Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Deuteronomy 18:15-20 Responsorial: Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9 2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 7:32-35 Gospel: Mark 1:21-28 Opening Our Hearts to Hear Jesus Speaking to Us A new teaching with authority . . . (Mark 1:27) You know when you see empty words. A celebrity issues […]
Which of the two forms of the Roman Rite, as Pope Benedict XVI called them, best encourages active participation, is most emotionally satisfying, and unequivocally equips the worshiper with the graces necessary to confront the modern world? Dr. Peter Kwasniewski’s answer may surprise you. In his book Noble Beauty, Transcendent Holiness: that the Mass of […]
David Perry, the father of a son with Down syndrome, writes, “I’ve spent many years now asserting the need to re-order how we ascribe value to diverse human lives.” St. John Paul II, on the other hand, taught: “Even in the midst of difficulties and uncertainties, every person sincerely open to truth and goodness can, […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Jonah 3:1-5, 10 Responsorial: Psalm 25:4-9 2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 Gospel: Mark 1:14-20 Hearing and Responding to God’s Call to Evangelize Come. (Mark 1:17) Scripture has a way of condensing a lot of information into a few short sentences, and today’s Gospel […]
In my work preparing couples for marriage, I have had to account for the unexpected implosion of a marriage where I was once part of the preparation. Sometimes I hear about the troubles first hand, other times when I see one of them meeting with the Nullity Minister. It saddens me every time when those […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: 1 Samuel 3:3-10, 19 Responsorial: Psalm 40:2, 4, 7-103 2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 6:13-15, 17-20 Gospel: John 1:35-42 The Importance of Learning to hear God’s voice and Saying Yes to Him Samuel ran to Eli and said, “Here I am.” (1 Samuel 3:5) […]
Every person deserves dignity, especially to be recognized as equal creations of God, as we all are. Yet we are created individually and differently, which is a huge part of the challenge presented to us by Jesus in the Second Commandment — to Love our neighbors as ourselves. The only way we are able to […]
Up until now, all has been quite humble. A donkey-ride to a dusty town south of Jerusalem. Hotel rooms all booked up. Giving birth in a stable and laying the baby in a feed trough instead of a cozy cradle. Into this scene of obscure poverty suddenly bursts an exotic entourage from a far-off land. […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Isaiah 60:1-6 Responsorial: Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-13 2nd Reading: Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6 Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12 The Epiphany, A Reminder to Join the Lord in Building his Kingdom Arise! Shine, for your light has come. (Isaiah 60:1) What extravagant promises this reading contains! The […]
MANY PEOPLE in the Ukraine are destitute, especially older people and families. The armed conflict taking place in the eastern part of the country also continues to claim victims. The suffering Church receives both pastoral and material aid. Nonetheless, the Church should not get so wrapped up in its charitable commitments that it forgets that […]
The mother of the messiah has been called many things in the last 2000 years –the Virgin Mary, Our Lady, the Blessed Mother. But call her “the Mother of God,” and you’ll see some Christians squirm. This is nothing new. One day in the early fifth century, a priest preached a stirring sermon in the […]
