphs as well as his own weaknesses and disappointments. Due to rivalries between Catholic leaders, Bl. Ramon’s missionary zeal faced indifference from within the Church as well as resistance from without.</P><P>This Franciscan tertiary is known as the <I>Doctor Illuminatus</I> because he wrote over 300 works that span dozens of disciplines, not least of which is his <I>Greater Art </I>(<I>Arts Major</I>). TAN’s edition of Llull’s autobiography also includes substantial extracts from his <I>Booklet about the End</I>. Translated in English for the first time, by Fr. Robert Nixon, OSB, this work gives a detailed outline of his request made to Pope Clement V and the College of Cardinals for the establishment of monastic academies to train future missionaries in foreign languages. Unfortunately, his request was denied. A visionary among his fellow clergymen, Bl. Ramon was alone in recognizing the importance of learning the vernacular of the unconverted nations. Despite this and various additional disappointments he experienced, Bl. Ramon never swayed from the work Christ called him to.</P>

The Memoirs of Blessed Ramon Llull: The First Missionary Martyr to the Muslims

<P>Meet the Sisters of the Last Straw, a community of Sisters working hard to overcome their bad habits. Join these loveable misfit nuns as they learn to love God and forgive one another. When Amanda Kate comes to visit, Sister Krumbles gets the idea to run the Saint Patricks Day Marathon. But will she be up to the challenge? What is Mr. Lemon up to? Will he win the prize money for himself? Will the Sisters solve the mystery of the missing items?</P><P></P><P></P><P></P><P></P><P></P><P></P><P></P>

