Blog Posts

Filling Our Jars with Water

Filling Our Jars with Water

There are many points to meditate on in John’s account of the wedding at Cana. Jesus’ command to the servers has especially attracted my notice.

“Fill the jars with water.”

What a simple order. Anyone can do this. What this means is that…

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Contemplating the Good in Others

Contemplating the Good in Others

I had coffee recently with my friend Frances. We were talking about the struggle all of us encounter at times when people fail to understand us. Frances then shared with me a beautiful image God planted in her mind regarding this difficulty.

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Being Available to Others This Summer

Being Available to Others This Summer

My fellow writer Vir Christi made a striking observation to me about parents and priests and their children. He pointed out how parents are available to their children, 24/7. Vir Christi wondered what the world would be like if all priests were as generous with their spiritual children.

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Let Your Thoughts Turn on the Praise of God

Let Your Thoughts Turn on the Praise of God

When I recently began praying the Divine Office, something significant leapt out to me. In prayer, it is easy to focus on ourselves. We ask for favors, thank God for things He’s done, and beg His pardon for our sins. How much time, though, do we devote to praising Him?

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Choosing to Enjoy Life Amidst Anxieties and Troubles

Choosing to Enjoy Life Amidst Anxieties and Troubles

“Do you know,” said Anne confidentially, “I’ve made up my mind to enjoy this drive.  It’s been my experience that you can nearly always enjoy things if you make up your mind firmly that you will.”

In this scene, eleven-year-old Anne is facing the prospect of being sent back to an orphan asylum because…

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It’s Not Too Late: Beginning Now Wherever You Are

It’s Not Too Late: Beginning Now Wherever You Are

With Laetare Sunday come and gone, we are officially more than halfway through Lent. It’s about this time that priests break out the “Stay on track! Don’t give up! Easter is coming!” homilies. Not without reason, mind you. It’s easy to start out Lent with grand resolutions only to…

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Lent: It’s Not a Self-Improvement Program

Lent: It’s Not a Self-Improvement Program

Too often we treat the Lenten season as a self-improvement program. Instead of seeking to draw closer to God, we end up seeking ourselves. A classic example is someone giving up chocolate so they can lose weight. Their focus is on an ulterior motive, not God.

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Spiritual Stupor and the Duty of the Moment

Spiritual Stupor and the Duty of the Moment

The account of David committing adultery with Bathsheba opens thus: “In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab with his officers and all Israel with him; they ravaged the Ammonites, and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.”

Take note of that last bit, “but David remained in Jerusalem.” That’s where the trouble begins.

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Celebrating Advent at St. Joseph’s Shelf

Celebrating Advent at St. Joseph’s Shelf

November’s at an end, and it seems we barely scratched the surface with the topic of “Suffering with Christ”. Don’t worry, we’ve got it noted down as something to cover more of in the future.

To decorate for the season of Advent, starting December 1st, we’ll have an Advent wreath….

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Memento Mori: Month of the Holy Souls

Memento Mori: Month of the Holy Souls

Are you ready for your death?  So many things in the world attract us and take our attention away from the fact that we were made for eternity.  Beginning with Halloween at the end of October and all throughout November, the Church remembers in her prayers in a special way all those who have died.

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