Today the Church celebrates the Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time. The assigned readings are Proverbs 31:10-13 19-20, 30-31; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6; and Matthew 25:14-30. The Responsorial Psalm is Psalm 128 (Psalm 128:1-5).
For one version of the Responsorial Psalm set to music, please visit:
YouTube: Responsorial Psalm (PSALM 128 Blessed are those who Fear the LORD) 33rd Sunday
The Gospel reading is as follows:
Jesus told his disciples this parable: "A man going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one - to each according to his ability. Then he went away. Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five. Likewise, the one who received two made another two. But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master's money.
After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. He said, 'Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master's joy.' Then the one who had received two talents also came forward and said, 'Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have made two more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master's joy.' Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, 'Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter; so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.' His master said to him in reply, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter? Should you not then have put my money in the bank
so that I could have got it back with interest on my return? Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten. For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.'"
Reflections on these readings:
Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Salesian Sunday Reflections: 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (November 19, 2017)
Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Sundays Salesian: Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time (November 19, 2017)
Community in Mission: Growing in the Fear of the Lord - A Homily for the 33rd Sunday of the Year (18 NOV 17)
Aleteia: Deacon Greg Kandra: What good is the Good News if we keep it to ourselves?: Homily for 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (19 NOV 17)
The Sacred Page: Faithfulness in the Little Things: The 33rd Sunday in OT (16 NOV 17)
The Sacred Page: The Parable of the Talents (The Mass Readings Explained) (13 NOV 17)
St. Paul Center: Settling Accounts: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Word on Fire: Parable of the Talents (Cycle A * Ordinary Time * Week 33)
Spirituality of the Readings: Fear Factor (Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time A)
In Exile: Never Grow Weary (Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time A
)
Let the Scriptures Speak: Good Fear, Bad Fear (Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time A)
The Word Embodied: Stewardship (Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time A
)
Historical Cultural Context: The Peasant View (Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time A)
Thoughts from the Early Church: Commentary by John Chrysostom (Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time A
)
19 November 2017
Msgr. Pope on the Passing of Things
"The commercial below must have taken weeks
to film. Regardless of its intent (selling homeowner's insurance),
there is something of an admonition in both the video and the
accompanying music: life and the things of life slip away. Not a bad
theme in November, when the Church bids us to meditate on the last
things."
In a recent commentary, Monsignor Charles Pope (pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish, Washington, DC) reflected on the passage of time and all things and on our need to be anchored to God, Who remains forever.
To access Msgr. Pope's complete post, please visit:
Community in Mission: On the Passing of Things, as Seen in a Commercial (17 NOV 17)
In a recent commentary, Monsignor Charles Pope (pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish, Washington, DC) reflected on the passage of time and all things and on our need to be anchored to God, Who remains forever.
To access Msgr. Pope's complete post, please visit:
Community in Mission: On the Passing of Things, as Seen in a Commercial (17 NOV 17)
Reflection Starter from Pope Francis
"Faith is a great life companion, allowing us to feel the presence of a Father who never leaves His creatures alone." - Pope Francis
18 November 2017
Straight No Chaser: Frankie Valli Medley
As this blessed week draws to a close, I offer this version of Straight No Chaser presenting a Frankie Valli medley:
On Making a Holiday Holy
"Michael celebrated his first Thanksgiving as a married man at the home
of his wife Maria's parents. Gathered for the huge midday meal were her
parents and Maria's siblings with their spouses. All the traditional
foods were served and the conversation was good.
"After the meal, Michael went into his in-laws' living room, turned on the television and sat down to watch football games. He was just settling in when Maria came into the room and asked what he was doing.
"His answer was that he was planning to spend the afternoon watching games or allowing the turkey-induced tryptophan to bring on a nap. In defense, Michael said that is what his dad and brothers and he always did at their house after the Thanksgiving Day meal.
"Maria's quick answer was, 'Well, we don't do that in our family.' Then she added that everyone helps clean up so they can all relax."
A recent article in The Pilot (the newspaper of the Archdiocese of Boston) reported on a variety of family Thanksgiving traditions and offer tips on how to make this day a holy day, not just a secular holiday.
To access the complete article, please visit:
The Pilot: Making a holiday holy (17 NOV 17)
"After the meal, Michael went into his in-laws' living room, turned on the television and sat down to watch football games. He was just settling in when Maria came into the room and asked what he was doing.
"His answer was that he was planning to spend the afternoon watching games or allowing the turkey-induced tryptophan to bring on a nap. In defense, Michael said that is what his dad and brothers and he always did at their house after the Thanksgiving Day meal.
"Maria's quick answer was, 'Well, we don't do that in our family.' Then she added that everyone helps clean up so they can all relax."
A recent article in The Pilot (the newspaper of the Archdiocese of Boston) reported on a variety of family Thanksgiving traditions and offer tips on how to make this day a holy day, not just a secular holiday.
