What if you had to choose one of the symbols of the Four Evangelists and adopt it as your own? Which of those four icons—a majestic lion, a formidable ox, a fearsome winged creature, a splendid eagle—would best represent your…
Taking Custody of Your Tongue
Here Comes the Bride
Eleven years ago, I married my wonderful wife, Michelle. I have it on good authority that her dress shopping some months before our wedding was an overall positive experience. Emotional, yes, but positive. It seems, though, that plenty of similar…
Highlighting New Evangelizers: Amazing Music from Ephesus
A few years ago, the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of the Apostles sent me a CD of their music, an album titled “Christmas at Ephesus.” It quickly became my favorite Christmas album and I did do just what they intended…
Mary, Old Devotions, and the New Evangelization
Mary has an important role in the New Evangelization. I think that is easy enough to accept, but in what way, and how is her role engaged in the New Evangelization? That is not always clear to me. Isn’t the…
Singing Through the Pain
Last Mother’s Day we went to the 10 a.m. Mass at St. Jude’s in Allen, TX, with my son Andrew and his family. We arrived early while the choir was practicing and sat in the third row behind their two…
The Little Way
St. Therese of Lisieux introduced us to the little way, and it is a concept that can be very effective in our evangelization efforts, as well. By realizing that it is some of our smallest actions that have the greatest…
The Paraclete
Readings for May 5, 2013: Sixth Sunday of Easter He wore steel rimmed glasses and had hair to the middle of his back. The fringe on his buck-skinned jacket bounced as he walked. At least that was the way I…
Beginning with Gratitude
Over a year ago, Matt Swaim began something that transformed my use of social media. He called it a #gratefultweet. The idea is that you begin your day on social media (that hashtag is specifically for Twitter) with a moment…
Facebook Evangelization
One day not long ago, my somewhat agnostic mother posted on Facebook that she was tired of people who touted that they are super-religious and holy sharing pictures and memes of Jesus and religious things and then turning around and…
Social Media’s Impact on the Boston Marathon Tragedy
During my radio segment on last Wednesday’s episode of the Son Rise Morning Show with Brian Patrick, my conversation with Brian took an interesting spin on the recent Boston Marathon tragedy and its aftermath. At the time, we were still waiting…