http://theophilus.stblogs.com How One American Catholic Family Man Sees His World - "Lord, show me your ways. Teach me to walk in your footsteps." Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:36:01 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Fr. Mark Burger is the pastor of St. John the Evangelist parish in West Chester, Ohio.  He is also a renowned speaker and retreat leader.  He appears annually at the Cincinnati Men's Conference and always leaves us pondering whether we are truly listening to the voice of God that is ... http://theophilus.stblogs.com/2009/11/18/hearing-gods-voice/ In the early nineties, I toured Berlin and stood at what was left of the Berlin Wall.  I was actually kind of amazed because it was just a wall - a man made edifice that we use to hold up structures and tame hillsides.  But, this wall was something more ... http://theophilus.stblogs.com/2009/11/09/the-berlin-wall-the-freedom-of-spirit/ With All Saints Day falling on a Sunday this year, it's brought to mind a pattern I've been noticing this year. Every Sunday, I look to the liturgical week ahead, specifically the readings and saints.  In doing so this past year, I've noticed a number of popular saints that have had ... http://theophilus.stblogs.com/2009/11/01/the-preempted-saints-of-2009/ The 40 Days for Life Fall Campaign is coming to an end on Sunday.  The organizers keep a "babies saved" account which counts the number of babies saved (at least for the moment) by their prayer vigils.  This number represents the number of women who come to the abortion clinic ... http://theophilus.stblogs.com/2009/10/29/abortion-some-choice/ One of the things that I admire about our Evangelical Christian brethren is their zeal for Christ and their lack of shyness in showing it.  Come on, face it, most Catholics are, at best, reserved and introspective about our faith in Christ. We don't talk about our faith in social settings; ... http://theophilus.stblogs.com/2009/10/24/st-anthony-claret-christian-zeal/ I finally did it this Sunday - my son was in RFY and the rest of my family was seated in the pew - before the procession began.  First time in a long time that I can remember preceding Father in on Sunday, instead of the other way around. The great ... http://theophilus.stblogs.com/2009/10/20/the-obligation-of-mass/ There is always a great deal of attention paid when the Church, specifically through our bishops, speak out against abortion.  It gets especially interesting when the Church tries to instruct those Catholics who support abortion, either directly or indirectly. What is generally lost in this debate is a discussion as to ... http://theophilus.stblogs.com/2009/10/15/catholic-catechism-abortion/ Today is the feast day for Our Lady of the Rosary. As such, I would like to issue the 20 Decade Challenge. Pray all 20 decades of the Holy Rosary today - the Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful and Glorious Mysteries.  Pray one set in the morning, one at lunch, one at the end ... http://theophilus.stblogs.com/2009/10/07/the-20-decade-challenge/ It is a tradition for the Pope to express his Monthly Intentions for the Church.  There is a General Intention and a Missionary Intention.  If you pray a Morning Offering when you wake up, you probably offer your day in part for the special intentions of the Holy Father this ... http://theophilus.stblogs.com/2009/10/06/holy-fathers-monthly-intentions/ I have a small card that I carry in my prayer book.  I got it in the mail as part of a fundraising campaign by some Catholic organization.  I couldn't tell you which one; but I really wish I would've sent them some money because the prayer card has come ... http://theophilus.stblogs.com/2009/09/23/padre-pio-prayer/