The Life-Update section of my site could easily become narcissistic, or at least self-centered.  But here's how I justify it:  Missionary Orders like the Franciscans and Jesuits (at least between Trent and Vatican II) had to report back in the annals of their congregations how many baptisms, confirmations, etc. they had among the natives in any certain region.  I think one reason for this strange convert-counting was simply internal accountability. So also, the Life-Update pull-down section affords  some accountability to my donors as to what I am doing with my life.  It is admittedly not as important as the theology section (the default section) or the podcast (talks) pull-down of [...]

While some people are struggling with temptations to change their gender, I often wish I had been created an angel.  It's not because I have lived an angelic life in my past or because I have an angelic intellect.  It's rather because we humans face millions of tests to get to heaven, where angels only had one major test of their obedience and sacrifice of their wills in order to be saved.  I suppose it's my laziness that makes me wish I could have just been saved by simply one decision (like the angels) instead of many, as we humans on earth have to do every week. Last year, I [...]

In the above picture, I am seen with Abba Nathanial, the bishop of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Colorado.  Keep in mind as you read this article that the Ethiopian Catholic Church (which maintains seven valid sacraments and is in communion with Rome) is different from the Ethiopian Orthodox Church (which maintains seven valid sacraments but is not in communion with Rome.)  In the above picture and the following pictures, I am seen with a member of the clergy of the latter. Why?  It is not because I am going Eastern Orthodox.  It's simply because I made a new friend who is not Catholic.  But touring his Church made me [...]

Quicumque enim Spiritu Dei aguntur—hii filii sunt Dei. (For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.)—Rom 8:14. Normally, our New Year's Resolutions as Catholics should be few and concrete.  In past years, I have made so many resolutions at New Year's that I just drop them all in some sense of exasperation by the end of January.  (I think this is common for most of you.)  This is why I am simply going to do my best on the dozen resolutions that play into my rule of life instead of making concrete resolutions. Normally, I think such amorphous (eg "do my best at everything") [...]

In November 2024, I spoke at a conference in Rio De Janeiro hosted by Centro Dom Bosco that had over 1000 Catholics attending it.  I didn't know they had a professional photographer there, but they did.  They sent me some pictures:

Many years ago, before I entered seminary, I remember hearing about a conservative priest who went to dinner at the home of his more progressive parishioners.  Before or after dinner, one of the spouses said to the priest, "Why don't you relax and take your collar off?"  The priest replied, "Why don't you relax and I keep the collar on?" I thought that was quite a funny zinger when I heard the story about 25 years ago.  But now I wonder why a conservative priest would ever spend time with progressive parishioners unless his goal was to convert them.  And I don't think talking to them that way is going [...]

At the end of summer 2024, I was in Western Europe and Western Africa on different missions.  While in Europe, I was about to offer Holy Mass a pro-life center and I noticed after donning my alb and cinture that I had the rest of my vestments on a car seat (see above picture.)  As it was a pro-life center across from an abortion center, the car seat was clearly destined for a poor family who would say "no" to abortion after being abortion-minded.  (Notice I don't say that we hope they would say "yes" to life, as saying "yes" to life already happened the minute they chose to unite [...]

Below are two interesting questions I received on email.  I publish with his permission: Dear Father Nix, Please be so kind and share with me your explanation of following passage: Mark 6:1-6 "Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” [...]

Fr. Prümmer wrote the definitive book on Catholic morals in 1921. His section on Magnanimity is worth printing out and putting on your wall (as I did in my hermitage:) "The characteristics of this virtue are well portrayed by St. Thomas following the teaching of Aristotle: the magnanimous man a) takes a restrained delight in even the greatest honors offered to him, b) remains unruffled both by prosperity and adversity, c) willingly helps others although he himself asks hardly anyone to help him, d) does not fawn upon important personages neither does he allow his liberty to be restricted by their authority, e) is not ambitious, f) expresses his opinions [...]