We live in decisive times. And while perhaps that’s always true in some way, I think we can say that in a particle way about our times today. I don’t have to describe it for you too much, because you live it as well. Tensions are high. The pace of available information is frenetic. And… [Read More]
A Prayer during Darkness
This is a poem that I wrote one day when I felt as though I was in darkness. It has helped me to pray with it when my prayer feels dry. Darkness Darkness! The light of the flame that brought me here now begins to dull and I feel lost My prayer was once as… [Read More]
I Imagined You
I understood that I was before the Throne of God, at the knee of my Heavenly Father. Just a couple of hours before (and a couple of years before this posting), I had been prayed over to receive the Holy Spirit by my parish youth minister, who assigned me as youth group intercessor, or as… [Read More]
Holiness and Horror (Review: “A Good Man Is Hard to Find and Other Stories”)
Everyone loves a happy ending, but the sad ones are way more interesting. That’s the basic premise of every story by the incredibly talented Flannery O’Connor. She was one of the greats of Catholic fiction, so for my last regular review for ATX Catholic, I encourage you to give her a try. The first of… [Read More]
St. Anthony Relics Visit the Diocese of Austin
A messenger of hope from Padua, Italy comes to Central Texas. Fr Mario Conte, editor, or the Messanger of St. Anthony magazine, is bringing two relics from the Basilica of St. Anthony to visit various parishes in our diocese. St. Anthony has been known to be a great miracle worker through his prayers of intercession…. [Read More]
Get Through the Bible Today! (Video: John Bergsma, “Bible Basics for Catholics”)
Are you a member of the Perpetual Bible in a Year Club? I am. I know several people who have read through the entire Bible. Some have even managed it in a year. About ten years ago now, I set out to join them… and like many others, I fell behind. I promised I wouldn’t… [Read More]
Sunday Says Podcast – January 15, 2017 Mass Readings and Reflections
The Second Sunday of Ordinary Time Sunday January 15, 2016 Lectionary: 64 (NAB Translation) Reading 1 Isaiah 49:3,5-6 This week’s first reading is from the forty-ninth chapter of the book of Isaiah. This chapter introduces us to the “Suffering Servant” whose vocation was to liberate the people of Israel and bring salvation to the whole… [Read More]
Have You Met a Modern-Day John the Baptist?
We sure could use a guy like John the Baptist around here. If Jesus happens to casually walk past me one day like he did in today’s Gospel reading, I sure hope that someone like John the Baptist will point Him out to me if I’m not paying attention. John was standing with two of… [Read More]
Most Holy Name of Jesus
It is said that one night, St. Teresa of Avila met the Child Jesus on the stairs of her convent. The little One asked her name. She said, “I am Teresa of Jesus.” He said, “Then I am Jesus of Teresa.” What would Jesus say to you? Is your name attached to His? Of course… [Read More]
Taboos and Resolutions (A Response to Archbishop Chaput’s Tocqueville Lecture)
They say you shouldn’t talk about sex, politics, or religion in public. As an evangelization-minded Catholic, I live a little differently, but I do tend to stay away from politics. I just don’t like it. These days, however, there’s no getting away from politics, even when we’d rather talk about some of those other uncomfortable… [Read More]
Sunday Says Podcast – January 1, 2017 Mass Readings and Reflections
The Octave Day of Christmas Solemnity of Mary, Holy Mother of God Sunday January 1, 2016 Lectionary: 18 (NAB Translation) Reading 1 Numbers 6:22-27 This week’s first reading is from the book of Numbers, the fourth book in the Old Testament and part of the Pentateuch. This particular passage gives us a blessing formula… [Read More]
Lessons from the Crib
Many saints have experienced the love and wisdom that comes from the Blessed Virgin Mary with the Baby Jesus, but none more than St. Faustina who had many, many visits from the Divine Infant. One Christmas season the Blessed Mother brought the Baby Jesus to St. Faustina and said, “strive after silence and humility,”… [Read More]
Tis Humility
A remark during the homily at midnight mass really struck me. The priest reflected how each Christmas is different, not because the Gospel story changes -indeed the story is everlasting – but because we come to Christmas each year a little bit different. Each year we bring with us the lived experiences of the whole past year…. [Read More]
Of Mary, Never Enough
“De Maria, nunquam satis!,” St Bernard of Clairvaux once said. Of Mary, never enough! In these last few days before the great feast of Christmas, perhaps you’re feeling harried or haven’t had time to prayerfully prepare, or just aren’t quite into the Christmas. Or perhaps you’re drowning in carols all day, but not feeling very contemplative or… [Read More]
Merry Tolerance
While my bread is rising I feel like talking about what I was thinking about while I was kneading. I was thinking about the “Keep Christ In Christmas” thing. I think that as a friendly reminder to fellow Christians not to get caught up in the shopping, social obligations, travel and food to the point… [Read More]
Sunday Says Podcast – December 18, 2016 Mass Readings and Reflections
Fourth Sunday of Advent Sunday December 18, 2016 Lectionary: 10 (NAB Translation) Reading 1 Isaiah 7:10-14 This week’s first reading from the book of Isaiah is a prophecy of the Messiah as the Immanuel- meaning “God is with us.” This prophecy was given by Isaiah to King Ahaz as a form of reassurance at a… [Read More]
Resist like a Catholic II: protesting Neo Nazi-ism with the Aggies
There has been shock and outrage at Texas A & M and in my community over an unwanted visit from Neo Nazi Richard Spencer, engaged to speak on campus by another Neo Nazi, Preston Wiginton. Both men are white supremacists who advocate for a “peaceful ethnic cleansing.” Though everyone was appalled, it became apparent that… [Read More]
Would You Walk Away?
