The following is a quote from The U.S. Bishop’s Reflection on Catholic Teaching and Political Life: 17. The Church equips its members to address political and social questions by helping them to develop a well-formed conscience. Catholics have a serious and lifelong obligation to form their consciences in accord with human reason and the teaching…
From the Friars: Francis: Lover of Chastity Some people believe that we Franciscans should relax our life of penance. “You Franciscans do not eat very well.” “You should accept more help from the faithful.” While I appreciate these concerns and what concerns me is a loss of balance between generosity to others and a fiery…
From the Friars: The Leaven of the Pharisees Today in the Gospel we hear once again the story of the pharisee and the tax collector. We could imagine a similar scenario with a different pharisee and a different tax collector. This time the tax collector prays: “Thank you God that I am not like this…
“What have you done?” (Gen 4:10): The Eclipse of the Value of Life “10. The Lord said to Cain: “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground” (Gen 4:10).The voice of the blood shed by men continues to cry out, from generation to generation, in ever…
From the Friars: The Limits of Science Jesus asks in the gospel today, “When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?” In our time we see large numbers of people turning away from religion, especially youth and young adults. Often they claim a belief in science, as if science has somehow…
Beginning this weekend, the musical instruments and choir for our Masses will be located in the choir loft. Our hope is that this new, or renewed, practice will help facilitate a more prayerful participation of everyone in the sacred liturgy. The choir has an important role in our worship and is part of the whole…
Beginning this Advent, we would like to begin a practice in the Mass that was the norm for many centuries and is still an option. I am referring to what is called celebrating Mass “Ad Orientem” or “to the East“. This describes, first of all, the ancient practice of building churches that face toward the…
From the Friars: Where are the Other Nine? One of the first things that most mothers will teach their children is to say thank you. It is a fundamental act of justice to acknowledge a gift or favor from another and express gratitude. This is rooted in the life of God Himself where the Second…
On October 7, 1571 a greatly outnumbered Christian fleet defeated the naval forces of the Ottoman Empire, effectively saving Christian Europe from imminent invasion by the Turkish Muslims. Prior to the battle, Pope St. Pius V, himself a Dominican friar, had called for all the faithful to pray the Rosary, asking Our Lady’s powerful intercession…
From the Friars: Lord Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace The Prayer of St. Francis was a constant companion throughout my college years. It spoke to me. It became my constant desire and my Rule of Life, especially since I needed order in my life during those years! I have always seen St. Francis…