Sisters of the Last Straw Book 9: The Case of the Mixed-up Marathon

000 Opening Credits

001 A Tour of History

002 In This Volume

003 The Good, The Bad, and Everything in Between

004 The Spanish Arrive

005 Cortez Sails to Mexico

006 Escape from Tenochtitlan

007 New Spain

008 Establishing Missions

009 Our Lady of Guadalupe

010 More Spanish Exploration

011 Exploring North America

012 A Strange Remedy

013 New France

014 La Salle's Expedition of Discovery

015 Traveling Down the Mississippi

016 The Missionary Efforts of the Blackrobes

017 England's Early Struggles in the New World

018 John Smith and Pocahontas

019 Growing Tobacco

020 Puritans on the Run

021 A Difficult Journey

022 New Acquaintances

023 The Origin of Thanksgiving

024 Conflict With the Native Tribes

025 More Colonies

026 Life in New England

027 Puritan Persecutors

028 Life in the South

029 Pennsylvania

030 A Population Boom

031 France vs Great Britain

032 Controlling the Ohio Valley

033 The Tide Turns for the British

034 The Proclamation of 1763

035 The Colonists Start to Rebel

036 The Boston Tea Party

037 The Patriots Clash With Britain

038 Seeking Independence

039 Treaty of Paris

040 Articles of Confederation

041 A Debate in Independence Hall

042 The Blueprint of a Republic

043 Amendments for the Republic

044 Washington as the First President

045 Jefferson Clashes With the Federalists

046 A Growing Land

047 Lewis and Clark

048 Face-to-Face With a Grizzly

049 The Embargo Act

050 Trouble With Britain

051 Burning Down Washington

052 The Treaty of Ghent

053 Effects of the War

054 The Hartford Convention and the Monroe Doctrine

055 Forcing the Natives Out

056 The Missouri Compromise

057 A Split in the Democratic Republican Party

058 The Power of Steam

059 Textiles

060 Seeking Better Means of Travel

061 Catholicism in America

062 Elizabeth Ann Seton

063 Old Hickory

064 A Bullet to the Chest

065 Sweeping Changes

066 Tariff of Abominations

067 A Trail of Tears

068 Jackson's Legacy

069 Trouble in New Spain

070 A Texas-Sized Rebellion

071 The United States and Mexico Clash

072 San Patricios

073 Manifest Destiny

074 The Hardships of Traveling West

075 The Gold Rush

076 Upsetting the Balance

077 The Three-Fifths Compromise

078 The Growth of Slavery

079 Rebellions and Escapes

080 Opposition to Slavery

081 Slavery and the Catholic Church

082 Seeds of Confederate Secession

083 Lincoln's Struggles

084 A Turning Point

085 The Battle of Gettysburg

086 A Fractured Confederacy

087 The Last Days of the War

088 Lincoln's Assassination and the Trials of Reconstruction

089 The Ku Klux Klan

090 The End of the Reconstruction Era

091 Becoming an Industrial Power

092 The Transcontinental Railway

093 Giants of Industry

094 The Dark Side of Industry

095 Settling the West

096 Life on the Reservations

097 Native Resistance

098 Six More Western States

099 Beyond Borders

<p>Children should not just read about history; they should live it. In <em><strong>The Story of Civilization</strong></em>, the stories that have shaped humanity come alive like never before. Author Phillip Campbell uses his historical expertise and storytelling ability together in tandem to present the content in a fresh and thrilling way.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p><em><strong>The Story of Civilization</strong></em><strong>&nbsp;</strong>reflects a new emphasis in presenting the history of the world as a thrilling and compelling narrative. Within each chapter, children will encounter short stories that place them directly in the shoes of historical figures, both famous and ordinary, as they live through legendary battles and invasions, philosophical debates, the construction of architectural wonders, the discovery of new inventions and sciences, and the exploration of the world.&nbsp;</p>
<p><em><strong>Volume IV: The History of the United States</strong></em> transfers the journey over to the New World. Beginning with Columbus when he sailed the open blue and extending into the present day, this volume tells the thrilling tale of our nation, both the good and the bad. Children will be introduced to heroic American saints like Juan Diego, Peter Claver, and Elizabeth Ann Seton, explorers like Lewis and Clark and Neil Armstrong, and a whole host of U.S. presidents, as well as relive some of the most significant events in our country&rsquo;s past, like the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the assassination of President Lincoln, the Civil Rights Movement, the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor, and many more.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Dramatized Audio Book</strong></p>
<p>Talented voice actor and audiobook producer Kevin Gallagher returns to bring children the history of the world in this riveting reading of <em><strong>The Story of Civilization Volume IV: The History of the United States</strong></em>. This follows his immensely popular reading of TAN&rsquo;s <em>The Story of the Bible</em>. Your children will be transported back in time through the sound effects, music, and voice acting that complement the reading of the text.</p>
<p>Whether looking for entertainment on a long road trip, enhancing the experience with the text, or catering to the needs of a child with a reading disability, this audio dramatization will open up a new world of adventure for kids of all ages.</p>

The Story of Civilization: Volume 4 United States

<P>;So youve decided to give in to the Devil,; said the priest. John Vianney started back in dismay—"No, Father!" "But you just told me you were giving up your studies for the priesthood," responded Father Balley. This book tells what took place next, along with the many adventures that met young St. John Vianney (even his fights with the Devil) when he set out to become a priest, ending up one of the Church's most glorious saints.</P><P>Mary Fabyan Windeatt was known as ;the storyteller of the saints.; In the 1950s and 60s she wrote over twenty historical fiction novels on the saints, bringing to life these holy men and women for young readers across the world. By artistically rendering familiar stories, the Windeatt books help readers see that the saints are real people whom we can emulate.</P><P>Ideal for all children, especially those enrolled in TAN Academy in kindergarten through third grades, for easy-reading literature.</P>

