Human beings are funny creatures. We often find ourselves heading to one extreme or the opposite. For example, take the sins against salvation: presumption and despair. Presumption is the belief that no matter what I do, I am going to…
Between Presumption and Despair
Preparation for Prayer
As mentioned last week, one of the three pillars of Lent is prayer. Like most of you, I am in continual need to grow in my prayer life. And far be it from me to give advice to those who…
The Pillars of Lent
Ash Wednesday is this week, marking the beginning of the holy season of Lent. One of the reasons we enter into this season each year is that we are in constant need of spiritual renewal. I’ve written before about how…
On the New Satanism
At last night’s Grammy Awards, there was an act that was Satanic in the most literal sense, with costumes, makeup, and fire all in a celebration of the Devil. This is part of a continuing trend giving prominence to Satan….
The Best Translation of the Bible
If you’ve ever gone to purchase a Bible, you know that you have many different translations to choose from. There are so many that it can be overwhelming. There’s the King James, the Revised Standard Edition, the New Revised Standard…
Reflections on the Life of Pope Benedict XVI
My first memory of Pope Benedict XVI was a joke someone told me in high school: Cardinal Ratzinger (later Pope Benedict) was put in charge of Purgatory. Martin Luther comes to him, and Ratzinger gives him 100 years in Purgatory….
The Sadness of the Gospel
The word “Gospel” literally translates to “Good News.” This is because there is no better message we could hear: God has become one of us in order to give us eternal life. What could be better? And yet there seems…
St. Ignatius and Generosity
Tis the season to be giving! During this holiday season, we remind ourselves that this is a time for generosity. That is the essential purpose behind Christmas gifts. It isn’t the getting of cool new stuff, but an exercise in…
Advent: A Spirit of Longing
One of the things I have learned when it comes to spiritual writing is this: steal from the best. I am fortunate that I have a wonderfully profound pastor at my parish and his homily on the 1st Sunday of…
Why Was Moses’ Sin So Bad?
In my Theology class, we recently went over the sin of Moses. For those who do not recall, in Numbers 20, Moses was instructed to strike the rock with his staff so that water would miraculous flow out to the…