The Victor's Crown

Mark Quaranta
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Daily Catholic reflections to help you pursue the imperishable crown. Each reflection offers wisdom from scripture and the saints, and practical insights to start your morning and grow in holiness. Hosted by Mark Quaranta. www.thevictorscrown.com

  1. What we desire

    13h ago

    What we desire

    Get the written version in your email inbox every morning by subscribing for free at TheVictorsCrown.com --- What we desire We've all heard the expression: we want what we can't have. Sometimes that's simply something out of reach. But other times, we end up wanting what we shouldn't have — something bad for us, or even morally wrong. There are degrees to this. We can desire something good, something attainable, something unattainable, something harmful, something sinful. The object of our desire matters enormously. And so does the question of where we're directing all of that focus and energy. One way to examine this is through the lens of temperance — one of the four cardinal virtues. "Temperance is the moral virtue that moderates the attraction of pleasures and provides balance in the use of created goods. It ensures the will's mastery over instincts and keeps desires within the limits of what is honorable." (CCC 1809) We have to take an honest look at what we desire. Not just our actions, but our desires themselves. Because even if an unhealthy desire hasn't led to harmful action yet, it's still doing damage. It's cancerous for the soul. Where are we directing our desire? That's worth sitting with today. Let us pray. Lord, purify our desires. Help us to want what is good, what is true, what is honorable — and give us the strength to turn away from what is not. In Jesus' name. Amen. Keep fighting the good fight. Our Lady of Victory, pray for us. Get full access to The Victor's Crown at www.thevictorscrown.com/subscribe

    2 min
  2. The Shallows

    Jun 30

    The Shallows

    Get the written version in your email inbox every morning by subscribing for free at TheVictorsCrown.com --- The Shallows “You should choose to enter not immediately into the ocean depths, but rather through small streams, for one should reach more difficult matters by going through the easier ones first.” Saint Thomas Aquinas gave this advice to a pupil who was inquiring about methods of study. As for study, the problem for many of us is not that we immediately jump into the deep end, but that study simply isn’t a part of our lives. We might be years (or even decades) out of school and the habit of learning has fallen by the wayside. However, we’ve been given a tremendous gift in our intellectual power, so let’s not bury it in the sand, but grow and nurture that power through study. St. Thomas’ advice also applies to how we approach the spiritual life. Oftentimes in our spiritual lives, we’ve witnessed and experienced two different sentiments. Either we feel on fire for the faith and want to do every devotion known to man, or we feel dry and struggle to keep up with the basics. In both cases, we can heed Aquinas’ words: enter through the shallow end. Start small. Keep in mind though that in study and faith, we don’t want to stay in the shallows. Our goal is to eventually wade out into the depths, both intellectually and spiritually. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, You call us to Yourself. You call us into the shallows and into the depths. Walk with us. Help us. Guide us. In Jesus' name, amen. Keep fighting the good fight. Our Lady of Victory, pray for us. Get full access to The Victor's Crown at www.thevictorscrown.com/subscribe

    2 min
  3. Who am I

    Jun 29

    Who am I

    Get the written version in your email inbox every morning by subscribing for free at TheVictorsCrown.com --- Who am I At every Mass, we encounter the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ. We literally receive our Lord and Savior every Sunday.  In response to this profound truth, we ask: “Who am I? Lord, who am I to receive you?” It’s a valid response, because frankly, we are not worthy to receive HIm. We’re fallen and sinful creatures. But, it’s only by humbly acknowledging our littleness and our wretchedness that we see the path leading upwards.  Magnanimity, greatness of soul, is only possible through humility. By knowing our proper place, we recognize that we are not worthy and we are in dire need of help. We cannot lift ourselves up by our bootstraps. We cannot attain greatness by our own power.  At every Mass, the One who came to raise us up, the One who came so that we may have life, the One who came to show us the way, waits for us. And, we need Him. Our greatness comes through only Him. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we can do nothing without You, without your Son, without Your grace, without Your gifts, without Your sacraments, without the Eucharist. Help us to know our place so that we may always turn to You, to be with You. In Jesus' name, Amen. Get full access to The Victor's Crown at www.thevictorscrown.com/subscribe

    2 min
  4. Profit

    Jun 26

    Profit

    Get the written version in your email inbox every morning by subscribing for free at TheVictorsCrown.com --- Profit For all of our endeavors and pursuits, for all of the things that preoccupy our minds and hearts, for all of our worries, concerns, and stresses, for all of the wealth or knowledge we accumulate...  Do our souls profit? “What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?” (Matthew 16:26) Are we seeking to gain the world? Are we so preoccupied with this life that we’re not preparing for the next? To get to Heaven, we must follow Christ. But, to follow Christ, we must first know Him. And then, we must become like Him. It’s not enough to just quote Scripture or define every virtue. We must live it. We must strive for sainthood. We must imitate Christ.  Let us pray. Heavenly Father, You know how easily distracted we are, how often we miss what is right in front of us, how often we miss You. Help us to live our lives properly ordered, never placing anything above our love for You. In Jesus's name, amen.  Keep fighting the good fight. Our Lady of Victory, pray for us. Get full access to The Victor's Crown at www.thevictorscrown.com/subscribe

