[Just when I thought I was out of recyclable articles, I found another one! Just in time, too, since my brain is in need of recharging.] That may be the title of a popular ‘60s song, but it also expresses an essential element of the spiritual life, one which must be engaged in repeatedly, or [...]
After the post-feast of Easter and Pentecost—concluding the great paschal mystery of Christ—the Church begins anew her cycle of Sunday Gospels with the calling of the first disciples as recounted by St Matthew. Likewise, after the post-feast of the late-summer “pascha” of the Holy Cross, the Church begins anew her cycle of Sunday Gospels with [...]
You may have noticed over the past few weeks that I’ve included in certain posts some insights gained from “a footnote in my Bible.” Well, I’d like to say something about this Bible, since it is a fairly recent acquisition. It is called the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: New Testament, published by (you guessed it) [...]
It may seem at times that our nation and our world are “out of control,” that things are moving irrevocably in an unfavorable (to say the least) direction, and that we, and at least the next several generations, are going to be stuck with a world full of tyranny, corruption, immorality, godlessness, loss of freedom, [...]
On September 11, 2001, an Islamic jihad murdered at least 3000 American citizens on our own soil, causing immense human sorrow, economic loss, and national humiliation. Now how do you think that event was commemorated in the Catholic cathedral in Sacramento, CA, in 2010? By holding a service to bless the Koran, of course—even though [...]
Last week I published a post on praying for the dying, so that sinners might be saved at the last minute through the mercy of God. Well, I have what I think is some good news, because from all indications this just happened about a week ago. (All the names in the following account have [...]
Today I am called to preach the Gospel of the Cross, the “word of the Cross,” as St Paul says in the epistle for this feast of the Exaltation of the Precious and Life-giving Cross (1Cor. 1:18-24). This word, this gospel, this message and teaching concerning the Cross of Jesus Christ, is “folly to those [...]
The death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ are of the essence of the Christian faith and are indispensable for our salvation and hope for eternal life. Therefore the Church celebrates these mysteries constantly throughout the year. Every Sunday is dedicated to the Resurrection, and every Wednesday and Friday to the Cross. We celebrate [...]
It was recently suggested to me, by someone who has sent me some names for the “mop-up list” (see link in sidebar; see also Save a Soul Today), that I read the book, Devotion for the Dying, by Mother Mary Potter, an English nun and the foundress of the religious order The Little Company of [...]
On this holy and glorious feast of the Nativity of the Mother of God, when all creation is singing, I decided that I would preach about suffering and exile and curses. But we’ll get to the joy and blessings by the time we’re finished. We start off in the position—at least where Joachim and Anne [...]
