Category Archives: Virtues

Two Reasons for Our Christian Hope

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Deacon Bob

The readings of today remind me that for us Christians, there are at least two reasons to live a life of joyful hope. As St. John reminds us often in his letters and in his writing of the Gospel, we … Continue reading →

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Practicing Christianity

Posted on April 16, 2012 by Deacon Bob

I was speaking with a professional colleague today at a conference we both attended on self-injurious behavior and it relationship with eating disorders. We whispered to each other as the lecturer was speaking how we as therapists are always trying … Continue reading →

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Quote for the Day

Posted on January 20, 2012 by Deacon Bob

“… the Church in the United States is called, in season and out of season, to proclaim a Gospel which not only proposes unchanging moral truths but proposes them precisely as the key to human happiness and social prospering.” — … Continue reading →

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The Catholic Faithful: What About Obedience?

Posted on January 12, 2012 by Deacon Bob

I read with interest the remarks made by Cardinal Francis George of the Archdiocese of Chicago on May 28, 2011 during the ad limina visit of a number of American bishops to the Holy Father. In part, he said: The … Continue reading →

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The Need for Laughter in Grieving the Loss of a Family Member

Posted on December 4, 2011 by Deacon Bob

I attended the funeral of a close family member this weekend. The funeral service was appropriately somber and sincere, as they typically are in the Midwest. The committal at the cemetery was during our first real winter storm. Those of … Continue reading →

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The Meaning of Success

Posted on October 5, 2011 by Deacon Bob

Back  in 1973, when I was a college freshman, a required reading was the book, The Meaning of Success, written by Michael Quoist. I honestly don’t remember its contents nearly 40 years later, but the title has never escaped my … Continue reading →

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The Many Faces of Poverty

Posted on August 19, 2011 by Deacon Bob

I was thinking today of poverty as I was painting my house. One brush stroke after another, hours on end. I’ve been at it all week, all day. Soon I will be finished. We tend to think of poverty as … Continue reading →

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Quote for the Day

Posted on July 20, 2011 by Deacon Bob

“An intoxicated and undisciplined eros is not an ascent in ecstasy…. but a fall, a degradation of man.” — Anonymous, pseudonym: Marie

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Papa Luciani on Hope

Posted on May 31, 2011 by Deacon Bob

Pope John Paul I, on September 20, 1978 in his weekly general audience, spoke of hope and cheerfulness. I’d like to share an excerpt for you today, as we live in a world in need of hope and a smile. … Continue reading →

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Rejoice, Ye Dour Catholics!!

Posted on April 1, 2011 by Deacon Bob

I ran across a delightful blog post written by Susan Kehoe, the wife of Deacon Larry Kehoe down in Des Moines, Iowa. She entitled the post Catholics Are Not Baptized In Vinegar. Her blog is: A Deacon’s Wife. Reminds me … Continue reading →

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Of Serpents and Doves

Posted on February 27, 2011 by Deacon Bob

Pope St. Gregory the Great, in today’s Office of Readings, gives us a reflection upon the simple yet upright person. He says in part (my English translation of the Italian): “There is a type of simplicity that would be better … Continue reading →

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Quote for the Day

Posted on February 23, 2011 by Deacon Bob

“Maybe the virtue we should pray for isn’t so much courage but integrity, so that we say what we mean and we mean what we say and we live what we say. I hope God gives me that grace, and … Continue reading →

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Who Said This?

Posted on January 30, 2011 by Deacon Bob

Here is a quote from a recent address reported in the Catholic press. Do you know who said it? “The challenge for Catholic universities is finding a place for Bibles and papal decrees between our telescopes and microscopes…. A Catholic … Continue reading →

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St. Basil the Great on Virtue and Vice

Posted on January 11, 2011 by Deacon Bob

I ran across great definitions of virtue and vice in today’s Office of Readings. Here is what St. Basil the Great said (my translation of the Italian text): “In fact, the definition of vice is this: the evil use, alien … Continue reading →

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Chastity

Posted on January 7, 2011 by Deacon Bob

The virtue of chastity is often misunderstood. For many, it has a negative connotation and references a lot of “noes” to this or that regarding sexual activity. For others, chastity applies only to priests or religious men and women who … Continue reading →

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