“Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.” At one time I was contemplating the priestly and religious life. I considered what it would be like to take on the three vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience….
The Lord’s Prayer, Part 4 – Surrender to the Father
God Loves a Cheerful Giver
We are now in the season of Lent. As we all know it is a time of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. If you are anything like me, Lent does not fill you with the same child-like joy that Advent does….
On the Necessity of Justice for Mercy
We have now entered the Year of Mercy, a wonderful year when we focus on the incredible love and forgiveness that Christ brought to the world. Mercy is a truly heavenly thing. As Shakespeare wrote, “The quality of mercy is…
The Lord’s Prayer, Part 3 – Thy Kingdom Come
Continuing our reflection of the “Our Father,” it is now time to turn our attention to the phrase “Thy Kingdom Come.” Essentially there are two things we are praying for when we say these words. First, we are praying for…
Catholic Pop Culture of 2015
As I have for the last two years I shall recall any good things from the popular culture that are harmonious or helpful to Catholic culture. There were many things past year and many things coming up in 2016 that…
The Lord’s Prayer Part 2: The Holiness of God’s Name
When he spoke with God through the Burning Bush, Moses asked God what Name he should give the people when they ask what God has sent him. Moses might have been trying to be a bit too clever. It is…
Response to Prayer-Shaming
I have no idea if this is a growing trend or only the reaction of a few sad individuals, but in the last few days there have been more and more examples of prayer shaming. In the wake of the…
The Lord’s Prayer Part 1: The Heavenly Family
The Lord’s Prayer, also commonly known as the “Our Father” is the perfect prayer of Jesus Christ. When His disciples asked Him how we should pray, Jesus did not give a vague subjective answer. He said, “This is how you…
Secure in Insecurity
For those who are advanced in the spiritual life and have learned to place God above all things leaving behind the cares of this world: this article is not for you. But if you are like me and you find…
Loving Virtue
In the Gospel of Luke, the Rich Young Man went to Jesus and asked what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus quoted to him the commandments, which the young man said he kept since he was a boy….