Almighty and everlasting God, you do not will that a single sinner should perish, and so you gave the world your Son Jesus, who is Mercy Itself. Make me a mirror of Divine Mercy. Through prayer, the sacraments, and works of charity, grant me the grace to seek your
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A Reflection for Advent In her book Saint-Watching, poet Phyllis McGinley writes: When I was seven years old I wanted to be a tight-rope dancer and broke my collar bone practicing on a child’s-size high wire. At twelve I planned to become an international spy. At fifteen my
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I am the way, and the truth, and the life. –John 14:6– Asking for directions can be a futile undertaking. Recall, for example, the opening scene from the 1952 academy-award-winning movie The Quiet Man: Sean Thornton: “Could you tell me the way to Inisfree?” Train conductor: “Do
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As you may know, from the time of antiquity, the image of two oxen yoked to a cart or plow has been regarded by pagans, Jews, and Christians as a very apt image for marriage. That’s right. When our ancestors thought of the love between husband and wife, they quite
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Be still and know that I am God. —Psalm 46:11– Some time ago, I was walking down one of the hallowed hallways of Bethlehem Catholic High School. It was during second period, so as I went past each open classroom door, I could hear what the teacher therein was
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Baccalaureate Homily for the Class of 2004, Bethlehem Catholic High School Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania Trinity Sunday, 6 June 2004 Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Most Blessed Trinity. When I talk about the Trinity, I normally use a doctrinal formula: In the
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Now while they were talking of these things, Jesus stood in their midst, and said to them, “Peace to you! It is I, do not be afraid.” –Luke 24:36– When it was late that same day, the first of the week, though the doors where the disciples gathered had been
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A Homily for the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A I love murder mysteries. Perhaps this is because, like many fans of the genre, I have a heightened sense of justice. I want to see the bad guy get his comeuppance. I want to see the murderer
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A sower went out to sow. –Matthew 13:3– Seeds come in many different varieties. I have here, ladies and gentlemen, a bag of sesame seeds. I love them sprinkled on a bagel, but they can sure be annoying. Whenever I eat a sesame seed bagel I usually get one or
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A Homily for the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year C Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky, Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone, Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die, One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne In the Land of Mordor
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