Author Archives: Deacon Bob

About Deacon Bob

Moderator: Deacon Bob Yerhot of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota.

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 →

Posted in Blessed Virigin, Christology, Dogmatic Theology | Comments Off on The Immaculate Conception

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 →

Posted in Ethics and Morality | Comments Off on More on the Pope’s Comments

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 →

Posted in Church News, homilies | Comments Off on Bravo! Archbishop Sartain

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 →

Posted in General Interest, Virtues | Comments Off on An Act of Charity, as if to the Lord

Here’s a Better Explanation

Posted on December 2, 2010 by Deacon Bob

In my random thoughts post a short while ago, I mentioned the misunderstanding of what the Pope said about condom us in the context of a male prostitute. I gave a very short explanation of what I understood him to … Continue reading →

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Let’s Do Something!

Posted on December 2, 2010 by Deacon Bob

If you haven’t read the Gospel for today (Matthew 7: 21, 24-27), do so. Our Lord is essentially saying to us, “Once you have heard the Gospel proclaimed and heared the Word preached, you have to do something.  You can’t … Continue reading →

Posted in General Interest, Scripture | Comments Off on Let’s Do Something!

Congratulations, Archdiocese of St. Louis and Diocese of Trenton

Posted on December 1, 2010 by Deacon Bob

The archdiocese of St. Louis, Missouri has a new auxiliary bishop today, Msgr. Edward Rice. He was appointed to replace retiring auxiliary Bishop Robert J. Hermann. Bishop John M. Smith’s retirement has been accepted by the Holy Father, and Bishop … Continue reading →

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Quote for the Day

Posted on December 1, 2010 by Deacon Bob

“I do not praise poverty for poverty’s sake; I praise only that poverty which we patiently endure for the love of our crucified Redeemer and I consider this far more desirable than that poverty we undertake for the sake of … Continue reading →

Posted in Saints and Prophets, Spirituality, Virtues | Comments Off on Quote for the Day

Random Thoughts

Posted on November 30, 2010 by Deacon Bob

Can’t seem to find much I think is worth blogging about in the news recently. The big hubhub of course is the book that came out about Pope Benedict XVI, the result of an extensive and informal interview he gave … Continue reading →

Posted in Deacons, Ethics and Morality, General Interest, Marriage and Family | Comments Off on Random Thoughts

Update on NFP Post

Posted on November 30, 2010 by Deacon Bob

In case you haven’t read the comments on my recent post about doctors and NFP, Karen has provided us with the following  link to an expert in the field of the Lactational Amenorrhea Method of family planning.  www.sph.unc.edu/?option=com_profiles&Itemid=6388&profileAction=ProfDetail&pid=7123235232 Thanks again, … Continue reading →

Posted in Ethics and Morality, Marriage and Family | Comments Off on Update on NFP Post

Quote for the Day

Posted on November 30, 2010 by Deacon Bob

“In the early Church, the Christians didn’t know very much, and yet it was their good example, zeal, enthusiasm, and excitement for the Faith that led them to bring others to Christ.” — Archbishop Charles Chaput, OFM Cap.

Posted in General Interest | Comments Off on Quote for the Day

Papa Luciani on Role of Conscience in Moral Decisions

Posted on November 29, 2010 by Deacon Bob

Back on August 1, 1978, shortly before he was elected Pope, Cardinal Albino Luciani gave an interview in which he expressed his initial response to the then recent news of the birth of the first “test tube baby.” In it, … Continue reading →

Posted in Ethics and Morality, Papa Luciani (Pope John Paul I) | Comments Off on Papa Luciani on Role of Conscience in Moral Decisions