Sports and virtue -- in today’s culture, these words are strange bedfellows.  Consider the uproar of late over quarterback Tim Tebow and his unabashed actions that proclaim he is a Christian role-model.  From the attention he gets, you would think he was a serial killer rather than an athlete who prays publicly and lives his faith.

In our culture, we are much more accustomed to seeing sports figures who flaunt their talent and bad habits, dancing and preening in the limelight and the end zone. Read the rest of this entry »

"By remaining silent we allow the other person to speak, to express him or herself; and we avoid being tied simply to our own words and ideas without them being adequately tested. In this way, space is created for mutual listening, and deeper human relationships become possible. It is often in silence, for example, that we observe the most authentic communication taking place between people who are in love: gestures, facial expressions and body language are signs by which they reveal themselves to each other. Joy, anxiety, and suffering can all be communicated in silence – indeed it provides them with a particularly powerful mode of expression. Silence, then, gives rise to even more active communication, requiring sensitivity and a capacity to listen that often makes manifest the true measure and nature of the relationships involved." (Pope Benedict XVI, January 24th, 2012)

I went to the bank with a friend. The windows read: ‘Happy Hanukah’, ‘Let it snow’, and ‘Happy Holiday!’ When we were about to leave, my friend wished the clerk a Merry Christmas. The clerk answered “Yes, Happy Holiday.” He explained, “I want to wish you a Merry Christmas, but last time I said that I got into trouble. People get very offended if things like this are said or posted here.”

My friend was the offended one for being excluded like that. Everyone else can express why this season is important for them, but we Christians can’t express our joy for Christmas (the whole point for this ‘holy-day’) How is it possible that everyone else can proclaim the reasons to enjoy the ‘Christ’-mas season except ‘Christ’-ians? Read the rest of this entry »

“Ok kids, I want you to write down on a piece of paper the three biggest dreams you have for your life,” I said as I handed out pieces of paper and watched my 9th grade confirmation class begin to write. To introduce the topic of true happiness, I wanted them to think about their own plans for happiness and eventually lead them to the idea that only God can give us happiness that lasts forever.

I looked at my class – mostly from public schools, eight of the fifteen came from broken families, only four professed a strong belief in God, two were atheists and the rest stood somewhere in between. What kind of dreams did they have? Read the rest of this entry »

“Everyone thinks forgiveness is a lovely idea until he has something to forgive.”

― C.S. Lewis

When you struggle with forgiveness, find a crucifix, hold it in your hands and simply contemplate Christ. He said, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing." Look at the crown of thorns on his head. Look at the nails piercing his hands and feet. They killed him, and he forgave them from the heart! Most of the time, those who hurt us "do not know what they are doing" and usually there is a deeper issue that is piercing their heart. If you struggle with forgiveness, try to pray for that person who hurt you and beg Christ for the grace and strength to gradually let it go.

A tapestry of habits stretches across St Peter’s: the crowns of the Bridgetines, the saris of the missionaries of charity, the sackcloth of Franciscans, the habits in black, white, red, grey and blue – every color save green. Some belong to ancient communities founded well before Canada and the USA, others belong to communities founding during my own lifetime. On the World Day for Consecrated Life (the Visitation, February 2), Benedict XVI holds vesper’s in St Peter’s Basilica for all those consecrated souls in Rome.

At the end, all five thousand of us kneel on the solid marble floor. The Pope even kneels front and center. Read the rest of this entry »

A college student who was among the missionaries on our recent trip to Haiti wrote her reflections of the experience.  She has asked to remain anonymous.  I wanted to share this, because I found it so moving.

This year started for me with a trip to Haiti. I went with a group of 13 girls who I did not know before this experience. I did not know what to expect in Haiti. The only thing I knew was that an earthquake destroyed most of the things Haitians had. It has been two years since the earthquake and people still live in tents. You see little kids running naked through the streets, people peeing wherever they need to, and ruins everywhere. Our group joined the Missionaries of Charity to help in whatever they asked us to do so. For those of you who do not know them, they are the congregation that Mother Therese of Calcutta founded. They dedicate their lives to help the poor and they live from God’s providence. This means that they posses nothing. They live from donations. Read the rest of this entry »

"Troubles melt away before a fervent prayer like snow before the sun." (St. John Vianney)

When your burden is too heavy, when your mental or emotional pain is too much, when you don't have the strength or desire to keep pushing forward…turn to Christ in prayer. Focus on his eyes and on his heart. Let his gaze and his loving presence melt down your resistance and rebellion, and allow his grace to calm your aching heart. Fervent prayer works!

When was the last time you heard words that sent chills down your spine? It happened to me when I read John Paul II’s words: “A young heart feels a desire for greater generosity, more commitment, and greater love. This desire for more is a characteristic of youth…” –Pope John Paul II

Blessed John Paul II was one of the most well-known men of the 20th century. Both atheists and hard-core Catholics knew him and loved him. Maybe it was his passion for reaching out to all people, especially the youth. Maybe it was because they realized he understood their deepest desires for life, love and happiness. Read the rest of this entry »

I am a high-energy person but I can easily get stressed out. One thing that helps this out is our biweekly outing to the country. We often hike to a small medieval village or play volleyball. All the while, we are breathing fresh country air.

Last week, I hiked in the morning and played volleyball in the afternoon. I also conversed with a few dozen brothers on a wide range of themes: everything from how incompetent our volleyball team was (getting it over the net was a success) to the diachronic nature of the college of bishops related to infallibility (basically, for the teaching of the bishops to be infallible, need they all agree at one time or throughout history?).

During this exam period, I am often spending 16 to 18 hours a day in my little 10’ by 16’ (3m by 5m) fiefdom, also known as my room. I sleep, wash up, study, and pray there. Between the natural difficulty that comes with exams and the drudgery of the same room, something needs to be done. I moved my desk to give myself another view but it doesn’t suffice.

Fortunately, God has a better plan through our superiors: escape from the fiefdom into God’s creation. During exams, we go out to the country every week. A little break from everyday life helps each of us, and the country shows us God’s beautiful providence.