As long as we are faithful to prayer, we maintain a clarity of vision that promotes higher ideals and elevated standards of conduct. ... The more we pray, the more its fruits nourish our daily lives. John Chrysostom once wrote: “Prayer i … [Read more...]
Articles
Spirituality for Widows
June 10, 2013 by Ronda Chervin, PhD
In the New Testament, widows flourish in their ministry as they draw close to Christ and to Christ’s people. They are free to follow the Crucified One ... Concerning widows in the early Church ... some of them constituted the first form of c … [Read more...]
Holy Communion: Sharing in the Threefold Munus of the Divine Gladiator
June 7, 2013 by Fr. Andreas Hoeck, SSD
The Church early on espoused munus to designate the triple character or office of the God-Man, Jesus Christ: he is at the same time Priest, Prophet and King or Shepherd. Gladiators fighting to the death; Christ's glorious resurrection … [Read more...]
Vocation for the Wives of Ordained Permanent Deacons
June 6, 2013 by Mary Gannon Kaufmann, MA, MS
Women who pray for the Church, and who are spouses of permanent deacons (or those in formation), are undoubtedly responding to a unique grace of personal mission that comes to them as a result of their baptism. I was at a retreat in … [Read more...]
Discernment and Communion
June 6, 2013 by Fr. Bryce Sibley
If young people want to properly discern a vocation, they need an expert to help guide them. In the Church of San Luigi Dei Francesi in Rome, there are the three famous paintings of the life of St. Matthew by the great Baroque artist … [Read more...]
June is Vocations Month
June 6, 2013 by David Vincent Meconi
Congratulations! Our prayers and best wishes to all those ordained to the priesthood and the diaconate this month, and all those taking final vows for religious life! May God bless you and be … [Read more...]
Change and permanence
May 22, 2013 by Fr. Kenneth Baker, SJ
The Catholic Church has always seemed to me to be like the solid Rock of Gibralter — stable and permanent. Even though we live in a world of constant change and are able to adapt ourselves to it, most of us feel more at home with t … [Read more...]
An Ignatian Bishop of Rome
May 22, 2013 by Gregory Vall
Like Bergoglio’s choice of the name Francis—after the Poverello of Assisi rather than the Jesuit Francis Xavier—the phrase “presides in charity” and its evocation of “the other Ignatius” may turn out to be interpretive keys to the unpretenti … [Read more...]
Thinking as a Christian with Josef Pieper
May 20, 2013 by Matthew Anger
In an age when society is again becoming highly polarized, it is important to remember that the lack of real communication causes a breakdown in civility, and an increase in ignorance. During his long lifetime, Josef Pieper (1904-1997) … [Read more...]
Questions Answered
May 16, 2013 by Fr. Brian Mullady, OP
Is it true that Hell is not a permanent condition? Are there any clear statements in Scripture that homosexuality is a sin and unnatural? Question: Is it true that Hell is not a permanent condition? Answer: The question of the e … [Read more...]
Homily After the Boston Marathon Bombings
May 6, 2013 by Fr. Mark Yavarone, OMV
In a moment, the whole thing was changed into a secular Good Friday. A bloody, savage assault on the life of the innocent, complete with nails going through flesh after the bombs exploded. Once you’ve been a priest for a while, you st … [Read more...]
Four Rocks in a Garden
May 5, 2013 by Thomas W. Jodziewicz
In the garden are four small rocks, each inscribed with a capitalized word: BELIEVE, HOPE, TRUST, WAIT ... If the small garden ... can imaginatively serve to suggest the divine “grandeur”; how might one order the realities represented by th … [Read more...]
Getting a Grip on Gossip
May 4, 2013 by Dr. Joseph R. Hollcraft
The Church reminds us that we have the obligation to correct our brother’s fault for the sake of righteousness out of love ... We are called to do this in a spirit of gentleness and humility. A First Down Broadmoor Drive Growing up in a … [Read more...]
Same-Sex Marriage and the Natural Law
May 3, 2013 by Rev. Robert A. O'Donnell, CSP
The vertical dimension of human existence links man to his Creator. He is made in the image of God, intelligent and free. ... It is because man is a contingent, finite, intelligent, free creature of God that he is responsible to him for his … [Read more...]
The Beatitudes and the Gospel of Luke
May 2, 2013 by J. Jacob Tawney
And he, lifting up his eyes on his disciples, said: “Blessed are ye poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are ye that hunger now; for you shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now, for you shall laugh. Blessed shall you be wh … [Read more...]
Recent Comments