"So that People Might Seek God..."

Christ cannot stop being who He is as he walks around the land, sleeps in the boat, has dinner with friends, preaches to the multitudes or performs miracles. Similarly a Christian cannot stop being Christian in all aspects of life, including secular activities. I copy from St. Josemaria Escriva in  The Way , n. 353: “Nonsectarianism. Neutrality. Old myths that always try to seem new. Have you ever stopped to think how absurd it is to leave one's Catholicism aside on entering a university, a professional association, a cultural society, or Parliament, like a man leaving his hat at the door?”  Courtesy of Pinterest St. Josemaría is not inviting us to make a show of our Catholicism, or to act in a way that is not compatible with our reality as lay members of the Church. What he wants is that each of us, in our particular circumstances, consider carefully the external and clear demands of unity of life in our work and social life. It takes courage (which can be considerabl...

We've come to that time of year where there is a little bit of a lull - Halloween is on the horizon, but we aren't experiencing the busy-ness that usually is associated with the holiday seasons (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter). And we're not in "vacation mode" that the months of summer often bring (though with the weather the way it's been, maybe you haven't quite shaken the vacation mode just yet!) The Church even calls this time "Ordinary." So what does that mean for our spiritual life? It's so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day, ordinary activities of our lives which can leave our spiritual life just sort of there in all of its ordinariness too. For me, personally, this time of year brings on the monotony of work which can be busy some days but then run-of-the-mill on others. And my attitude toward my spiritual life also seems to become more relaxed, which leaves me prone to temptation and sin. So how can I avoid that? Below ar...

Once again we are left stricken and horrified by the brutal massacre of innocent people in Las Vegas. We claim to our Lord, ‘Why, Lord, why?’ And it is only in prayer that we can find some solace and renew our hope (and our faith and our charity). Isaiah 40: “Comfort, comfort my people…” On  December 7  of last year, Pope Francis had a lot to say about hope, and his words are like a blueprint for our own reflection. Hope, he said, “is very important, because hope never disappoints." Optimism disappoints, but hope does not! We have such need, in these times which appear dark, in which we sometimes feel disoriented at the evil and violence which surrounds us, at the distress of so many of our brothers and sisters. We need hope! We feel disoriented and even rather discouraged, because we are powerless and it seems this darkness will never end.  We must not let hope abandon us, because God, with his love, walks with us. “I hope, because God is beside me"... we ...