In Donald LaSalle’s article, “Devotion Searching for a Place in the Liturgy: The Development of the Good Friday Veneration of the Cross in the West” LaSalle highlights a the rich tradition that is reflected in the practice of venerating the Cross on Good Friday. It’s a great article if you have time to read it. As I was going through it he listed many of the prayers that the Church had used on this occasion. I thought it would be… Read more

  Like many of you, a cross formed from the ashes of burnt palms dons my brow today. Lent begins for many of us. A time a deeper prayer, fasting, giving, and service. We are but dust. Life if fragile. We have such a brief sojourn here. I hope you can join me today in setting our heart and minds toward what lent reminds us about. Through prayer we connect with the source for all our life. The Christian faith… Read more

My neighborhood park this morning was beautiful. I love the fog. It helps defuse the light so you notice it all around. Perhaps I need to see the fog of life in this way. So often we strive to glimpse the future horizon of our life. Making plans for tomorrow. Dreaming of the prospective paths down the pike. There is something sacred in today and it is so easily missed. Perhaps uncertainty is a gift. Unexpected fog on life’s journey… Read more

Many wonder at why we use the cross so much in Catholic life. We make its sign on ourselves, our homes, our children, our possessions, our heart, our lips and our forehead… The answer is simple. The shape of the Christian life is cruciform. The Gospel always calls us to follow Christ’s example to lay out life aside for the life of others. The cross not only mediates between the Christian and God but also the Christian and neighbor, wife,… Read more

Over the years I’ve heard a lot about importance of a dog in the life of a boy. Often these sentiments are followed by some comment about a dog’s unconditional love, friendship, loyalty or affection.These admirable traits so often possessed by our canine brethren are truly blessings and I for one am glad to have a dog in my life which provides an ample share of all these things. However, this is not what I see as the Main advantage… Read more

Alexander Schmemann reminds me… “The Eucharist is a movement of adoration and praise in which all joy and suffering, all beauty and all frustration, all hunger and all satisfaction are referred to their ultimate End and become finally meaningful.” Read more

Today I say thank you To the builders Who dig among the ruins of burned bridges Who fight off the trolls Who bear the burden of the hurtful and the hurting And make a way for love Read more

Emily Dickinson reminds us: “Hope” is the thing with feathers – That perches in the soul – And sings the tune without the words – And never stops – at all – And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard – And sore must be the storm – That could abash the little Bird That kept so many warm – I’ve heard it in the chillest land – And on the strangest Sea – Yet – never – in… Read more

Coleridge called dew the gems of the mourning and the tears of “mournful eve.” Each dawn brings us the gift of a new day, but with it the loss of days now past. I pray I won’t miss the gift today looking back at how the treasure of yesterday is gone. Read more

“The wild goose” is one of the lesser used terms for the Holy Spirit, but it’s one I think about a lot when I hang out with the flock down the block. Their life is always in transition moving with the seasons, bringing new life each year. They remind me to stay flexible. There is no telling where the spirit might next lead. Read more