Who would have thought that any of the Gospel villains would merit a feast on the liturgical calendar or have churches erected in their memory? Believe it or not, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church considers Pontius Pilate and his wife, Claudia to be saints. A clear case for Claudia begins […]
Why Mercy Makes Us Uncomfortable
In his second Encyclical, Dives in Misericordia…Saint John Paul II highlighted the fact that we had forgotten the theme of mercy in today’s cultural milieu: “The present day mentality, more perhaps than that of people in the past, seems opposed to a God of mercy, and in fact tends to […]
Saved by the Mercy of a Stranger
We cannot escape the Lord’s words to us, and they will serve as the criteria upon which we are judged: whether we have fed the hungry and given drink to the thirsty, welcomed the stranger and clothed the naked, or spent time with the sick and those in prison […]
Giving What Is Holy To Dogs
The Spouse of Christ must pattern her behaviour after the Son of God who went out to everyone without exception. Pope Francis, Misericordiae Vultus, par. 12 Sitting in our gloriously sunny, tranquil parish adoration chapel, I had just finished underlining a very beautiful section of Deus Caritas Est (God Is […]
Lent: Highlighting Forgiveness & Redemption for All; Even “Dutch” Schultz
We are now into the third week of Lent and the road to redemption has been halfway traveled. Throughout the world Catechumens have almost reached their goal of full inclusion into the Catholic Church, which takes place during the Easter Vigil. It is a beautiful thing. In addition, this past […]
To My Brothers, Or Anyone Else In Purgatory, With Love
A Jubilee also entails the granting of indulgences. This practice will acquire an even more important meaning in the Holy Year of Mercy. Pope Francis, Misericordiae Vultus, par. 22. No way. I wasn’t going to jump through hoops to try to gain God’s favor—because that’s how I saw indulgences at […]
Living Mercy
“I was scandalized by the story of the prodigal son,” Fr. Maximo shared as he stood on the altar before hundreds of us who came together to celebrate Communita Cenacolo’s Festival of Life—all united because we have experienced first hand the ravages of addiction in our families. “I was the […]