Lent is just 9 days away (eeep!), and while you may not have discerned what to add and/or delete from your life for those 40-ish days, it’s most certainly on your mind. And if it wasn’t on your mind, it is now after reading that sentence! You’re welcome. As a just-for-fun, not-to-be-taken-too-seriously way to prepare… [Read More]
Sunday Says Podcast – January 31, 2016 Mass Readings and Reflections
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Sunday January 31, 2016 Lectionary: 72 (NAB Translation) Reading 1 Jeremiah 1:4-5,17-19 This week’s first reading from the prophet Jeremiah explores the prophet’s divine call. All prophets are called by God to fulfill His will and to speak by God’s authority. All prophets are given a mission by God and… [Read More]
A Commentary on Romans: Introduction
This is the introduction to a five-part commentary on the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans. I hope that the reader is inspired to pray with the passages from this letter. My intention is not to explain everything. Rather, I hope to point to and give light to different verses that have affected my… [Read More]
How to Be Happier – Presentation Jan 29
How to Be Happier: Insights from Ancient Philosophy, Contemporary Psychology, and Spiritual Traditions Lecturer: Christopher Kaczor, Ph.D Dr. Christopher Kaczor (rhymes with razor) is Professor of Philosophy at Loyola Marymount University and is in the James Madison Society of Princeton University. He graduated from the Honors Program of Boston College and earned a Ph.D…. [Read More]
Saintly Sass: Humiliating the Devil
“The devil…that proud spirit…cannot endure to be mocked.” –St. Thomas More To have “Saintly Sass” is something that is key to overcoming our temptations. In fact, it is practically key to our salvation. What do I mean exactly by “Saintly Sass”? Well, essentially what I mean is having so much confidence in God that when… [Read More]
The Soul Perks of Care- Giving
When I get home from work, my hair is messier than usual, my back might be a little sore, but I am tired in the best way I can think of. Care-giving as an aide is hard physical, emotional and spiritual work. Just try dressing an adult who is a dead weight, bathing a dying… [Read More]
Longhorns Forging a Culture of Encounter In Our Own Backyard – CARITAS 2016
The week before classes started at UT this January, nearly 80 Longhorn Catholics came back to town early – to go out in mission. This is the 4th year of Austin CARITAS (Catholics Answering the Redeemer’s Invitation to Authentic Sanctity), where UT students give up a week of their winter break to serve those in need… [Read More]
Sunday Says – Jan 24, 2016 Mass Readings and Reflection
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 69 (NAB Translation) Reading 1 Nehemiah 8:2-4A, 5-6, 8-10 This week’s first reading from the prophet Nehemiah focuses on the celebration of the Lord’s day. At this time, the Hebrews has recently returned to Jerusalem from the many years in exile and were in the process of rebuilding. They had… [Read More]
Silence and Communion
The Christmas break was a joyous time to be with family and friends back home. Extroverted as I am, I tend to gravitate towards filling my “break” times with many activities and reunions with friends, in addition to helping out back at my home parish of St. Thomas Aquinas. I do so because I wish… [Read More]
You, Too, Can Discern the Will of God (Review of Fr. Mike Schmitz and Peter Kreeft)
A little over a year ago, I reviewed a book about discernment, decision-making, and the will of God by a non-Catholic Bible scholar and teacher, Gary Friesen. I haven’t run out of things to discern in the meantime, though, so this year, I decided to share some Catholic advice. In the spirit of teaching to… [Read More]
Sunday Says January 17, 2015 Mass Readings and Reflection
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 66 After a long season of purple and white, we’re back to the green ordinary time this week. Reading 1 Isaiah 62:1-5 This week’s first reading from the prophet Isaiah is beautiful imagery of God espousing His people. No longer would the people of God be discarded or treated… [Read More]
Garden of mercy: a meditation on Misericordiae Vultus (The Face of Mercy by Pope Francis)
In Misericordiae Vultus, (“The Face of Mercy,”) the Bull of Indiction of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy from Pope Francis, he has given us new seeds, a bright and verdant diagram, a vision of joy, a plan of hope for the renewal of the “oasis of mercy” that is the Church, and of the the living… [Read More]
Sunday Says January 10, 2016 Mass Readings and Reflection
The Baptism of the Lord Sunday January 10, 2016 Lectionary: 21 (NAB Translation) [powerpress] We celebrate the official end to the great season of Christmas with this week’s Solemnity. Reading 1 Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7 The first reading from the prophet Isaiah returns to a period where we placed a lot of our focus for first… [Read More]
