Category Archives: Uncategorized

The Seal of the Confessional: A Priest’s Perspective Given the appropriate and necessary commitment to protect the vulnerable in our churches and in society at large from sexual abuse, some in the church think it equally necessary to dispense with … Continue reading →

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Lia Thomas recently became the first transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I title: first place in the women’s 500-yard freestyle. Public response … Continue reading →

3 Lent: Luke 13:1-17 HAVE YOU HEARD? Has anyone told you yet? Did you catch the news this morning? If you have ever had someone start a conversation with a question like that, you know you’re in for something: good … Continue reading →

Joseph, Husband of the Virgin Mary and Guardian of Jesus (2 Sam 7:4, 8-16 / Ps 89:1-4, 19-29 / Rom 4:13-18, Lk 2:41-52) Collect O God, who from the family of your servant David raised up Joseph to be the … Continue reading →

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. TODAY, IN THE DAILY OFFICE, THE CHURCH BEGINS READING ST PAUL’S magnum opus, the Epistle to the Romans. I thought I’d take this opportunity … Continue reading →

THE FAMILIAR INFANCY STORIES in Luke’s Gospel — the Circumcision and naming of Jesus, the Presentation of our Lord in the Temple, the encounters with Simeon and Anna — these are very human stories, very lovely and poignant stories that … Continue reading →

As one so often does just before sleep, I was thinking again of death last night — neither morbidly nor morosely, but theologically and liturgically. Earlier in the day, standing at the altar with angels and archangels and all the … Continue reading →

Collect: Confession of Saint Peter Almighty Father, who inspired Simon Peter, first among the apostles, to confess Jesus as Messiah and Son of the living God: Keep your Church steadfast upon the rock of this faith, that in unity and … Continue reading →

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. JUST TWO WEEKS AGO we celebrated Christmas, the birth of our Lord Jesus in Bethlehem: stable and manger, shepherds and angels, carols and candles. … Continue reading →

Alleluia, to us a child is born: O come, let us adore him. Alleluia. A FEW YEARS AGO, I decided to re-read The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien, a classic trilogy that I had read several … Continue reading →