Christmas is the birth of Jesus. And right behind that is Charles Dickens story, A Christmas Carol. For me, anyway. One is the reason for the season and the other is the spirit of the season. The movie The Man Who Invented Christmas, opening in theaters, Friday, November 22, chronicles the story behind the classic […]
We as Catholics believe that at death our material bodies are temporarily separated from our non-material souls until the end of time. We believe that at the end of time our bodies will be resurrected and re-united with our souls for eternity. For those who lived righteous lives their reunited bodies and souls will be […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Wisdom 6:12-16 Responsorial: Psalm 63:2-8 2nd Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Gospel: Matthew 25:1-13 Being Alert, Awake, and Ready to Meet the Lord When He Comes Those who were ready went into the wedding feast. (Matthew 25:10) Today’s parable of the ten virgins urges […]
We can all relate to Jonah at times. We want people to get what is coming to them, good or bad- mostly bad- especially if they have hurt us. In this case Jonah wanted Nineveh to fry for the ill-treatment of his people. We’re told in Scripture that “Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Malachi 1:14–2:2, 8-10 Responsorial: Psalm 131:1-3 2nd Reading: 1 Thessalonians 2:7-9, 13 Gospel: Matthew 23:1-12 The Centrality of Love in All Our Relationships With such affection . . .(1 Thessalonians 2:8) Isn’t it remarkable how easy it is to think it’s our job […]
We’ve all heard it before: As long as you believe in Jesus, it doesn’t matter which church you belong to. This commonly-held sentiment makes us feel good, as if we were being friendly and welcoming. It demonstrates a striving for unity, but it is a unity accomplished at the price of truth. Actually, it’s not […]
Forgiveness leads to happiness and the beauty of renewed relationships. It also led to the new movie, Same Kind of Different as Me. Studies show that the happiest people are the ones that can forgive. This movie shows what it looks like to forgive what many consider the unforgivable—an extramarital affair. Based on the New […]
Our hands do many things throughout the course of the day. Mine may type emails, clean a toilet, make cookies, and embroider a dish towel within a 17-hour period (with proper hygienic measures followed, of course). The other afternoon, I had stopped home to our convent to finish up some last minute details; my hands […]
Why isn’t this figure newsworthy?
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Isaiah 25:6-10 Responsorial: Psalm 23 2nd Reading: Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20 Gospel: Matthew 22:1-14 Accepting Jesus’ Invitation to Receive Him in a Deeper Way How is it that you came in here without a wedding garment? (Matthew 22:12) According to Jesus’ parable, some who […]
Christopher Robin and Winnie-the-Pooh are unique among the most widely loved storybook characters of all time. They were actually real. Until I previewed the movie Goodbye Christopher Robin, I did not know that the Winnie-the-Pooh stories by A.A. Milne were based on a real person. And the assortment of animals such as Piglet, Eyore, Tigger, […]
From an anthropological, genetic or physical perspective we are able to determine with a fair degree of accuracy that we have evolved into what we call “Homo Sapiens,” the highest order of development in the animal kingdom. This mostly agrees with Darwin, who theorized that we are animals merely in degree, through evolution. Darwin correctly […]
Fall is here and my mind turns to the angels. As the leaves drop and remind us of our earthly transience, our thoughts settle on the spiritual world which is usually hidden from our senses, the world of Heaven, in which dwell the saints and angels. And so, we celebrate the feasts of the Archangels […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Ezekiel 18:25-28 Responsorial: Psalm 25:4-9 2nd Reading: Philippians 2:1-11 Gospel: Matthew 21:28-32 The Importance of Unity in Christ Have in you the same attitude that is also in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 2:5) Time for a quiz! What will make Paul’s joy “complete” (2:2)? […]
Today is the Feast of the Archangels, specifically Sts. Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, whose proper names are divinely revealed in the Sacred Scriptures. Happy Feast! Angels are beautiful. They are “spiritual, non-corporeal beings” whose existence is “a truth of faith” (CCC #328). They “have intelligence and will: they are personal and immortal creatures, surpassing in perfection […]
The word selfless appears to be an oxymoron at first glance, a contradiction if you will. We are encouraged through Scripture in both the New and Old Testaments on numerous occasions that, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love yourself too much, and risk being an egomaniac and your neighbor is literally invisible much […]
The spate of natural disasters has opposing sides arguing: Global warming! No…chastisements! Is it the final battle where the earth rises up in a heated rage or one where God says enough and shows us that he means it? I am not interested in that debate. Both sides agree that we have messed up. Our […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Isaiah 55:6-9 Responsorial: Psalm 145: 2-3, 8-9, 17-18 2nd Reading: Philippians 1:20-24, 27 Gospel: Matthew 20:1-16 Understanding God’s Justice Compared to Our Human Sense of Justice I will give you what is just. (Matthew 20:4) Let’s talk about justice. The landowner in Jesus’ […]
The first-ever visit of the UN Pilgrim Statue of Fatima to the U.S. capital last week reminded Washingtonians that politics demands principles, and principled leaders. The United Nations Pilgrim Statue of Fatima spent two days at the Shrine of St. John Paul II, accompanied by the relics of two of the visionary children, newly canonized […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Sirach 27:30–28:7 Responsorial: Psalm 103:1-4, 9-12 2nd Reading: Romans 14:7-9 Gospel: Matthew 18:21-35 Responding to God’s Boundless Mercy and Love How often must I forgive? (Matthew 18:21) In his very first Sunday homily as the Holy Father, Pope Francis proclaimed, “This is the […]
THE NUNCIO in Colombia described the Pope’s Sept. 6-10, 2017 trip to Colombia as “the visit of a friend.” That means, explained Archbishop Ettore Balestrero, that the Pope, “like all friends of the Colombians, will ask some searching questions: What are you doing with your life? Are you really happy? What is the meaning of […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Jeremiah 20:7-9 Responsorial: Psalm 63:2-6, 8-9 2nd Reading: Romans 12:1-2 Gospel: Matthew 16:21-27 The Importance of Reasoning in Faith or Thinking as God Does You are thinking . . . (Matthew 16:23) Poor Peter! He had just confessed that Jesus was the “Messiah, […]
By Josue Villalón St. LOUIS HOSPITAL, run by the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Apparition, is located in the city district of Ismailie, in the western part of Aleppo. It is one of the few medical facilities that was left standing in the northern Syrian metropolis after bomb attacks on the city came to […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Isaiah 56:1, 6-7 Responsorial: Psalm 67:2-3, 5-6, 8 2nd Reading: Romans 11:13-15, 29-32 Gospel: Matthew 15:21-28 Making Our Homes a House of Prayer My house shall be called a house of prayer. (Isaiah 56:7) Around the year AD 350, a popular […]
