The Roman god Janus had two faces, facing in different directions, so he could see what was coming and what was going. The Romans named the first month of the year, January, in his honor. Perhaps it might have been more appropriate to have named just this week January, for the end of the year, […]
It’s that time again — time to predict trends for the new year. Prognosticators from every sector are saturating cyberspace with predictions in virtually every arena, including politics and economics, climate, technology, education, recreation and fashion. But my favorite trends to watch are in an arena that probably shouldn’t be trendy at all: parenting. For […]
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 […]
You Tore a Page You tore a page from Job to roll a cigarette And as you tore the flesh of God from Him So from your dying body will be torn your limb You bragged of how you burned away The flesh of God from the body of His name So will those who […]
Several churches in northern Nigeria were bombed December 25, in what has been described as “Nigeria’s blackest Christmas ever.” The attacks, perpetrated by the Muslim militant group Boko Haram, killed at least 39 people, “the majority dying on the steps of a Catholic church [in Madalla near the capital of Abuja] after celebrating Christmas Mass […]
A few years ago I went to the Christmas Eve Mass and the priest was an old retired priest who seemed to ramble or maybe I was too tired to follow him. Nevertheless, one word struck me and has stuck with me: the word was awe. Can you imagine the awe the shepherds felt? An […]
I have heard countless times that parents that undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF) must love their children so very much to go through such an expensive and invasive process to have children. I have no doubt that parents undergoing IVF believe they are doing what is best, but looking at the realities of IVF that […]
After being married for almost two and a half years, I’m not sure men really “get” the power of stories. Perhaps it’s that difference in our brains — you know, the women’s-brains-are-like-spaghetti, men’s-brains-are-like-waffles theory. Whatever the cause, all I know is that when my husband has something to report to me, he generally does so […]
Sanctuary Stars To all my friends I cannot see I’ll pray for you On bended knee On Christmas morn At stable’s side Where Christ the King Once did abide. Amidst the stench Of creatures low Yet star above Sent down its glow. First Sanctuary light Bold thing A beacon for The hidden King. And when […]
Dear Cardinals, Brother Bishops and Priests, dear Brothers and Sisters, The occasion that brings us together today is always particularly moving. The holy feast of Christmas is almost upon us and it prompts the great family of the Roman Curia to come together for a gracious exchange of greetings, as we wish one another a […]
“Joy to the World…” You have and will hear this phrase many times during the Christmas season. Often, people translate that into what God has done for the world. That is true. But, what about you? When the Angel Gabriel came to Mary to announce that Mary had been chosen by God to be the […]
When I heard that Meryl Streep would portray Margaret Thatcher in an upcoming film, I was immediately interested, assuming that The Iron Lady would examine the legacy of the Conservative heroine. I was wrong. In 1976, Margaret Thatcher, then the leader of the British Conservative Party, was dubbed by the Soviets “The Iron Lady” for […]
What’s worse than being a statistic? Not even being counted. That’s what is likely to happen to a 42-year old woman who, The Age reports, died last week after a legal abortion at a Marie Stopes International clinic in Australia. Since Australia allows abortion, this will fall into the “safe abortion” category by some researchers […]
Do you ever feel like going out on the front porch and yelling, “Christmas didn’t end on December 26!” While the focus turns to New Year’s Eve, festivities continue for a few more days. In the meantime, the discount bins start filling with Christmas leftovers and the radio stations go back to their typical fare. […]
On Christmas Eve On Christmas Eve, I heard from an old neighbor He called to thank me for a Christmas card I’d sent (How touched I was by his gratefulness) This Godfather to my child At 87 years old, talked about how his wife, In the nursing home, still had her wonderful smile We shared old […]
“For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things” (Romans 11:36). “I do not endeavor, O Lord, to penetrate Your sublimity, for in no wise do I compare my understanding with that; but I long to understand in some degree Your truth, which my heart believes and loves. For I do not […]
I came home the other day to hear the news from my children: the President of the United States had sent a letter to a “gay” couple in Brooklyn on the occasion of their recent “nuptials.” This forced a conversation that I would rather have postponed – my youngest child being eight years old – […]
As a young adult I was pretty sure about the calling God had in my life. I met the girl that I would end up marrying and knew we would raise a family. I thought about religious life but had a longing for a family. I look at my life now with a beautiful bride, […]
Today on this feast of the Holy Innocents, let’s review why it is impossible to make the claim that you care about the poor or about social justice or about human rights and yet vote for anyone who supports abortion. Those claims are diametrically opposed. It is just a ludicrous as insisting that Herod cared […]
After the most recent GOP presidential debate, reasonable people can disagree as to who came out on top. It was abundantly clear, however, who was smothered beneath the pile. As Ron Paul waxed naive from his perch in Sioux City, Iowa, on issues ranging from foreign policy to judicial activism, one could almost hear his […]
The Nazareth Mines When Rome was Of the world – And Master Moon Was free – And Mistress Midnight Bedizened – In show-star Finery. A tiny sparkle Caught, Miss Mistress Midnight’s Eye – And captured Master Moon, Who paled And gasped a sigh – But Rome, still Of the world, Had doctors observe Ceiling signs […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Numbers 6:22-27; Psalm 67:2-3,5-6,8; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:16-21) Living Our Lives as Beloved Sons or Daughters of Our Heavenly Father When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman … so that we might receive adoption (Galatians 4:4-5). Our mothers usually know […]
At this time of year, we long to welcome the Christ child into our trembling hearts, these empty mangers aching to be filled; for it is in a child that we first see the face of God in humanity, and through His shocking act of humility that we begin to see ourselves in Him. Blessed […]
Charley had a secret. A secret he had been holding for several months. It was a secret which would bring great happiness, he thought, if people only knew. Charley’s family was suffering. Dad was out of a job. Mom was suffering from an illness, but they really couldn’t figure out what was happening to her. […]
