The call to follow Jesus throughout the Gospels always involves Jesus calling an individual out of his or her old life and into a new life. This new life involves being a disciple of Christ, which means being with him … Continue reading
Holy Spirit
The Comforter
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. (Matt 5:4) This has always struck me as the most outstanding and counterintuitive of the beatitudes. The beatitude itself is a promise, not for the present sorrow, whatever it might … Continue reading
How Low You Reach
Easter reveals to us how far God will reach to save us and bring us to eternal life in him. This divine desire has astonished the faithful for centuries and has taken those who ponder it up to the great … Continue reading
Evil Shall Not Prevail
Editor’s note: This post was originally published on August 23, 2013 as part of a series called To the Heights. The entire series can be found here. Father Pier Giorgio Dengler was ordained to the priesthood in May 2018 and serves … Continue reading
From Wicked Lips
Truth is found in surprising places. We expect to hear prophecy spoken by holy men—and it is—but it’s also sometimes spoken by the wicked, as in the strange story of Balaam. We find the story in Numbers 22-24, and it’s worth … Continue reading
In the Image
Above is an image of Zinaida Serebriakova, a woman created in the image of the Triune God. Zinaida sees herself in the mirror and knows herself; she sees herself to be beautiful, knows herself to be good. Seeing and knowing … Continue reading
Suffering in the New Year
At the beginning of every new year there is a sense of hope. We take stock of where we are as individuals in our life, where we want to be in a year’s time, and how to go about accomplishing … Continue reading
Filled with the Spirit, Conformed to Christ
After the one who had betrayed Jesus died, the apostles gathered to choose someone to replace him, someone who had “accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism … Continue reading
St. Ambrose on Mary
Today is the memorial of St. Ambrose, bishop and doctor of the Church. He was born to an influential Roman family in 340 and eventually became a Roman Governor. He was made bishop of Milan in 374 at the behest … Continue reading
Even This Cannot Stop True Love
Love hopes all things, bears all things, endures all things, but is blind to nothing. True love sees the faults and failings of the beloved, yet bears them out of a love that pierces through daily annoyances, faults, and failings … Continue reading
What the Father Was Doing During the Crucifixion
Editor’s note: This is the fifth post in our newest series, Beholding True Beauty, which consists of prayerful reflections on works of sacred art. The series will run on Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the month of October. Read the whole … Continue reading
The Spirit of Truth Novena
The Dominican Confraternities of the Angelic Warfare and the Holy Rosary in the Province of Saint Joseph are teaming up to co-sponsor a Novena for the intention that the Spirit of Truth would descend upon the Church with great power. In … Continue reading
Indeed You Love Truth in the Heart
The Acts of the Apostles recounts a startling run-in between the apostles and Ananias and Sapphira. Having sold property and presented the proceeds to the early Church community, the couple then failed to present all the proceeds and then lied … Continue reading
The Adventure of Obedience
God writes the best adventures. From Abraham to the Apostles, God draws unsuspecting men out of their routines and sets them on unexpected journeys. Moses was tending his father-in-law’s flock, but after meeting a burning bush, he eventually found himself … Continue reading
All We Need Is Love
No generation passes without affording us some deeper insight into what it is to be human. Professors opine, poets and songwriters construe their craft, and politicians enact laws all to enlarge our experience of life, even if at the end … Continue reading
GPS pro Anima
I was speaking with someone recently who confessed that, even when she knows where she is driving, she’ll use her GPS. “I like having a voice there talking to me,” she explained with a sheepish laugh. “It keeps me company.” … Continue reading
Who is this Man?
God is often accused of hiding. The believer might wonder why God does not provide more miracles to refute the skeptic. The unbeliever, on the other hand, may justify his unbelief by a lack of sufficiently obvious miracles. Why does … Continue reading
A Temple of Your Glory
Three trickles of cool water splashing on the wrinkling forehead. A moment of silence as the infant’s eyes widen and arms twitch before a small cry of surprise. Jovial smiles from glowing parents and congratulatory friends. Next, the precious oil, … Continue reading
Ablaze
Jesus said, “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!” (Lk. 12:49). What kind of fire is Jesus talking about? Is he thinking of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 19:23-25)? Fire certainly … Continue reading
Active Learning
St. Matthew introduces the Sermon on the Mount by writing, “Seeing the crowds, [Jesus] went up on the mountain, and when he sat down his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them” (Matt. 5:1-2). Matthew … Continue reading
Prayer of the Needy
One of the parts of the Mass in which the Church gives her priests autonomy over word choice is the introduction to the Prayers of the Faithful. There are many fine ways to direct the faithful to prayer, but one … Continue reading
Loving Enemies
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus Christ commands us, “Love your enemies” (Mt 5:44). I’m sure I’m not alone among Christians who struggle with this commandment, not only to do it but to understand it. It seems strange, even … Continue reading
Jesus, Storm-Bearer
Editor’s note: This is the sixth post in a series commenting on the first words of Christ as presented in the Gospels. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me… to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. (Lk 4:18–19) … Continue reading
Give Us Wisdom to Govern
“Give me, therefore, wisdom and knowledge to govern this people, for otherwise who could rule this vast people of yours?” (2 Chr 1:9–10) Ascending the throne of Israel, Solomon trembled inside. King David, Solomon’s father, had ruled a united Israel … Continue reading