To access the complete article, please visit:
The Pilot: Making a holiday holy (17 NOV 17)
Reflection Starter from Henry David Thoreau
"Not only must we be good, but we must also be good for something." - Henry David Thoreau
17 November 2017
Thank You, Lord
Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of our work and for the many ways in which You use it to continue Your work of creation and to minister to Your people.
Bishop Tobin on Questions to and from God
"Last week, in Newport, we held our biennial Priest Convocation in the
Diocese of Providence. About 70 priests, roughly a third of our
presbyterate, joined together for a couple days of fraternity, prayer,
study, and discussion. This year's event was among the most successful
ever; it was enjoyable, informative and rewarding.
"Our presenter was Sherry Weddell, a nationally known expert on religious practice and evangelization. Her theme, with the same title as her best-selling book, was 'Forming Intentional Disciples.' Sherry first painted the rather bleak picture of religious practice in our country today, particularly among young Catholics, and explained its causes and characteristics. Did you know, for example, that only 30 percent of Americans who were raised Catholic are still practicing? How distressing!
"She then emphasized the importance of developing a conversion experience that begins with a personal encounter with Christ and moves an individual from 'seeker, to disciple, to apostle.' Catholics in the pew, she explained, must make a conscious decision to know and follow Jesus before they can draw others to him. Her five presentations were packed with information, insights and inspiration.
"At the very end of her program Sherry posed a question that we could reflect upon ourselves and then pose to others in the course of a conversion dialogue: 'If you could ask God one question that you knew God would answer right away, what would it be?'"
In a recent commentary, Bishop Thomas J. Tobin, of the Diocese of Providence (RI), reflected on potential answers to this question and on how God might "turn the tables and have some hard questions to ask us."
To access Bishop Tobin's complete essay, please visit:
Without A Doubt: Questions to God, Questions from God (16 NOV 17)
"Our presenter was Sherry Weddell, a nationally known expert on religious practice and evangelization. Her theme, with the same title as her best-selling book, was 'Forming Intentional Disciples.' Sherry first painted the rather bleak picture of religious practice in our country today, particularly among young Catholics, and explained its causes and characteristics. Did you know, for example, that only 30 percent of Americans who were raised Catholic are still practicing? How distressing!
"She then emphasized the importance of developing a conversion experience that begins with a personal encounter with Christ and moves an individual from 'seeker, to disciple, to apostle.' Catholics in the pew, she explained, must make a conscious decision to know and follow Jesus before they can draw others to him. Her five presentations were packed with information, insights and inspiration.
"At the very end of her program Sherry posed a question that we could reflect upon ourselves and then pose to others in the course of a conversion dialogue: 'If you could ask God one question that you knew God would answer right away, what would it be?'"
In a recent commentary, Bishop Thomas J. Tobin, of the Diocese of Providence (RI), reflected on potential answers to this question and on how God might "turn the tables and have some hard questions to ask us."
To access Bishop Tobin's complete essay, please visit:
Without A Doubt: Questions to God, Questions from God (16 NOV 17)
Reflection Starter from Leonardo da Vinci
"In rivers, the water that you touch is the last of what has passed and the first of that which comes; so with present time." - Leonardo da Vinci
15 November 2017
Ferde Grofé: "Grand Canyon Suite"
As we continue to live this week, I offer this version of Ferde Grofé's "Grand Canyon Suite," as presented by the NBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Arturo Toscanini:
Dr. Kevin Vost on St. Albert the Great
"Born on earth around 1200 and in heaven in 1280, Saint Albert the Great of the Order of Preachers is a great saint for our time
so badly in need of his preaching and teaching. We live in a world
where many scientists proclaim their lack of belief in God and
increasing numbers of young people declare they believe in science
rather than religion, assuming in the ignorance of their miseducation
that the two must be opposed. As Pope Saint John Paul II declared in
1998 in his Fides et Ratio (on the relationship between faith and reason), we live in a day when scientism grows
rampant and many people believe that science and technology provide all
the answers to all the problems that plague humanity. On the other
hand, some Christians who recognize that science can certainly tell us how to do things, but not whether we ought to do them, fall into the opposing error of fideism, 'which fails to recognize the importance of rational knowledge and
philosophical discourse for the understanding of faith, indeed for the
very possibility of belief in God.' We live in a day of increasing
polarization. . . ."
In a recent commentary, Dr. Kevin Vost reflected on the life of Saint Albert the Great, a member of the Order of Preachers and the patron saint of scientists. The Church celebrates St. Albert's memory today (15 November).
To access Dr. Vost's complete post, please visit:
Catholic Exchange: St. Albert the Great: Saintly Scientist for the Modern World (15 NOV 17)
In a recent commentary, Dr. Kevin Vost reflected on the life of Saint Albert the Great, a member of the Order of Preachers and the patron saint of scientists. The Church celebrates St. Albert's memory today (15 November).
