Smiling childhood photos with Dad and tributes to him are filling social media as we head into Fathers Day weekend. Yet sometimes the ideal set forth by a day of celebration is not reflected in your personal reality. The picture perfect vision of a Dad, standing by you from the moment of your birth may not be a part of...
Patience is not one of my strong suits. Considering that one of my mother’s favorite sayings was, “Dear Lord, give me patience – and I want it right now”, there might be a correlation. After all, my mother influenced my life like no other. When my two younger brothers grew into unruly teens and Mom sought the advice of our...
The encroachment of liturgical abuses in the Church is a long debated bone of contention between various members of the Body of Christ. In addition to the diverging thoughts about the ordinary and extraordinary forms of Mass, the Spirit of Vatican II brought a divisive opportunity like no other. Back then, the laity could not research on the internet we...
In Matthew 21:28-32 Jesus shares the parable of a man’s two sons. When asked by his father, the first son refuses the request to go work in the vineyard. Yet, after his impulsive denial, he goes and does the work dutifully. The second son, fails to go as he had agreed – having given an affirmative answer with no intention of obedience....
Mother’s Day is a time of great joy for many. It is a time for mothers to cherish motherhood and for children to remember their mothers. It is a time when fathers honor the mother of their children and when we all honor our grandmothers, aunts, sisters, and woman friends. It is also a time of sadness for some –...
Happy Mother’s Day! Depending on your station in life, these words may bring joy, tears, anger, loss, warmth, anguish, or myriad other emotions. The response is not only dependent on what was experienced but also on the manner with which it was dealt. Whether the mother of one or many, mother via adoption, or a woman with no child at...
Sometimes real life is just as amazing as fiction – especially when it comes to those who do the will of God. Saint Felix is one example of experiencing something that defines the supernatural.
As Catholic Christians we acknowledge that God is omniscient. From childhood, we have been advised that nothing is completely private. He, who created us, sees all. Even the darkest secrets are eventually brought to light. With this admonition in mind, we seek to live lives geared toward an openness to Truth. A certain compulsion for privacy can lead to the...
The anger welled up inside like a white hot coal. Why were relationships so darned bumpy? Verbal responses pinged around in my brain like multiple metal balls in a pinball machine. What was said, what should be said, and would be said – all kept my mind buzzing as I negotiated the familiar road. My internal video evaporated as I...
