SpiritualityNovember 16, 201930th Anniversary of the Salvador Martyrs.
"Martyrdom is the grace with which God seals and accepts a whole life of often ordinary, hidden commitment, service, and transforms it into the root meaning of the word “martyr”: - witness."
SpiritualityNovember 15, 2019My Friend Maple
" During these years many wonderful trees have befriended me in a way that is totally surprising to me. It was a tree that took the initiative in one of the early years."
SpiritualityNovember 06, 2019Our Teachers The Trees
"On one occasion I could hear the leaves and the wind whispering to each other and see the branches gently swaying to the wind’s rhythms. I seemed to hear the message; “Tell them to listen and let the Spirit move them”. "
SpiritualityNovember 04, 2019The Day of the Dead
"I believe there is a Scriptural foundation for the doctrine of Purgatory, and that it is found in the parable of the Prodigal, what Kenneth Bailey calls “The Parable of the Father and the Two Lost Sons.”"
SpiritualityOctober 25, 2019The Gathering
This refection from a Newfoundland minister deal with the opening section of the Anglican lliturgy - the gathering.
SpiritualityOctober 16, 2019A Woman Jesuit and the Mother of the Church in Canada
For Women's History Month, let’s look at two examples of strong women who were close to the Jesuits and who were active in the success of their mission.
SpiritualityOctober 10, 2019A New Day
"We do not get to relive yesterday, but we are given the opportunity to do a better job with today. That is our choice."
SpiritualityOctober 09, 2019Yom Kippur 2019
Today ". . . is a day of fasting and prayer, introspection and self-judgment when, collectively and repeatedly, we confess our sins and pray to be written into God's Book of Life.”:
SpiritualityOctober 06, 2019A Heart of Stone – Twenty Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time 2019
"Saint Paul reminds us today to rekindle the gift of God that is within you"
SpiritualityOctober 05, 2019Boldness and Freedom
A poem-prayer written during a recent eight day retreat.
SpiritualitySeptember 29, 2019105th World Day of Migrants and Refugees – Twenty Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time 2019
" . . . our response to the challenges posed by contemporary migration can be summed up in four verbs: welcome, protect, promote and integrate."
SpiritualitySeptember 26, 2019A Letter from Rome
A letter from the Canadian Cardinal-elect, Michael Czerny, SJ
SpiritualitySeptember 23, 2019“We’re All Falling” The Start of Autumn
"The endless opportunities of summer are gone and winter is on the horizon. Many people turn inward and become more reflective. That melancholic nature is evident in much poetry".
SpiritualitySeptember 16, 2019What Can we Do When Everything is Falling Apart?
"Prayer is one of the greatest antidotes against recurring problems. " Throughout his life, Jesus continually told the people: ”Do not be afraid. Do not be anxious. Do not be worried. I bring you tidings of great joy”. "
SpiritualitySeptember 09, 2019The Pope versus the Sourpuss
"These are intimate affairs where the Pope speaks without the intervention of diplomatic and theological experts. So what comes through is a sense of his genuine, unvarnished thinking and pastoral attitude."
SpiritualitySeptember 04, 2019A Knight and A Bishop
"Bishop LaRocque said that I had some opposition but he believed I was inspired by Our Lady and the Holy Spirit. He encouraged me to remain steadfast and continue with our plans. His confidence helped our committee to forge ahead."
SpiritualityAugust 31, 2019Pilgrims’ Progress: Journal Entries from a 60th Anniversary Pilgrimage – #10
This is the tenth in a series ongoing journal entries.
SpiritualityAugust 30, 2019Pilgrims’ Progress: Journal Entries from a 60th Anniversary Pilgrimage – #9
This is the ninth entry in an orgoing journal. Today - Stockholm
SpiritualityAugust 29, 2019First Love
"I find great consolation in spending time with the Mother of Jesus, who lived a life of love and loss, and her gift of grace provides the strength I need to live on my own."