The woman serving as extraordinary minister reached into the ciborium and grabbed a host. At that moment, something white seemed to fly out. We both saw it. It flew off, falling to my left, her right. We looked at each other. “Body of Christ,” she said. “Amen,” I said, and I received on my tongue… [Read More]
“Live” Christmas Posada at Community First! Village
On Saturday, December 17, 2016 from 5:30 – 6:30 P.M. the Deacon Candidates of the Diocese of Austin, Mobile Loaves & Fishes and Regina Mater Educational Community will host a “live” Posada for the residents of Community First! Village located on 9301 Hog Eye Rd, Austin, TX 78724. Community First! Village is a community for… [Read More]
Bits and Bytes on Thriving Parishes (Review: “Great Catholic Parishes”)
Since I stopped working in ministry, I’ve been a regular parishioner, just like everyone else. Having seen things from both ends of the pew, in a sense, I remain interested in the state of American parishes and efforts to right the wrongs and fulfill our mission as Christians. So I read a lot of books… [Read More]
Sunday Says Podcast – December 4, 2016 Mass Readings and Reflections
Second Sunday of Advent Sunday December 4, 2016 Lectionary: 4 (NAB Translation) Reading 1 Isaiah 11:1-10 This week’s first reading from the book of Isaiah is a prophecy of the Messiah as the One who will descend as a branch from the root of Jesse in the lineage of King David. The Christ (Messiah) will… [Read More]
Objectivity & Healthy Self-love: An Advent reflection on “Catholic Guilt”
“Catholic guilt” came up recently in a conversation about psychology and religion. It also came up sometimes back in my grad school counseling classes. In these conversations, I often hear the question, “Isn’t “Catholic guilt” psychologically unhealthy?” I think it’s a great question. Can there be something unhealthy about guilt? I think so. How can we clarify… [Read More]
Jesus, King of Mercy: a reflection as the Year of Mercy Ends
At this writing, I am in Corpus Christi for one of my favorite feasts of the Church year, Christ the King, and also for my birthday weekend, since I was born here. It was growing dark, raining and then storming when I got into town. The bay was black, the water choppy; growing more restless… [Read More]
Can We Be Catholic and American? (A Response to Archbishop Chaput’s Bishop’s Symposium Talk)
Author’s note: As commenter DanC kindly pointed out, I had my Chaput speeches mixed up. The post below has been corrected from its originally published version to refer to the correct context and original text. I apologize for any confusion I caused. I spent a while learning how to teach adolescents in addition to my… [Read More]
An Age of Mercy & Misericordia et Misera
Last Sunday as we were celebrating the closing of the Year of Mercy around the Diocese, my friend and I were talking about how we were kinda sad to see the Year of Mercy end. She turned to me and said – you know how we had the age of Enlightenment? And the age of the… [Read More]
Sunday Says Podcast – November 20, 2016 Mass Readings and Reflections
The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe Sunday November 20, 2016 Lectionary: 162 (NAB Translation) Reading 1 2 Samuel 5:1-3 This week’s first reading from the 2nd Book of Samuel gives us insight into kingship of Christ as the One who unifies the people of God. Following a civil war within… [Read More]
A season of emptiness: Book Review: Houselander – The Reed of God
When I was in high school the administration used to play music during the passing periods between classes as a way of helping students measure the time they had left to get to class. The song choices were moderated by the administration but they accepted the suggestions of students, naturally, most of the songs were… [Read More]
Okay Jesus, are you a Democrat or a Republican?
