Recent Comments
Liam on Desiderio Desideravi 7: Bread… Ignatius in July, 6:… on More Jesuits On The Moon Ignatius in July, 6:… on Clavius, Jesuit on the Mo… Liam on Patris Corde 4c: An Accepting… Devin Rice on Ignatius in July, 1 Ignatius in July, 2… on Pedro Arrupe In Japan Liam on Ignatius in July, 1 Liam on Ignatius in July, 1 Joyce Donahue on Ignatius in July, 1 
a worldpress … on Lumen Gentium 36
Category Archives: spirituality
Ignatius in July, 6: Ad Sidūs
This month, as a conclusion to the Ignatian Year, I’m trying to think of something mildly useful to say daily about the saint or his spiritual daughters and sons. Jesuits have been involved in astronomy from the beginning … of … Continue reading
Ignatius in July, 4 & 5: On Freedom
Whoops! Missed a day. It’s the day after a holiday weekend, and we’re back to work. Unless we’ve tacked on some extension of leisure to the long weekend. Searching through some resources for prayers for summer choir practices, I found … Continue reading
Ignatius in July, 3: Suscipe
Some of my friends in the spiritual/blogging life are observing this entire month as a conclusion to the Ignatian Year, marking five centuries since Ignatius’ conversion after an injury ended his military career and thrust him into a life of … Continue reading
Ignatius in July, 2: Pedro Arrupe
Some of my Ignatian friends are observing this entire month as a conclusion to the Ignatian Year, marking five centuries since the conversion of the saint to a particularly committed life. Pedro Arrupe is one of my favorite Jesuits from … Continue reading
Ignatius in July, 1
Some of my Ignatian friends are observing this entire month as a conclusion to the Ignatian Year, marking five centuries since the man’s conversion thanks to a military injury and long convalescence. Let’s see if I can maintain a discipline of … Continue reading
Saint Basil on Rupture
Today’s Office of Readings offers a reflection from Saint Basil on Christ’s agency in our salvation. In prefacing my remarks on rupture, I want to be clear on some things. I am sure that Catholics, especially prelates, who apply their … Continue reading
Posted in Holy Week, Saints, spirituality
Leave a comment
Any Time is the Right Time
Today’s offerings in the Office of Readings speak to one of the pillars of Lent. We’re well past the midpoint of the season, but a timely reminder for renewal is always welcome. As the sainted pope of the fifth century … Continue reading
Posted in Lent, Saints, Scripture, spirituality
Leave a comment
Prayers For The Lost
Some time ago I ran across a prayer for a lost child. I’ve lost the original writer, but it struck me as just a bit off in tone. It was long, and so often we Christians are used to long … Continue reading
Posted in Scripture, spirituality
Leave a comment
Breastplate
In hymnals, we get a portion of the whole of the prayer attributed to Patrick of Ireland. The full wiki thing is here, with commentary and notes. Did you know there’s an eleven-part structure? invocation of the Trinity. invocation of Christ’s … Continue reading
Posted in Liturgical Music, Saints, spirituality
1 Comment
Thomas Merton On Ashes
The practice, sillies, not the song. From one of Neil’s essays thirteen Lents ago, a small excerpt from the Kentucky Trappist: (I)n laying upon us the light cross of ashes, the Church desires to take off our shoulders all other … Continue reading
Posted in Lent, Saints, spirituality
Leave a comment
Two Girls In A Cave
This devotional space was my introduction to Our Lady of Lourdes in 1969. I vaguely recall my first impression: two girls in a cave. I don’t have a recollection of my home parish’s devotion to Lourdes. Around the time of … Continue reading
Posted in Saints, spirituality
Leave a comment
Beatitudes for Bishops VII
The last of the Beatitudes for Bishops: Blessed is the bishop who is not afraid to go against the tide for the sake of the Gospel, making his face “stern” like that of Christ on his way to Jerusalem, without … Continue reading
Posted in bishops, Ministry, spirituality
Leave a comment
Beatitudes for Bishops VI
Archbishop Domenico Battaglia’s Beatitudes for Bishops were adopted by the Holy Father, who shared them last month in a homily at an episcopal ordination. The original text is here, in Italian. I think they have applications outside of the office … Continue reading
Posted in bishops, Ministry, spirituality
Leave a comment
Beatitudes for Bishops V
The Beatitudes for Bishops’ original text is here, in Italian. Pope Francis seems to approve, making it a handout at a recent meeting of Italy’s national episcopal conference. Blessed is the bishop who banishes duplicity of heart, who avoids every … Continue reading
Posted in bishops, Ministry, spirituality
Leave a comment
Beatitudes for Bishops IV
Blessed is the bishop who has a heart for the misery of the world, who is not afraid to dirty his hands with the mud of the human soul in order to find God’s gold, who is not scandalized by … Continue reading
Posted in bishops, Ministry, spirituality
Leave a comment
Catholic Sensibility 