Prayer
“After Jesus had been taken up to heaven the apostles returned to Jerusalem.” There, “they went to the upper room” (first reading for this 7th Sunday of Easter) The upper room is where they had gathered with Jesus after his…
Read MoreThis is the third article in my series based on my reading of the Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis De Sales. The first article was “What Does It Mean to be Devout?” followed by “Purification in the…
Read More30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year CSirach 35:12-14, 16-18Psalm 34:2-3, 17-18, 19, 23 (7a)2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18Luke 18:9-14October 23, 2022 Once again Jesus tells a parable, this time “to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone…
Read MoreAs I write this, I am almost done with some time off. When I write “time off” I suspect the word “vacation” probably comes to mind for many of you. What is the purpose of a vacation? When I think…
Read MoreIt is necessary for us “to pray always without become weary.” Today Jesus tells a parable of a woman who persists in her request. She is awaiting a decision from a judge. The judge, “who neither feared God nor respected…
Read More28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C2 Kings 5:14-17Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4 (see 2b)2 Timothy 2:8-13Luke 17:11-19October 9, 2022 Naaman was a great soldier, serving as commander in his king’s army. He was also a leper. He had sought a…
Read MoreLast Sunday, we heard of Abraham’s hospitality to the Lord. At that point, Abraham did not know it was the Lord. Now (17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C) the Lord says to Abraham, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah…
Read MoreAfter 3 1/2 months without doing a webinar/presentation, I am happy to announce that I have scheduled a webinar for Thursday, August 25th, at 6:30 pm. called “Praying the Rosary From the Heart.” Here is a description of what I…
Read MoreAs I continue my series of articles offering some reflections based on my reading of Judith Valente’s book, How to Live: What the Rule of St. Benedict Teaches Us About Happiness, Meaning, and Community (Charlottesville, VA: Hampton Roads Publishing. 2018) (See my…
Read MoreLast week I wrote an article about new year’s resolutions (“A New Beginning”). Today I will share some thoughts about what we might be looking forward to in 2022. I think the thing most obvious thing that we would all…
Read MoreLast night I offered the third and final webinar in my series, Giving Our Hearts to God: What It Means to Pray. You can view the recording of this webinar and see the slides at www.renewaloffaith.org/prayer2021partIII. The recording is 1…
Read MoreI just uploaded the recording of the second webinar in my new series on prayer, Giving Our Hearts to God: What It Means to Pray. You can view the view and see the slides at www.renewaloffaith.org/prayer2021partII. This presentation focuses on Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving, and…
Read MoreI just uploaded the recording of the first webinar in my new series on prayer, Giving Our Hearts to God: What It Means to Pray. You can view the view and see the slides at www.renewaloffaith.org/prayer2021partI. Here’s a description for…
Read MoreIn previous articles like, “What’s in the News,” I have written about why I think it is important to follow the news. Watching the news we typically hear more discouraging news than uplifting news. Recently, I have begun trying to…
Read MoreIn my last blog article, “In Struggles We Find Hope,” I reflected on my recent reading of St. Joseph and His World by Mike Aquilina (New York: Scepter Publishers. 2020). Continuing on the theme of the Year of St. Joseph called for…
Read MoreFinally, I have the details for my next series of presentations! It will be a series on prayer called, Giving our Hearts to God: What It Means to Pray. Now, I don’t profess to be an expert on prayer. In…
Read MoreIf it is worth doing, it is worth doing well. I am referring to our celebration of the Mass. It is certainly worth doing! The Eucharist is the source and summit of our Catholic faith (Lumen Gentium, 11). We know…
Read MoreAs I settle into a new rectory, I look to shape the space in which I will pray. This rectory has enough rooms that I am able to dedicate a whole room to prayer and God. Many people may not…
Read MoreIn the Lord’s Prayer we pray “thy will be done.” We say it but do we mean it? Are we willing to completely set aside our own will to completely abandon ourselves to God’s Will? I would like to use…
Read MoreAfter we confessing our sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and receiving a penance, we say an Act of Contrition. This expresses our sorrow for our sins. We say the Act of Contrition as part of the ritual of the…
Read MoreWhen I pray, there are two images I like to use. They are images of the same thing. The first image is: and the second image is: One might look at these images and say, “Father, they are not images…
Read MoreIn our Catholic faith, we have two formal creeds, the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed. However, having two creeds does not mean we profess two different faiths. The two creeds are very similar in their content (you can see…
Read MoreWe are called to pray. Jesus spent time in prayer. If Jesus prayed, then all the more we need to. When you read the word “prayer”, what comes to mind? Is the Rosary the first thing that comes to mind?…
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