I found the words to this hymn dedicated to the University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome, the Angelicum.  I don’t remember where I got it from, but I found it today while looking through a pile of papers from seminary.  The song goes to the tune of the Battle Hymn of the Republic. Battle Hymn of the Angelicum Mine eyes have seen the Summa and the power of its word. It has crushed out every error; it has... Read more

Click here for English version De vez en cuando Dios llama a profetas en medio de la injusticia y confusión del mundo para hacer saber su voluntad y dar dirección a los hombres.  Martin Luther King Jr. fue uno de estos profetas y vivió aqui mismo en nuestro estado de Georgia. Cuando el profeta Jeremías fue llamado por Dios para predicar su Palabra, Jeremías rechazó a Dios diciendo que era demasiado joven.  Dios lo reprochó diciendo, “no me digas que... Read more

Martin Luther King Jr. looking towards the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama From time to time God raises prophets in the midst of turmoil and injustice to make his voice heard clearly, providing guidance and direction.  Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is one of these prophets. When the prophet Jeremiah was called by God to preach his Word, the prophet rejected God saying he was too young. God rebuked him saying “say not I am too young, to... Read more

[Brief summary of the retreat I gave to the CCW] We often pray for God’s will to be done in our lives, our families, our communities, our church and the world.  Every time we pray the most perfect prayer, the Our Father, we ask for God’s will to be done on earth is it is in heaven.  In casual conversation we evoke God’s will regarding future events by saying “God-willing.”  The Spanish language is a champion at expressing this having... Read more

  Click here for English A menudo oramos para que se haga la voluntad de Dios en nuestras vidas, nuestras familias, nuestras comunidades, nuestra Iglesia y el mundo entero. Cada vez que rezamos la oración más perfecta, el Padre Nuestro, pedimos a Dios que se haga su voluntad en la tierra como en el cielo.  En nuestro idioma tenemos tantas maneras de evocar la voluntad de Dios con respecto a eventos futuros usando expresiones como “Dios  quiera,” “Primero Dios,” “Si... Read more

Una vez oí una historia sobre un párroco que se subió al campanario de la iglesia para estar más cerca de Dios. Pensó que al subir oiría a Dios con más facilidad y luego podría pasar su mensaje a sus parroquianos. Pero cuanto más tiempo pasaba en el campanario, más lejos de Dios se sentía. Un día desesperado exclamó, “¡Dios, háblame! ¿Dónde estás? ¡Muéstrate a mí!” En ese mismo instante el sacerdote escuchó una voz que venía de abajo, no... Read more

This a French cathedral built throughout the 13th and 15th centuries.  While the French elsewhere built magnificent Gothic churches from stone, the cathedral of Albi was built with bricks.  Rather than building the expected cathedral with flying buttresses and beautiful stained glass windows, the bishops of Albi built an impenetrable fortress with only one elevated side entrance.  In contrast to its stark exterior, no detail was spared in its interior, making it as spectacular as other cathedrals.  Stories tell that... Read more

I once heard a story about a parish priest who climbed up the church’s steeple to be closer to God.  He thought that by spending time up there, he would hear God’s word more easily and then pass it on to his parishioners. But the more time he spent up there, the further from God he felt.  One day, in desperation he cried out, “God, speak to me!  Where are you?  Show yourself!” At that very moment the priest heard... Read more

[Epiphany Homily] The invention of the light bulb has spoiled our experience of light. Even though electricity and light bulbs have allowed us to have light on demand, which is a great thing, they have also made us loose our appreciation for the piercing power of light. Most of us modern human beings have forgotten what it’s like for the sun to go down and to be left in complete darkness, trusting the moon and the starts to provide light... Read more

Happy New Year to all my readers! I closed 2013 at a very peaceful and quiet place, the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville, Alabama.  Though I left the shrine on December 31st, I spent the last few days of the year in silence and prayer. I am grateful for the hospitality of the Knights of the Holy Eucharist who are very kind to house all priests who visit the shrine and for the prayerful example of the... Read more