I heard Father Mike Schmitz a couple of days ago on the Catechism in a Year podcast, (which I highly recommend!) speaking about Secondary Causes. I understand, sort of, Thomas Aquinas' argument that God is the Primary Cause and we are the Secondary Cause, or one of them, because there could be an infinite number … Continue reading The Secondary Cause
Grace and Peace Be Upon Us
Today in the Liturgical Calendar it is the Memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus. Both men were bishops of the very early Church, with St. Paul the Apostle personally laying his hands upon them to ordain them. And both were his beloved spiritual sons, as well as beloved children of God. There are two choices … Continue reading Grace and Peace Be Upon Us
A lesson I never forgot
My grandmother explained to me one time what the Incarnation of Jesus was like. I don't mean the Word becoming flesh, the theological explanation that John's Gospel gives us. She was a simple woman, though a wise one. And a pious one. She just wanted to teach one of her visiting granddaughters about the what … Continue reading A lesson I never forgot
What matters most to me
One day, several years ago, I was sitting in an empty chapel praying and waiting for the families to arrive for the funeral of my cousin's mother-in-law. A man who looked to be homeless, in disheveled, dirty clothing with matted hair to match, approached my pew. His shoes were worn through and he shuffled when … Continue reading What matters most to me
Holy Week meditation
On this Palm Sunday and in the final days of this Lenten season, I thought it was time to share once again this poem I wrote several years ago… Can you see Him? He’s there with that angry mob. No, he’s not he menacing one. He’s the peaceful One, the serene One, the holy One. … Continue reading Holy Week meditation
The antidote to resentment
This morning on my daily walk, I finally listened to the March 31 installment of the Catholic Stuff You Should Know podcast. The young man, Jacob, (a seminarian) who joined Father John (a regular host for years) did a great job telling the audience about Max Scheler and ressentiment. Ressentiment, basically, has to do with … Continue reading The antidote to resentment
No Condemnation
Yesterday's Gospel reading was the story of the woman caught in the act of adultery. Ultimately, it's a story about God’s mercy and about our compassion for one another. And the idea that, if God can forgive us and be merciful toward us and our many faults and many failures, surely we can be the same … Continue reading No Condemnation
Who Else Is In the Field?
“Pray do not imagine, that those who make the noise are the only inhabitants of the field.” - Edmund Burke Often in life it seems it really is true that "the squeaky wheel gets the grease." We may infer from this old proverb that the squeaky wheel is in need of grease. But in real … Continue reading Who Else Is In the Field?
St. Valentine’s Day
In honor of Valentine’s Day and World Day of Marriage (on Sunday), I decided to contemplate this very famous verse from Paul’s 1st Letter to the Corinthians. I’m sure you’ve heard it if you’ve ever attended a Christian wedding. It’s often one of the readings. And it’s easy to see why. It’s a beautiful bit … Continue reading St. Valentine’s Day
Drowning in Lemonade 
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