Peter is one of my favourite saints and gospel figures. He is very human—impetuous, sometimes slow on the uptake, given to rash action and occasionally weak. But Jesus chooses him to be his “rock”, the one who would lead his…
A mature Christian is someone who does what needs to be done. Through hard times when God seems absent and the soul feels empty, the mature Christian continues to keep faith and carry on. I have to credit Fr. Ron…
We hear Mary’s voice a scant four times in the New Testament, but her quiet witness to the ministry of her son resounds throughout the gospels. The Gospel of Luke includes three instances of Mary speaking, while her words are…
The feast of Mary Magdalene coincides with the anniversary of my mother’s death, a fitting intersection given the spiritual inspiration I’ve gained from each woman. Like Mary Magdalene, my mother’s faith ran deep and her life served witness to that…
For more than 1,500 years, Benedictine monasteries and convents around the world have operated under the Rule of Saint Benedict, a set of simple precepts designed to help religious communities lead an ordered, prayerful life. Saint Benedict’s guidelines address five…
Many of us question God’s presence in our lives, particularly in times of crisis or suffering. And that is perfectly normal. How could one not, when suffering or great difficulty often leaves us feeling a bit alone and lost? Yet…
As a child I always perceived saints as rather extraordinary women and men. Their faith and holiness always appeared well beyond my ability. Years later I discovered that many of the saints’ lives were much more alike our own. Many…
Ask any student of theology about the Trinity and the answer you’re likely to receive is this: “It’s a mystery.” To the uninitiated, that may sound trite, if not a downright attempt to avoid offering an answer to a theological…
How do we attract a new generation to consider Christianity? This question is common table talk at practically every gathering of Christians I attend these days. It is a question that Pope Francis answers in his annual message for World…
“Bring flowers of the fairest, bring blossoms the rarest….” Strains of this Marian hymn from my childhood float through my mind every May as soon as the tulips start to bloom. In the old days, of course, those tulips would…