ST. JOSEPH: THE HIDDEN LIFE
Today we remember St. Joseph, in the year that Pope Francis has named as the Year of St. Joseph. Today, also, we begin a Year of the Family! When the Church honours a saint or honours families, it is one…
Novalis Seeds of Faith
ST. PATRICK: A SAINT FOR A DANGEROUS WORLD
St. Patrick is one of those characters embraced by a secular world that has little interest and less knowledge about who he is and what he represents. There is much more to this spiritual hero whose death we celebrate on…
“I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD, SAYS THE LORD; WHOEVER FOLLOWS ME WILL HAVE THE LIGHT OF LIFE.” (JOHN 8:12)
I like the Gospel readings for this 4th Sunday of Lent. They challenge me to overcome my own prejudices, assumptions and blind spots. Both of the Gospels – I am including the one for the 2nd Scrutiny of Christian initiation…
“STRESSED”: A PRAYER FOR LIVING THROUGH A PANDEMIC
One year ago today, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a COVID-19 pandemic. It has been a roller coaster ride since then, and it’s not quite over. There are many signs of hope, from the roll-out of various vaccines and…
HOW IS YOUR LENTEN JOURNEY?
This Sunday is a good time to take stock of how Lent is going for me. We’re at around the halfway point. Even if I haven’t stayed completely on track so far, there’s still some road ahead of me to…
Q&A WITH AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR OF AMAZING FRIENDSHIPS BETWEEN ANIMALS AND SAINTS
What is Amazing Friendships Between Animals and Saints all about? Greg Kennedy, SJ: If I had to use two words to describe the content and purpose of the book, they would be “ecological conversion,” a term first used by St.…
COVID-LENT (PART II)
Perhaps you remember old Aesop’s fable about the boy and the nettle. If not, here goes: one day a lad comes running home with eyes full of tears and a hand full of invisible pins and needles. “Mommy,” he sobs,…
Q&A WITH ERIC JENSEN, SJ, AUTHOR OF A PASSIONATE JESUS IN HOLY WEEK
What prompted you to write this booklet? I have always disliked the image of a passive Jesus, and in the Passion Narrative, of course, Jesus suffers and is passive. But how did this come about? What actions led up to…
1ST SUNDAY OF LENT…”WE RISE AGAIN FROM THE ASHES, TO CREATE OURSELVES ANEW”
Last year at this time, I was presenting at two parishes outside Ottawa; St. Mary’s in Chesterville and St. Daniel in South Mountain. The theme for these Lenten reflection days was “You Call us to the Desert.” Little did we…
THE LIBERATING PARADOX OF ASH WEDNESDAY
Christianity is a religion of paradoxes and we have a perfect indication of that in the liturgy of Ash Wednesday. On this day, we boldly proclaim the Gospel instructing us on the nature of prayer, fasting and giving. Straight from…