Staying Calm in Stormy Times 4

By Br. Eric Wandrey, LC

The past few weeks have been intense. Hurricane Sandy blasted the Tri-State region and the elections turned out badly. Here in Rome, I have been removed from the hype and hoopla, but from what I have read online, it is clear that, regarding the election, America is currently divided between those who are intensely elated and those who are upset and intensely worried.

Since Tuesday, I have been praying a lot and mulling over More…

Understanding Omniscience (and Omnipotence, and Free Will, etc…) 16

I recently got challenged with the following question:

Is God omnipotent and omniscient, or does he allow free will? You can’t have both.

I immediately responded, More…

We Are Catholic 10

At breakfast this morning a friend asked me my opinion on the recent news stories on voter fraud — whether I thought they were true.

“It really doesn’t matter,” I told him.  “It’s over. Time to move on to things that really matter. Besides, ….”

We Are Catholic!

More…

2 Cents Worth 12

Just another Sunday Gospel Reflection…

“Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.”

My friend Brent — we’ll call him — used to work for a local newspaper in a small Northeastern town. He had a peculiar relationship with the paper’s editor, who always made it a point to tell people, “Pray a lot.”  More…

Jesus, our Hidden King 12

Thy Kingdom Come!

By Fr Jason Smith

In Rome there was a street that I loved to walk down. In one block it had three churches and a café called “Snack Bar”. I thought it was funny because back home in Minnesota where I grew up, we’d joke that there were three bars and one church on the street. Only in Rome! More…

He Will Raise Us Up 9

By Fr Edward Hopkins
The day after the election provided even more inspiration than what we read on Election Day. If Tuesday was about ‘standing up’, Wednesday’s Reading from the Liturgy of the Hours, Office of Readings, told us the way to fight.

The Honor to Fight

Judas Maccabeus took command of the resistance when his father Mattathias died: More…

To Stand and Fight 11

By Fr Edward Hopkins

I sought light from the Lord with a special intensity and focus on the day of the elections and even more the day after when the results were confirmed. The Office of Readings, a liturgical prayer of the Church, taken from Scripture, God’s living word, spoke to me and shed a bright light upon this crucial moment in a battle of cultures. More…

Trending America 9

A look at the top headlines this morning:

Prayer for Religious Freedom 10

O GOD OUR CREATOR, 
from your provident hand we have received
our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
You have called us as your people and given us
the right and the duty to worship you, the only true God,
and your Son, Jesus Christ.
Through the power and working of your Holy Spirit, More…

A Little Pre-Election Humor 16

While walking down the street one day a Corrupt Senator (that may be redundant), was tragically hit by a car and died.

His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

“Welcome to heaven,” says St. Peter. “Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. More…