“ … when the body of a royal Habsburg is taken from the cathedral for burial, the solemn procession makes its way to the Habsburg tomb. An official knocks loudly on the sepulchral doors with a staff. “Who desires entry?” says a voice from inside the doors. “Otto of Austria; once Crown Prince of Austria-Hungary; […]
a royal entombment … Read More »
… from everyone’s favorite Jesuit … 1. Allow yourself to be human 2. You don’t have to be someone else to be holy 3. You’re not married to everyone 4. Don’t let anyone prevent you from becoming the person you want to be. 5. You’re not Jesus Read Fr. Martin’s ‘The Five Best Pieces of
balance … and human-ness … Read More »
… into grace. God, “rich in mercy” (Eph 2:4), like the father in the Gospel parable (cf. Lk 15:11-32), does not close his heart to any of his children, but waits for them, looks for them, reaches them where their rejection of communion imprisons them in isolation and division, and calls them to gather around
suffering transformed … Read More »
Pope Benedict’s general prayer intention for October is: “That the terminally ill may be supported by their faith in God and the love of their brothers and sisters.”
praying for our patients … Read More »
“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything – all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important.
… “Maybe those two years when I was sick make a difference … I was grateful to God for all the good things He’d given me – my family, growing up in this country with so much opportunity, my good health, my education, my faith – and I was determined to be worthy of them,
… one of the monks martyred in Tibhirine … If it should happen one day—and it could be today—that I become a victim of the terrorism which now seems ready to encompass all the foreigners in Algeria, I would like my community, my Church, my family, to remember that my life was given to God
testament of dom christian de cherge ocso … Read More »
“Life is a mystery, and we all acknowledge it, but we don’t really know it. You don’t know the heart, you don’t know the mind, you don’t know the body. You are in front of a mystery, you have to get that straight, and you must be there with awe and trembling because this is
vigil … a sacred word … a sacred time … Read More »
… in a room … where people are under a lot of stress, you have to pray a prayer of forgiveness for them and perhaps for yourself before going in. You have to forgive them right out because you don’t always find them at their best. A lot of things that have been kept silent
a prayer before rounds … Read More »
