SpiritualitySeptember 18, 2017On The Bread and WIne
"The recently published circular letter, “On the bread and wine for the Eucharist” sent to diocesan bishops at the request of Pope Francis drew worldwide attention by urging bishops to be wary of “gluten-free” hosts . . "
SpiritualitySeptember 17, 2017“Remember the end of your life.” 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time
""Remember the end of your life." . . . The advice from Sirach goes on and is relevant for the forgiveness that scripture reminds us of today."
SpiritualitySeptember 16, 2017Reading The Bible Through a Green Lens – Part One
"A while back, I had reflected on Reading the Bible through a Green Lens by Calvin B. DeWitt. My reading on environmental issues had been from a secular perspective and I wanted to approach this topic from a biblical/spiritual perspective. What follows is my personal reflection on this article."
SpiritualitySeptember 13, 2017The Good News About The Deeper Meaning of Immanuel: The Lord-always-is-with-us
Jean Bertin St Louis looks at the historical and political context of Isaiah's prophecy o 'Immanuel."
SpiritualitySeptember 11, 2017Best Retreat Ever, Part Two. Praying at the Speed of Guelph
In a follow up to his post - Best Retreat Ever. Part One (posted 6/22/17) - Paul Robson,SJ writes about receiving God's grace at a moment of the retreat.
SpiritualitySeptember 10, 2017Do not harden your hearts! – 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
"Scripture today offers some wisdom for our reflection. Psalm 95 reminds us, "Do not harden your hearts!" Hardened hearts! Think of the Grinch who stole Christmas. And Easter! And joy and peace!"
SpiritualitySeptember 09, 2017I Choose to be a Window.
"To be a window for Christ means having the freedom to allow Christ to be visible through me. Christ will be my actions and my words. I trust the Holy Spirit to shine through me."
SpiritualitySeptember 08, 2017Butterflies Are Free
"Jesus told his disciples to take nothing for the journey, to travel light. This begs the question, “When does the tourist become a pilgrim?” The answer is so appropriate – when you lose your luggage. Bishop Robert Barron invites us all to become detached from wealth, pleasure, power and honor. St.
SpiritualitySeptember 03, 2017“Something like a burning fire shut up in my bones …” 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
"The Prophet Jeremiah: "If I say, 'I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,' then within me there is something like a burning fire shut up in my bones: I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot."
SpiritualitySeptember 02, 2017What We Believe: Part 33 – The Sacrament of Marriage
In 1992, Pope John Paul II authorized a new Catechism of the Catholic Church . . . This series will try to explain various teachings of the Catechism in a simple way that hopefully will be easily understood .
SpiritualityAugust 30, 2017Hopes for Priestly Life: Credibility, Friendship, Honesty
In June 2017, Joe Simmons, SJ was ordained a priest, He shared his thoughts one week before ordination. Reposted from The Jesuit Post.
SpiritualityAugust 27, 2017“Who do you say that I am?” 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
"I'm more concerned about the question of personal commitment on the part of the believer. The scholars can discuss who Jesus is. But, as a person who helps people to actually pray, I hope that the pray-ers can make a personal connection between the life of Jesus and how we actually live our lives."
SpiritualityAugust 26, 2017What We Believe: Part 32 – The Sacrament of Holy Orders
In 1992, Pope John Paul II authorized a new Catechism of the Catholic Church . . . This series will try to explain various teachings of the Catechism in a simple way that hopefully will be easily understood .
SpiritualityAugust 20, 2017Enjoying The Crumbs – 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Our experience of God's grace is not always overwhelming. It often comes to us in scraps and crumbs, rather than neat and tidy slices. . .. I'm sure that the elements that we bring to our prayer in an examen are scraps and crumbs from the day."
SpiritualityAugust 19, 2017What We Believe: Part 31 – The Anointing of The Sick
In 1992, Pope John Paul II authorized a new Catechism of the Catholic Church . . . This series will try to explain various teachings of the Catechism in a simple way that hopefully will be easily understood .
SpiritualityAugust 13, 2017A sound of sheer silence.” – 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
"A natural question is about how we expect God to appear to us. My experience is that God usually surprises us. God will not announce God-self and draw arrows and offer bright lights to say, look here. It is me, God. We have to discern. We must ponder the prayer experience in the context of life and
SpiritualityAugust 12, 2017What We Believe: Part 30 – The Sacrament of Reconciiliation
In 1992, Pope John Paul II authorized a new Catechism of the Catholic Church . . . This series will try to explain various teachings of the Catechism in a simple way that hopefully will be easily understood .
SpiritualityAugust 11, 2017Thomas Merton and the Poetry of Discernment
St. Bonaventure University "(then a college) is where Merton taught for several terms all the while struggling with the path he might take. Poet? Professor? Volunteer at Catherine de Hueck Doherty's Friendship House in Harlem? Join a religious order? Become a Franciscan?"
