MSI Press Blog

  From Morning Prayer: “ Today, listen to the voice of the Lord; do not grow stubborn as your fathers did in the wilderness when at Meriba and Masah they challenged me and provoked me although they had seen all of my works. ” [Psalm 95] There’s something about those two names — Meribah and Massah — that always feels like a sigh rising up from the page. Not a scolding sigh, but the kind that comes when someone remembers a hard moment and says, “We’ve been here before.” They’re wilderness words. Dry words. Words from a place where people were tired and frightened and not at their best. And maybe that’s why they still echo. Because we know those places too. Meribah: the place of quarreling. Massah: the place of testing. Two names for one moment when fear got the upper hand and trust slipped through the fingers. What moves me is that the psalm doesn’t say, “Don’t be like them.” It simply says, “Don’t let your heart harden the way theirs did.” As if the real danger isn’t thirst or fear ...

  For Catholics, the Eucharist is not only a symbol but a mystery of presence. “Transubstantiation” is the Church’s way of saying that, at the consecration, the bread and wine truly become the Body and Blood of Christ — not metaphorically, not poetically, but sacramentally and substantially. Other Christian traditions honor Communion deeply but understand it differently: as a memorial, a spiritual presence, or a symbolic act of unity. Catholics, by contrast, see the Eucharist as the heart of the Church — Christ given to us, not just remembered by us. This belief shapes Catholic worship, spirituality, and identity. It is why the Mass is central, why reverence surrounds the altar, and why the Eucharist is called “the source and summit” of Christian life. It is not meant to exclude others, but to express the depth of the mystery Catholics receive. image and some verbiage provided by AI post inspired by  Being Catholic in Troubled Times  (Dennis Ortman) book description: Thes...

  Today's Publisher's Pride is  Being Catholic in Troubled Times  by Dennis Ortman, which reached #132 on Amazon in depression books. Book Description: These are times that try our souls. This book is addressed to all, not just Catholics, who search for deeper meaning in tough times. Our age is marked by division and alienation. We long for some message that will bring peace to our world and our hearts. This book suggests that the Catholic faith can provide strength in these troubled times. The word "catholic" means "all-embracing, universal." Nothing is excluded in the catholic mind. The truth that sets us free can be found everywhere, especially in unexpected places. It is often hidden in plain sight. In our darkest moments, we find new light and life. When we are most despairing, a ray of hope shines through. Comment from President and Founder, Psychological Counseling Services Ltd Dr. Dennis Ortman does an incredible job with his books. He does an excell...