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

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

18

Falling & Staying Away

June 18, 2008 | 2 Comments

I had an interesting conversation with a friend of mine last night.  He lives in a different town so we get together about once a year and talk about once a month. 
He is a cradle Catholic who left the cocoon a long time ago.  I’ve never gotten the feeling that spirituality plays any part in [...]

Jun

17

Tim Russert

June 17, 2008 | 1 Comment

I’ve been thinking about writing about Tim Russert’s death and the role that his faith played in his life and work, but I’ve been putting it off for some reason.  Maybe, it’s just my current jaundiced view of journalists wouldn’t allow my creative juices to get flowing.
But this was a rather remarkable man.  He was a [...]

Jun

7

It’s Festival Time

June 7, 2008 | Leave a Comment

This weekend is our parish festival.  I have always loved festivals because they involve a large portion of the parish coming together to work and have fun.
I love the excited anticipation in the eyes of the kids.  I love the way the place looks, sounds, smells, epecially after dark.  I love dealing blackjack and drinking beer.  I [...]

Jun

5

The Holy Father, Matthew & Maurice

June 5, 2008 | Leave a Comment

The Knights of Columbus ran a poll to gauge the views of Catholics in America in the wake of the Holy Father’s April visits.  The following is a summary of the findings -
 
Poll: Big Shift Among Practicing and Non-Practicing Catholics After Papal Visit - More likely to vote, better understand Church teaching, and say trip met [...]

May

31

The Visitation

May 31, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Today is the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  The story is told in Luke 1 and gives us two great prayers.
The first great prayer is the second part of the Hail Mary.  The first part of Ave Maria is taken from the Annunciation when St. Gabriel cries out -
Hail Mary, full of [...]

May

30

Sacred Heart & A Prayer for Priests

May 30, 2008 | 1 Comment

Today is a great day for prayer. 
First, we have the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.  We should pray that we become aware of all the ways that Christ loves us and that we grow in faith so that we are able to show our love for him - that we are able to join our hearts [...]

May

24

Our Lady of Sheshan

May 24, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Today is the World Day of Prayer for the Church in China - enough said.  Imagine - 1.3 billion souls just waiting for the Holy Spirit.
Here’s the Holy Father’s Prayer to Our Lady of Sheshan -

Virgin Most Holy, Mother of the Incarnate Word and our Mother,
venerated in the Shrine of Sheshan under the title “Help of [...]

May

17

Locked Churches

May 17, 2008 | Leave a Comment

In the past few years, as I’ve started making the effort to lead a more meaningful prayer life, I have found myself wanting more and more to pray in church.  It’s always the place where I most feel the Spirit and the presence of Christ, Mary and the saints.  It’s where I feel at home, regardless [...]

« go back — keep looking »