• Bulletin Board, Announcements, Calendar
• Welcome and Website Protocol
• Editorial - Op Ed
• Article Archive

Print this page

Article Categories

• Book Reviews
• Open Letter
• Editorials
• Notes, Quotes & Comments
• Pastor's Study
• Project Millstones
• Sidebar Comments
• Weekly Message

Links

AMERICA Magazine
A balanced Catholic weekly magazine published by the jesuits of the United States for an intelligent Catholic readership. Go online to subscribe.

Liturgy
This link will keep 'parishioners-at-large' in touch with current creative liturgy sources and resources that respect a variety of 'traditions' within the Church.

Voice of the Faithful
A 'movement' of lay Catholics 'inspired' by the abuse scandal calling for greater accountability of bishops to 'Catholics in the Pew.'

Survivos' Network for those Abused by Priests or Religious
A National Network of self-help support groups for people abused by clergy or religious.

Bishop Accountability
Vital information about the disclosure of sexual abuse and related issues affecting Catholics in the pew and the manner in which Bishops continue to exempt themselves from accountability

National Catholic Reporter
A national Catholic lay newspaper covering events not usually covered or presented with a clerical bias in the local diocesan press or but of concern and interest to Catholics.

COMMONWEAL Magazine
A 'lay' Catholic weekly publication with an accent on an intelligent analysis and commentary on curent issues, trends and concerns of interest to Catholics.

Search

Daily Scripture

+ 7th Week of Easter

“Parting is such sweet sorrow.”

Readings: Acts 20:17-27 Psalm 68:10-11, 20-21 John 17:1-11

I am in the world no longer, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. [John 17:11]

Shakespeare ‘penned’ the phrase quoted above. I didn’t understand it as a student of Shakespeare in high school but I began to understand it when I waved goodbye to my family as I sailed off to Italy on September 21, 1963 for a three-year stretch in Rome. In fact, it has multiple meanings and applications that I appreciate now more than ever before.

There is another phrase that perhaps gives credence to my thoughts so poorly expressed and it’s this: “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” Ah, that’s it. At times we need to separate from ‘the source’ in order to appreciate how important it is to stay connected.

The farewell speech of St. Paul in Acts and the farewell ‘prayer’ of Jesus in John’s gospel were more likely composed by the authors of these texts along the lines of the farewell speeches of great leaders of their times in order to attract the attention of Jesus’ followers.

The departure of Jesus and later that of Paul created ‘fallow’ time in the hearts of the neophyte believers that was absolutely necessary if they were to grasp the significance of Jesus’ message and the teachings of St. Paul.

We are once again in ‘fallow’ time as we prepare for Pentecost. It’s a time of discernment during which we are invited to ponder the words and deeds of Jesus so that in his absence, we may come to know his presence in the Spirit that remains within us and around us.

As we ponder, it is important to reflect on the gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and reverence of the Lord. And the fruits of the Holy Spirit are qualities that are characteristic of a community living in Christ: charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty self-control and chastity.

There is much to ponder as we wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.

Daily Scripture

Wednesday September 6, 2006

+ 22nd Week in Ordinary Time

“It’s bigger than both of us!”

Readings: I Cor 3:18-21 Psalm 24:1bc—4ab, 5-6 Luke 5:1-11

“The Lord’s are the earth and its fullness; the world and those who dwell in it.” [Psalm 24:1bc]

It was an expression that was popular back in the fifties. I think the words were spoken first by incipient TV star, Dagmar. She was probably the proto-type of Marilyn Monroe—no exactly a credible spokesperson for the feminist movement the beginnings of which was already on the horizon.

This notwithstanding, popular sayings that become truisms often have their start with the inane observations of the foolish. However, their usage gains meaning through new circumstances that belie their original application.

So it is, when we stand in awe at something greater than any human explanation can proffer, can rightly state, “It’s bigger than both of us.”—indeed, bigger than all of us!

Such is the case with regard to world events. Day after day, I read opinion columns in newspapers and Internet messages, all of which attempt to provide the last word as to why we should ‘stay the course’ or search for a new strategy for withdrawal.

The plethora of opinion even from evangelical ‘prophets.’ who claim to speak for God, send mixed messages about God’s strategy for bringing the world to its senses.

Saint Paul’s warning to the Corinthians is well taken: “Sisters and brothers: Let no one engage in self-deception. If there are those among you who consider themselves wise in this age, let them become fools, so as to become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God…” [ICor 3:18-19…]