Jun
30
Happy Mid-Year!
June 30, 2008 | Leave a Comment
It seems like just yesterday that we started the new year, yet here we are at the midpoint. I’m finding myself trying to look back over the past six months and figure out whether I’ve done what God expected of me.
Sometimes, I wish God would give us a performance evaluation. We all have to suffer [...]
Jun
29
The Pauline Jubilee
June 29, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Today begins the Pauline Year - a year-long jubilee dedicated to St. Paul, apostle to the Gentiles; apostle to us.
I’m hoping to get a great deal out of this celebration over the coming year. St. Paul has so much to teach us.
These are some sites to get us started -
Vatican
Catholic Culture
Tarsus Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Jun
28
“The Eucharist Is Not a Meal Among Friends”
June 28, 2008 | Leave a Comment
I haven’t seen too much written about the Holy Father’s homily at the closing Mass for the International Eucharistic Congress in Quebec. So here it is. Good stuff.
“While you are gathered for the 49th International Eucharistic Congress, I am happy to join you through the medium of satellite and thus unite myself to your prayer. [...]
Jun
27
The Angelus
June 27, 2008 | Leave a Comment
One of these days, I’m going to write a book about forgotten traditions in the Church. It seems that I am writing a great deal about traditions and devotions that I didn’t know about until I really started paying attention a couple years ago.
I came across another example today.
My kids have been in vacation bible school all [...]
Jun
26
“Respect in God’s House”
June 26, 2008 | 2 Comments
I went to weekday Mass the other day. As it wasn’t my parish, I picked up a bulletin on my out to find out what was going on in this particular parish. I found the following treatise written by the music director. It’s some pretty good stuff. Keep in mind that St. Gabriel’s has a [...]
Jun
25
Forgetting God’s Law
June 25, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Imagine not knowing the law - especially the law as passed down by God.
In today’s first reading (2 Kings 22), King Josiah sent his aide, Shaphan, to the temple to collect some money owed the royal treasury. When he got there, Hilkiah, the high priest, lets him know that he found the ”book of the law.” [...]
Jun
24
St. John the Baptist
June 24, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Today is the Solemnity of the Birth of St. John the Baptist. The fact that we celebrate this feast as a a solemnity (which is ranked higher than all other feast days) and the fact that we celebrate the birth of St. John the Baptist (usually a feast day occurs on the anniversary of the [...]
Jun
23
Holding Hands with Grandma
June 23, 2008 | Leave a Comment
My grandma broke her hip late last week. On Friday, they went in, operated on the hip, and put a steel rod in her thigh. She came through the surgery well-enough but started to experience renal failure over the weekend. In other words, she isn’t knocking on death’s door as of yet, but she is [...]
Jun
22
St. Thomas More
June 22, 2008 | Leave a Comment
In the Common of Holy Men in the Liturgy of the Hours, there are two parts that always get me fired up.
One is a hymn that goes something like -
“Rise up, O men of God! Have done with lesser things, Give heart, and soul, and mind, and strength to serve the King of kings.
Rise up, O men [...]
Jun
21
St. Aloysius Gonzaga
June 21, 2008 | Leave a Comment
We have much to learn from St. Aloysius Gonzaga (Italy, 1568-1591). He was a child of one of the most powerful families in Italy. He could have indulged in the luxuries of the time but chose instead to follow Christ.
He joined the Jesuits as a teenager and at times was almost too zealous in his [...]
