Monthly Archives: March 2011

Reflection on Prayer by Tertullian

Today’s Office of Readings includes a treatise written by Tertullian, an ancient Church writer, which beautifully describes prayer. I want to translate a segment of it from the Italian text I use. “Therefore [prayer’s] single task is to call back … Continue reading

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North African Bishops Say “No” to War in Libya

The bishops of North Africa have called for an end to military conflict in Libya. According to Catholic Culture they have said, “We know that war solves nothing, and when it breaks out, it is just as uncontrollable as the … Continue reading

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Gearing up for the 100th birthday of Papa Luciani

Next year, 2012, will be the centenary celebration of Papa Luciani’s birth. As you know from so many of my previous posts, Papa Luciani was Pope John Paul I, for whom I was privileged to have served back in 1978 … Continue reading

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The Joy of the Diaconate

One of the many joys of being a deacon is baptizing little people. Yesterday I had the privilege of baptizing a five year old boy in the presence of a large family. I was a little concerned that he might … Continue reading

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Quote for the Day

“This is not a church issue; this is a civil rights issue, the premier civil rights issue of our day! All we are asking is that the equal protection of the law promised by our beloved constitution be applied to … Continue reading

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Church of the Week

St. Augustine Church Austin, Minnesota

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In Defense of Religious Freedom

I read an article today written by George Weigel in First Things, entitled, “All War, All the Time.” In it, he writes about the Church’s struggle for religious freedom back in the 1960s through the 1980s in communist countries bent … Continue reading

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The Annuniciation

Today is the Solemnity of the Annunciation, the day on which the angel Gabriel announced to the virgin Mary that she from all eternity had been chosen to be the Mother of God, and she gave her fiat, “Let it … Continue reading

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A Mirror of the World

I would like to alert you to something a friend of mine from Germany, Achim Furniss, has started recently. He has a website Speculum Mundi which is an opportunity for people throughout the world to exchange ideas, concerns and other … Continue reading

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Quote for the Day

“It is Jesus you want to see, to gaze upon, to think about deeply and with desire to imitate.” – St. Claire of Assisi

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Homemade Bomb Thrown at Pro-Life Prayer Vigil

Two homemade explosive devices were apparently thrown from a vehicle at two Kalispell, Montana locations last Thursday, including one directed at a pro-life prayer vigil. The other was in front of a department store. Both exploded within 15 minutes of … Continue reading

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Extra Year of Philosophy On The Way!!

Yesterday, the Vatican released the “Decree on the Reform of Ecclesiastical Studies of Philosophy” which updated norms issued in 1979. It calls for an additional year of philosophy study before a student can earn a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from … Continue reading

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The Dangers of Idols

It is very tempting for us to have our idols in life, you know, those things or activities or ideas or people we consider perfect and worthy of our all. We would want to think of them as without blemish … Continue reading

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A Word of Life

“We know from science that the moment of conception is a moment unlike any other. An amazing event takes place at the moment of conception. The union at the moment of conception constitutes an absolutely new and utterly exceptional moment … Continue reading

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Church of the Week

Our Lady of Loretto Church Brownsdale, Minnesota

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