A few years ago there was a movie about Pope Benedict meeting Cardinal Bergoglio, the future Pope Francis. While the movie did not treat Pope Benedict kindly it was accurate in sketching out the two varied visions of Church which each prelate held. Pope Benedict was looking to have a “purer” church even if that… Read More »
DECEMBER122022
For the first thousand years or so of Christianity Mary seems to have been content to remain in heaven. In the thirteenth century Mary is supposed to have given St. Simon Stock the brown scapula as the foundation of the Carmelites and to St. Dominic she is reported to have given the rosary. It is… Read More »
DECEMBER112022
Have you ever noticed that Jesus very seldom answered a question directly? Who is my neighbor? A man was traveling down to Jericho when he was attacked by robbers… Should we pay the tax or not? Whose image and inscription is on the coin of tribute? Are you the king of the Jews? The reason… Read More »
DECEMBER102022
Many years ago when I was (not very successfully) being trained as a catechist I shadowed Sister Mary in her classroom one day. The children started acting up but instead of yelling for them to quiet down Sister started saying in a wee, small voice “You’re going to miss it.” As she walked around the… Read More »
DECEMBER92022
No matter what you do, you are going to be criticized. Let’s face it, if they criticized Jesus they are going to criticize you. John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said, ‘He is possessed by a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they said, ‘Look, he is a glutton… Read More »
DECEMBER82022
Catholics have a great reverence for the Blessed Virgin Mary. There are eighteen feast days dedicated to Mary on the liturgical calendar — and that is not counting the numerous local feasts that are important to particular people. Today’s feast, the Immaculate Conception, was officially promulgated by Pope Pius IX in 1854. It commemorates the… Read More »
DECEMBER72022
Jesus asks us to make a trade — our yoke for his. “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me … for my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” We carry our yoke when we are filled with the worries, anxieties, fears, regrets, resentments, angers that ordinarily make up our world. All of… Read More »
DECEMBER62022
In the first thirty-nine chapters of his book, the prophet Isaiah constantly fusses with the people, seeking to get them to conversion, change, reform. In chapter 40 the message shifts: Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her service is at an end, her… Read More »
DECEMBER52022
A book a few years ago described the “silent witnesses in the gospels” who step onto the stage without any lines but have a profound impact nonetheless. One example are the men who brought the paralyzed man to Jesus. St. Luke says: When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “As for you, your sins are… Read More »
DECEMBER42022
You have probably heard the old joke: How many psychologists does it take to change a light bulb? Just one — but the light bulb has to want to change. Change, conversion, repentance was the theme of the preaching of John the Baptist. John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea and saying,… Read More »
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