General George S. Patton once said, “Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity.” There has only ever been one thing to do, one great mission to which we are all called. It is the same mission thatContinue Reading
The baptism of Jesus accomplished several things. It served as an example to us of the importance of the Sacrament of Baptism and sanctified all the water in the world for that purpose. At His baptism Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit, He accepted and inaugurated His mission. AndContinue Reading
“What we see, then, is that two societies have issued from two kinds of love. Worldly Society has flowered from a selfish love which dared to despise even God, whereas the Communion of Saints is rooted in a love of God that is ready to trample on self. In aContinue Reading
Christmas is not over; it’s just getting started. This year Christmastide stretches from December 26 to January 12. It is easy to get caught up in the rush of the season, December 25 has come and gone, the child is born, Midnight Mass is a fading memory and New Year’sContinue Reading
We know very little about this righteous man, but we do know some things. We know he was tempted. When Joseph became aware of Mary’s pregnancy, he had several options. He could have brought her before the village court but he was unwilling to expose her to shame. He consideredContinue Reading
The third Sunday of Advent is traditionally known as Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete is Latin for “joy.” In today’s readings we hear the word “joy” in one form or another six times. The rose colored candle in the advent wreath is a symbol of our joyful anticipation at the impending birthContinue Reading
There is an Orthodox icon that depicts John the Baptist with wings. It is called “The Angel of the Desert” and serves to remind us that John is one of God’s messengers. As we busily prepare for the feast that marks the birth of Our Lord and the salvation ofContinue Reading
There are certain truths we know instinctively because they are written on our hearts. These are transcendent truths that appear again and again in our art and literature. We are all on a journey. We tell stories as metaphors for that journey. Even the ancients, who lived before the timeContinue Reading
On the apse wall in the basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C. is a large mosaic of Christ seated in Judgment. People either love it or hate it. Some who hate it point out that the mosaic depicts a muscular, physically strong Christ. But Christ triumphed in weakness.Continue Reading
Our society is very concerned about being nice. So much so that in an effort to be ‘nice’ we are discouraged from saying anything that might offend another person. That includes many Christian Truths. And so our voices are silenced or at the very least muffled. Absolute Truth falls victimContinue Reading