The Curé of Ars: The Story of St. John Vianney

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									<h2><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Opening Prayer</span></h2>
<p>Lord, give me the wisdom to use my reason to grasp what I must believe, yet keep that reason humble. Let it walk beside faith as a dedicated handmaid, never chattering in pride or rebelling against the truths you have revealed.</p>
<p>I petition for a mind that is well-trained and well-guided, using the reasoning skills you have given me as an instrument to decipher the meaning of your Word. May my intellect always remain in the service of a heart that seeks your grace.</p>
<p><b>Amen.</b></p>								</div>
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															<img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="1024" height="120" src="https://tandirection.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/todaysgospel-1024x120.avif" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-17133" alt="Today's Gospel" srcset="https://tandirection.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/todaysgospel-1024x120.avif 1024w, https://tandirection.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/todaysgospel-300x35.avif 300w, https://tandirection.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/todaysgospel-768x90.avif 768w, https://tandirection.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/todaysgospel.avif 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></img>															</div>
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									<blockquote>
<p><b>Matthew 11:25-30</b></p>
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<p></p>
<p><i><sup>25</sup>At that time Jesus answered and said: I confess to thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them to the little ones.&nbsp;</i><i><sup>26</sup>Yea, Father; for so hath it seemed good in thy sight.&nbsp;</i><i><sup>27</sup>All things are delivered to me by my Father. And no one knoweth the Son, but the Father: neither doth any one know the Father, but the Son, and he to whom it shall please the Son to reveal him.&nbsp;</i><i><sup>28</sup>Come to me, all you that labour, and are burdened, and I will refresh you.&nbsp;</i><i><sup>29</sup>Take up my yoke upon you, and learn of me, because I am meek, and humble of heart: and you shall find rest to your souls.&nbsp;</i><i><sup>30</sup> For my yoke is sweet and my burden light.</i></p>
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					<h5 class="elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default">St. Thomas More</h5>				</div>
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									<p><b>St. Thomas More</b>&nbsp;provides the definitive evaluation of the relationship between faith and reason: <b>Reason</b> is the “handmaid” of faith. It must not resist but walk with her. Consider <b>St. Thomas More</b>’s analogy of the “drunk handmaid.” When reason grows proud, it chatters too much. In God’s presence, ask if your intellectual pursuits have become a source of pride that argues with the <b>Faith</b>.&nbsp;</p>								</div>
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															<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="120" src="https://tandirection.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/wisdomofthesaints-1024x120.avif" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-17134" alt="Wisdom of the Saints" srcset="https://tandirection.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/wisdomofthesaints-1024x120.avif 1024w, https://tandirection.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/wisdomofthesaints-300x35.avif 300w, https://tandirection.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/wisdomofthesaints-768x90.avif 768w, https://tandirection.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/wisdomofthesaints.avif 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></img>															</div>
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									<p>St. Thomas More argues for a necessary synergy between the intellect and belief, casting reason as the “handmaid” to her mistress, faith. While faith is the ultimate authority, reason is an essential instrument for deciphering meaning and comparing truths, provided it is “well trained” and kept from the intoxication of pride.&nbsp;</p>								</div>
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									<blockquote>
<p><span style="color: #161616; font-family: Crimson Pro, serif;"><span style="font-size: 24px;"><i>“Whoever would grasp what he must believe must use reason. Yet reason must not resist faith, but rather walk with her, waiting on her as her handmaid.”</i></span></span></p>
<p>—&nbsp;<b>St. Thomas More</b></p>
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									<h4><strong><span style="color: #161616; font-family: 'Crimson Pro', serif; font-size: 24px; letter-spacing: 0px;">Mary and the Magisterium</span></strong></h4>
<p>St. Thomas More provides a vital metaphor: reason must act as the “handmaid to faith”, never rebelling but staying “well trained” and “guided” by her mistress. <b>Mary </b>embodies this perfectly in her identity as the “Handmaid of the Lord”. In her, the human intellect and the divine will reached a perfect harmony. She did not abandon reason—the<b> Scriptures</b> record her “pondering” and questioning the <b>Archangel</b>’s message—but she ensured her reason “waited on” the <b>Truth</b>. Her obedience demonstrates that the highest use of the human mind is not found in autonomous rebellion, but in its humble submission to the <b>Word</b>.</p>
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															<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="120" src="https://tandirection.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Spiritual-Application-1024x120.webp" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-17142" alt="" srcset="https://tandirection.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Spiritual-Application-1024x120.webp 1024w, https://tandirection.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Spiritual-Application-300x35.webp 300w, https://tandirection.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Spiritual-Application-768x90.webp 768w, https://tandirection.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Spiritual-Application.webp 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></img>															</div>
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										<span class="elementor-icon-list-text">Is my reason "running riot" in pride, or is it a "well-trained handmaid" to my faith?</span>
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										<span class="elementor-icon-list-text">Do I use study resources to help me understand God's Word, or do I rely solely on my own "fancies"?</span>
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									<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #161616; font-family: 'Crimson Pro', serif; font-size: 36px; letter-spacing: 0px;">Closing Prayer</span></p>
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<p>Lord, let my powers of reason always be employed in the lively service of the faith Thou hast gifted me.</p>
<p><strong>Amen.</strong></p>
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				</div><p></p>

