Imagine when life was simpler and being together was divine By Bishop Mark Beckman Imagine a time when life was uncluttered and we rested with the Lord awhile. In our busy, fast-paced world, we all need a chance to find some genuine rest at times. Even Jesus recognized this fundamental …
Pope Leo XIV is a popular pick in Chicago
Windy City native sees town abuzz as new favorite son begins papacy By Deacon Patrick Murphy-Racey My heart is full as well as my belly as I find myself in my boyhood home trying to imagine how Pope Leo XIV grew up just a stone’s throw from my Chicago neighborhood. …
The connection between Eucharist and penance
‘A love for the Eucharist leads to a growing appreciation of the sacrament of reconciliation’ By Father Randy Stice All the sacraments,” said the Second Vatican Council, “are bound up with the Eucharist and are directed towards it. For in the most blessed Eucharist is contained the entire spiritual wealth …
A dog and a daughter for a seat in the room
And trusting the Holy Spirit will touch the men who are called to be there By George Valadie On occasion you’ve heard someone toss out the question, “If you could share a meal with anyone, past or present, with whom would you choose to dine?” Sometimes this query is posed …
The reasons why Jesus kept His wounds
The disciples recognized the risen Lord from the signs of His suffering By Deacon Bob Hunt St. Teresa of Avila (1515-1582), the great Carmelite reformer and mystic, was praying in the chapel of her community’s monastery when she received a vision of Jesus. After contemplating the vision for some time, …
‘The pope chosen for us’
Pray the Holy Father may be for us a true shepherd after the Lord’s own heart By Bishop Mark Beckman Earlier this month as I was sitting at my desk, the bells of our cathedral church began to chime joyously. Glancing at my watch, I noticed it was shortly after …
‘Not head knowledge: a personal encounter’
Father Randy Stice encourages devotion to the Eucharist, ‘the wonder of the Mass,’ in his latest book By Gabrielle Nolan Initially drawn to the Catholic Church in the 1990s because of the Church’s teachings on the Holy Eucharist, Father Randy Stice decades later has written a book on cultivating a …
Examining the special graces of Easter
The Catechism of the Catholic Church calls it ‘the Feast of feasts, the Solemnity of solemnities’ By Father Randy Stice In every celebration of Mass, wrote Pope Pius XII, Christ “continues that journey of immense mercy that He lovingly began in His mortal life.” In His journey with us in …
A prayer for everyone this Easter season
St. Paul: ‘May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing’ By Deacon Bob Hunt “We are an Easter people,” St. Augustine of Hippo proclaimed, “and ‘Alleluia’ is our song!” As we approach Easter Sunday and the celebration of the resurrection of our Lord, our …
Holy Week wasn’t so ‘holy’ for everyone
But the torture and betrayal of those days call us to live a life that is By George Valadie I can’t know for sure, but I’m thinking it will likely be Holy Week when this column arrives at your home. At the risk of being scandalous, and possibly excommunicated, I’ve …
Celebrating Holy Week
May the joy of the Risen Lord fill your hearts this Easter season By Bishop Mark Beckman Dear Brothers and Sisters, Holy Week marks the central week of our liturgical year. Each year we commemorate the sacred events that mark our entrance into the great Christian Passover. The week begins …
1
The Holy Fathers on the gifts of the Spirit
Confirmation allows us to experience a ‘personal Pentecost’ that leads to new life in the Spirit By Father Randy Stice In last month’s column, I looked at how the sacrament of confirmation fulfilled Bishop Mark Beckman’s prayer for a new Pentecost and his desire to equip our young people. Confirmation …