Category Archives: From the Friars

Article – Two Million Children

Article – Two Million Children On July 4th the long-awaited film “Sound of Freedom” will be released. It is based on the true story of a U.S. Homeland Security agent who quit his job in order to dedicate himself to rescuing children from sex traffickers. I have not seen the movie or been able to…

From the Friars: Mary – Theotokos

From the Friars: Mary – Theotokos “Mary is the Mother of Jesus, but she’s not the Mother of God” my Protestant friend pontificated to me some years ago. I curtly replied, “You sound like Nestorius.” “Nest story who?” He asked. Nestorius was the Patriarch of Constantinople, who in 429 preached that Jesus Christ was a…

From the Friars: By What Authority?

From the Friars: By What Authority? We hear in the Gospel today that Jesus gave authority to the twelve apostles to proclaim the kingdom of heaven, drive out demons and cure the sick. You can’t give what you don’t have. Our Lord has authority because He is the Author, the Creator and Source of everything…

Article – Dobbs Anniversary

Article – Dobbs Anniversary This Saturday, June 24, the Solemnity of the Birth of St. John the Baptist, marks the one-year anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision of Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. This decision overruled Roe vs. Wade and Planned Parenthood of Pennsylvania vs. Casey which held that there was a constitutional…

Article – Mysterium Fidei! – The Mystery of Faith!

Article – Mysterium Fidei! – The Mystery of Faith! 5. “Mysterium fidei! – The Mystery of Faith!”. When the priest recites or chants these words, all present acclaim: “We announce your death, O Lord, and we proclaim your resurrection, until you come in glory”. In these or similar words the Church, while pointing to Christ…

From the Friars: Having All Sweetness Within It

From the Friars: Having All Sweetness Within It My grandmother made the best cookies in the world. Her husband, my grandfather, was a farmer by trade before moving to Detroit from Quebec one hundred years ago. He owned an empty lot next to his house in the big city and cultivated a large garden which…

From the Friars: A Simple Communion of Love

From the Friars: A Simple Communion of Love It is commonly said that Trinity Sunday is the one day of the year when heresies are uttered from the majority of the pulpits of the Catholic churches throughout the world. While to say it that way may be a bit extreme, and given that we can…

Article – Maker or Creator?

Article – Maker or Creator? Someone called the Shrine recently regarding the procession we had for Our Lady of Fatima. They were very complimentary except they wanted to point out that, while reciting the Apostle’s Creed during the Rosary, I had said “Maker of heaven and earth” as opposed to “Creator of heaven and earth.”…

Article – The Second Joyful Mystery

This Wednesday, May 31st, we will celebrate the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In St. Luke’s account of this important event we find the “Magnificat”, the beautiful canticle of Our Blessed Mother that the Church prays every day at Vespers (Evening Prayer). Here the young virgin mother cries out: “My spirit…

From the Friars: Fire and Wind

From the Friars: Fire and Wind Today we celebrate the great Solemnity of Pentecost. We remember the miraculous outpouring of the Holy Spirit manifested by the sound of a strong driving wind and the descent of tongues of fire on the Apostles and Our Blessed Mother. The English translation of the Sequence says: “Come, Holy…