To access Dr. Vost's complete post, please visit:
Catholic Exchange: St. Albert the Great: Saintly Scientist for the Modern World (15 NOV 17)
The Clear Light of Blessed Chiara Badano
Blessed Chiara Badano was born in 1971 in the northern Italian village
of Sassello. At the age of nine, she joined the Focolare Movement, a
Catholic organization dedicated to the brotherhood of all mankind. When
she was 16, Badano journeyed to Rome, where she met the Focolare
Movement's founder, Chiara Lubich. In a letter to her parents, young
Badano wrote, "This is a very important moment for me: it is an
encounter with Jesus Forsaken...This morning Chiara Lubich explained to
the children that they have to be the spouse of Jesus Forsaken."
After her trip to Rome, Badano began to correspond regularly with Lubich. In one communication, Badano asked her to give her a different name to indicate the start of a new life. Lubich dubbed her Chiara Luce (meaning "clear light"), and wrote to her saying, "Your luminous face shows your love for Jesus."
In the same year that she began to correspond with Lubich, Badano was diagnosed with a rare and painful form of bone cancer. In response to this diagnosis, Badano said, "It's for you, Jesus; if you want it, I want it, too."
Throughout her illness, Badano constantly reached out to others and visited those in need. One story tells of how she would go on walks with another patient in the hospital, who was suffering from depression, despite the fact that walking caused Badano great pain. She donated her entire life savings to a friend who was doing mission work in Africa, saying, "I don't need this money anymore. I have everything."
A friend from Focolare said, "At first we thought we'd visit her to keep her spirits up, but very soon we understood that, in fact, we were the ones who needed her. Her life was like a magnet drawing us to her."
When Badano lost the ability to walk, she said, "If I had to choose between walking again and going to heaven, I wouldn't hesitate. I would choose heaven." Realizing she wasn't going to beat the cancer, Badano began to prepare her parents for the pain of losing her, encouraging them to treat her funeral like a wedding, and saying, "Don't shed any tears for me. I'm going to Jesus. At my funeral, I don't want people crying, but singing with all their hearts."
Badano died in 1990 at the age of 18. On the day of her funeral, the mayor of Sassello closed the village for business so that everyone could mourn together. She was declared venerable in 2008 and blessed in 2010 after the Vatican confirmed a miraculous healing of a young Italian boy suffering from a deadly case of meningitis.
On her death bed, Badano shared with her mother that some of her last thoughts were of the young people of the world, saying, "Oh Mamma, young people…they are the future. You see, I can't run anymore, but how I would like to pass on to them the torch, like in the Olympics! Young people have only one life and it's worthwhile to spend it well."
The torch Blessed Chiara Luce Badano wants to pass on to young people is the clear light that came to her in her love for Jesus Christ. It is a light that can sustain the soul through the darkest of storms; so let us share her story, entrusting young people to her intercession, and the clear light of Chiara Luce will shine as a beacon for them to follow throughout their lives.
This essay is a recent week's "Light One Candle" column; it is one of a series of weekly columns that deal with a variety of topics and current events.
Background information:
The Christophers
Focolare Movement
After her trip to Rome, Badano began to correspond regularly with Lubich. In one communication, Badano asked her to give her a different name to indicate the start of a new life. Lubich dubbed her Chiara Luce (meaning "clear light"), and wrote to her saying, "Your luminous face shows your love for Jesus."
In the same year that she began to correspond with Lubich, Badano was diagnosed with a rare and painful form of bone cancer. In response to this diagnosis, Badano said, "It's for you, Jesus; if you want it, I want it, too."
Throughout her illness, Badano constantly reached out to others and visited those in need. One story tells of how she would go on walks with another patient in the hospital, who was suffering from depression, despite the fact that walking caused Badano great pain. She donated her entire life savings to a friend who was doing mission work in Africa, saying, "I don't need this money anymore. I have everything."
A friend from Focolare said, "At first we thought we'd visit her to keep her spirits up, but very soon we understood that, in fact, we were the ones who needed her. Her life was like a magnet drawing us to her."
When Badano lost the ability to walk, she said, "If I had to choose between walking again and going to heaven, I wouldn't hesitate. I would choose heaven." Realizing she wasn't going to beat the cancer, Badano began to prepare her parents for the pain of losing her, encouraging them to treat her funeral like a wedding, and saying, "Don't shed any tears for me. I'm going to Jesus. At my funeral, I don't want people crying, but singing with all their hearts."
Badano died in 1990 at the age of 18. On the day of her funeral, the mayor of Sassello closed the village for business so that everyone could mourn together. She was declared venerable in 2008 and blessed in 2010 after the Vatican confirmed a miraculous healing of a young Italian boy suffering from a deadly case of meningitis.
On her death bed, Badano shared with her mother that some of her last thoughts were of the young people of the world, saying, "Oh Mamma, young people…they are the future. You see, I can't run anymore, but how I would like to pass on to them the torch, like in the Olympics! Young people have only one life and it's worthwhile to spend it well."
