When I talk to those thinking about becoming a Franciscan, I sometimes hear them express a thought similar to, ‘I’m not ready yet, in a few more years I will begin my vocation.’ To that idea, I wish to respond: ‘You do not have to wait to start your vocation. Your vocation can start today!’ …
Category: The Catholic Faith
St. Francis on Bad Priests
On one occasion, a parishioner brought to the attention of St. Francis a priest involved in a scandalous affair. He asked St. Francis to go and correct the priest. The first thing St. Francis did was to kneel and kiss the hands of the priest. (From the Thirteenth-Century Testimonies #6.) St. Francis was not condoning…
Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s
…and to God what is God’s. These are Jesus’ words in answer to the challenge of the Pharisees trying to trap him, that we hear in the 29th Sunday of Ordinary Time Mass readings in the Gospel of Matthew (22:15-21). Does this mean that what we do in our social structures, such as in government…
What is the Right Use of Freedom?
“In those days, in their thirst for water, the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “Why did you ever make us leave Egypt? Was it just to have us die here of thirst with our children and our livestock?” (Ex 17:3) The third Sunday of Lent recounts the Exodus, where just after being freed from over…
Are You Prepared for The Second Coming of Christ?
The message of the first weeks of Advent is “So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come!” (Mt 24:44) Scripture and science tell us, the end will come. Scripture tells us that no one knows when, but that there will be signs. …
As Thanksgiving Day Approaches, Are We Truly Grateful?
Lord, thank you for what you’ve given me, help me this day to use it in your service! That is a beautiful prayer! In the Gospel of Luke 17:11-19, ten Lepers were healed, only one came back to thank God! How much of our lives is lived without fully being aware of what God has…