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Recently I started reading the autobiography of St. Thérèse of Lisieux and found great wisdom from the very first chapter. She writes that for a long time she wondered why God did not give the same graces to everyone. For example, some great sinners like St. Paul were given extraordinary graces, while others have never…
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The images, visions, and thoughts of what happened on Good Friday are hard to bear. Why the Cross? What does it mean for me and my path as a human being? Pope Benedict (2011, chapter eight) addresses these questions and shows us how we can understand God correctly. He explains that the mystery of the…
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We pray the Sanctus prayer at every mass, but the prayer is especially meaningful on Palm Sunday when we commemorate Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem. “Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts. Heaven and Earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna…
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Years ago, when I was teaching a tenth grade CCD class one of our students asked our pastor to describe the meaning of the Kingdom of God. To be honest, I don’t remember what he said, but it is one of the truths of our faith that many of us have difficulty explaining. When Jesus…
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Mary, the mother of Jesus, has many titles. The Blessed Virgin Mary, Holy Mary, Mother of God, Mother of the Church, Queen of Heaven, The Immaculate Conception, and several others based on the location of her appearance such as Our Lady of Lourdes. One title that is relatively new to me is The Ark of…
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We know that Jesus wants us to love one another as ourselves, but how can we do that? Is it possible especially given the great divisions that exist between people today? It is not uncommon to hear of friction even between family members because of differing political and worldviews. What type of love did Jesus…
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Why do we continue to sin, even after we’ve renounced it in the sacrament of reconciliation? Brant Pitre (2021; chapter six) writes that it is because of humanity’s disordered desire for pleasure, possessions, and pride. These temptations are the root of all sin and were used by the Evil One against Adam and Eve, against…
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As we begin this Lenten season, in addition to giving up something, we should also consider doing something that honors this Holy season. The St. Paul Center argues that although almsgiving is the most neglected pillar of Lent, it is better than prayer and fasting, because it is prayer and involves fasting. Almsgiving is prayer…
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From Brant Pitre’s book “Introduction to the Spiritual Life,” chapters 1-3. Have you ever thought much about how you pray? Until not long ago I thought prayer was either 1) saying prayers at mass along with my fellow parishioners. or 2) saying prayers privately in my mind. Dr. Pitre explains that there are three types…
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From Pope Benedict’s book “Jesus of Nazareth, Part Two,” chapter nine. Pope Benedict XVI writes that Jesus’ Resurrection is the very foundation of our faith, and that “whether Jesus merely was or whether he also is depends on the Resurrection.” But what exactly is the Resurrection of Jesus? Jesus’ followers were perplexed at his return. …