Is Alleluia Not Our Song?
It was my first Passion Week as a newly ordained priest, and we had just finished services for Thursday of Mysteries and Service of the Washing of the Feet. The pastor and I sunk into our couch chairs, beginning to feel the exhaustion set in from the fourth night of services in a row, knowing […]
The BREATH of God: Pentecost Sunday
On Resurrection Day, Jesus breathed on His disciples—a gesture odd in itself but packed with meaning for our celebration of Pentecost. Gospel (Read Jn 20:19-23) The Pentecost Gospel tells us that Jesus surprised the disciples “on the evening of that first day of the week” by appearing in their midst without using a door (locked “for fear […]
The Flaw in the “WWJD” Mentality
Acts 1:1-11; Eph 1:17-23; Mk 16:15-20 A few years ago, the catchy acronym WWJD (What Would Jesus Do?) was a very common, simple, and practical way of making decisions. When faced with a moral choice, a person simply had to imagine Jesus, remember His way of acting, reflect on what Jesus would do in the […]
“Go Home; You’re Drunk:” Von Hildebrand on Holy Sobriety
For those of you who aren’t into meme culture, first of all, I salute you—it takes a truly disciplined soul, and a unique grace from God, to be aloof to jokes from the digital realm. I’d envy you, but since envy is a sin and half of my life is spent on these contemplation killers, […]
The Holy Spirit is Being Unleashed Today
The Most Holy Trinity wants to unleash supernatural power in our lives through the Holy Spirit. Do we truly believe this? For the longest time, I didn’t. I thought the spiritual life was going to Mass, praying, and serving, but that God would not show up in ways that defy my pre-conceived notions about Him. […]
Easter Food Traditions Worldwide
As the Easter season comes to an end, I chose to “travel” around the world via studying a handful of Easter recipes and food traditions. I wondered what history lay behind the dishes that celebrate and commemorate the most important event for our salvation: the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. There’s something sacred about a shared […]
Why Pray the Rosary?
The History of the Rosary Diving into the historical roots of the Rosary reveals it as a source of many graces throughout the centuries. Widely adopted by the universal Church, the Rosary receives endorsements from countless saints and various popes who emphasize how the prayer celebrates the life of Jesus at the request of the […]
Let the Holy Spirit Move You This Pentecost
As we approach the feast of Pentecost, I want to share with you one of the most enlightening moments my wife and I had on a pilgrimage we made to the Holy Land a few years ago. It was not a planned destination, but it led to a holy moment when we heard His small […]
The Humbling of a Catholic Author
A bazaar in a Catholic Church basement is both a “fund” raiser and a “fun” raiser. This year’s bazaar at St. Francis of Assisi Church was no exception. Parishioners had great fun hunting for those needy odds and ends that were missing from their households. There was, as the saying goes, something for everyone: baked […]
How To Work With Christ and In Christ: Lessons From YCP’s 2024 Conference
Sanctifying our work with Christ and in Christ—easier said than done, right? We’ve all heard it before. What does that look like, realistically? “Start praying the Litany of Humility. Who here has heard of it? Give me a show of hands.” Msgr. Eugene Morris of the archdiocese of St. Louis scanned a room full of […]