Monthly Archives: July 2014

The Way of St. James, more commonly called “The Camino”, is a series of pilgrimage routes throughout Europe culminating at the purported tomb of St. James in Compostela in northwest Spain. Although it is internationally well known, the pilgrimage was … Continue reading →

I know this will sound a bit morbid, but I have been thinking about death of late. No, I have not had a discouraging trip to the doctor, nor am I steeped in a death-contemplating depression. Quite to the contrary, … Continue reading →

A few years back I was traveling around northern Italy with another seminarian and we stopped to visit the Carmelite nuns in the town of Piacenza. They have a rather small and simple convent in the farmland outside town. At … Continue reading →

Reading through last Sunday’s gospel, this line jumped out at me. “The seed that fell on good soil produced a hundredfold…” What struck me most was the qualifier “that”: “the seed THAT fell on good soil.” What? Jesus, you go … Continue reading →

What is prayer? Some would say ‘meditation’, some ‘speaking to God’. One side might emphasize talking, another, listening and receptivity. One could point out praise, and one could describe petition. All of these are correct, but only in the context … Continue reading →

“However much we do to avoid them, we shall never lack crosses in this life if we are in the ranks of the Crucified.” (St. Teresa of Avila) The cross should be seen more as an opportunity and a gift … Continue reading →

It would be wonderful to live in a world at peace – even if only for 90 minutes (plus stoppage time). The idea of a pause for peace during the World Cup Final comes from Msgr. Melchor Sanchez de Toca … Continue reading →

“Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10) Back in 1998, we brought a large group over to Rome for the Feast of Pentecost. We were scheduled to have a special rosary with St. John Paul II in … Continue reading →

Well, I have always admired St. Isaac Jogues for his courageous evangelization to the Native Americans. I can only image the fervor with which he celebrated Mass for the Iroquois in their little Indian tipis. It is sometimes easy to … Continue reading →

How often would someone stop a Jewish Rabbi, Muslim Imam, or Sikh Guru in a mall and complain about something some other member of their religion did and tell them all the evil their religion is responsible for? I doubt … Continue reading →