The term “target hardening” generally refers to strengthening the security of a site against attack. It’s something we may hear or read about after terrorist
“Someone is in my seat!” Thus began the conversation between the parishioner and the hospitality minister. As I understand it, after a parish re-opened following
“At his request, no formal services will take place.” If you read the obituaries from time to time, you may notice a statement to this
“She died a holy death,” a priest who knew her well told me. Just the day before her death from an aneurism, she’d come up
“He hit a $1.2 million jackpot, then lost the winning lottery ticket.” This story, reported by the Washington Post in March of 2021, describes how
How’s your self-awareness? Do you struggle with some area of life you think you can never change? Is there some repeated pattern of thinking or
Experience a more meaningful Lent this year! Make it truly transformative–get out of the humdrum routine of past Lents. Chapter 49 of the Rule of
“Do not grumble,” St. Benedict tells his monks. (RB 4:39) The first time he mentions this is in the fourth chapter of his rule for
The writing on the wall for your parish may be coming into better focus as we enter the new calendar year. And it shouldn’t take
“Whoever deters souls from frequent Communion is doing the work of the devil.” Thus says St. John of Avila, as quoted by St. Alphonsus Liguori.
Who’s your God? Asked another way: “Where is your happiness?” Is it in God, the Almighty, the source of infinite light, love, mercy and goodness?
Is the promotion of abortion acceptable in any form? Is it acceptable, whether done actively or passively–directly or indirectly–by act or by omission? A Pew
We’re called to imitate Our Lady’s “fiat” in our own lives. At the Annunciation, after Gabriel tells her about conceiving and bearing Our Lord, Mary
Conquering bad attitudes may require more than simply changing your thinking. Bad attitudes can be caused, or at least exacerbated, by the devil. Just think
God speaks to us–makes Himself known to us–in Scripture. Many want to know God better, more intimately, more closely. Yet a question often remains—just how
We need to demonstrate some modesty in the presence of His Majesty! Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, condescends to reside
Anxiety continues to imprison many, even with the reopening of much of our country. I recently ran across an acquaintance from my parish in a
Congrats—you’re going to be a godparent! Well, maybe you will, but then again, maybe you won’t. Sometimes unforeseen barriers might prevent you from fulfilling this
“Uneducated, ordinary men…companions of Jesus.” (Acts 4:13) That’s how the Jewish leaders characterized Peter and John after they cured the crippled man at “the Beautiful
Someone else’s reflections are or can be, an aid to prayer. However, they are not your prayer or my prayer per se. Some such aids
I’d begun to write this piece some time ago but put it off for various reasons. Then, one day during prayer, what occurred to me
A wonderful retreat master, a holy priest, told our retreatants’ group that we all seek two things in this life—joy and love. Lacking in either
Living in a Luke 12:53 moment? I use that term to refer broadly to our current cultural milieu. We live in a time when we
“Praying with Scripture – can a layperson like me can expect to do this? Is this like meditation? Seems that it requires a lot of
