16° Sunday After Pentecost
Is the Christian called to Inspiration or Relevance? We look to St. Theresa of Kolkata to understand today's Gospel, Luke chapter 14.
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09, 2016
16
07, 2016
Women Saints’ Problems
I'm not sure who originally compiled this, but it is encouraging to know: You're not alone in your struggles. These are the women of the school of Christ crucified. (After writing this blog post last night, I woke up and realized I needed to add an important Nota Bene: The below listing of saints is not a green-light for women to be doormats. Most of these women tried to preserve their lives and even live normal lives. The list below is simply a way to push against the Calvinist idea that suffering is a sign of divine disfavor.) Abusive or Unfaithful Husbands Physical Abuse St. Rita of Cascia Verbal Abuse Bl. [...]
30
06, 2016
Four Persons. One Location
What four people on the edge of despair found in common... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1GMA8JSD4Y
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12, 2015
St. Ambrose
What does St. Ambrose have to do with the Navy Seals and St. Therese?
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12, 2015
St. John the Baptist
During the second Sunday of Advent, "when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, 'Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?' And Jesus answered them, 'Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by Me.'"—Matthew 11:2-6
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09, 2015
End of the Priesthood
Today is the feast of the 17th century Jesuit, St. Peter Claver. He's seen above in his untiring work in Cartagena, Columbia to the slaves who were brought there from Africa. The "end of the priesthood" doesn't mean that the Catholic priesthood is coming to an end. By "end," I mean the final-end of something. As I wrote in the post The End of the Mass, "end" simply means telos or goal of its existence. What is the end of the priesthood? The answer: The glory of God and the salvation of souls. What is the means to this end? If you answer "the sacraments," then you're only a third correct. [...]
29
08, 2015
Marriage Defenders: Part 2 of 2
A friend of mine who is a beautiful wife and mother of seven children was in a supermarket this week. A 50 year old man stopped her and then sarcastically asked her if she knew what "caused" having seven kids. She texted me about this and then added her and her husband's thoughts on this: Some days the world just wears you down and a part of you starts to feel like maybe you are a freak. Not just about having a lot of kids, but about everything. And then you realize you need to spend some time in adoration and start to once again see life through Jesus' eyes [...]
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08, 2015
Marriage Defenders: Part 1 of 2
The reason why the Greek Orthodox and Russian Orthodox hesitantly accept divorce and remarriage today can be traced back to a 9th century synod, where Greece had a pre-emptive episode of England’s Henry VIII’s libido issues. In fact, the Greek bishops of the 9th century held a synod to recognize the legitimacy of the emperor Constantine’s second marriage. A Greek monk, St. Theodore, stood alone in the breach, calling this synod the “Adultery-Synod,” moecho-synodus in Greek. Like history that would be repeated seven hundred years later in England with Henry VIII versus St. Thomas More, the Greek bishops and the emperor stood behind the synod of adultery, not behind the saint. St. [...]
15
08, 2015
Immaculata Dedication
I petition the intercession of the following two saints as I consecrate this blog to St. Maximilian Kolbe and the Holy Mother of God, aka the Holy Theotokos, the Immaculata, Mary Most Holy..."Mamma Mary!" as all the Philippina women at my parish lovingly call our mother. I also dedicate it to all the guardian angels of the entire world, and especially the angels of any people the Eternal Father has destined to read my mediocre but true blog. May I suggest St. Maximilian Kolbe's consecration prayer to the Mother of God? I believe St. John Paul II prayed this every day: O Immaculata, Queen of heaven and earth, refuge of sinners [...]
25
07, 2015
St. Mary Magdalene Part 2 of 2
The above picture is taken from Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ. It is clear in this movie, and in most private revelations, that Mary (the Mother of Jesus) knew Mary Magdalene long before the crucifixion. Granted, Scripturally I know of no other time when Mary and Mary are found in the same place, except John 19:25 (the three Mary's at the crucifixion.) So my theory can't be proved from Scripture. However, using common sense, we can be very sure that Mary and Mary didn't simply introduce oneself to each the other at the foot of the cross. It can be assumed that this would be an inappropriate time for introductions; [...]