Street Evangelization in Austin
Recently, I attended training for street evangelization. At the end of the training class, we went out into downtown Austin to put this into practice. This experience reminds me of a middle school dance. It all started with spending the day learning to dance. We went through the mechanics and even tried out a few… [Read More]
The Fine Line Between Sin and Virtue
40 miles per hour is the speed limit on University Drive going towards Highway 6. When I drive through that zone, I try to go exactly 45 miles per hour. Why? Because I can get where I’m going faster than if I drive 40, and few police officers aren’t going to pull someone over for only going 5… [Read More]
The Unlucky 5 for Whom the Cell Tolls
“Please silence or turn off you cell phones in the church.” That’s a warning you hear or see in many parishes. No matter how tightly tethered we are to our electronic devices, Mass ought to be the one place where we let go of this constant connection. Yet we still sometimes hear phones ringing in… [Read More]
Taking Steps Toward the Savior (Review: “Forming Intentional Disciples”)
Do you have a relationship with Jesus? Do you believe God has a mission for your life? Do you tell other people, honestly and openly, about the ways the Holy Spirit works in your day-to-day? Or does all of that sound “too Protestant”? Are those things normal for you? Do you feel like a little… [Read More]
Reflections of a Catholic Mom on her Daughter’s 1st Birthday
1 year ago, I was laying in a hospital room wondering what just happened. My daughter had been born just hours before, but wasn’t with me. Being 5 weeks early, she was whisked away to NICU to be hooked up to monitors, a heating pad, and oxygen. I, on the other hand, was whisked out… [Read More]
Sunday Says January 3, 2015 Mass Readings and Reflection
[powerpress] Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord Lectionary: 20 (NAB Translation) (Jerusalem Bible Translation) Merry Christmas! It’s been a beautiful season of Christmas so far. Now we celebrate the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord a few days early from the traditional date on the 6th. Reading 1 Isaiah 60:1-6 In this week’s… [Read More]
First Saturday Devotion of Reparation to Our Lady
HER CHILDREN ROSE UP, AND CALLED HER BLESSED.” (Proverbs 31:28 Douay Rheims) As we enter the new year 2016 celebrating the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God, I am making a new year’s resolution to complete the Five First Saturday Devotion of Reparation to Our Lady. I have tried many times in the past and… [Read More]
Home for the Holidays: a reflection on the Octave of Christmas
I know you might feel a little wilted, Reader, after all the Christmas presents and family and food (and sugar, etc.) I do too. I kind of like it though. The Octave of Christmas is a peaceful time. I deeply enjoyed Christmas Eve with my daughters and our boyfriends. It went well, and… [Read More]
Humility Alone Conceives the Truth – a poem
I hope you are all having a restful and blessed Christmas season! Pope Francis invites us to contemplate what God teaches us in coming as a child: “He makes himself small, he becomes a child, to attract us with love, to touch our hearts with his humble goodness,” and also”Pope Francis said the creche reminds us that… [Read More]
Sunday Says – December 27, 2015 Mass Readings and Reflection
Sunday December 27, 2015 The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph Lectionary: 17 The Sunday in between Christmas and Epiphany is traditionally celebrated in honor of the Holy Family. We continue in the Octave of Christmas. Reading 1 Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14 In this week’s first reading, we hear from the wise book of Sirach…. [Read More]
Catholic Liturgy 101: Introduction to Liturgical Catechesis
A handful of friends and colleagues have requested a very basic survey of concepts on Catholic worship and liturgical catechesis – that is, teaching on liturgy. I find the progression in the following outline very helpful when explaining what liturgy is and why it’s important in the big picture of the Catholic faith, as well… [Read More]
A Clarion Call to Catholic Men (Review: “Into the Breach”)
Although I am not a man, nor am I married to one, I greatly enjoy reading about Catholic men’s spirituality. I’m blessed to have so many examples of strong, outwardly faithful men in my life. Honestly, one of my favorite things is hearing my male friends talk about their personal religious lives as if it’s… [Read More]
When Christmas Brings Out Your Inner Grinch
I went to a major retailer to pick up a couple last minute gifts, when I noticed that a big sign on their front door. It read, “OPEN 24 HOURS UNTIL CHRISTMAS EVE!” Ugh. I hated that sign – to me it represents everything that’s wrong about commercialized holidays. Yes, gift giving can be a… [Read More]
The Prayers – 4th Sunday of Advent
