By
Given by Oblate of St. Francis de Sales Father Mark S. Mealey, for the Mass for Consecrated Religious Life at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington. In our first reading this evening from the Book of Job, we hear of his suffering and trials, yet he remained faithful to the call he received […]
2/19/15
Reading Time
5
min
By Fr. William P. Saunders
Q: In light of the president’s recent remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast referencing ISIS to the Crusades as if the beheadings, burnings, etc. throughout the ages had already happened in the “name of Jesus,” I would like to know a little history of the Crusades/Inquisitions. Did the Christians try to take back their holy […]
2/18/15
By Cindy Wooden
ROME – Lent is a journey of purification and penance, a movement that should bring one tearfully back to the loving arms of the merciful Father, Pope Francis said at an Ash Wednesday Mass that began with a procession on Rome’s Aventine Hill. After walking from the Benedictine monastery of St. Anselm to the Dominican-run […]
2/18/15
Reading Time
3
min
By Elizabeth Foss
Lent begins this week – the spiritual gift of the church that is a season of paring away the things that cloud our souls in order to see more clearly how much God loves us. We enter into the season by raising our heads to the marking of ashes. Remember, man, that you are dust, […]
2/17/15
Reading Time
3
min
By
It is one of the most basic commands in the Gospel: Repent. Metanoeite in Greek. It is the first command of Christ (cf. Mk 1:15) and likewise of His vicar (cf. Acts 2:38). So fundamental is this command to Christianity that the word metanoia has become somewhat familiar. And yet for all its importance and […]
2/17/15
Reading Time
3
min
By Fr. Michael Witczak
Valentine’s Day is the busiest restaurant day of the year after Mother’s Day. Couples vie with each other to share protestations of love. Grade school children share Valentines far and wide. How did this public demonstration of love get to be associated with St. Valentine? Who was he? What might it mean for us today? […]
2/11/15
Reading Time
2
min
By Russell Shaw
I try to take American politics seriously, I really do. Serious issues are at stake, after all. But sometimes, entirely too often in fact, the realities of American political discourse make taking it seriously awfully hard. Considering the seriousness of what’s at stake, this may be what hearing Beethoven’s Ninth performed on the harmonica would […]
2/10/15
Reading Time
3
min
By
Leprosy was a hideous, dreaded disease at the time of Jesus. It was feared as much as anything in the ancient world. As a disease, it is devastating. It primarily affects the skin, the peripheral nerves, the upper respiratory tract and the eyes. It eats away at the hands, feet and face. It causes a […]
2/10/15
Reading Time
3
min
By Soren Johnson
As I paid for two bags of groceries at my Safeway the other day, the cashier looked up and asked, “Do you need help getting these to your car?” I was speechless. A few seconds passed before I stammered, along with a forced smile, “No thanks, I’ll be fine.” It’s a truism that “real men” […]
2/9/15
Reading Time
4
min
Stop and think(1)