The torch Blessed Chiara Luce Badano wants to pass on to young people is the clear light that came to her in her love for Jesus Christ. It is a light that can sustain the soul through the darkest of storms; so let us share her story, entrusting young people to her intercession, and the clear light of Chiara Luce will shine as a beacon for them to follow throughout their lives.
This essay is a recent week's "Light One Candle" column; it is one of a series of weekly columns that deal with a variety of topics and current events.
Background information:
The Christophers
Focolare Movement
Reflection Starter from Matthew
"Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves." - Matthew 11:29
13 November 2017
Thank You, Lord
Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of our interconnectedness in the various aspects of our lives.
Msgr. Pope on Our Interconnectedness
"The commercial below reminds us that the products we use don't just come
out of nowhere. Good goes around and around. The Cheerios in the cereal
box started out as seeds in the ground, but the commercial stops well
short of showing everyone we should thank for the final product."
In a recent commentary, Monsignor Charles Pope (pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish, Washington, DC) reflected on the interconnectedness as illustrated by the huge number of people standing behind every product we buy.
To access Msgr. Pope's complete post, please visit:
Community in Mission: Our Interconnectedness as Seen in a Commercial (3 NOV 17)
In a recent commentary, Monsignor Charles Pope (pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish, Washington, DC) reflected on the interconnectedness as illustrated by the huge number of people standing behind every product we buy.
To access Msgr. Pope's complete post, please visit:
Community in Mission: Our Interconnectedness as Seen in a Commercial (3 NOV 17)
Reflection Starter from St.Alphonsus Liguori
"The past is no longer yours; the future is not yet in your power. You have only the present wherein to do good." - Saint Alphonsus Liguori
11 November 2017
A Veterans Day Salute
As our observance of Veterans Day continues, I offer this version of the "Armed Forces Medley" presented by The Vocal Majority and The Masters of Harmony:
Happy Veterans Day!
Happy Veterans Day to those who have served and are currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces!!
To access President Trump’s Veterans Day/Month proclamation, please visit:
President Donald J. Trump Proclaims November 2017 as National Veterans and Military Families Month
Additional reflections related to our observance of Veterans Day:
A Concord Pastor Comments: Pause for Prayer: Veterans Day 2017 (9 NOV 17)
GodTube: Veterans Day: Thanking Our Heroes
YouTube: Patriotic Tribute~Thank You
YouTube: Never Forget
Christopher Closeup: Airborne Ranger Infantry (10 NOV 12)
Background information:
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: National Veterans and Military Families Month - November 2017
Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs
Maine Bureau of Veterans' Services
Massachusetts Department of Veterans’ Services
New Hampshire State Office of Veterans Services
Rhode Island Office of Veterans Affairs
Vermont Office of Veterans Affairs
To access President Trump’s Veterans Day/Month proclamation, please visit:
President Donald J. Trump Proclaims November 2017 as National Veterans and Military Families Month
Additional reflections related to our observance of Veterans Day:
A Concord Pastor Comments: Pause for Prayer: Veterans Day 2017 (9 NOV 17)
GodTube: Veterans Day: Thanking Our Heroes
YouTube: Patriotic Tribute~Thank You
YouTube: Never Forget
Christopher Closeup: Airborne Ranger Infantry (10 NOV 12)
Background information:
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: National Veterans and Military Families Month - November 2017
Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs
Maine Bureau of Veterans' Services
Massachusetts Department of Veterans’ Services
New Hampshire State Office of Veterans Services
Rhode Island Office of Veterans Affairs
Vermont Office of Veterans Affairs
Upcoming Exhibit at the Met: "Fashion and the Catholic Imagination"
"Can the Catholic imagination dream up beautiful and compelling attire?
"That’s one of the questions behind an exhibit collection set to open next year through New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art.
"'The Roman Catholic Church has been producing and promoting beautiful works of art for centuries,' Greg Burke, director of the Holy See's press office, told The New York Times. 'Most people have experienced that through religious paintings and architecture. This is another way of sharing some of that beauty that rarely gets seen.'
"'Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination,' is scheduled to run May 10-Oct. 8, 2018, was organized through the Met's Costume Institute. The exhibit brings together Church garments borrowed from the Vatican, religious art from the Met collection, and 150 designer fashion pieces that were intended to pay homage to Catholicism, taking inspiration from Catholic iconography, the liturgy, or other parts of the faith tradition."
A recent National Catholic Register article highlighted this upcoming exhibit.
To access the complete article, please visit:
National Catholic Register: Catholic-Inspired Fashion to Come to NY's Metropolitan Museum of Art (10 NOV 17)
Background information:
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
"That’s one of the questions behind an exhibit collection set to open next year through New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art.
"'The Roman Catholic Church has been producing and promoting beautiful works of art for centuries,' Greg Burke, director of the Holy See's press office, told The New York Times. 'Most people have experienced that through religious paintings and architecture. This is another way of sharing some of that beauty that rarely gets seen.'