    2 min
  5. Slow to speak

    Jun 25

    Slow to speak

    Get the written version in your email inbox every morning by subscribing for free at TheVictorsCrown.com --- Slow to speak Too often, we simply don’t think about what we’re saying. If you’ve ever had to give up cursing, you’ve experienced this firsthand. Things just slip out...sometimes unnoticed. In regards to sin, we tend to be more aware of our thoughts and actions. We’re always with our own thoughts, and sinful ones, whether about lust, or pride, or anger, are the worst because they directly affect our mood and consequently our actions. But, our words can sometimes fly under our radar because it’s the person we’re talking to that is affected, not us. Thinking before we speak forces us to consider others’ feelings. When we do start consciously thinking about what we are saying — and how we are saying it — we communicate better. Take this as a challenge for the next few days. Be slow to speak. Ask yourself: Is this what I meant to say? Am I speaking truthfully, charitably? Let us pray. Heavenly Father, help us to grow in knowledge of ourselves and knowledge of You, and to see where we are falling short and where we can be better. In Jesus’ name, amen. Keep fighting the good fight. Our Lady of Victory, pray for us. Get full access to The Victor's Crown at www.thevictorscrown.com/subscribe

    2 min
  6. Think well

    Jun 24

    Think well

    Get the written version in your email inbox every morning by subscribing for free at TheVictorsCrown.com --- Think Well “Think well. Speak well. Do well. These three things, through the mercy of God, will make a man go to Heaven.” —Saint Camillus de Lellis Think, speak, do. Our thoughts, our words, our actions. It’s basic and fundamental. But each day, do we make a conscious effort to control what we think, say, and do? Or, do we prefer to think about whatever ‘trash’ is thrown in front of us, speak without considering what our words mean, and act out of bodily impulse and desire? We are called to more. We have great power in our thoughts, words, and actions. What do we do with that power? What will you do with that power? Keep fighting the good fight. Our Lady of Victory, pray for us. Get full access to The Victor's Crown at www.thevictorscrown.com/subscribe

    2 min
  7. Rejoice in the Goodness

    Jun 22

    Rejoice in the Goodness

    Get the written version in your email inbox every morning by subscribing for free at TheVictorsCrown.com --- Rejoice in the Goodness Have you ever struggled with celebrating? It sounds a little silly, but whenever something good happens, do you hesitate? There's almost a self-defense mechanism that kicks in — don't celebrate just yet, it could all be taken away. You might even worry about jinxing it. Very few things in this life last. Even good things go away eventually. But that doesn't mean God is punishing us when they do. They simply weren't meant to last. And we don't always know what fruit God wants to bear in our lives, or how He plans to do it. It just comes back to trust. God continues to bless all of us — in big ways and small. But we tend to focus on the blessings we aren't receiving, or the ones that seem to have been taken away, or how the ones we have could disappear. Rejoice in the goodness anyway. Let joy and thanksgiving rise up from what God has given us. It takes vulnerability. But if we don't rejoice in the goodness, when would we? Let us pray. Lord, open our eyes to Your goodness today. Give us the courage to rejoice in it — freely, without fear. In Jesus' name. Amen. Keep fighting the good fight. Our Lady of Victory, pray for us. Get full access to The Victor's Crown at www.thevictorscrown.com/subscribe

    2 min
  8. The First Battle

    Jun 19

    The First Battle

    Get the written version in your email inbox every morning by subscribing for free at TheVictorsCrown.com --- The First Battle As followers of Christ, there are a lot of battles to fight. But for all of us, the first battle is within ourselves. We can't give what we don't have. We can't share a faith we don't practice. We can't lead others to holiness when we aren't striving for it ourselves. We can't bring others to truth if we aren't pursuing it. We can't bring others to God when we don't know Him. To positively impact the world around us, we have to start with ourselves. That's not selfish — it's just necessary. So what does that battle require? Time alone with God. Self-reflection. An honest look at our own weaknesses and tendencies. Silence. Solitude. Time to process everything we're constantly taking in. Solid ground to return to when the inner battles get hard.  That is daily prayer. Let us pray. Lord, give us the discipline to fight the first battle — the one within us. Draw us to prayer, to silence, to You. In Jesus' name. Amen. Keep fighting the good fight. Our Lady of Victory, pray for us. Get full access to The Victor's Crown at www.thevictorscrown.com/subscribe

    2 min
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About

Daily Catholic reflections to help you pursue the imperishable crown. Each reflection offers wisdom from scripture and the saints, and practical insights to start your morning and grow in holiness. Hosted by Mark Quaranta. www.thevictorscrown.com

Information

  • Creator
    Mark Quaranta
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    121
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Quaranta LLC
  • Show Website
    The Victor's Crown