This April, Spring’s familiar scents— Easter lilies, fresh mown fields, Mulch, warm rain on blacktop roads— Rise again from their winter sleep Stirring the lovely forgotten past Experiences of Spring. So all these childhood memories wake: Tired feet and grass-patterned … Continue reading
Author Archives: dbrindle
Toward a Spirituality of Sloths
It is difficult to be Catholic and also a fan of sloths. “Why do you like something named after a deadly sin?” I have been asked on no few occasions. When I try to justify myself by pointing out that … Continue reading
Persecuted Christians
The past few years have seen a number of high-profile acts of violence committed against Christians on account of their faith. In 2015, the Islamic State (ISIS) broadcast from a beach in Libya its beheading of 21 men, most of … Continue reading
The First Revelation
Cheese samples in a grocery store bear the sticker, “Try me!” The Nightmare Before Christmas effortlessly entices a certain fondness of itself in its soundtrack, characters, and quirky story. The Brothers Karamazov is the sort of novel that so totally … Continue reading
Beauty That Makes You Want to Believe
Editor’s note: This post was originally published on April 24, 2013. At the reception of a Catholic wedding I lately attended, a groomsman made his way over to the table where a priest and I were sitting. After enthusiastically shaking … Continue reading
In the Fisherman’s Net
Not ours the wounds, the bloodied flesh, of those fire-tested ancient souls;Theirs the bones for grinding lion’s teeth to gnaw to living breadOr the blood to spell their credo, a sanguine testament witnessed boldlyAs fisherman’s inverted across the sea from … Continue reading
Lord, that I may see (more than myself)
After listening to a talk about the dangers of narcissism in the spiritual life, a brother turned to me and said, “I’m pretty sure that whole talk was about me.” I assured him that the talk was definitely about me. … Continue reading
By His Wounds
Jesus Christ did not die to save humanity. That is, not some abstract notion of it. Our Lord’s head was pierced with a crown of thorns. His back was scourged. His face was spit on. His clothes were torn off … Continue reading
O Crux Ave
Editor’s note: This post was originally published on Ash Wednesday, February 22, 2012. Fr. Leo Checkai was ordained a priest in May 2014 and now teaches at Providence College. Today is Ash Wednesday. Lent is upon us once more, and … Continue reading
The Alleluia Yawn
On the surface, one’s familiarity with the events of Christ’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection can slowly compromise their power to captivate. I mean, did your mind happen to wander a bit during the lengthy proclamation of the Lord’s Passion on … Continue reading
Mother Angelica’s Reality TV
The first place I saw Mother Angelica was somewhere between the channels of a PBS documentary and a QVC jewelry auction. A Franciscan Poor Clare clad in a full religious habit beamed before a camera to discuss the sacrament of … Continue reading
7 Reasons to Return to Confession in Easter
Lent is a great time for Catholics to return to Confession, but it would be wrong to think that Easter is not. In fact, with a little reflection, we can find many reasons why Easter is a particularly graced time … Continue reading
Luminous Easter
Thursday in the Easter Octave lets us look at everything in light of the Resurrection. Illuminated by the mystery of the Risen Lord, the following post offers a series of reflections for the Luminous Mysteries. My hope is that it … Continue reading
From Fasting to Feasting
It’s Friday. A day that throughout most of the year is focused on penance and remembrance of the cross of Christ. But Easter Friday is Easter so we rejoice in the resurrection of Christ, one expression of which is that … Continue reading
Emmaus
At last.Here look!See Love.Ye who do go conversing sad.Ye who see nowYour Lord drawing nearAnd yet see Him not.Ye for whom LoveHad died upon the gibbetDrowned in blood that dread Friday afternoonAnd all was thought lost. At last.Here look!See Love.Ye … Continue reading
Dusk. Two Men.
Twilight. The outside of a large estate in the country. It’s a warm evening with a pleasant breeze carrying snatches of music, laughter, and delicious-smelling smoke over the walls. A man is sitting by himself on a bench outside the … Continue reading
Buried in the Prairie
Today I will be burying my grandmother. After 96 years of life, she returned to the Lord in the early morning of Easter Sunday. Despite the sadness, everyone in the family, every branch in that great tree, thought to themselves, … Continue reading
Stay Awake
Today we begin the Holy Triduum, the three-day liturgy, the highest celebration of the church. It is an exhausting enterprise, with waiting, silence, fasting, lots of lines and processions and standing and kneeling. To appreciate it requires both attention and … Continue reading
Betrayal’s Foundation
There are two great betrayals in the Passion of Christ by two of Christ’s very apostles: Judas and St. Peter. Only one now has the title “saint” before his name. Why did Judas betray Christ? It was not a spontaneous … Continue reading
The Lord’s Fear
Anxiety develops in three ways: the tidal waves of sudden tragedy, the rising flood of compounded stresses, and that heavy, salty air of ambient anxiety caused by constant tension or worry. Save me, O God,for the waters have risen to … Continue reading
Know the Forest by The Tree
We can now consider ourselves to be in the liturgical season within the season within the season within the season. On September 14th, the Feast of the Holy Cross, the Church began the traditional penitential period stretching until Easter Sunday. … Continue reading
Omnes et semper cum Petro
I have a very Roman heart. I often say that when I talk about the Pope…any Pope. For whatever reason, the Lord has ordained that I walk on the Christian pilgrimage very near his friend(s), Peter. In particular, the three … Continue reading
Ramblin’ Men
The Allman Brothers were onto something with their lyrics, “Lord, I was born a ramblin’ man.” We are wanderers upon the earth. Why? This world is broken and, though it is filled with beauty, it is still a place of … Continue reading
The Stones Cry Out
Forged treasure found in rock.Fit to fashion a tray for a head. Not bread.Carved and trimmed, the finest for the finest king, or so they said.The sparkling-spined rim circumferencing a bloody brow.It gazes and glazes now.On journey. Rocks razed from … Continue reading
Why Have You Brought Us Up?
“Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in this desert, where there is no food or water? We are disgusted with this wretched food!” (Numbers 21:5). It is safe to say that the Israelites passing through the … Continue reading