"'Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination,' is scheduled to run May 10-Oct. 8, 2018, was organized through the Met's Costume Institute. The exhibit brings together Church garments borrowed from the Vatican, religious art from the Met collection, and 150 designer fashion pieces that were intended to pay homage to Catholicism, taking inspiration from Catholic iconography, the liturgy, or other parts of the faith tradition."
A recent National Catholic Register article highlighted this upcoming exhibit.
To access the complete article, please visit:
National Catholic Register: Catholic-Inspired Fashion to Come to NY's Metropolitan Museum of Art (10 NOV 17)
Background information:
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Reflection Starter from Arthur Ashe
"True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost." - Arthur Ashe
10 November 2017
A Saint’s Medical Ministry
In a chapel in the cathedral of Benevento, an ancient city in southern Italy, a marble statue commemorates the birth of St. Giuseppe Moscati. He was born in Benevento in 1880, the seventh of nine children in a devout Catholic family of noble lineage. His father served on the altar in a chapel of the Poor Clares, and their family was friends with Caterina Volpicelli, foundress of the Maids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and someone who emerged as an important spiritual advisor to Giuseppe.
When he was a boy, his older brother fell from a horse and needed prolonged medical attention, which led to Giuseppe's interest in medicine. He eventually pursued that interest, receiving a doctorate from the University of Naples and then joining the staff of physicians at the Ospedale degli Incurabili (Hospital for the Incurables), where he took on duties as an administrator. When Mount Vesuvius erupted in 1906, Giuseppe rushed to a facility in Torre del Greco just a few miles from the mouth of the volcano and evacuated every last patient as the building began to crumble. He was a leader in combating the cholera outbreak in Naples in 1911, and he was a pioneer in experimenting with insulin to treat diabetes.
The film St. Giuseppe Moscati: Doctor of the Poor dramatizes his life and provides insight into the principles that guided him to view the practice of medicine as a ministry of God. A poignant sequence in the film depicts Giuseppe's trying to come to terms with the death of Aniello, a street child in his care. In a state of grief, Giuseppe kneels before a statue of a shrouded and entombed Christ and repeatedly pleads, "Show yourself. Show yourself. Show yourself." There is silence in response to his pleas, yet Giuseppe's countenance evinces a realization. The next scene shows him standing over a patient who looks very much like the entombed Christ as he lies in bed with a bandage over his face. Giuseppe kneels before this man and removes his bandage almost as though to reveal the face of Christ.
In the following scene, Giuseppe tells a sister working at the hospital, "Today I realized something: Jesus lives in every sick person." And later, he says, "If I were only to treat the diseases, I would be destined for defeat. I would think of science's limitations and feel helpless. I realized that with Aniello's death. Being a doctor is a lot less and a lot more. I want to give my whole strength, my whole self."
Giuseppe refused to charge poor people for their treatment, sometimes actually giving them money along with prescriptions. He took a vow of chastity and never married, being known today as the patron saint of bachelors as well as those rejected from religious orders. A powerful intercessor, he was considered a miracle worker even in his lifetime, and he called on his patients to utilize their faith and the sacraments in seeking cures.
He was a daily communicant and received the Eucharist on the morning of the day he died at the age of 46. His life story is a testament to the powerful influence faith can have on the practice of medicine. Faith can imbue physicians with the fire to know that a profound encounter with Christ awaits them with each patient they treat; and this, in turn, can inspire those patients to have faith on their journey towards healing.
This essay is a recent week's "Light One Candle" column; it is one of a series of weekly columns that deal with a variety of topics and current events.
Background information:
The Christophers
When he was a boy, his older brother fell from a horse and needed prolonged medical attention, which led to Giuseppe's interest in medicine. He eventually pursued that interest, receiving a doctorate from the University of Naples and then joining the staff of physicians at the Ospedale degli Incurabili (Hospital for the Incurables), where he took on duties as an administrator. When Mount Vesuvius erupted in 1906, Giuseppe rushed to a facility in Torre del Greco just a few miles from the mouth of the volcano and evacuated every last patient as the building began to crumble. He was a leader in combating the cholera outbreak in Naples in 1911, and he was a pioneer in experimenting with insulin to treat diabetes.
The film St. Giuseppe Moscati: Doctor of the Poor dramatizes his life and provides insight into the principles that guided him to view the practice of medicine as a ministry of God. A poignant sequence in the film depicts Giuseppe's trying to come to terms with the death of Aniello, a street child in his care. In a state of grief, Giuseppe kneels before a statue of a shrouded and entombed Christ and repeatedly pleads, "Show yourself. Show yourself. Show yourself." There is silence in response to his pleas, yet Giuseppe's countenance evinces a realization. The next scene shows him standing over a patient who looks very much like the entombed Christ as he lies in bed with a bandage over his face. Giuseppe kneels before this man and removes his bandage almost as though to reveal the face of Christ.
