And if my people upon whom my name has been pronounced, humble themselves and pray, and seek my presence and turn from their evil ways, I will hear them from heaven and pardon their sins and revive their land. (2…
One Small Pebble
What the Baptist can teach us about Joy
Readings for the 3rd Sunday of Advent, December 13, 2015 On the third Sunday of Advent, the penitential purple of the season changes to rose and we celebrate “Gaudete” or “Rejoice!” Sunday. “Shout for joy, daughter of Sion” says Zephaniah….
Preparing the Way of the Lord in our Lives
Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of Jesus: a time for us to “be watchful”, to “stay awake, to “prepare the way of the Lord” and “make straight his paths”. But what does this mean for us?…
Why Rituals are Important
Editor’s Note: Join me in welcoming Peter Serzo to the New Evangelizers blog. Recently I attended a service at a non-denominational church and I sat next to a former Catholic (her words, not mine). A warm welcoming lady, she was lamenting…
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…
Advent: The Season of Hope
Readings for the 2nd Sunday of Advent, Dec 6, 2015 Faith, hope, and love. St. Paul, in I Corinthians 13:13, say these three are the bottom line. They are called the theological virtues, the qualities that make us most like…
Mary Just Loves Being Our Mother
The Blessed Virgin is like a good mother who, not content with looking after all her children in general, watches over each one separately. —St. John Vianney As I think about my relationship with my children, I recognize how I…
Advent Opportunity
Most of us are familiar with the story of the Good Samaritan and his extraordinary generosity. He is greatly touted because of the service he offers to a foreigner who has been ignored by high church officials. The story mentions…
Semen est sanguis Christianorum – “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church”
But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together upon him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him; and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a…
Five Mercies we can Learn from and Pray
I’m counting the days. Why? Because this Extraordinary Jubilee Year is exactly what I need when I need it. Of course, mercy is pretty much what everyone needs every day. We’re all miserable sinners, after all. And if we’re not…