What would Augustine say about a trans-man being pregnant? How would he respond to gender ideology? I recently saw a video in which a “trans-man” was having a hard time coming to grips with the doctor’s announcement of her pregnancy. As much as the doctor and nurse tried to respect the individual’s feelings and efforts to identify as a man, they could not deny that the person’s female reproductive organs had indeed produced new life. The young person was distraught,... Read more
Jesus is more powerful than the Devil and we can trust Jesus always. One of the great debates between and my father during High School was whether I should have a job. The debate was actually about driving. My dad wanted me to learn to drive. I did not want to drive, but because I knew that it meant that I would have to get a job to pay for gas and insurance. As was to be expected, I got... Read more
“I’m done. I want a divorce.” His words came like a bucket of ice water. They cut like knives and blindsided her. She never imagined that he was unsatisfied in the marriage. Everything seemed to be going well. They both had good jobs. They had a romantic life. At least, she thought they did. They went out to dinner at least once every other week. What was happening? Could her marriage really be over? Same bed, different dreams The Chinese... Read more
The protégé effect is not a recent discovery. Saint Augustine taught it centuries ago. I am always amazed when I go to the greats of the past and discover something that we thought was new to our own century. Learning from the greats is one of the treats of existing later in the course of human history. If we were contemporaries of Marc Antony and Cleopatra, we could read about some interesting political factoids of the day, but we would... Read more
A saint at 24? One Italian young man is on his way to sainthood, even though he died at 24. Making Jesus the center of your life can make all the difference. If we want young adults in the Church, we need to foster a culture of encounter, discipleship, and apostolate. Young Adults Making a Difference Pier Giorgio Frassati lived 1901-1925. Recent generations of Catholic youth revere him because he feels close to them and attractive at the same time.... Read more
Contemplating your spouse with God’s eyes is one of the greatest keys to success in a marriage. “I am convinced that it is God’s intention that we each experience a divine gaze when we look into our partner’s eyes.” (Sanderfer & Johnson, Created for Connection, p. 16) Does looking at your spouse remind you of God? When people are first falling in love, it is easy to confuse the creature for the Creator. There can even be some idol-worship getting... Read more
Spiritual Direction wakes up a lot of feelings. If this is your first Spiritual Direction, there are a lot of feelings that may be surging up in your heart. You are about to embark on a journey that will hopefully help you gain clarity of what God is asking of you in this moment of your life. Set Expectations It is good to take some time to reflect on your initial expectations. These may change over time, but they are... Read more
Love builds security. Follow God’s plan for marriage. One of my discoveries about human behavior is that everybody suffers from personal insecurity. This is one of my secrets for interpreting human behavior. I assume that everyone is insecure. Now, obviously there are different degrees of insecurity. Some people may be crippled practically from their sense of security. Others are highly functioning. But we are all insecure about something. Marriage is an opportunity that God gives you to grow in your... Read more
Help youth encounter the Lord, hear his voice, and follow him. Pope Francis holds young people in a special place in his heart, as is evidenced in his message for the upcoming World Youth Day. Youth is a time full of hopes and dreams, stirred by the many beautiful things that enrich our lives: the splendor of God’s creation, our relationships with friends and loved ones, our encounter with art and culture, science and technology, our efforts to work for... Read more
Pope Francis condemns Freemasonry in the Philippines. We live in a society that is increasingly open and tolerant. It seems that the Church has shifted in the same direction. So, how is it that we just saw a prohibition for Catholics belonging to the Freemasons? It is surprising how clear the recent document from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith is about Philippine Catholics being prohibited from taking part in the Freemasons. Aren’t the Freemasons just a fun-loving... Read more
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