“Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you.” Regardless of whatever else is going on, that Scripture above is true: the Light has come, the true light that enlightens every man and woman has come into the world. The blessing is that, to those who received … Read more
“Fear not, Abram! I am your shield!” This may seem like an odd verse to highlight for the Feast of the Holy Family, but it speaks to an often neglected reality: our families are meant to be our first line of defense for our family members. It is interesting and perhaps crucial to note that … Read more
“May it be done to me according to your word!” As we approach the great Solemnity of Christmas, today we hear the Gospel of the Annunciation, which speaks of the event exactly nine months before Christmas in which the Archangel Gabriel invites Mary to rejoice and has the dialogue with her that concludes with her … Read more
“I rejoice heartily in the LORD, in my God is the joy of my soul!” The first reading for this Third Sunday of Advent announces a reality that all of us who have been Baptized and especially all of us who have been Confirmed have experienced: “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me!” … Read more
“Prepare the way of the Lord!” Encounter! As we begin this holy season of Advent, this year is a bit different because we are more formally focusing our attention on our Discipleship Pathway. This is a perfectly acceptable approach to the season; as the Glossary of the Catechism points out, the purpose of this season … Read more
“Lord, make us turn to You; let us see Your face and we shall be saved.” As we begin this holy season of Advent, this year is a bit different because we are more formally focusing our attention on our Discipleship Pathway. This is a perfectly acceptable approach to the season; as the Glossary of … Read more
Note: In the 1990s, Fr. Ed, who is a Secular Discalced Carmelite, wrote a series of bulletin articles on “The Carmelite Charism.” This is a reprint of one of those articles. The Brown Scapular is a Roman Catholic devotion to Mary under her title of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. It is worn as a … Read more
Note: Due to early bulletin deadlines, this column does not appear in the Dec. 23, 2018 bulletin. “He shall stand firm and shepherd His flock by the strength of the LORD!” {Stewardship of Treasure II} Who do you trust? There are people in our lives that we have learned to trust because we have experienced them … Read more
Note: This is the first of a series of five columns on the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The accompanying homily for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time is available to listen to online by clicking here. “Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for His mercy!” The Psalms contain a very beautiful section … Read more
“A voice cries out: In the desert prepare the way of the LORD!” In the Gospel for this Sunday, the beginning of the Gospel of Mark, we are again introduced to the great Saint of God, St. John the Baptist. He is that voice crying out in the wilderness, a voice that we are called … Read more
