Some Advent Scandal

Here’s an Advent piece that I originally wrote for the Catholic Evidence Guild of Guam, which I’ve dusted it off a bit and shortened: How many times during Advents past have you heard that looooong list of names recited from…

The Prayer of a Desperate Man: Some Psalms and a Bottle of Coke

Last May, Harrison Okene, the Nigerian cook aboard the tug Jacson-4, was rescued from 30 meters below the Atlantic after spending almost three days in an air pocket aboard the ship which had overturned and capsized.  His 11 fellow crew…

Star Gazing for God

I’ve always been fascinated by science, especially astronomy, so when I encountered Psalm 19 in my morning prayer recently, it struck home: The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours…

Pope Francis’s First Apostolic Exhortation

Pope Francis has issued his first Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium (“Joy of the Gospel”) and it seems to summarize the themes that he has publicly promoted since he took the Chair of Peter. “I prefer a Church which is bruised, hurting…

The Suscipe of St. Ignatius of Loyola

Here’s another prayer that makes me uncomfortable – and that’s a good thing.  I’m starting to use it after receiving Holy Communion. Suscipe (St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus) Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory,…

The Black Marble

You’ve heard of the “Blue Marble”, that is, the majestic view of the earth from outer space.  Well, here is the “Black Marble”, the view of earth from the dark side. From NASA: This new global view and animation of…