It was more than ten years ago that I fell in love with Greenville, South Carolina. Greenville is located in the Upstate, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. From the highway, you can catch a glimpse of the mountains to the northwest; and it’s an easy drive to Charleston and the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast. The weather is balmy—with four distinct seasons, yet so warm compared to our Michigan home. Greenville’s tree-lined Main Street, featuring a lively... Read more
O God, who hast established the earth upon firm foundations, graciously receive the prayers of Thy people: and, having utterly removed the dangers of the shaken earth, turn the terrors of Thy divine wrath into the means of the salvation of mankind; that they who are of the earth, and unto earth shall return, may rejoice to find themselves citizens of heaven by means of a holy life. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Read more
As we continue our journey of forty days, it’s good to remember that fasting from food is good, but what God REALLY wants from us is our gift of self—expressed in a love for the poor, the hungry, the homeless, and the downtrodden. The first reading at Mass today explains it all: Is this the manner of fasting I wish, of keeping a day of penance: That a man bow his head like a reed, and lie in sackcloth and... Read more
So now Lent has arrived, and everyone is talking about it. There are plenty of Catholic columnists and bloggers urging you to go to confession, to purify your soul during this period of penitence. And it’s all good. I was struck, though, by the humility and the simplicity of one article I read on the subject. I’m talking about the popular blog in “Catholic New York” by Gotham’s spiritual leader, Archbishop Timothy Dolan. He writes about heading out on Saturday... Read more
It’s kinda funny. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus warns us against doing good in order to be seen. He gives us three examples: Almsgiving – “When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is... Read more
Talk about impulsivity! When St. John of God, whose feast we celebrate today, set his mind on something, he just did it. Immediately. Without looking back. Here’s what I mean: When he was eight years old, he heard an itinerant priest talk about the adventure of spreading the faith in distant places. Late that night, John rose to follow the priest—and he never saw his parents again. [Children: Don’t try this at home.] He worked as a shepherd, then joined... Read more
Remember, man, that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return. –Genesis 3:19 Yeah, right. You know, in your heart of hearts, that that means everyone else but you—don’t you? It’s the human condition. We give lip service to our mortality, joking about it at the water cooler with a wry smile—but we live as though there were no tomorrow, and no end of tomorrows. It seems that many of us don’t REALLY believe that one day we will... Read more
Prince William of Wales, engaged to the beautiful and winsome Kate Middleton, is the man of the hour. With his elegant fiancée at his side, William has graced the covers of society magazines. The eldest son of Princess Diana and Prince Charles (and the grandson of Queen Elizabeth II), William has, from earliest years, been groomed for the monarchy. Second in the line of succession to the British throne, William was educated at the best schools around the United Kingdom.... Read more
March! March! March! They are coming In troops to the tune of the wind. Redheaded woodpeckers drumming, Gold – crested thrushes behind; Sparrows in brown jackets, hopping Past every gateway and door; Finches, with crimson caps, stopping Just where they stopped before. March! March! March! They are slipping Into their places at last. . . Literature white lily buds, dripping Under the showers that fall fast; Buttercups, violets, roses; Snowdrop and bluebell and pink, Throng upon throng of sweet posies... Read more
OK, your chance to weigh in: Please take a minute to vote! What do YOU most want to read about on a Catholic blog? Here are the categories: ✓ Faith matters: liturgy, sacraments, prayer, explanations of doctrine ✓ Political matters: Congressional actions, political candidates, the military, ✓ Cultural matters: film, television, literature and the arts ✓ Family matters: marriage, childrearing, education, cooking ✓ Humor: the everyday humor in family life [poll id=”3″] When the Catholic Blog Awards were announced earlier... Read more
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