Blog of the Archdiocese of Washington
There is a saying in theological circles, “Grace builds on Nature.” It means a number of things: first, that grace perfects rather than destroys or replaces our nature. It also means that while grace opens our nature to the supernatural, it does not usually do so in freakish ways. We do not start leaping tall …
The fight against temptation is a key Lenten theme and, of course, one that extends to each day of our life if we are going to be serious followers of the Lord. There is something rather mysterious about temptation. We are often strangely drawn to things that harm us, and even knowing this, we still …
Continue reading “Unresisted Temptation can Destroy you, as seen on T.V. !”
The themes of early Lent are pretty basic. The ashes of Ash Wednesday announce the simple truth that we are going to die, and thereafter we will face judgment. Hence we need to repent and come to believe the good news that only Jesus can save us. The reading for Thursday after Ash Wednesday features Moses laying …
Continue reading “Choices Have Consequences. A Lenten Meditation on a Warning From Moses.”
We are currently reading through some wonderful “Wisdom Sayings” in the Office of Readings of the Liturgy of the Hours. Several of the sayings speak to the relationship between suffering and wisdom. And in this way the foolishness of our age, which is so hyper-focused on avoiding suffering at all costs, is exposed. Perhaps the …
Continue reading “What the Book of Ecclesiastes has to Say About the Foolishness of our Times”
One of the greatest and most painful of mysteries is the problem of suffering and the broader problem of evil in the world. I was meditating with my Sunday School parents this past weekend on the Old Testament Patriarch Joseph. That story is rich with lessons about family struggles, envy, jealousy, pride, mercy and forgiveness. …
Continue reading “What we can learn about suffering in the story of Joseph, the Patriarch.”
This is one of those stories that I hesitate to comment on because I’m indirectly implicated in it. But according to substantial rumors, the Pope has decided to eliminate the title “Monsignor” being conferred on any priest under 65. I say “rumors,” because I have not seen any official Vatican statement. Further rumors like this …
Continue reading “A Monsignor Reflects on the Restriction of the Title”Monsignor.””
It is not difficult to demonstrate that most of our modern problems center around struggles and misunderstandings regarding marriage, sexuality, and the family. Collectively as a nation and the culture, we have departed significantly from the teachings of God and common sense, when it comes to our thinking and behavior regarding these three fundamental pillars. …
Many of us have rightly, lamented the steady erosion of the Thanksgiving holiday. Over the past decade or so that hideousness of people camped out, sometimes for days, in front of stores to take advantage of “Black Friday” sales grew more widespread. This next intensified to stores opening at midnight, then at 8 PM on …
Continue reading “On The Loss of The Thanksgiving Holiday…Is there anything we can do?”