Casimir was a Polish Prince. I find him interesting because he was a man caught between the political world of his family and a life of faith and service which was closer to his own heart. He was known for his service to those in need and his generosity. His own life was marked by his practices of daily prayer. Each day he would read a passage from the Gospels and offer hymns in Latin and Polish. Perhaps the Hymn... Read more

“Blessed is the man who trusts the LORD, whose hope is the LORD. He is like a tree planted beside the waters that stretches out its roots to the stream: it fears not the heat when it comes, its leaves stay green; in the year of drought it shows no distress, but still bears fruit.” Jer 17:7-8 Are you allowing God to plant you in a place where you can grow and reach your full potential? Here’s a little gardening... Read more

“Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mt 20:26-28 At the end of your life, how do you want to be remembered? There is a practice I like to do every year or so. I take time to write... Read more

Has God ever thrown a wrench in your plans? Katherine Drexel had one of these moments in January of 1887. It was then that she had an audience with Pope Leo XIII. She had wanted the Pope to help them identify missionaries they could support for a mission she wanted to fund in the United States – serving Native American communities. The Pope surprised her by suggesting that she herself enter religious life and become a missionary herself. At the... Read more

  “Do not be called ‘Master’; you have but one master, the Christ. The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” Mt 23:10-12 Humility is a misunderstood virtue. I certainly misunderstood it for many years. I always felt uncomfortable when I read Jesus’ calls to humility. I thought meant being taken advantage of and used. I thought of a humble person as someone who was weak, who never... Read more

How much do you think the people you surround yourself with will impact the person you become? Saint Chad was a seventh-century leader of the Church in Northumbria. One of the most interesting things about Chad is that he was one of four brothers and all of these men became priests. One of them. Cedd, is even honored as a saint as well in the Eastern Orthodox Church. It struck me as a great example of something that sociologists tell us... Read more

Have you ever considered that the push towards making things easy might be a dangerous tendency? Today the Church commemorates St. David of Wales. He spent his life developing monasteries in Wales. There are many tales about his life, but few things that we know for sure. One tradition we have is that his monks were not allowed to use animals to help them plow the fields. St. David treasured what labor can do in the development of the spiritual life.... Read more

“Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.” Lk 6:37-38 Have you ever wondered where Lent is in the Bible? The practice of lent is not something that... Read more

  What do you want to be the last thing you do on earth? St. Oswald was not a martyr, but his death is still one of the more inspiring among the saints. He died while washing the feet of the 12 poor men near his monastery. This was a daily lenten practice of his. I don’t know how I will die, but his life reminds me to live each moment as if it’s my last and to spend my... Read more

“As they were coming down from the mountain, he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone, except when the Son of Man has risen from the dead.” Mk 9:9 Have you ever been frustrated because you couldn’t understand what God was doing? You’re not alone. The scriptures are full of examples where God’s people simply aren’t given the whole picture. There are nine times in Mark’s Gospel where people get a glimpse of who Jesus is... Read more