In the following scene, Giuseppe tells a sister working at the hospital, "Today I realized something: Jesus lives in every sick person." And later, he says, "If I were only to treat the diseases, I would be destined for defeat. I would think of science's limitations and feel helpless. I realized that with Aniello's death. Being a doctor is a lot less and a lot more. I want to give my whole strength, my whole self."
Giuseppe refused to charge poor people for their treatment, sometimes actually giving them money along with prescriptions. He took a vow of chastity and never married, being known today as the patron saint of bachelors as well as those rejected from religious orders. A powerful intercessor, he was considered a miracle worker even in his lifetime, and he called on his patients to utilize their faith and the sacraments in seeking cures.
He was a daily communicant and received the Eucharist on the morning of the day he died at the age of 46. His life story is a testament to the powerful influence faith can have on the practice of medicine. Faith can imbue physicians with the fire to know that a profound encounter with Christ awaits them with each patient they treat; and this, in turn, can inspire those patients to have faith on their journey towards healing.
This essay is a recent week's "Light One Candle" column; it is one of a series of weekly columns that deal with a variety of topics and current events.
Background information:
The Christophers
Reflection Starter from Mark Twain
"God has put something noble and good into every heart which His hand created." - attributed to Mark Twain
07 November 2017
André Rieu: "Nearer, My God, to Thee"
As we continue to live this week, I offer this version of André Rieu, over 500 brass players, and the Johann Strauss Orchestra presenting "Nearer, My God, to Thee":
On Ways To Be A Better Evangelist
"Have you ever had a Mormon or Jehovah's Witness come to your door? Did
you feel like they were there to truly love you? Probably not. Most of
us feel like we are being used and that they are selling something more
than wanting to help us. This is because they don't know us, aren't
really looking to enter into our lives and befriend us; rather, they are
looking for a project they can complete. We are really just a part of a
checklist. They do their door-to-door evangelism and boom...they are
done with evangelizing others for the day, even if they make no
converts.
"I think there are some Catholics who approach evangelization the same way - as something to check off the list, in order to " be a good Catholic". It isn't something they really intentionally try to grow into, get better at, or eventually get skillful at doing. This is a shame. We are made to evangelize, in fact, this is the core mission of all Christians! So, we ought to be aiming at getting better at it!"
A recent Catholic Missionary Disciples post offered a few suggestions designed to help Catholics become better evangelists. The suggestions included a recommendation to stop treating others as evangelization projects and more as people we love, knowing the proper time and place for using apologetics, and asking more questions of others than they do ofus.
To access the complete Catholic Missionary Disciples post, please visit:
Catholic Missionary Disciples: 5 Ways To Be A Better Evangelist
"I think there are some Catholics who approach evangelization the same way - as something to check off the list, in order to " be a good Catholic". It isn't something they really intentionally try to grow into, get better at, or eventually get skillful at doing. This is a shame. We are made to evangelize, in fact, this is the core mission of all Christians! So, we ought to be aiming at getting better at it!"
A recent Catholic Missionary Disciples post offered a few suggestions designed to help Catholics become better evangelists. The suggestions included a recommendation to stop treating others as evangelization projects and more as people we love, knowing the proper time and place for using apologetics, and asking more questions of others than they do ofus.
To access the complete Catholic Missionary Disciples post, please visit:
Catholic Missionary Disciples: 5 Ways To Be A Better Evangelist
Reflection Starter from Today's First Reading
"Let love be sincere; hate what is evil, hold on to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor. Do not grow slack in zeal, be fervent in spirit,
serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the holy ones, exercise hospitality. Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Have the same regard for one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly." - Romans 12:9-16
serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the holy ones, exercise hospitality. Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Have the same regard for one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly." - Romans 12:9-16
06 November 2017
Ft. Longenecker on the Scouring of the Shire
"The last time I read Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, it
became clear just how deeply the work, as Tolkien admitted, was deeply
Catholic. But those who are looking for a religious book will be
disappointed. The Catholicism is embedded in Tolkien's classic at a deep
level. It is in the depth of detail that Tolkien's Catholic imagination
shines through.
"In the chapter in The Return of the King on the houses of Healing, there was so much there that sounded like the sacrament of confession. There was also so much richness to be mined from the horror and inner conflict of Gollum - who is, of course, a shadow of Frodo and a picture of what he would become if he gave in to the power of the Ring.
"The Scouring of the Shire is the final chapter of the trilogy. The hobbits return home after their great quest and they find their beloved shire has been turned upside down by a kind of social revolution.
"The chapter illustrates Tolkien's assent to Catholic social teaching. The Shire, in its innocence, shows us the perfection of Catholic social teaching in which the principles of solidarity and subsidiarity are working perfectly. The hobbits care for one another and respect the property of one another. They take pride in their families, their crafts and their work. Each one to his own gifts and reaping the just rewards of a job well done for its own sake. In the simple agrarian community they brew beer, run inns, farm, raise animals, marry, enjoy the land and enjoy one another."
