All posts tagged: Hope

Pilgrims of Hope

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In a time that needs the witness of Christian hope more than ever, our Holy Father, Pope Francis, says the following about hope:   it is a gift of God and a task for every Christian.  He explains that it is more than just “a mere act of optimism.”  Rather, it is “waiting for something that has already been given to us” (salvation and full communion with the Lord.)  What might that look like in the world of today?  Many years ago, while presenting the pro-life position to a group of high schoolers, one boy asked what could be wrong with abortion if you were saving a baby from a terrible life of unhappiness.  Our seminarian responded by pointing out that if we were to follow that logic, we should take a gun out and shoot everyone who is currently unhappy.  The young man was not operating from a vision of life informed by hope but rather from the belief that happiness and unhappiness are unchangeable and, in fact, the only thing that really matters.  He did not have the wisdom to see …

Modern Malady, Ancient Remedy: Spiritual Exercise 02/15/22

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❤️❤️❤️ Please join us Tuesday 02/15/22 from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm MT (8:30 pm to 10:00 pm ET). ❤️❤️❤️ Zoom: https://us05web.zoom.us/j/4537185699?pwd=emRVOEZwMTY1eGN1bzYrU2VldWhiZz09 Opening Prayer: The Memorare REMEMBER, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly to thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come; before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen Modern Malady: Ancient Remedy If you travel in Europe, especially on pilgrimage, you often find that the residents of various cities and towns are very proud of their canonized saints. Siena boasts St. Catherine. Assisi boasts St. Francis and St. Clare. Lourdes gives us St. Bernadette, etc. Spain, France, Germany all have many such places that vaunt well-known saints. A question arises, though: Why only one or two recognized saints in a given area, in centuries of …

The Imperative Of Charity: Spiritual Exercise 01/10/22

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Please join us Monday 01/10/22 from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm MT (8:30 pm to 10:00 pm ET). Zoom: https://us05web.zoom.us/j/4537185699?pwd=emRVOEZwMTY1eGN1bzYrU2VldWhiZz09 Meeting ID: 4537185699 Opening Prayer: The Memorare REMEMBER, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly to thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come; before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen The Imperative Of Charity The beginning of a new year can be a meaningful time to ask where we should find ourselves at the end of our journey. What are we meant to have accomplished? St. John of the Cross tells us that our personal judgment will be an examination in love. But what kind of love? We rightly or wrongly love many things, from pizza to sports to family and even to various kinds of sin. …

The Lavish And The Lowly: Spiritual Exercise 12/13/21

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Please join us Monday 12/13/21 from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm MT (8:30 pm to 10:00 pm ET) Blessings. Zoom Link: https://us05web.zoom.us/j/4537185699?pwd=emRVOEZwMTY1eGN1bzYrU2VldWhiZz09 Meeting ID: 4537185699 Opening Prayer: The Memorare REMEMBER, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly to thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come; before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.  Amen The Lavish and the Lowly Anyone who has watched a Hallmark Christmas movie knows both how predictable and unreal they are. People will often say the movies are “safe,” meaning no bad language and no sex. Just romantic. The incredible sets, noticeable in each movie, are lavishly decorated to convey the “magic” of Christmas.  Yet, there is something empty about the scenes, which they try to resolve by injecting a romantic story into the plotline.  The …