Archive for October 2019
Halloween’s Last Laugh
Many jack-o-lanterns have smiling faces. I can think of two reasons that this might be so. The first is the fact that Halloween preludes All Saints Day. And who are the saints? The saints are those who imitated Christ the Light of the World, who said to his followers, “You are the light of the…
Read MoreSacraments Are -ing Events
There’s a difference between saying I drive a Ford and I am driving a Ford. The first simply claims that there’s a car sitting in the parking lot. The second is the activity of traveling down the road. In a similar way, we can think of sacraments as past events or events that are ongoing…
Read MoreJonah’s Temper Tantrum
Recently the lectionary readings focused on the story of Jonah, the reluctant prophet upset because the people of Nineveh converted their ways. Why shouldn’t Jonah have been pleased that such an enormous city would listen to one man’s warning? Was Jonah even acting logically? We’ve probably all felt anger for little or no reason. And…
Read MoreI Second the Motion
I love this idea from Richard Rohr’s book The Universal Christ: “Your asking is only seconding the motion. The first motion is always from God.” God plants desires in our hearts and minds. We become aware of these inspired ideas, ruminate on them, and perhaps come to desire what God desires for us. We then…
Read MoreSt. Francis of Assisi’s Love of Animals
I am not an animal lover. I’m afraid of dogs, so I will be far away from the blessing of pets that will occur in my parish on Friday, October 4, the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi. Will the prayers quiet all the animals, or will the holy water start a dog and cat…
Read MoreFoundation Day
In 1850 the Sisters of Notre Dame came into being as Hilligonde Wolbring became Sister Maria Aloysia and Elisabeth Kuhling became Sister Maria Ignatia, the first novices of the new congregation begun in Coesfeld, Germany. Would our congregation have ever begun without the friendship and shared teaching ministry of Hilligonde and Elisabeth? Now nearly 170…
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