In a recent commentary, Father Dwight Longenecker (parish priest at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, Greenville, SC) reflected on the Shire's slipping into a "capitalistic and a socialistic nightmare," including its causes and effects, and ending with a warning to us.
To access Fr. Longenecker's complete post, please visit:
National Catholic Register: Blogs: Fr. Dwight Longenecker: The Scouring of the Shire (16 OCT 17)
Background information:
Dwight Longenecker - Catholic priest and author
"In the chapter in The Return of the King on the houses of Healing, there was so much there that sounded like the sacrament of confession. There was also so much richness to be mined from the horror and inner conflict of Gollum - who is, of course, a shadow of Frodo and a picture of what he would become if he gave in to the power of the Ring.
"The Scouring of the Shire is the final chapter of the trilogy. The hobbits return home after their great quest and they find their beloved shire has been turned upside down by a kind of social revolution.
"The chapter illustrates Tolkien's assent to Catholic social teaching. The Shire, in its innocence, shows us the perfection of Catholic social teaching in which the principles of solidarity and subsidiarity are working perfectly. The hobbits care for one another and respect the property of one another. They take pride in their families, their crafts and their work. Each one to his own gifts and reaping the just rewards of a job well done for its own sake. In the simple agrarian community they brew beer, run inns, farm, raise animals, marry, enjoy the land and enjoy one another."
In a recent commentary, Father Dwight Longenecker (parish priest at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, Greenville, SC) reflected on the Shire's slipping into a "capitalistic and a socialistic nightmare," including its causes and effects, and ending with a warning to us.
To access Fr. Longenecker's complete post, please visit:
National Catholic Register: Blogs: Fr. Dwight Longenecker: The Scouring of the Shire (16 OCT 17)
Background information:
Dwight Longenecker - Catholic priest and author
Reflection Starter from Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
"Above all, trust in the slow work of God. We are quite naturally impatient in everything to reach the end without delay. We should like to skip the intermediate stages. We are impatient of being on the way to something unknown, something new. And yet it is the law of all progress that it is made by passing through some stages of instability - and that it may take a very long time.
"And so I think it is with you; your ideas mature gradually - let them grow, let them shape themselves, without undue haste. Don't try to force them on, as though you could be today what time (that is to say, grace and circumstances acting on your own good will) will make of you tomorrow.
"Only God could say what this new spirit gradually forming within you will be. Give Our Lord the benefit of believing that his hand is leading you, and accept the anxiety of feeling yourself in suspense and incomplete." - Fr. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, SJ (from his book, Hearts on Fire)
"And so I think it is with you; your ideas mature gradually - let them grow, let them shape themselves, without undue haste. Don't try to force them on, as though you could be today what time (that is to say, grace and circumstances acting on your own good will) will make of you tomorrow.
"Only God could say what this new spirit gradually forming within you will be. Give Our Lord the benefit of believing that his hand is leading you, and accept the anxiety of feeling yourself in suspense and incomplete." - Fr. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, SJ (from his book, Hearts on Fire)
05 November 2017
"For the Beauty of the Earth"
As we continue our Sunday celebration, I offer this version of John Rutter's "For the Beauty of the Earth":
Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today the Church celebrates the Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time. The assigned readings are Malachi 1:14-2:2, 8-10; 1 Thessalonians 2:7-9, 13; and Matthew 23:1-12. The Responsorial Psalm is Psalm 131 (Psalm 131:1-3).
For one version of the Responsorial Psalm set to music, please visit:
YouTube: Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 131
The Gospel reading is as follows:
Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying, "The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry and lay them on people's shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. All their works are performed to be seen. They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation 'Rabbi.' As for you, do not be called 'Rabbi.' You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. Do not be called 'Master'; you have but one master, the Christ. The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted."
Reflections on these readings:
Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Salesian Sunday Reflections: 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time (November 5, 2017)
Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Sundays Salesian: Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time (November 5, 2017)
Community in Mission: Teachings On Authority - A Homily for the 31st Sunday of the Year (4 NOV 17)
The Sacred Page: Good Leaders for God's People: 31st Sunday in OT (2 NOV 17)
The Sacred Page: Call No Man "Father" (The Mass Readings Explained) (30 OCT 17)
St. Paul Center: Calling the Fathers: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time
Word on Fire: A Challenge to the Sons of Levi (Cycle A * Ordinary Time * Week 31)
Spirituality of the Readings: Humble Contradictions (Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time A)
In Exile: Gratitude the Basic Virtue (Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time A )
Let the Scriptures Speak: What Would Jesus Say? (Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time A)
The Word Embodied: A Teaching Father (Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time A )
Historical Cultural Context: Avoiding Excess (Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time A)
Thoughts from the Early Church: Commentary by Paschasius Radbertus (Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time A )
For one version of the Responsorial Psalm set to music, please visit:
YouTube: Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 131
The Gospel reading is as follows:
Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying, "The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry and lay them on people's shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. All their works are performed to be seen. They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation 'Rabbi.' As for you, do not be called 'Rabbi.' You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. Do not be called 'Master'; you have but one master, the Christ. The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted."
