Imagine being the first to do something great - being on the ground floor of something that lasts way beyond our lifetime.
Today is the Feast of St. Andrew, one of the Twelve Apostles.
He was also the brother of St. Peter, the original “Rock”. 
And he was one of the first to be called and to follow Christ.  [...]

Come & Go

November 27, 2007 | Leave a Comment

Americans can be so arrogant and complacent. 
No, this post isn’t some political diatribe from the U.N., Europe or the “Hate America” crowd.  It’s coming from a red-blooded, patriotic America-is-the-best American.
It’s coming from an American who has read today’s reading from Daniel 2 and today’s gospel from Luke 21.  Both allude to nations rising and nations falling - [...]

Imagine that you are the best at something - anything.  There is none better - you have no equal.  It may be something great - it may be something seemingly minor.  But nevertheless, you are the best at it.
And for each one of us - that something exists - and it’s not insignificant.  God made [...]

The life mission of us all can be summed up in today’s gospel (Luke 23:35-43) by the condemned man being crucified next to Christ - “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom,” he said.  And it’s Christ’s response that should be what we long to hear - “Amen, I say to you, today you will be [...]

Every Thanksgiving growing up, I was responsible for saying grace at Thanksgiving dinner.  I would sit and really reflect on what to say because I wanted it to be perfect.  For some reason, we’ve gotten away from this little tradition (I really don’t know why or when.)
In any case, I still like to reflect on what I would [...]

Yesterday morning, I pulled out of my driveway and turned up the radio.  Within seconds, I knew that Joe Nuxhall had died.  The guys on the radio hadn’t said it yet, but I knew by the way they were talking that Joe was gone.
Joe was a Cincinnati Reds radio announcer for pretty much my entire [...]

I’ve remarked in the past how few saints are known for being mothers.  And it’s a shame because our wives - our children’s mothers - and thousands of generations of mothers who have come before them - perform such a sanctifying role in our children’s lives and our lives that we do them an unforgivable disservice [...]

Wow, I got depressed reading the Cincinnati Enquirer website today.
These are the headlines . . .
“Food Pantries Face Hard Times”
“Verdict Reached in Beheading Case”
“Slaying, Then Credit Card Spree”
“Lure a Kid, Go to Prison”
“Deputy Convicted of Sex Offense”
“Crooks Rob Oakley BP Station”
“UDF Robbed in Norwood”
“Man Shot at Martin’s Bar”
“Two Slain in Home Invasion”
“Gunman Robs Liquor Store”
“Double [...]

The Wisdom of Power

November 14, 2007 | Leave a Comment

Are we the head of a company, department, division, team or organization?
Do we have a leadership position in a company, nonprofit agency or governmental body?
Are we a coach or team captain?
Are we the head of our household, our family?
Then we need to read the Mass reading from today from Wisdom 6: 1-11 and take it [...]

Today the American Church celebrates the life of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini - the first canonized American citizen - and what an incredible life she led.
Born a poor Italian farmgirl in 1850, she went on to found the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart - establishing schools, orphanages, hospitals and similar institutions.  In 1889, she found herself in New [...]

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