Ghosts, giant skeletons, bubbling cauldrons, and tombstones litter front lawns this time of year, transforming quiet suburban neighborhoods into the stuff of nightmares, all playfully done in anticipation of Halloween. But not everything is fun and games. In fact, there is in our culture rapidly growing interest in spiritual practices that tap into dark powersContinue reading “The First Commandment in the New Age”
Category Archives: Spirituality
Be Little, Trust, and Don’t Worry
The second reading at last weekend’s Masses began with St. Paul’s exhortation: “Brothers and sisters, have no anxiety at all, but in everything… make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and mind in Christ Jesus.” St. Paul’s words express the theme of much of what tookContinue reading “Be Little, Trust, and Don’t Worry “
Rosary Weekend
This past August, Bishop Caggiano issued a special decree designating every first weekend of October, “Rosary Weekend.” October is traditionally the month of the rosary, with October 7 being the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. Per the Bishop’s special directive, we will join all the other parishes in the Diocese in celebrating what’sContinue reading “Rosary Weekend “
Padre Pio
This Thursday (10/1) our parish will host the relics of St. Padre Pio at St. Cecilia Church. One of the great saints of the 20th century, Padre Pio is loved by countless people all over the world. In a way, he is reminiscent of medieval saints whose hagiography modern audiences treat with skepticism because itContinue reading “Padre Pio “
Why Christ is on the Cross
This Monday (9/14) is the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The cross is the symbol of Christianity because it is by Our Lord’s cross and resurrection that we have been saved and liberated from the power of sin and death. Recently, I was asked by a gentleman who attends an Evangelical congregationContinue reading “Why Christ is on the Cross “
A Marian Summer
The great Marian feast of summer is the Assumption, August 15. Normally, the Assumption is a holy day of obligation. But because it falls on a Saturday this year, the obligation is lifted. Perhaps we can treat this as reason to use the next several weeks to give extra consideration to the Blessed Mother’s roleContinue reading “A Marian Summer “
We Worship a Working Man
In recent months there have been many reports about what seems to be a growing interest in Catholicism among young people. Catholic campus ministries across the country received a record number of students into the Catholic Church this Easter. Several parishes in New York City have “standing room only” at Masses attended by young professionals searching for God (and perhaps a spouse). This is certainly a welcome development. But in a recent article featured in The NationalContinue reading “We Worship a Working Man “
Beiberchella
Coachella is a 6-day music festival that takes place in California each year, drawing crowds of 250,000 people over the course of two weekends. Over the years, it has featured top performers and has become a magnet for lifestyle influencers and celebrities. Full disclosure: I have never attended Coachella. In fact, I probably would not have known it was happening if I hadn’t come across a video by Fr. Mark Mary Ames, CFR in which he offered aContinue reading “Beiberchella “
What Gives Hope
About a week ago, I attended a fundraising gala for my elementary school alma mater, St. Theresa’s in Trumbull. The guest of honor was Fr. Mike Schmitz, who is the chaplain of the Catholic Center at the University of Minnesota in Duluth and a popular speaker whose talks and homilies have many millions of online views. At the gala, he spoke about how his workContinue reading “What Gives Hope “
“He is Risen”
On Easter Sunday, 20 years ago, Pope Benedict XVI gave his first Easter Urbi et Orbi speech to the city of Rome and to the world, following the tradition established by his predecessors. From the balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square, he repeated to the crowds the words of the angel to the women who went to Our Lord’s tomb the morning of thatContinue reading ““He is Risen” “
