As we draw nearer to Lent, the Church gives us an image of the basic truth and goal of Lent in the parable of the Prodigal Son. This is perhaps the quintessential parable of repentance, yet the theme of repentance does not exhaust its meaning. As we will see, it is not enough to receive [...]
We have lately been reading in the refectory a book entitled A Song for Nagasaki, by Fr Paul Glynn, which is the story of Catholic convert and A-bomb survivor Tagashi Nagai. It is an inspiring read, but my intention here is not to review the book. One learns something of Japanese history and culture in [...]
There’s a lot being said these days about Divine Mercy, and rightly so, since that is our only hope for salvation. Sometimes, though, the message of mercy is given in such a way that it seems to reduce the gravity of sin and thus to make God seem like little more than a sort of [...]
First of all, thanks go to Jennifer at Conversion Diary for directing me to the Totus Tuus Ministries site where I found the post on root sins, on which the following reflections are based (pardon his spelling errors when you get there). I guess you could just go there right now and I wouldn’t have [...]
I was recently given a copy of a wonderful little book written by the foundress of a Poor Clare Abbey, Mother Mary Francis, PCC. It’s wonderful, that is, if you like being (or are aware that you need to be) challenged to go beyond what you thought possible for you. A recurring theme is that [...]
We have now liturgically taken leave of both Christmas and Theophany, but the Church allows us no rest before the next event on the liturgical calendar. Today she already directs our attention toward Lent, with the first of its five preparatory Sundays. Lent is our journey toward Pascha, and today begins our journey toward Lent. [...]
There must be a lot of children of the devil out there. I say this because Jesus called the devil “a liar and the father of lies” (Jn. 8:44). For many of us, the devil is not our father. Maybe he’s just our great uncle or second cousin. But I think it would be hard [...]
A friend of mine, being aware, I suppose, of my dire need for help of every sort, did something quite thoughtful, charitable, and unique for me: she got me a new patron saint for the new year. It’s really quite easy to do, I discovered, and I think it’s quite a good idea. You just [...]
Some time ago I re-read The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne (though it was as if the first time—the last time was in high school). Ignatius Press has published a series of critical editions of American and English classics, and this is one of them. Hawthorne is really a great writer, something that was totally [...]
St Paul concludes the section from his letter to St Titus selected for today’s feast of the Theophany of our Lord (2:11-14; 3:4-7) by saying that we have become “heirs in hope of eternal life.” What is eternal life? Just before He went to his Passion Jesus told us, in his prayer to the Father: [...]
