In 1971, the average U.S. income was $10,600. The cost of a new house was $25,250; however, if you were just starting out, you could rent and pay your landlord an average monthly sum of $150. And if you had an extra $3,579 to spare, a spanking new...
In the liturgical life of the Church, many days of the year are dedicated to concrete events and persons. Of course, there are many feasts for Jesus. But in addition, we remember Mary, the saints, and the “signature” moments in the...
One Sunday, a priest began preaching on the topic of love. But then, with great suddenness, he stopped, raised his arm, pointed, and exclaimed: Now there is love! And with all eyes now focused upon a young mother holding and tenderly...
The 19th century English novelist, William Thackeray, once noted that “Mother is the name for God on the lips and in the hearts of little children.” From the moment of our birth, mothers are “for us” in ways too numerous to...
One of my seminary professors began each class by reading verses 9-13 from St. John’s Gospel: “The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not...
In 1975, the J. Walter Thompson advertising agency created a famous advertising campaign for the Eastman Kodak Company entitled “The Times of Your Life.” Set to music and vocals sung by Paul Anka, the campaign took our nation by...
The palm-tree is called in Hebrew tarmr, and in Greek phœnix. It is a dioecious tree, and belongs to the natural order Palmaceae. The plants of this interesting family are characterized by their tall, usually unbranched stems; their pinnate or fan...
On a summer day in the year 2000, Jack Sullivan was told by his surgeon that based on scans of his spine, surgery would be necessary to repair it. Later that day, dejected and suffering from intense pain, he tuned into a television program on the...
In the Gospel of Luke (5:1-11), Jesus turns to Simon Peter and says: “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” In reply, he speaks for himself and the other disciples: “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing...
Every Christmas season, I look forward to the “Christmas Letters” section in the various publications that I receive. Many are reflections from readers that go way back, to times past. In reading them, however, what is most remarkable is that the...
Deacon Kurt Godfryd