Many of the saints we celebrate and honor today began their lives as very secular people. They were headed in one direction in life when something happened that led to metanoia or change of heart, repentance of their sins and an experience of God’s...
It is important that we build spiritual muscle. One of the critical areas for us is the sacraments. We can’t have the forgiveness we need within our minds unless we are healed through the sacraments. This is especially true for the Sacrament of...
“This year the Lord grants us, once again, a favourable time to prepare to celebrate with renewed hearts the great mystery of the death and resurrection of Jesus, the cornerstone of our personal and communal Christian life. We must continually...
Once there was a priest—we’ll call him Father Smith—who heard that the neighboring Catholic parish had a newly-painted mural dedicated to the souls in purgatory; the pastor there commissioned it as a way of reminding his parishioners to pray on a...
A young woman with an attitude, whom we’ll call Nadine, rebelled against her parents’ religious beliefs and practices, saying, “I’ve had it with your God. I don’t need Him, or you—so I’m leaving.” Nadine left home and went off to the big...
Every year since 9/11/2001, people have gathered at Ground Zero, in front of the Pentagon and in a remote area of Pennsylvania for somber and dramatic remembrances of their personal loss. A heartrending, personal loss brings them together. The more...
In the Litany of Humility taught to me by the Miles Christi order, I have always seen a paradox in asking to be granted a “continuous memory of my sins.” I’ve read commentaries on Ignatian spirituality that take various sides on this theme...
