Category Archives: spirituality

Purification

Posted on 14 March 2019 by

For the elect preparing for baptism, Lent coincides with their period of Purification and Enlightenment. You can read about the basic considerations here, and don’t forget the Church sees this time of “intense spiritual preparation”  as a vital season in … Continue reading →

Posted in Lent, RCIA, spirituality | Leave a comment

Book Challenge Day 7

Posted on 13 March 2019 by

I have valued the guidance of spiritual directors in person far more than books they’ve recommended, but this collection of prayers stands above others as formative for my early spiritual life. Before I read it, I sang the psalms; afterward, … Continue reading →

Posted in On My Bookshelf, spirituality | Leave a comment

Teilhard, Attack And Defense

Posted on 6 February 2019 by

I found myself on the fringes of a facebook discussion about Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, the concern over his being the subject of a fandom and his supposedly foundational racism, his defense at commonweal, and the suggestion this defense is … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Science, spirituality, The Blogosphere | Tagged | Leave a comment

Here I Am: Praying with Psalm 40, Isaiah, and Martin Luther King

Posted on 18 January 2019 by

The text of a prayer I cobbled together some years ago, perhaps helpful for an observance of Monday’s holiday: Psalm: (this recited version, or preferably a musical setting like this or this or this) All: Here I am, Lord; I … Continue reading →

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Baptism Of The Lord

Posted on 12 January 2019 by

This weekend’s feast is a relatively new addition to the Western liturgical calendar. My question for readers: how did your preacher address the “problem”? By that I mean Jesus, the sinless Son of God, submitting to a ritual which, by … Continue reading →

Posted in evangelization, spirituality | Tagged | Leave a comment

To Guard And Guide

Posted on 2 October 2018 by

My favorite guardian angel is Raphael. One of my favorite biblical books describes his mission, assisting young Tobiah retrieve a treasure from his father’s close friend Gabael: So, son, find yourself a trustworthy person who will make the journey with … Continue reading →

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Under The Starry Heavens

Posted on 31 July 2018 by

Two years ago, I blogged here with another image of Ignatius and his beloved stars. One of my favorite images of today’s saint, Ignatius of Loyola, is above. I wish I could locate a credit and artist; the best I … Continue reading →

Posted in Astronomy, spirituality | Tagged | 6 Comments