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

22

St. Rita of Cascia & Baseball - My New Favorite Saint

May 22, 2008 | Leave a Comment

I think I might have a new favorite saint.  St. Rita of Cascia is new to the U.S. liturgical calendar even though she lived in the 15th Century and was canonized in 1900.  Why the Church waited so long to canonize her and then get her on our calendar is beyond me because I fell in [...]

May

15

St. Isidore - Working & Praying

May 15, 2008 | Leave a Comment

St. Isidore was quite a character. 
A simple farmer from the 12th Century who worked for the same rich guy all of his life.  He went to Mass every day, visited churches on holidays, prayed behind the plow, served the poor, cared for animals, and married a peasant girl who also became a saint herself.
Not bad for a [...]

May

14

Matthias, Welcome to the Club!

May 14, 2008 | Leave a Comment

We’ve all walked into a group where we were the outsider - where everyone seemed to know each other and had their bond and we were left wondering what we needed to do to get into the circle.
So, imagine St. Matthias and his entry into the “Apostles Club.”  Christ had just ascended into heaven and the eleven [...]

May

8

“Take Courage”

May 8, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Sometimes, I find myself really focused on one group of saints - those who saw Mary, saints, angels and Christ himself.  Is there a greater afffirmation of faith - to get to believe and to see?
I was thinking about these apparitions in reading today’s first reading (Acts 22).  St. Paul is in prison, yet again, and we [...]

May

1

St. Joseph - Our Perfect Role Model

May 1, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Could God have made a better role model for Dads than St. Joseph?
He was a perfect husband and father.  He was a tireless and dedicated worker. 
Husband, Father, Worker - the three roles that define who we are and what we need to excel at each and every day.
Today is the Feast Day of St. Joseph [...]

Apr

29

St. Catherine - Now That’s a Woman!

April 29, 2008 | Leave a Comment

I knew nothing about St. Catherine of Siena until I decided to do some reading last night knowing that today is the her feast day.  What I learned floored me.  This woman was incredible!  Just read this short synopsis of her life achievements from Catholic.org -
The 25th child of a wool dyer in northern Italy, [...]

Apr

8

Hearing What We Don’t Want to Hear

April 8, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Tough Comments 
Today’s first reading (Acts 7) has St. Stephen telling it straight to the people of Jerusalem.  They get so ticked off by what he has to say and how close he is to the truth that they go after him.
So, what does he have to say?  “you stiff-necked people” - ”uncircumcised in heart and ears” [...]

Apr

7

Our Kids’ Teachers

April 7, 2008 | Leave a Comment

St. John the Baptist de la Salle & Our Kids’ Teachers 
During the school year, the average dad spends maybe 3 hours a weekday with their kids.  The teachers of their kids spend at least 7 hours with them.  Who has the greater influence on them? 
So, with this in mind, let’s ask ourselves - how well do [...]

Mar

30

What is Mercy?

March 30, 2008 | Leave a Comment

As I was growing up in foster homes and an orphanage, I developed a well-honed sense of guilt and the anxiety that comes from doing something wrong.  I lived with the fear that if I screwed up, there was always the chance that I would be shipped off somewhere else.
Even after I was adopted, I couldn’t shake [...]

« go back — keep looking »