SpiritualityAugust 05, 2017What We Believe: Part 29 – The Sacrament of The Eucharist
In 1992, Pope John Paul II authorized a new Catechism of the Catholic Church . . . This series will try to explain various teachings of the Catechism in a simple way that hopefully will be easily understood .
SpiritualityJuly 29, 2017What We Believe: Part 28 – The Sacrament of Confirmation
In 1992, Pope John Paul II authorized a new Catechism of the Catholic Church . . . This series will try to explain various teachings of the Catechism in a simple way that hopefully will be easily understood .
SpiritualityJuly 22, 2017God writes straight with crooked lines
We are forever searching for the immediate solution to our personal and social woes. We are not stupid, so we know that there are not usually instant solutions that can be fully trusted. But we live in hope.
SpiritualityJuly 21, 2017What We Believe: Part 27 – Initiation into the Church
In 1992, Pope John Paul II authorized a new Catechism of the Catholic Church . . . This series will try to explain various teachings of the Catechism in a simple way that hopefully will be easily understood .
SpiritualityJuly 20, 2017Reflections on Life, Death, and Love
Coming from his recent retreat in Combermere, Eric Jensen, SJ shares his refections on life, death and love.
SpiritualityJuly 15, 2017Walls and Bridges
The Dispossessed is a novel that brings to mind St. Ignatius' "Contemplation to Gain Love."
SpiritualityJuly 14, 2017What We Believe: Part 26 – Successive Generations
In 1992, Pope John Paul II authorized a new Catechism of the Catholic Church . . . This series will try to explain various teachings of the Catechism in a simple way that hopefully will be easily understood .
SpiritualityJuly 13, 2017The Glory of God
A celebration of our humanity. As St. Ireneus wrote: "The glory of God is humanity fully alive."
- SpiritualityJuly 07, 2017
What We Believe: Part 25 – Life Everlasting
This is the final article of the series which has looked at the New Catechism.
- SpiritualityJune 23, 2017
What We Believe: Part 24 – Resurrection of The Body
the Catechism has a summary statement that should leave no doubt that it really means that our bodies will be raised, and in a glorified state, be reunited with our spiritual component and as at present to form a unit.
- SpiritualityJune 22, 2017
Best Retreat Ever, Part One
As a novice I made a thirty-day retreat, along with my novice mates. That thirty-day experience of the Spiritual Exercises was certainly a memorable, important time for me. But the retreat that often comes to my mind was a relatively short, three-day retreat, which I made in Guelph in the summer of
- SpiritualityJune 17, 2017
The Beatitudes
Tthe Beatitudes put suffering in a whole new light.The Beatitudes also put Jesus in a whole new light: they can be read as a self-portrait of Jesus. "
- SpiritualityJune 08, 2017
Reconciliation
Reconciliation. It is an essential ingredient to being a child of God/brother of Jesus– forgiving and accepting forgiveness. To love allows us to be vulnerable to hurt but also open to healing.
- SpiritualityJune 01, 2017
Pam Frampton: I don’t get hate.
Writing in St. John's The Telegram, Pam Frampton takes a close look at hate and why people express their hate in such terrifying ways.
- SpiritualityMay 26, 2017
What We Believe: Part 20 – The Holy Spirit
It is good to review what we are to believe about the Holy Spirit. To believe in the Holy Spirit is to profess that the Holy Spirit is one of the persons of the Holy Trinity, consubstantial with the Father and the Son:'with the Son he is worshipped and glorified'"
- SpiritualityMay 19, 2017
What We Believe: Part 19 – Holy Orders
Holy Orders is to continue the mission entrusted to the apostles by Christ until the end of time. Bishops, priests and deacons exercise this apostolic ministry that furthers the growth of the Church.
- SpiritualityMay 17, 2017
If I Were a Saint…
"If l were a saint, I would not be able to write about sanctity. Saints radiate God unbeknownst to themselves. They are silent about their holiness because they are unaware of it."
- SpiritualityMay 12, 2017
What We Believe: Part 18 – More About Marriage
It is very important that the spouses realize and intend to fulfill the contract they make with each other to give oneself completely and always.
- SpiritualityMay 11, 2017
The Centennial of Our Lady of Fatima 1917 – 2017
A reflection on the 100th anniversary of the first appearance by Our Lady in Fatima.
- SpiritualityMay 05, 2017
What We Believe: Part 17 – Union of Minds and Hearts.
This marriage contract or covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament. . . . As a sacrament, the spouses receive special graces for the living of their marriage contract.
- SpiritualityApril 29, 2017
Were not our hearts burning within – Third Sunday of Easter
The invitation to spiritual conversation is an invitation to reflect on where the Spirit is moving within us.
- SpiritualityApril 28, 2017
What We Believe: Part 16 – Some Fundamentals about Marriage.
This preliminary reflection on the place of love in our lives is the foundation for our consideration on the institution of marriage. God created humans as a pair with man and woman to form a union of love as an image of the absolute and unfailing love with which God loves humans.