After we confessing our sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and receiving a penance, we say an Act of Contrition. This expresses our sorrow for our sins. We say the Act of Contrition as part of the ritual of the Sacrament. Do you just say the words or do you truly pray them, reflecting on …
2nd Sunday of Easter, Year BActs 4:32-35Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24 (1)1 John 5:1-6John 20:19-31April 11, 2021 On this Second Sunday of Easter we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday. In today’s gospel Jesus gives the power to forgive sins to the disciples when He says, “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain …
Good Friday: Celebration of the Lord’s PassionIsaiah 52:13-53:12Psalm 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-16, 17, 25 (Luke 23:46)Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9John 18:1-19:42April 2, 2021 I begin with two questions. First, who is responsible for the death of Jesus? Secondly, why was He put to death? We have just heard the story of Jesus’ Passion, the suffering He endured. …
Palm Sunday of the Passion of the LordGospel at the Procession – Mark 11:1-10Isaiah 50:4-7Psalm 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24 (2a)Philippians 2:6-11Mark 14:1-15:47March 28, 2021 Our gospel for the blessing of the palms began, “When Jesus and his disciples drew near to Jerusalem.” Taken at face value, the words “drew near to Jerusalem” tell us that …
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Penance Service for LentGenesis 3:1-11Psalm 51Matthew 27:27-31March 24, 2021 Next week we celebrate Holy Week. On Sunday we will bless the palms and hear the story of Jesus’ Passion as told in Mark’s Gospel. On Holy Thursday we celebrate the Last Supper. Then on Good Friday we will hear the story of Jesus’ Passion as …
In two recent blog articles (“Does Evil Exist?” and “The People of the Lie”), I reflected upon Fr. Dwight Longenecker’s Immortal Combat: Confronting the Heart of Darkness (Manchester, NH: Sophia Institute Press. 2020) and what he says about our battle against evil. Now I would like to conclude my discussion on his book by reflecting on …
On Tuesday, I posted an article, “Does Evil Exist?” based on my thoughts from reading Immortal Combat: Confronting the Heart of Darkness by Fr. Dwight Longenecker (Manchester, NH: Sophia Institute Press. 2020). As I ended that article I referenced Fr. Longenecker’s discussion of how Satan distorts our desires (30-31) such that we make ourselves the center …
Does “evil” exist? There should be no question that bad things happen. One does not need to watch the news for long to hear` of violence and wars. There is theft and division. Yet, if one listens to the relativists who say there is universal truth, how can be there be evil if there is …
I recently wrote an article, “Is Heaven a Crowded Place?”, regarding who gets into Heaven and how we know Satan exists. This followed articles I wrote last summer, “What Will Heaven Be Like?” and “Purgatory as a Gift That Gets Us in Shape for Heaven.” Purgatory and Heaven do exist. That leaves us with the …
Is Heaven a crowded place? I ask the question with mixed feelings. I am an introvert and do not like crowded places. On the other hand, as a Christian and knowing how great a place Heaven is, I desire that everyone ends up in Heaven. God desires everyone to be in Heaven. If God desires …
