You have no doubt focused on the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit in preparing for your reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of God… the emphasis being on the word “gifts.” They are free to you. But they are not cheap giveaways. You may have heard […]
The pain of infertility or impaired fertility comes in more than one form. The first is the obvious suffering of the couple who wants so badly to have a child but, for whatever reason, is unable to. The second is the judgment of others in their Catholic community. I’ve experienced this first-hand, despite having three […]
It is fitting to celebrate Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. We rejoice to see the holy city roll out the red carpet and hail Jesus as the promised Messiah. The problem is, however, that the only crown they gave their king was a crown of thorns. This week the Church recalls a […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Acts 1:1-11 2nd Reading: Ephesians 1:17-23 Responsorial: Psalm 47:2-3, 6-9 Gospel: Matthew 28:16-20 Jesus, Seated at the Right Hand of the Father, is Worthy of Our Praise . . far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion, and every name that is named […]
Our grandchild was over for the night and she brought her dolls with her. We had no daughter so It was interesting for me to watch from a distance to see how she was caught up in the moment, a fantasy that was transformed into a reality that quickly absorbed all her senses. Before discounting […]
Confessional Now that I kneel at the throne, O Queen, Pity and pardon me. Much have I striven to sing the same, Brother of beast and tree; Yet when the stars catch me alone Never a linnet sings- And the blood of a man is a bitter voice And cries for foolish things. Not for […]
The Trump administration announced additional restrictions on abortion funding in foreign aid this week, in effect neutralizing U.S. complicity in the proliferation of global abortion. The State Department announced that effective May 15th, $8.8 billion in global health assistance would fall under Mexico City Policy guidelines, prohibiting most foreign non-government organizations (NGOs) that perform or […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Acts 8:5-8, 14-17 2nd Reading: 1 Peter 3:15-18 Responsorial: Psalm 66:1-7, 16, 20 Gospel: John 14:15-21 Resisting Satan’s Temptations and Harassments There was great joy in that city. (Acts 8:8) Today’s first reading tells us three things: evil exists (Acts 8:7); we have […]
Conservative human rights groups are increasingly alarmed about a new funding proposal to combat human trafficking around the world. They are concerned also about the groups that seem to have gotten the ear of the White House, specifically Ivanka Trump, who appears to be quarterbacking the White House position. The immediate issue is the End […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Acts 6:1-7 2nd Reading: 1 Peter 2:4-9 Responsorial: Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19 Gospel: John 14:1-12 Trusting in the Lord’s Great Love during Difficult Times Do not let your hearts be troubled. (John 14:1) There is no way anyone in the upper room was […]
“Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church” (Colossians 1:24). Redemptive suffering. It is that mysterious but incredible reality that the suffering God allows into our lives, when accepted and lived with […]
My God is King How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the one bringing good news, Announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation, saying to Zion, “Your God is King!” ‘Neath a sapphire sky window to heaven John guided his Master smoothly up mountain, Peter kicked an ancient stone, Ascending the path zig-zagged. […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Acts 2:14, 36-41 2nd Reading: 1 Peter 2:20-25 Responsorial: Psalm 23:1-6 Gospel: John 10:1-10 What It Means to be “Cut to the Heart” by the Gospel Message They were cut to the heart. (Acts 2:37) Here it was, Peter’s very first sermon, and […]
I Am Pleased to be in Your Service If I am, why am I, God? What is my purpose? What deeds lie ahead of me on this road? Will they be wondrous or cowardly acts? Will they bring praise or condemnation? Could either serve Your purpose? Whatever You have in store, Whatever is Your will […]
My knowledge of the Angelus prayer was minimal at best before reading Praying the Angelus by Jared Dees (Ave Maria Press, 2017). I doubt that I am alone in that regard. Dees, a high school theology teacher, describes his own confusion when first listening to the Angelus in Latin when in Rome and then learning […]
May I cannot tell you how it was; But this I know: it came to pass Upon a bright and breezy day When May was young; ah, pleasant May! As yet the poppies were not born Between the blades of tender corn; The last eggs had not hatched as yet, Nor any bird forgone its […]