July 4: The Handmaid of Faith

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									<h2><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Opening Prayer</span></h2>
<p>Lord, I critique the pride of the “self-taught” who boast that they find easy what the ancient fathers found difficult. I recognize that those who sprout up overnight as theologians often fail to agree even with themselves, while your truth remains stable in the Catholic faith.</p>
<p>Grant me the humility to learn from the ancient teachers of the Church, trusting in their holiness and wisdom. Let me not be swayed by the swarms of innovators who prefer their own spirit to the tradition of the fathers.</p>
<p><b>Amen.</b></p>								</div>
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															<img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="1024" height="120" src="https://tandirection.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/todaysgospel-1024x120.avif" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-17133" alt="Today's Gospel" srcset="https://tandirection.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/todaysgospel-1024x120.avif 1024w, https://tandirection.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/todaysgospel-300x35.avif 300w, https://tandirection.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/todaysgospel-768x90.avif 768w, https://tandirection.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/todaysgospel.avif 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></img>															</div>
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									<blockquote>
<p><b>Matthew 12:14-21&nbsp;</b></p>
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<p><i><sup>14</sup>And the Pharisees going out made a consultation against him, how they might destroy him.&nbsp;</i><i><sup>15</sup>But Jesus knowing it, retired from thence: and many followed him, and he healed them all.&nbsp;</i><i><sup>16</sup>And he charged them that they should not make him known.&nbsp;</i><i><sup>17</sup>That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaias the prophet, saying:&nbsp;</i><i><sup>18</sup>Behold my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom my soul hath been well pleased. I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.&nbsp;</i><i><sup>19</sup>He shall not contend, nor cry out, neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.&nbsp;</i><i><sup>20</sup>The bruised reed he shall not break: and smoking flax he shall not extinguish: till he send forth judgment unto victory.&nbsp;</i><i><sup>21</sup>And in his name the Gentiles shall hope.</i></p>
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    			<img decoding="async" class="e-image-base e-d881a8f-2e7c468" data-interaction-id="d881a8f" data-e-type="widget" data-id="d881a8f" id="17132" src="https://tandirection.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/saintoftheday.avif" width="1280" height="150" srcset="https://tandirection.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/saintoftheday.avif 1280w, https://tandirection.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/saintoftheday-300x35.avif 300w, https://tandirection.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/saintoftheday-1024x120.avif 1024w, https://tandirection.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/saintoftheday-768x90.avif 768w" alt="Saint of the Day"></img>		
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					<h5 class="elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default">St. Thomas More</h5>				</div>
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									<p><b>St. Thomas More</b>&nbsp;critiques the “self-taught” theologians who “sprout up overnight like hornets”. He evaluates the “absurdity” of ignoring the “holy teachers of old”. St. Henry, the Holy Roman Emperor, was a man of “tireless zeal” who anchored his rule in the <b>wisdom of the Church</b>. More differentiates the “spirit” that moderns claim to have from the “holiness of life” the <b>Fathers </b>actually possessed. The narrative of grace is one of “stability” versus the “swarm” of novel, contradictory opinions.</p>								</div>
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															<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="120" src="https://tandirection.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/wisdomofthesaints-1024x120.avif" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-17134" alt="Wisdom of the Saints" srcset="https://tandirection.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/wisdomofthesaints-1024x120.avif 1024w, https://tandirection.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/wisdomofthesaints-300x35.avif 300w, https://tandirection.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/wisdomofthesaints-768x90.avif 768w, https://tandirection.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/wisdomofthesaints.avif 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></img>															</div>
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									<p>More likened the “self-taught” interpreters of the teachings to a swarm of hornets that only brings confusion. This protective stance is vital for the modern reader, who is often bombarded by “unanchored” spiritualities that boast of the spirit but lack the rigorous training and holiness of the <b>Church Fathers</b>. By relying on the age-old wisdom of the saints, the believer is protected from novel interpretations that lead away from the universal faith.</p>								</div>
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<p><span style="color: #161616; font-family: Crimson Pro, serif;"><span style="font-size: 24px;"><i>“Shun the arrogance of the “self-taught” and rely instead on the commentaries of the holy teachers who led heavenly lives.”</i></span></span></p>
<p>—&nbsp;<b>St. Thomas More</b></p>
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									<h4><strong><span style="color: #161616; font-family: 'Crimson Pro', serif; font-size: 24px; letter-spacing: 0px;">Mary and the Magisterium</span></strong></h4>
<p>St. Thomas More contrasts the “self-taught hornets” of his day—those who ignore the ancient fathers—with the humble tradition of the <b>Church</b>. <b>Mary stands as the Queen</b> of this “holy company of teachers”. She does not seek “novel ideas” but remains anchored in the “mind of the Church”, defending the<b> Catholic faith</b> against the “swarms” of private, contradictory interpretations that lead to confusion and ruin.</p>
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										<span class="elementor-icon-list-text">Am I "self-taught" in my faith, or am I a student of the "holy teachers and saints"?</span>
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										<span class="elementor-icon-list-text">Do I trust the "Catholic faith as a rule" to interpret the difficulties of my life?</span>
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									<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #161616; font-family: 'Crimson Pro', serif; font-size: 36px; letter-spacing: 0px;">Closing Prayer</span></p>
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<p>Lord, grant me humility to recognize that I cannot interpret Your Word rightly on my own.</p>
<p><strong>Amen.</strong></p>
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July 13: The Company of Teachers: Relying on Tradition