Author Archives: Father Michael Sliney, LC

“I will not walk backward in life.” — J.R.R. Tolkien A mid-life crisis can tempt good people to revert back to the “good old days”, along with all of their bad habits. Looking up old girlfriends/boyfriends on social media, imitating … Continue reading →

Having been the guest at the table of hundreds of family dinners, I have generally observed that the eyes of a mom tend to be analytical and critical of their daughters behavior, and more admiring of their sons.  As a spiritual … Continue reading →

What can you ever really know of other people’s souls—of their temptations, their opportunities, their struggles? — CS Lewis As a Catholic priest, I have a unique vision of human nature…people are totally transparent and open with me. Before judging … Continue reading →

   Intentionality matters.  My first semester at Brother Rice High School did not go well academically…I was running cross country, involved in a school play (“Guys and Dolls”) and simply having too much fun.  So, knowing that the report card would arrive … Continue reading →

The Dad is a child’s first experience of God’s love. A dad needs to be a protector, provider, and to be present in his kids’ lives. A dad should imitate God’s love which is never changing and constant, providing what … Continue reading →

“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17)   Kenya’s  David Rudisha holds the world record for the 800 meter race , running in 1 minute, 40.91 seconds in August 9, 2012.  His incredible record pace pushed all the runners to … Continue reading →

Rome, June 1996.  I was in the middle of my “month long” spiritual exercises (retreat), and two years away from my priestly ordination.  We had 5 one hour directed meditations each day, with plenty of time for personal reflection and … Continue reading →

Graciousness in word and action seems to be fading away with the “greatest generation”, and it would be a pity to lose what our parents and grandparents had, for the most part, assimilated so well.   “Let your speech be … Continue reading →

“Fr. Michael, I have tried to live my life with dignity, and I think that I have done a good job.  Now, I am going to try to die with dignity.  I have never done this before, so I am asking for … Continue reading →

7 Tips for a Strong Marriage 1. Christ needs to be “first” and at the center: Frequent Mass, regular Confession, and personal prayer are essential for gaining the necessary graces for a strong unity and charity in marriage. 2. Marital … Continue reading →