Since we can learn much from what we pray day in and day out in our Liturgy it would be profitable for us to reflect more profoundly upon the prayers of each day. We should especially do this over the season of Advent which marks the end of one liturgical year, and the beginning of… [Read More]
Sunday Says Podcast – December 20, 2015 Mass Readings and Reflections
Fourth Sunday in Advent Sunday December 20, 2015 Lectionary: 12 (NAB Translation) Welcome to the Sunday Says podcast for December 20, 2015, the fourth Sunday of Advent. Thank you for joining us as we break open the Word of God to prepare our hearts and minds for this Sunday’s Mass. This week’s readings take us… [Read More]
5 Ways to Celebrate a Christmas of Mercy
I’m always amazed at the way most people in society are able to recognize the beauty of the celebration of Christmas, regardless of their religious perspectives. People are more open to discussions of morality and even of God. It seems appropriate for the season. This Christmas is unique among our lifetime because it falls within… [Read More]
Popular Misconceptions About the Catholic Mass, Part I: Music
A number of liturgical reforms seen in the U.S. since Vatican II were not actually mandated or even recommended by the Council, but were reactionary shifts that had more to do with the culture of the decade – it’s time to revisit those changes. Numerous articles and studies published in recent months and years indicate that without a doubt the Catholic… [Read More]
Sunrise: through the dark faith of Advent to the brightness of Christmas
Traveling through Advent with grief this year has led to me to soul search about what Christmas is, and, in the process, to notice similarities between the journey of Advent into Christmas and the stages of the soul’s progression into the heart of God. According to Carmelite spirituality, the soul first travels through and away… [Read More]
The Door to Mercy – Knowing We Are Loved
For the opening of the Year of Mercy, I was late to mass. Late to mass! Imagine, this great event, once in a Jubilee, and I had even planned ahead to get out of work early – and still I was late to mass, and very late. Walking up to the mass-in-progress, I slid into… [Read More]
Sunday Says – December 13, 2015 Mass Readings and Reflection
December 13, 2015 Third Sunday of Advent Lectionary: 9 (NAB Translation) The Third Sunday of Advent is unique among the four and marked with the rose colored candle and vestments. We know it as Gaudete Sunday, meaning rejoice. Reading 1 Zephaniah 3:14-18A This week’s first reading from the Prophet Zephaniah is balanced combination of the… [Read More]
The Prayers – 3rd Sunday of Advent
Since we can learn much from what we pray day in and day out in our Liturgy it would be profitable for us to reflect more profoundly upon the prayers of each day. We should especially do this over the season of Advent which marks the end of one liturgical year, and the beginning of… [Read More]
Love is [Always] in the Air
Can you feel the love? I sure can. But until a few weeks ago, I had never felt it so clearly and so dramatically. “God is Love” and love is his first gift, containing all others. “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (Catechism of… [Read More]
The Most Powerful Woman in the World (A Response to the “National Geographic” Feature)
Everybody loves Mary. If you’re a Catholic reading this on its original publication date, you have recently gone or will be going to Mass to honor her as the Immaculate Conception. (Otherwise, the next page you visit might be the closest parish’s confession times.) You probably heard the same homily reminder you get every year… [Read More]
A Jubilee of Mercy by Deed, Word, and Prayer
We are about to embark on one of the most important years of our present lifetime, the Jubilee Year of Mercy. This year imparts a special grace that cannot be received twice. These types of years don’t come often in the church’s history except every 25 or 50 years, so we need to take advantage… [Read More]
The Prayers – 2nd Sunday of Advent
Since we can learn much from what we pray day in and day out in our Liturgy it would be profitable for us to reflect more profoundly upon the prayers of each day. We should especially do this over the season of Advent which marks the end of one liturgical year, and the beginning of… [Read More]
Sunday Says Podcast – December 6, 2015 Mass Readings and Reflections
Second Sunday in Advent Lectionary: 6 (NAB Translation) Welcome to the Sunday Says podcast for December 6, 2015, the second Sunday of Advent. Thank you for joining us as we break open the Word of God to prepare our hearts and minds for this Sunday’s Mass. This week’s readings remind us that God has done… [Read More]
“Getting Back Up”: What To Do After You Fall In Sin
A wise man once said to me, “The difference between a damned soul in Hell and a saint in Heaven is that the saint was a sinner who got back up ONE more time.” As humans, we unfortunately have a fallen nature from original sin, inherited by our first parents. For this reason, there are… [Read More]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- …
- 50
- Next Page »
