Robert Bellarmine on the Need for Spiritual Vigilance
Spiritual vigilance is one of the most important considerations for the Catholic Christian. Bellarmine seeks to equip Catholic Christians with an acute sense of the need for spiritual vigilance throughout the Christian life. Working from the text of Luke [12:35]-37, Bellarmine seizes upon Jesus’ parable of staying spiritually alert for the Day of Judgement. At the core of Bellarmine’s spirituality is his belief that everyone will render an account for their thoughts and deeds done in this life. In light of this momentous reckoning which will befall every human being either at the moment of death or for those living near the end of human history, at Christ’s Second Coming, Bellarmine urges Catholic Christians to take seriously the need to make a daily examination of conscience, to confess their sins and to make amends for the wrongs done. Catholic Christians, he believed, need to be spiritually prepared to meet Christ the Judge lest they be leave this life unexpectedly. Rather than being taken by surprise as a result of suddenly meeting their judge, Bellarmine maintains that Catholic Christian should strive to strive to be pleasing to God in all things. Join us this week as we discuss Bellarmine’s perspective on the importance of spiritual vigilance for dying well and living a responsible Christian life.
To comment on this show or provide feedback, please navigate to https://catholicheritagespirituality.com/episode43
If you would like to invite Mary Estrada and/or Dr. Estrada to speak at your next event, you can contact them at feedback@catholicheritageshow.com or 1-909-575-8035.
To place your name on the waiting list for our future learning site, please navigate to: https://catholigheritageinstitute.com
Review our Podcast
iTunes (click iTunes > Ratings and Reviews > Write a Review)
How to Connect with Us
Comment on the show below
Ask a Question via Speakpipe
Leave a voicemail for the show at 1-909-575-8035
Email via Contact Form in the Footer of the Site (audio files welcome)
Music provided by Pond5.
- Margaret of Costello - Extraordinary Saint - CHSS 93
- The Temptation of Triumphalism - CHSS 92
- Lessons in Patience from the Life of Abraham, the Leper and the Good Thief - CHSS 91
- How Did Christianity Change the Roman Empire? - CHSS 90
- How to Make the Resurrection Real in the 21st Century - CHSS 89
- Augustine on the Meaning of the Cross - CHSS 88
- The Catholic Understanding of Faith, Hope and Love - CHSS 87
- Where is Lent in the Bible? - CHSS 86
- The Goals of Lent - CHSS 85
- Sacramental Faith and Practice as a Distinctive of Catholic Spirituality - CHSS 84
- Original Sin, Free Will and Salvation - CHSS 83
- If Human Freedom Does not Exist…. - CHSS 82
- Identity in Christ as the Basis for Catholic Spirituality - CHSS 81
- How Do We Live a Life Led by the Spirit? - CHSS 80
- Fruits of the Spirit Overview - CHSS 79
- Beauty in Catholic Spirituality - CHSS 78
- The Mystical Body of Christ in Catholic Spirituality - CHSS 77
- Spiritual Goals for the New Year - CHSS 76
- Challenges to the Gospel in Contemporary Culture - CHSS 75
- The Message of Christmas in Our Current Culture - CHSS 74
- Our Lady of Guadalupe - CHSS 73
- Insights from Monasticism for Catholic Lay Spirituality - CHSS 72
- Humility in the Catholic Spiritual Life? - CHSS 71
- What is Meditation in the Catholic Spiritual Life? CHSS 70
- Ambrose of Milan - Doctors of the Church Series - CHSS 70
- Hilary of Poitiers - Doctors of the Church Series - CHSS 69
- Dr. Estrada's Path to the Study of Theology - CHSS 68
- Helping Children Grow in the Faith during a Pandemic - CHSS 67
- Therese of Lisieux - Doctors of the Church Series - CHSS 66
- Jerome - Doctors of the Church Series - CHSS 65
- Augustine's Sermon on the Cross - CHSS 64
- The Doctors and the Reading of Non-Catholic Sources – CHSS 63
- Doctors of the Church and Their Key Characteristics - CHSS 63
- Keys for Persevering through Challenging Experiences in the Church - CHSS 61
- The Three Most Important Sources for Accessing Catholic Teaching – CHSS 61
- Conversions in the Catholic Spiritual Life – Insights from Augustine of Hippo - CHSS 59
- The Relationship between Faith, Reason and Mystery – CHSS 58
- The Jewish Roots of Distinctly Catholic Practices - CHSS 57
- Does Prayer “Work”? - CHSS 56
- What Can Mary Teach Us as the Mother of Christ and the Church? - CHSS 55
- In One Word, How Could We Best Describe Mary’s Spirituality? - CHSS 54
- A Vietnamese Catholic’s Testimony of Hope: Cardinal Nguyen Van Thuan - CHSS 53
- Deeds Not Creeds: Are Creeds an Impediment to Spirituality? - CHSS 52
- What Does Love Have to do with Sin? – CHSS 51
- How Do Catholics Make Sense of Suffering? - Challenges to Spiritual Life Series - CHSS 50
