Lines from it have been embroidered into pillows, engraved into plaques, printed on coffee cups, and embossed onto souvenir plates. I am talking of course about 1 Cor 13, surely one of St. Paul’s greatest hits, surely one of the Bible’s greatest hits. Its popularity is not so hard to understand. Paul’s writing here is … More 1 Cor 13 and the Priest
St. Benedict wrote quite famously in his rule that “the life of a monk ought to be a continuous Lent” (RB 49). He meant that monks, and by extension – all Christians, should always be serious about fasting, repentance, and prayer, and not confine these things to just one time a year. I have wondered … More “The Life of a Monk Ought to be a Continuous Christmas”
Of the many books I read this year, here are ten that I think will stick with me: Fiction Nickolas Butler – The Hearts of Men. A fictional look at the dark side of broken masculinity, and the transmission of that darkness through wounded father son relationships across generations. This is not a cheery book, … More My favorite reads in 2018
Something that campers and outdoorsmen know is that among all the pieces of equipment you place among your gear, one of the most important, is a clean and dry pair of socks, a pair that you only put on at night, a pair you do anything to keep dry. And the reason for this is … More The Bread of Life: A Meal or a Diet?
“When I was a kid,” let me say that again in a grumpy old man voice, “when I was a kid.” Usually stories that start like this tell you how tough things were for your parents and grandparents or even for your older siblings and how easy you’ve got it. Well, I don’t believe that. … More Stick it to the 450: Elijah and the Priests of Baal
It was mother’s day and the family was going out to some fancier restaurant. One the little boy was not in the mood to dress up for, preferring rather to stay at home and play with his toys. “Why do we have to go?” He asked his father. “Because it’s mother’s day,” he replied. Not … More Mary, Mother of the Church
Today I have the real privilege of addressing this group, the Knights of Columbus, and the topic that I have been requested to speak on is St. Joseph. I have entitled this talk “7 Lessons for Men from St. Joseph.” By enumerating it, I hope to make it easier to follow, and also give … More 7 Lessons for Men from St. Joseph
Don’t start a story with the main character. This seems to be good practice for the novelist, play-write, or movie director. Start rather with satellite figures who will, by stories end, be orbiting around the protagonist. This literary strategy makes for good story-telling because it allows the audience to get a sense of the setting, … More Homily for Third Sunday of Advent
My mother grew up as a bible thumping Methodist, and her parents, my grandma and grandpa, had quite an influence on me, on my faith. I remember profoundly their witness of prayer. We’d be at McDonalds and my grandfather would say, just before I bit into my happy meal, “don’t you think you ought to … More Homily for Reformation Day
Our parents who loved us and raised us, well, they live in us in ways great and small. If you still in your 20s, I warn you, a day is coming when you will look in the mirror with horror and say, “oh my gosh, I have become my father (or mother).” And hopefully a … More Homily for the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