SpiritualityAugust 26, 2019My Friend Jean Vanier
"Jean’s spirit continues to infuse these communities with his vision that each and every human being whatever their gifts or limitations are a valued precious child of God that can contribute to the well being of our world."
SpiritualityAugust 24, 2019Pilgrims’ Progress: Journal Entries from a 60th Anniversary Pilgrimage – #8
The eighth in an ongoing series of journal entries.
SpiritualityAugust 23, 2019Pilgrims’ Progress: Journal Entries from a 60th Anniversary Pilgrimage – #7
The seventh of an ongoing series of entries - now in Norway.
SpiritualityAugust 21, 2019Following the Leader
" In this sort of environment, who would trust the servant leader who calls upon us to sacrifice, to deny ourselves and to “take up our cross and follow”? Instead, we (increasingly despairingly) follow demagogues, charlatans and snake-oil salespeople." "
SpiritualityAugust 17, 2019Pilgrims’ Progress: Journal Entries from a 60th Anniversary Pilgrimage – #6
The sixth in a series of journal entries.
SpiritualityAugust 16, 2019Pilgrims’ Progress: Journal Entries from a 60th Anniversary Pilgrimage – #5
The fifth in a series of ongoing journal entries.
SpiritualityAugust 15, 2019The Assumption and Papal Infallibility
"Is papal infallibility controversial? Why yes! But it’s not used very often. As a matter of fact, a strict notion of infallibility is extremely rare."
SpiritualityAugust 14, 2019The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of True Forgiveness
"There is no immediate, or even distant likelihood of my ever personally contemplating Rembrandt’s masterpiece but it comforts me now that I understand and appreciate so much more the true forgiveness of Our Father for all of us."
SpiritualityAugust 12, 2019Projet Nouveau Gesù
"These four areas of focus, what the report calls ‘hubs’, correspond directly to the traditional strengths of the Society of Jesus as well as the history of the Gesù itself."
SpiritualityAugust 10, 2019Pilgrims’ Progress: Journal Entries from a 60th Anniversary Pilgrimage – #4
The fourth in a series of journal entries.
SpiritualityAugust 09, 2019Pilgrims’ Progress: Journal Entries from a 60th Anniversary Pilgrimage – #3
The third in a series of journal entries.
SpiritualityAugust 03, 2019Pilgrims’Progress: Journal Entries from a 60th Anniversary Pilgrimage – #2
The second in a series of journal entries.
SpiritualityAugust 02, 2019Pilgrims’Progress: Journal Entries from a 60th Anniversary Pilgrimage – #1
The first in a series of journal entries from a very special pilgrimage.
SpiritualityJuly 31, 2019Ignatius and the Magis – Ignatius Day 2019
"We have to make choices about how we use our limited time and energy. On this Feast of Saint Ignatius, let us pray for the grace to be discerning and selective in our choices, both the everyday choices, but also the major choices in life."
SpiritualityUncategorisedJuly 30, 2019Grandfather of Loyola
On the feast of Ignatius Loyola, the poet looks back at an ancestor.
SpiritualityJuly 29, 2019Discerning the Signs of the Time
""“God speaks to us all the time and in many ways, but it requires spiritual discernment to hear God’s voice, see what God sees, and read the signs in daily life.” (Henri Nouwen)"
SpiritualityJuly 28, 2019Persistence – Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 2019
"People in need and with great desires can be persistent. God can also be persistent. Some people use the phrase the hound of heaven to describe the way in which God continues to pursue us"
SpiritualityJuly 26, 2019Saint Anne and Saint Joachim
"Let’s pray in a special way today for all grandparents. We know how often they play a significant role in the formation of their grandchildren."
SpiritualityJuly 25, 2019The Raptors as Spiritual Guides
"Throughout the games, I found myself admiring not only their athletic talent but also the magnanimity of their spirits. The Holy Spirit manifests himself/herself in many ways to assorted people."
SpiritualityJuly 24, 2019The Burden of Baggage
"We should never forget that sin is a burden that need not be carried in our hearts."