ser·en·dip·i·ty /ˌserənˈdipitē/  “The occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way: ‘a fortunate stroke of serendipity'” —————– In 2001, I found myself mesmerized by a witty, creative romantic comedy starring John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale. The movie was simply called “Serendipity”. It was a charming yarn about a ‘love-at-first-sight’ encounter between characters Jon and Sara. It begins as a classic “chance” romantic encounter. A last pair of gloves at the Bloomingdale’s counter during the last-minute... Read more

“Have in you the mind of Christ…Learn to think the way Christ thought; learn to think with Him…This thinking is not intellectual thought; rather it is also thinking with the heart.” – Pope Benedict XVI It was April, 2005. I was not Catholic. And I did not anticipate becoming Catholic. It was, thus, with a certain curious detachment that I witnessed the momentous events in Rome transpire. After decades of charismatic leadership and years of painful physical degeneration, the iconic... Read more

“Hope is definitely not the same thing as optimism. It is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out.” – Vaclav Havel Years ago, in the midst of my parents’ divorce and my family’s move to a new school district, I found myself in a dark place. Now this is not the kind of dark place that leads to drug addiction, violent outbursts, or suicide attempts,... Read more

“The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it.” – Flannery O’Connor In this day and age, it seems that the fashionable and modern approach to morality involves invoking the word “Conscience” with a confident frequency and righteous vigor. “My Conscience guided me.”, “I listened to my Conscience.”, “My Conscience is intact.” Conscience is equated with that quiet voice inside that tells us that something is either right or wrong. We do well, we are told, when we heed... Read more

Let’s be honest…he was never a very likeable character. Yes, he was one of “the Twelve” – the intimate band of men whom Jesus summoned and surrounded Himself. Yes, he was charged with various administrative responsibilities (reputedly responsible for the money bag) in the newfound community of disciples. And, of course, he was shrewd and bright. But there was always something about Judas Iscariot that simply didn’t seem right. Perhaps this feeling was elicited simply because we are warned about... Read more

It is race day in Boston. As a celebrated race in a historic city, the Boston Marathon draws thousands of hard-training athletes striving toward their goals while surrounded by cheering family, friends and anonymous well-wishers. The weather was ideal. The atmosphere was genial. But no one could comprehend what happened next. Or why. A sequence of ear-splitting concussion-casting bombs exploded and turned the celebration at race’s end into a carnage-filled crime scene. And with the quickness it took for those... Read more

“Every saint is a little looking-glass of God: a facet of the jewel which constitutes the Catholic Church.” – Monsignor Francis Bickerstaffe-Drew  It may go without saying, but something special is happening in the Catholic Church. Last Wednesday, March 13, 2013, fumata blanca (white smoke) snaked from the Sistine Chapel chimney. Before long, to the faithful masses in St. Peter’s Square, the Cardinal Proto-Deacon pronounced the famous phrase, “Habemus papam!”. And out poured roars of celebration. Indeed, “Habemus papam.”… “We... Read more

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it. – Matthew 16:18 “When Christ at a symbolic moment was establishing His great society, He chose for its corner-stone neither the brilliant Paul nor the mystic John, but a shuffler, a snob, a coward – in a word, a man. Peter. And upon this rock He has built His Church, and the gates of Hell have not prevailed against... Read more

It was April 19, 2005 and the world’s eyes were fixed on a small chimney jutting out from the roof of the Sistine Chapel. Within the dazzling walls of the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel, a papal conclave was convened and casting votes for a new Bishop of Rome. An international icon and beloved shepherd to the Catholic faithful, Pope John Paul II, had died after suffering the ravages of Parkinson’s disease. In his wake, Rome and the world witnessed a holy... Read more

Who was Adolf Hitler? And how does one explain him? Clearly, he has made a profoundly morbid impact on human history. By his enemies, he has been called a madman, murderer, and lunatic. By his followers, he has been dubbed a genius, mystic, and Messiah. His twisted ideas, fierce rhetoric, and unparalleled civil and military successes catapulted this murderer and mystery to the all-powerful totalitarian pinnacle. Adolf Hitler became the Fuhrer. The Leader. In my research on Adolf Hitler (for... Read more