Unlike the mute stones surrounding Jesus during that great procession of the first Holy Week, let us hail his arrival with shouts. As Jesus approaches our stony hearts, let us cry out, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out” (Luke 19:40). As our Lord [...]
In God, through the sacrifice of Jesus, we are made whole and entire. The warfare within, in our passions, at the division between flesh and spirit, is ended. Now we are “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone.” “The stone which the builders rejected has become the [...]
As a member of the Angelic Warfare Confraternity, one offers 15 Hail Marys daily for themselves and fellow members. These are not offered as a transaction (I do this, and God will make me pure in exchange). Instead, they are offered as an invitation. For most saints, the patron-to-beneficiary link is fairly straightforward. There is more [...]
In the few decades after Dostoevsky wrote "Demons," revolution spread across Russia in a wave of chaos which has yet to end. All cultures and all eras face a similar trial. We can look at the America of our time with Dostoevsky’s eyes—with a similar worry and yet with a similar hope. Demons: A Novel [...]
The Psalmist has some harsh words for idols, those who make them, and those who worship them. They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see. They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell. They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they [...]
When you need to explain a difficult topic, analogy is the way to do it. Analogies are useful tools. They can convey complex truths. They help to give a reference, a touchstone, to the unknown. Say you wanted to tell me that Joe, your cousin, doesn’t have good vision. Telling me that “his prescription glasses [...]
Like another John the Baptist, the preacher makes straight the way of the Lord. Using human means and human words, God is pleased to bring about the salvation of his people. St. John Paul II was a preacher. This is part of a series entitled, “Preaching: Feeding Fellow Beggars.” Read the series introduction here. To see [...]
A few weeks ago, I had the joy of showing my parents around the National Shrine in Washington. From my time as a tour guide, I had memorized a good course through the massive church’s chapels. I had honed plenty of phrases to explain the Basilica’s art with some level of edification and efficiency. As usual, we [...]
Loving baseball means heartbreak. Every baseball season starts with optimism, especially if you’re a Dominican student brother who supports a team who isn’t afraid to shell out some cash for good players. Perhaps the team has called up prospects with promises of greatness. Perhaps the front office has made a savvy trade. “This season’s the one,” you say, “the [...]
Jesus came to make us like God. By becoming our brother, the Son of God made us adopted sons of the Father—and this truth is the most shocking of all. The Word of God can shock us. As Dominicans, we immerse ourselves in the Word. We pray the Liturgy of the Hours, reciting and chanting [...]