Wondering and Wandering in a Cemetery
Perhaps it’s my age…approaching 76 as this is written. Or my heritage…Irish Catholic. Or my curiosity about people…living or deceased. Regardless of the reason, I enjoy the peacefulness of walking around a cemetery on a sunlit spring, summer or fall day. It’s not a sad experience for me. Rather, it’s not uncommon for me (if there’s n...
6 Ways to Make Sure You’re Actually Moving Toward Your Dreams
The smell of a brand new baseball always set me off. It was heavenly. The peacefulness of the baseball diamond could overtake me at times, allowing my mind to wander dangerously in the middle of a pitcher’s wind up. The aroma of dirt, fresh cut grass, popcorn, and sweat complemented the perfect swing; when I couldn’t even feel the ball hi...
How Family Life Conquers Chaos and Death
The other day I was stuck in traffic on the highway and I happened to look down at the grass growing in the median between the two sides of the highway. The beauty of the living grass softly swaying in the wind brushed a chord in my soul. This was not any special grass, it wasn’t even particularly aesthetically pleasing, it was just there, and al...
Why I Still Farm My Family’s Land
Folks that have had the fortune to find themselves sitting under the shade tree at my family’s farm might have a hard time explaining to those who haven’t what takes place there. For those who have, they always come back. People I sat with as a child, now bring their grandkids there. Out of state grandkids bring their grandparents (who are...
Don’t Let Your To-Do List Make You Miss Being a Dad
In a technological world of instant gratification, it has become very difficult to be patient for anything to come full circle, whether it’s personal goals or products arriving in the mail. The patient man or woman is usually a simple man or woman with the ability to understand the beauty of the process; not just the outcome. I am not patien...
Men, Remember Memorial Day
As my friend shared his thoughts on the occasion of his son’s birth yesterday, he reflected that “It [his son’s birth] is good, meaningful, and a witness against death that marches with the intensity of a mob and the intention of a cancer.” I couldn’t agree more that the miracle of life and the beauty of an innocent child are incredible p...
Let’s Fast and Pray on Fridays to Protect Life
A gaping hole has emerged in Catholic life with the disappearance of the Friday penance. The Catechism (§1438) and the Code of Canon Law teach us that every Friday is a day of penance in honor of Our Lord’s Passion (unless a solemnity falls on that day). The US Bishops in 1966 did not abolishthe Friday penance, but merely stated that the oblig...
Two Spiritual Pillars Worth Following . . . and Visiting
As a Benedictine oblate, people ask me regularly: what does it mean to be an oblate? Most importantly, it entails taking the Rule of St. Benedict as a spiritual charter for how we live the Gospel. St. Benedict is clear at the opening of the Rule: incline your ear to the words of the Master and run to meet Him. The Master is Christ and the Rule help...
Want to Be Holier? Meditate on Christ’s Words and Deeds Daily
A priest friend of mine says very regularly, “All of us are called to holiness.” This is a constant call of his, showing up in nearly every sermon, a preaching of a main theme of Vatican Council II. “Great. We get it,” I said one day. “Now tell us what to do.” Men (male and female) are body and soul. We have a physicality t...
Abortion and the Erosion of Catholic Heritage: Pray for Ireland
On May 25th Ireland will hold a referendum about the legalization of abortion. The global Left, especially George Soros, has been pouring money into Ireland to promote abortion. As Catholic men, we should pour our prayers into the country to counter this evil influence. I am confident that the Lord’s Divine Mercy and Our Lady’s intercession can...