I love the collect the Church prays on today’s feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. It voices a simple and robust request for God to act in our lives through the Blessed Virgin Mary: May the venerable intercession of … Continue reading
Author Archives: dbrindle
Saint Who?
Saint Dogfan. Ours is the kind of Church that can boast of a saint named Dogfan. No boasting really happens, however. Today is St. Dogfan’s feast day, but it’s unlikely that Masses commemorating this fifth-century Welsh martyr will be celebrated … Continue reading
From the Lips of Babes
“Who is that?” “That is Jesus on the cross.” “Why is He all beat up?” “He loved us so much that he came all the way from heaven to suffer and die to save us, even when we killed Him.” … Continue reading
Divine Election
When the Gospels record the calling of the Twelve, none of them offers us the qualifications of the Apostles. Nowhere do we find a collection of resumes or CVs that explain to us why Jesus chose those Twelve men. Apart … Continue reading
Just One More
I remember the first time I became cognizant of the commission of the sin of gluttony. I found myself at my grandmother’s house with a bucket of gelatinous candies, no supervision, and no stated rules as to how many I … Continue reading
Vacation: Wasting Time Well
Growing up, as we neared the end of school, the longing for no more homework would rise to a fever pitch as we pictured sleeping in and doing nothing all day. But when it came time to do nothing, I … Continue reading
How Are You Going to Die?
“How are you going to die?” A morbid question, and one which few would want to answer. Surely we can’t know how we are going to die. There is, of course, what many would consider the ideal scenario: passing peacefully, … Continue reading
The Dead Man
I carry a dead man around with me. Look, there he is—his body stretched out, hanging by nails, dripping blood. Who carries a dead man around? Do you see him? Look. Look at his face, at his wounds. It’s all … Continue reading
Mother of Exiles
Sun flashing and gleamingon the shining sea stretching far beyond the bridge.But my eyes strayed not so far out.Wreathed in light, gentle foam lapping her island pedestal, stands the American Colossus.From the rooftop thirty stories … Continue reading
Amor meus et Amor meus
“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe” (Jn 20:29). The desire to feel God, to experience the consolations and sensible sweetness of his presence, is shared by even the most advanced souls in the … Continue reading
The Embrace of Christ
Entering the room, I was embraced at once by an eighty-nine-year-old Italian lady. First she grabbed my shoulder, and then she reached out to take hold of my elbow. Then the first big hug. She continuously clutched my hand, sometimes … Continue reading
An Undivided House
Social-justice-warrior Catholic or conservative Catholic? Advocate for the oppressed immigrant or for the unborn child? Must the two be at odds? Either of these issues could demand the full dedication of a person. And there are far more than these … Continue reading
How Can We Understand?
“In the beginning . . .” And from here, many Christians begin their journey through the Bible. It seems like a reasonable place to start, and considering that it contains the beginning of salvation history, it’s not a bad idea. … Continue reading
The Reservoir of Love
Letter to a hospital patient… To my brother or sister in Christ, St. Paul wrote with affection to the Christians in Philippi: “It has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in … Continue reading
The Beauty of the Soul
Ever since the creation of the world, his invisible attributes of eternal power and divinity have been able to be understood and perceived in what he has made. –Rom 1:20 We learn and come to know what is invisible through … Continue reading
Loosing the Tongue
Speaking does not imply saying anything, though maybe it should. Someone can talk a lot and yet have said nothing at all—think chitchatterers, depleted athletes, and political geniuses. This is because real speech reveals what is in the heart: truths … Continue reading
Do Not Forget Affliction
On the day of prosperity do not forget affliction, and on the day of affliction do not forget prosperity (Sir. 11:27). The wisdom literature of the Bible sometimes gives us very concrete and everyday proverbs, things we can ponder and … Continue reading
The Work of the Church
The Work of the Church The Church first used the term “social justice” in the 1850s after witnessing the material inequality plaguing humanity that came in the wake of the progress of the industrial revolution. Blessed Paul VI expanded on … Continue reading
Prenups with God
A few months ago, thirteen friars, including myself, made solemn vows. We offered everything to God, including all our possessions. But before the big day, a few friends and family members made some startling suggestions. Some counseled me to keep … Continue reading
Preaching Judgment
While our human judgment suffers from a deep fallibility, God’s judgment is subject to no such imperfection. Throughout the Sacred Scriptures, God asks his prophets to go and report to people that he will judge them. Jonah goes to the … Continue reading
Duck Sleep
Ever wonder why you sleep poorly on your first night away from home? Neuroscience has the answer, and it has to do with ducks. A mallard duck can rest one half of its brain at a time. According to an … Continue reading
A Wounded Church
In light of the recent abuse and cover-up crisis, Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, wrote a letter to the “Pilgrim People of God in Chile.” He acknowledges the grievous sins of certain members of the Church, encourages Christians to hope … Continue reading
A Post About Nothing
Seinfeld was famously dubbed “a show about nothing.” I’ve prayed about what to write for this blog post, thought about it, and then prayed about it more. But nothing has come to me. Nothing, nada, zilch. So, I’m just going … Continue reading
The Restorer of Lost Things
Between the liturgical procession complete with marching band, the local variety of pizza without mozzarella cheese, and the statue of a poor Franciscan friar entirely covered with money, the St. Anthony’s feast day celebration I saw last year was full … Continue reading
Salt of the Earth
Have you ever wondered how Jesus chose the images he used in his parables? What thoughts and feelings would the expression “salt of the earth” have for the people of the ancient world? Salt was one of the most useful … Continue reading