- The Spiritual Life as a Journey
- Update for Mary and Erik (June 2020) CHSS 50
- How Did Thomas Aquinas Study the Bible? CHSS 47
- Thomas Aquinas on the Question: Should We Prayer, Even If God Knows Everything Already? CHSS 46
- Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274): A Life Devoted to Answering the Life Questions from Faith and Reason - CHS 45
- Robert Bellarmine on How a Catholic Christian Should View Money - CHSS 44
- Robert Bellarmine, The Art of Dying Well - The Need for Spiritual Vigilance - CHS 43
- Robert Bellarmine,The Art of Dying Well - Faith Hope Love - CHS 42
- Robert Bellarmine, Art of Dying Well - On Prayer - CHSS 41
- Robert Bellarmine, Introduction to His Life and Spiritual Writings - CHS 40
- Bonaventure Tree of Life - Final Reflections - CHSS 39
- Bonaventure, Tree of Life - Final Prayer - CHSS 38
- Bonaventure, Tree of Life - Twelfth Fruit - Christ's Eternal Kingdom - CHS 37
- Bonaventure Tree of Life - Eleventh Fruit - Equity of His Judgement - CHS 36
- Bonaventure, Tree of Life - Tenth Fruit - The Sublimity of Jesus' Ascension - CHSS 35
- Bonaventure, Tree of Life - Ninth Fruit - The Novelty of Christ's Resurrection - CHSS 34
- Bonaventure, Tree of Life - Eighth Fruit - Jesus' Victory in the Conflict of Death - CHSS 33
- Bonaventure, Tree of Life - Seventh Fruit - Jesus' Constancy under Torture - CHSS 32
- Bonaventure, Tree of Life - Sixth Fruit - Jesus' Patience in Maltreatment - CHS 31
- Bonaventure Tree of Life - Fifth Fruit - Jesus Confidence in Trials - CHSS 30
- Bonaventure, Tree of Life - Fourth Fruit - The Plenitude of Jesus Piety - CHSS 29
- Bonaventure, Tree of Life - Third Fruit - Loftiness of Christ's Power - CHS 28
- Bonaventure, Tree of Life - Second Fruit - Humility - CHSS 27
- Bonaventure, Tree of Life - First Fruit - His Distinguished Origin - CHS 26
- Bonaventure, Tree of Life - Prologue - CHSS 25
- Bonaventure Seraphic Doctor - CHSS 24
- The Backstory of the Catholic Heritage - CHSS 23
- Prayer Tips for Catholic Christians - CHS 22
- Catholic Marriage Preparation Advice - CHSS 21
- What Does the Epiphany Mean? - CHS 20
- Why Do We Call Mary the Mother of God? - CHSS 19
- Fulton Sheen on the Nativity - CHSS 18
- Bl. John Henry Newman Advent s 1 pt 2 - CHSS 017
- Bl. John Henry Newman Advent Sermon pt 1 - CHSS 016
- Bl. John Henry Newman - Life, Work and Writings - CHSS 015
- Bl. John Henry Newman - Life, Work and Writings - CHSS 015
- Blessed Fr. Miguel Pro: Life, Work and Martyrdom - CHSS 014
- Education and Christian Spirituality pt 2 - CHSS 013
- Education and Christian Spirituality pt 1 - CHSS 012
- Augustine on Scripture Theology and Spirituality - CHS 011
- Augustine on Transcendence and Immanence - CHSS 010
- Augustine's Confessions on Prayer - CHSS 09
- Augustine on Providence and Conversion - CHS 008
- The Papacy and Catholic Identity - CHS 007
- St. Augustine on Sinful Clergy, Donatism and the Spiritual Life - CHS 006
- Augustine, Confessions - How God Works in a Life - CHSS 0005
- Augustine, Confessions - Overview - CHSS 00004
- Summary of Benedict XVI Spe Salvi pt 3 - CHS 00003
- 00002 - Benedict XVI, Spe Salvi pt 2
- Benedict XVI Spe Salvi pt 1 - CHSS 00001
- Benedict XVI Spe Salvi pt 1 - CHSS 00001
Related Episodes
 |
To die well, Robert Bellarmine argued, one must live well. The keys to living well are twofold: the virtues and the Seven Sacraments. In this episode, we discuss Bellarmine’s understanding of the theological virtues of faith, hope and charity (love). These three virtues are named theological because they unite the Christian to God more closely than do the other virtues. Bellarmine leaves some succinct observations about faith, hope and love. He provides key definitions and texts from Scripture which substantiate his definitions of these terms. Read More |
 |
Who was St. Cardinal Robert Bellarmine? In this episode, we take a look at the life and work of Cardinal Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621) who was arguably the most learned Catholic theologian and apologist of the sixteenth century. In this mobile edition we talk about the definite impact that Robert Bellarmine had on Protestant-Catholic conversations about the vexing questions of the early modern era, namely, the authority of the pope, the sufficiency of Scripture and the question of justification by faith alone. Join us this week as we discuss the life and work of this extremely important saint and doctor of the church…..Read More |
 |
Prayer is critical for the Christian life. For Robert Bellarmine, prayer performs a multitude of purposes, especially in view of the reality facing each human being–death. From strengthening trust in God to…. Read More |
