Monthly Archives: December 2010

Quote for the Day

Posted on December 15, 2010 by Deacon Bob

“That we may give glory to God and enjoy peace on earth, let us live a poor and humble life as pilgrims and strangers here on earth, awaiting the coming of the Lord.” — Valerius Messerich, OFM Fr. Val was … Continue reading →

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Congratulations, Sr. Alice Zachmann, SSND

Posted on December 14, 2010 by Deacon Bob

Those of us in the diocese of Winona should be proud of Sr. Alice Zachmann, SSND who resides now in Mankato, Minnesota with other School Sisters of Notre Dame. Sr. Alice was honored recently by the Torture Abolition and Survivors … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Quote for the Day

Posted on December 13, 2010 by Deacon Bob

“Where there is rest and meditation, there is neither anxiety nor restlessness.” — St. Francis of Assisi

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Deacon Bob’s Homily – 3rd Sunday of Advent

Posted on December 12, 2010 by Deacon Bob

3rd Sunday of Advent – Part One 3rd Sunday of Advent – Part Two

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Winter Wonderland in Minnesota

Posted on December 12, 2010 by Deacon Bob

Just heard that the Metrodome in Minneapolis collapsed last night due to the blizzard. I am so happy that I decided to buy a snowblower for the first time, because I was out at 6 AM this morning blowing away … Continue reading →

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The Basis for Morality

Posted on December 10, 2010 by Deacon Bob

I had an interesting conversation yesterday with a colleague about the Church and moral teaching. If I understood correctly his position, he thought the “rules” that the Church teaches about moral behavior, especially in regard to homosexuality, are the creation … Continue reading →

Posted in Ethics and Morality | 4 Comments

Want to play some music?

Posted on December 9, 2010 by Deacon Bob

In his book, Illustrissimi, Papa Luciani writes a letter to Casella, a friend of Dante, and a gifted composer and performer of music. The letter is entitled, “The Music of Reconciliation.” Luciani’s letter can be summed up in two statements … Continue reading →

Posted in General Interest, Papa Luciani (Pope John Paul I) | 1 Comment

Discrimination of Christians in Europe

Posted on December 9, 2010 by Deacon Bob

Avvenire an Italian news source for the Catholic Church, is reporting that a 40 page document will be released tomorrow in Vienna, Austria during the Meeting on Freedom of Religion held by the Organization for the Security and Cooperation in … Continue reading →

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The Immaculate Conception

Posted on December 8, 2010 by Deacon Bob

There is a wonderful reflection on the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary today in the Office of Readings. It is written by St. Anselm, and I provide here an English excerpt translated from the Italian text I use. “God … Continue reading →

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More on the Pope’s Comments

Posted on December 6, 2010 by Deacon Bob

In my November 30 post on “Random Thoughts”, I commented on the Pope’s remarks about the development of conscience, using the example of a male prostitute’s use of a condom as a first sign of taking moral responsibility for his … Continue reading →

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Bravo! Archbishop Sartain

Posted on December 5, 2010 by Deacon Bob

The new archbishop of Seattle is J. Peter Sartain, a fellow student at the North American College when I studied there in the late 1970s. Peter, as we knew him then, is someone I always remembered as a genuinely decent, … Continue reading →

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Quote for the Day

Posted on December 5, 2010 by Deacon Bob

“(John the Baptist) openly declares that… the coming of the glory of the Lord and the manifestation of the salvation of God to all of humanity will happen, not in Jerusalem, but in the desert.” — Eusebius of Cesarea Let … Continue reading →

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Another Opportunity to Speak Out

Posted on December 4, 2010 by Deacon Bob

This past week, the Illinois legislature passed Senate Bill 1716, in which it legalized civil unions and explicitly granted these unions the same status as marriage in state law. This is yet another opportunity for all Catholics, and indeed for … Continue reading →

Posted in Church News, Marriage and Family | 2 Comments

Forgiveness, in Paradox

Posted on December 3, 2010 by Deacon Bob

I found the following in the book,  How to Forgive, by John Monbourquette. The Great Paradoxes of Forgiveness Easy but often inaccessible Available but often forgotten Liberating for the other and even more so for ourselves On everyone’s lips and … Continue reading →

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An Act of Charity, as if to the Lord

Posted on December 3, 2010 by Deacon Bob

I heard recently a man I will call Jim (not his real name) tell me of his experience in a local public park. In Minnesota and Wisconsin during November and December it can get rather cold. Jim told me of … Continue reading →

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