In sacramental communion, we receive the Trinity and become ‘partakers of the divine nature’ By Father Randy Stice The Trinity is the central mystery of our faith and life. The entire Christian life “is a communion with each of the divine persons, without in any way separating them.” When we …
A demanding joy
One deadly sin is the most insidious and a destroyer of the joy of our life in Christ and with others By Bishop Richard F. Stika “Let the hearts that seek the Lord rejoice; turn to the Lord and His strength; constantly seek His face.” — Psalm 105:3-4 The heart’s …
Suffering cannot be wholly avoided in life
But it need not be wasted—as a profound mystery, it can be offered up with the sufferings of Christ Deacon Bob Hunt Redemptive suffering. Can purpose be given to the sufferings we endure over the course of our lives? Is suffering simply a part of life we must put up …
External forms of participation in the Mass
From posture and gesture to the saying of ‘Amen,’ we can engage more fully in the liturgy By Father Randy Stice Our participation in the Mass is most fruitful when we do so “fully aware of what [we] are doing, actively engaged in the rite, and enriched by its effects” …
Benedict delineates the elements of charity
Those who carry out the Church’s charitable activity ‘must be people moved by Christ’s love’ By Deacon Bob Hunt Last month, in honor of Pope Benedict XVI, I offered a summary of the first part of his encyclical Deus Caritas Est, “God Is Love,” and promised a summary of Part …
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Coaches shouldn’t forget who they’re helping
No game ever invented is as important as the kids we are teaching how to play By George Valadie The first time I was asked to coach young kids, I was a young kid myself. I was 9 years old, and half the neighborhood, including the four of us, routinely …
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‘Watch and pray’
Satan despises the practice of making a daily examination of conscience, for it serves to punish him By Bishop Richard F. Stika “Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” — James 4:7-8 Knowing …
A reflection on Benedict’s ‘Deus Caritas Est’
The Holy Father writes that St. John’s First Letter gets to ‘the heart of the Christian faith’ By Deacon Bob Hunt In memory of our beloved Pope Benedict XVI, I would like to offer a reflection on Part I of Benedict’s 2005 encyclical, Deus Caritas Est, “God Is Love.” Next …
Jeremy of the college bookstore meets Tracy
Did Jesus come, disguised and unrecognized, as one of ‘the least of my brothers’? By George Valadie The first time they met—if you want to call it that—was out back behind the store. Neither had expected the other to be there. Jeremy, the manager of the college bookstore, our son-in-law …
How we respond interiorly to God’s action
Opportunities for such participation make our experience of the Mass richer and more fruitful By Father Randy Stice I began my January column with St. John Paul II’s assertion that “the liturgy is the privileged place for the encounter of Christians with God” (Vicesimus Quintus Annus, 7), an encounter that …
What color are your vestments?
In sacrifices we make in the Mass we must live each week, we must ‘put on the Lord Jesus Christ’ By Richard F. Stika “All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” — Galatians 3:27 Identity and clothing. Fashion designs often strike me as odd, …
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Free and undeserved help from God
Despite our lives coming up short, the Lord gives us chances to do more and be more By George Valadie It was exactly one month ago when we sat down for lunch in our living room, Nancy in her chair, me and the dog in mine. It’s how we eat …