I have spent a lot of time in my life following politics. I was a rare 12-year old when I started reading newspapers, watching TV newscasts and listening to radio news. After getting a degree in broadcast journalism, I became a news reporter. And working at a radio station in Austin, Texas the late 1990s… [Read More]
Pocket-Sized Pointers for Picking a Partner (Review: “101 Tips for Marrying the Right Person”)
Today’s review is of a short book, so this will be a short review. Following on the heels of their successful book 101 Tips for a Happier Marriage, Jennifer Roback Morse and Betsy Kerekes have released a guide for getting to marriage in the first place. This new title basically begged me to read it:… [Read More]
Keeping the (inner) peace on election day
I messaged a friend the other day, “How ARE we going to keep calm on election day?” She wrote back: “I’m going to be drinking! You don’t drink, so you shall have to pray, I suppose. :P” I do plan to pray a lot, in whatever way I can, but most of all, I plan to pray in ways… [Read More]
Sunday Says Podcast – November 6, 2016 Mass Readings and Reflections
Thirty-Second Sunday of Ordinary Time Sunday November 6, 2016 Lectionary: 156 (NAB Translation) Reading 1 2 Maccabees 7:1-2,9-14 This week’s first reading is from the book of 2 Maccabees. This book covers the period of time between the 180 -161 BC, which was during the “intertestamental” period, and provides a link between the Old and… [Read More]
Year of Mercy: Reflection on the Prodigal Son
If we attend Mass regularly we have more than likely heard the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15: 11-32). It is a parable that speaks to all of us at the very depth of our hearts because the parable of the Prodigal Son is a story of mercy and a story of unconditional love. In… [Read More]
Challenges (and answers?) of Election 2016
It’s not really surprising to me how this election has gone. The fact that we ‘ended up’ with the nominees that we did on both sides, the trend of seemingly ever-increasing polarization, each side out-doing the other in ad-hominem attacks and blow backs each day, frequent new leaks of scandal-inducing info that triggers media frenzy, each… [Read More]
Five Minute Guided Meditation with St. Elizabeth of the Trinity
Join me and my daughter, Roise, in this five minute, guided prayer break with the newly canonized St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, feast day November 8. (see below) [powerpress] “May nothing distract me from You, neither noise nor diversions. O my Master, I would so love to live with You in silence. But… [Read More]
Rap Music and Christianity
One of the most amazing ways to connect to God is through music and to praise his name and to worship him with lyrics. Some of the most popular Christian artists that a lot of people know are Hillsong United with wonderful songs such as Oceans, and Matt Maher who does a lot of blues… [Read More]
Literature Teaches Us What It Means to Be Human (Review of Laura M. Berquist)
Forgive me for geeking out a little bit here. I studied English and education in college, and I used to be an English teacher, so it’s safe to say that I like reading. In particular, I like stories. For my writing here at ATX Catholic and for much of my pleasure reading, I cover a… [Read More]
Sunday Says Podcast – October 23, 2016 Mass Readings and Reflections
Thirtieth Sunday of Ordinary Time Sunday October 23, 2016 Lectionary: 150 (NAB Translation) Reading 1 Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18 This week’s first reading is on from the book of the Book of Sirach (also known as Ecclesiasticus), part of the great wisdom literature in the Old Testament. This book was written approximately 180 years before Christ… [Read More]
Christians Cannot Rely on the Law to Evangelize
There is a strange sentiment among American Christians that makes us think that we are somehow God’s favored ones in the world. This vision imagines the American Constitution as a perfect document almost equal to the Gospels. Our nation’s capitol is a physical embodiment of this idea, like a great temple in honor of the… [Read More]
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
On October 2, 2016 Pope Francis commented about the upcoming U.S. presidential election, “Study the proposals well, pray and choose in conscience.” While I was praying and thinking about the above comment the four horsemen of the Book of Revelation came to mind several times. Pope Francis added, “When a country has two, three or… [Read More]
The Song and the Priesthood
Recently, thanks to my Old Testament Writings class, I have spent a lot of time reading, meditating on, and writing about the Song of Songs. It is a marvelous book which I highly encourage you to read. In some ways, the Song is a remarkable book to find in the Bible. The Making very little… [Read More]
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