22nd Sunday After Pentecost
How to make of your life an offering to God.
16
10, 2016
7
09, 2016
Catholics and iPhones
Leisure: The Basis of Culture is a book written by Josef Pieper, a 20th century expert on St. Thomas Aquinas. In this book, Pieper demonstrates that a Christian civilization can not be sustained by technology and production as seen in Protestantized countries like Germany. On the southern and more Catholic side of Europe, we see how Italy and Spain close down business for afternoon siestas. Although Italy and Spain are less and less Catholic every year, they retain some aspects of what was once a Christian culture, namely, leisure. For Pieper, leisure is not laziness but an ability to enjoy the good things of life via contemplation and community. This includes God and family. [...]
18
08, 2016
14° Sunday After Pentecost
Why do Christians keep the 10 Commandments but not the kosher laws of Leviticus? What do the Irish have to do with the Galatians of Turkey? This and more on today's podcast.
5
08, 2016
Transfiguration and the Song of Songs
—Written by one of my spiritual directees who entered women's religious life. The Song of Songs illustrates the journey of the Bride, a journey toward love. A journey involves a process, a traveling toward something which one desires but has not yet attained. Highly susceptible to losing his way on a long journey, a pilgrim often encounters numerous and varied obstacles. The Bride in the Song of Songs is no exception. One’s first outlook on the Song of Songs may circulate around the book as brimming over with vibrant images and profound expressions between two lovers. Although this description definitely defines the Song of Songs, it does not include every [...]
21
07, 2016
10th Sunday After Pentecost: The Gift of Tears
An ancient view of the gift of tears in light of today's Gospel, the Pharisee and the Publican.
8
07, 2016
8th Sunday after Pentecost
How important is charity for the traditional Catholic? (Sorry I spoke too close to the mike. I'll avoid this next time.)
7
12, 2015
St. Ambrose
What does St. Ambrose have to do with the Navy Seals and St. Therese?
24
11, 2015
St. John of the Cross and The Buddha
The above picture is a remake of the spiritual life as drawn and described by the greatest ascetical theologian of the past millennium, St. John of the Cross. St. John of the Cross was a 16th century Carmelite whose feast day we celebrate today in the TLM (a couple weeks out in the new calendar.) If you look at that picture (which is hard to see but phenomenal if you can expand it) you will see that the man or woman who sets out to seek God is called to a narrow path that not only despises any earthly attachments that prevent union with God, but also despises any self-centered [...]
21
11, 2015
Did Mary Grow in Holiness?
Homily from today's Mass: the Presentation of Mary in the Temple.
20
11, 2015
Christianity vs. Islam
Today's feast honors St. Felix of Valois, a 13th century saint who gave himself to be the ransom (replacement) of Christians taken hostage by Muslims. At Mass tonight, I preached my sermon on St. Felix and the theology of both Christianity and Islam.