“Consider, oh man, what God became for your sake; understand this lesson of surpassing humility presented by a teacher who, as yet, says no word.” - Saint Augustine The word “to promise” means to put in motion. And a promise is the way in which we put our lives in...
Do you ever just skim through a Bible passage in order to get to the "good" part? Quickly scan the details to find the heart of the story? That's a habit that is necessary to break. Every word in the Bible carries significance and meaning, even those we just see as...
Reality is continually asking us questions. It always asks us to choose. And, through our decisions, we show who we truly are. It’s a process we can’t back out of. Once in a while, we may feel a desire to escape from this unavoidable call to manifest who we...
Advent is a time to prepare your heart for Jesus' coming at Christmas, as well as to prepare others around you to receive Him as their Savior. Especially with the non-Catholics and non-Christians in your life, how can you use this season of grace to help others open...
Advent is a wonderful time to examine your heart and your prayer life, and to make small changes that can set you on a new trajectory of hope in the year ahead. We invite you to watch Father's video, then prayerfully read the Gospel and reflection. We pray that this...
“He was an old man who fished alone in a skiff in the Gulf Stream and he had gone eighty-four days now without taking a fish.” ~ Ernest Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea Every path needs a starting point. In order to leave port, a ship must lose its mooring; in order...
“Salve, radix, salve, porta...” - 12th Century Marian Antiphon There are many ways to love. There are ways that cut through the different times in our lives and that often dwell together in our hearts. There are people who love to feel less lonely or to give meaning...
“Man is a rope stretched between the animals and the 'overman'” ~ Nietzsche Anthony De Melo once asked, “What is the difference between a sinner and a saint?” Smiling, he responded, “None! They are both sinners; it’s just that the saint knows it.” We spend a great...
Father Ian VanHeusen presents a Gospel reflection and spiritual exercise for the Feast of Christ the King, Matthew 25:31-46, where Jesus tells His disciples. As adopted children of God, we actually participate in God's Authority. When we celebrate the authority of...
“Man says that time passes. Time says that man passes.” - T. Terzani The most important things are said at the end: at the end, when you say goodbye to someone you love knowing that you might not see them again; at the end of your life, when you have to decide how you...
If you feel that you are called to marriage, there are series of things that you can do to prepare yourself for that beautiful call. Here we are going to go over three key ideas that can help you together with some reflection questions. We invite you to watch Father's...
For those who have had the experience of keeping watch over a sick person through the night, especially if it was a very close loved one, you know what it means to fight off sleep. You do everything in your power to stay awake; you use every ounce of strength; you...
How well (or poorly) do you prepare for your day? Are you one of the wise virgins, ready with oil in your lamp, or - like the foolish, unprepared virgins - does the day get away from you for failure to properly prepare, pray, and meditate on a structure that keeps you...
“This is the end which befalls evildoers. And in this life scoundrels always receive their just deserts!” - Don Giovanni, Mozart If Don Giovanni had paused for just a moment during his quest for pleasure and realized how empty his life was, he would have had no choice...
Is your authority building up, or tearing down? Presenting five things that Jesus teaches about leadership, used as an examination of conscience. We invite you to watch Father's video, then prayerfully read the Gospel and reflection. We pray that this might help you...
“Love is an inclination” - Hannah Arendt A long time ago I heard the story of a rose who realized how beautiful she was. Intoxicated by her own splendor, she decided that she only wanted to be caressed by the gentle touch of a butterfly, and so she did not appreciate...
How do we approach controversial political issues from a Catholic perspective, especially ones as charged as immigration? Discerning what we're called to do as faithful Catholics is not always easy, and the Church is called to inform consciences but not replace them....
“For as much as he stirs in vain, man always walks within his image.” - Augustine, Commentary on Psalm 38:7 I have always been fascinated by the work done to restore ancient frescos that brings to light the original images, the faces of the people as they were first...
On social media, at work, at home, in your community, at school... are you building up or are you tearing down? Are you helping to proclaim Jesus, or are you adding to the anger and hatred - especially political - that fills society? Today's gospel reflection can help...
“Allow me to do the best that I can.” - Babette’s Feast by K. Blixen Organizing a party is a serious matter. It says a lot about us and many times it is a symbol of our lives. There are those that love to take care of every detail themselves and those that leave...
How do you respond to an invitation to a party? Jesus uses the metaphor of a party invitation to talk about a deeper spiritual principle in this week's Gospel. We're all invited to the heavenly banquet, which actually begins on earth in the Mass. But how do we...
One of the best ways to enrich your experience at Sunday Mass is to pray the Mass Readings personally and to meditate on a Gospel reflection. A great way of doing this is using the technique of Lectio Divina, a powerful method which we explain here. The following is...
Are you bearing fruit? Seeing our own limitations, forming and examining our conscience, and connecting with God's mercy is something that takes deliberate and intentional work, in cooperation with the Holy Spirit and thanks to the insights of the saints who've gone...
Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people: “What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ He said in reply, ‘I will not,’ but afterwards changed his mind and went. The man came to...
"Life is not fair!" Such a temptation and a thought-trap. How do we get past this pitfall? Today's Gospel reflection helps us by providing three strategies to overcoming this all-too-human struggle that threatens to derail our own personal progress and cooperation...