What do you hunger for? Whom do you hunger for?The recent National Eucharistic Congress marks the culmination of the past three years ofEucharistic Revival in the U.S. If you have attended the event or begun to view some of the talksfrom the Congress, you likely have been set afire with…
During the reign of Licinius in the 4th century, forty Christian men refused to offerworship to the pagan gods. As a consequence, the authorities ordered the men to bestripped of their garments and thrown onto a frozen lake to die. Yet, any of thecondemned who denied the Christian faith would…
The struggle to maintain faith is a timeless issue; a universal human problem that even the most ardent Christians (Mark 9:24; John 20:27) can relate to. Throughout history, even during periods of unwavering faith among believers, there have always been those who grapple with unbelief. This challenge is not limited…
In a previous year, I shared Saint Alphonsus’s unique contributions to moral theology through his teachings on God’s will and love. Today, I extend that conversation by dwelling on love. Imagine completing a puzzle, only to find a piece missing or discovering a cherished heirloom slightly damaged. It feels incomplete.…
The Gospel for today is what some call the “weeds in the field” Gospel. I have worked in agriculture for most of my career, so I appreciate the parable. However, what strikes me from the reading is the need for Fortitude, one of the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit…
This summer I had to go to England twice. The first trip was for a conference on Catholic Priesthood at St. Mary’s University in Twickenham (London). The conference was organized by both the Theology Department of St Mary’s and Ave Maria University (Florida) hosting a great variety of speakers. It…
There were three parts of today’s Gospel that I think are very impactful to meditate with. First, the feeding of the five thousand foreshadows the Eucharist. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states “the miracles of the multiplication of the loaves, when the Lord says the blessing, breaks and distributes…
A reflection on the importance of being supportive and nurturing growth in relationships and communities—supportive humanity. An adage states: “If you cannot help, do not hinder.” In today’s Gospel, Jesus shares the Parable of the Weeds, where a man sowed good seed in his field, but an enemy came and…
Today is the feast of Saints Joachim (sometimes spelled Joaquin) and Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the grandparents of Jesus. There is no mention of them in the Scriptures, but tradition has it that they were childless and advanced in years when, after much praying and fasting,…
A conversation on what we can learn through the life and works of St. James Sometimes we wonder how we succeed in overcoming obstacles and persecutions that ordinarily seem insurmountable. As Christians, we often find ourselves championing noble causes and waging battles that are far beyond our human strength. Knowing…