Reflections on these readings:
Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Salesian Sunday Reflections: 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time (November 5, 2017)
Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Sundays Salesian: Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time (November 5, 2017)
Community in Mission: Teachings On Authority - A Homily for the 31st Sunday of the Year (4 NOV 17)
The Sacred Page: Good Leaders for God's People: 31st Sunday in OT (2 NOV 17)
The Sacred Page: Call No Man "Father" (The Mass Readings Explained) (30 OCT 17)
St. Paul Center: Calling the Fathers: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time
Word on Fire: A Challenge to the Sons of Levi (Cycle A * Ordinary Time * Week 31)
Spirituality of the Readings: Humble Contradictions (Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time A)
In Exile: Gratitude the Basic Virtue (Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time A )
Let the Scriptures Speak: What Would Jesus Say? (Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time A)
The Word Embodied: A Teaching Father (Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time A )
Historical Cultural Context: Avoiding Excess (Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time A)
Thoughts from the Early Church: Commentary by Paschasius Radbertus (Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time A )
Msgr. Pope on "the Loss of Humor in a Very Serious Age"
"One of the more irritating and sadder
characteristics of our times is that we seem to have lost our collective
sense of humor. Our ability to laugh at ourselves appears to be gone,
replaced by 'frowny-faced' political correctness; there are seemingly
endless rules about what can be said about whom, when, where, and using
what terminology. On college campuses, young people demand 'safe zones,'
where nothing can be said that might cause them to feel 'unsafe.' In
media circles, outrage is a commonly expressed reaction to what used to
be called ordinary disagreements.
"We are too easily hurt and take offense in these thin-skinned times. We like to think we are more enlightened and sensitive than our boorish forebears (we're allowed to scorn them because they're dead), but I suspect the problem is more rooted in pride. The capacity to laugh at ourselves is referred to as 'humor' and humor has the same root as 'humility.'"
In a recent commentary, Monsignor Charles Pope (pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish, Washington, DC) reflected on the importance of humor in our lives (appropriately balanced) and on the importance of being able to laugh at ourselves.
To access Msgr. Pope's complete post, please visit:
Community in Mission: On the Loss of Humor in a Very Serious Age (30 OCT 17)
"We are too easily hurt and take offense in these thin-skinned times. We like to think we are more enlightened and sensitive than our boorish forebears (we're allowed to scorn them because they're dead), but I suspect the problem is more rooted in pride. The capacity to laugh at ourselves is referred to as 'humor' and humor has the same root as 'humility.'"
In a recent commentary, Monsignor Charles Pope (pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish, Washington, DC) reflected on the importance of humor in our lives (appropriately balanced) and on the importance of being able to laugh at ourselves.
To access Msgr. Pope's complete post, please visit:
Community in Mission: On the Loss of Humor in a Very Serious Age (30 OCT 17)
Reflection Starter from Pope Francis
"Learn from wonder; nurture astonishment. Live, love, believe. And, with the grace of God, never despair." - Pope Francis
04 November 2017
Celtic Woman: "Bridge Over Troubled Water"
As this bless week draws to a close, I offer this version of Celtic Woman presenting "Bridge Over Troubled Water":
Thank You, Lord
Thank you, Lord, for the many ways in which You touch our hearts in the various reflective moments You place/allow in our lives.
Effie Caldarola on the Unfinished Symphonies in Our Lives
"Fall has arrived. A heavy fog hangs over the city like a damp blanket that someone took out of the dryer too soon.
"People love spring for good reasons: There's rebirth, renewal, the return of light and warmth.
"But fall has its gifts. We look forward to hunkering with a good book. Mornings on the patio yield to hot coffee inside after the early morning walk.
"We lean toward contemplation, and that's a good thing. Flowers fade, leaves fall, we think about the end of things, and remind ourselves that, for the believer, endings are temporary.
"Father Karl Rahner, the Jesuit theologian, said that we eventually learn 'that here, in this life, all symphonies remain unfinished.'"
In a recent commentary, writer Effie Caldarola reflected on trusting in God and accepting the unfinished symphonies in our lives.
To access Ms. Caldarola's complete essay, please visit:
The Pilot: Echoes: Life's unfinished symphony (20 OCT 17)
"People love spring for good reasons: There's rebirth, renewal, the return of light and warmth.
"But fall has its gifts. We look forward to hunkering with a good book. Mornings on the patio yield to hot coffee inside after the early morning walk.
"We lean toward contemplation, and that's a good thing. Flowers fade, leaves fall, we think about the end of things, and remind ourselves that, for the believer, endings are temporary.
"Father Karl Rahner, the Jesuit theologian, said that we eventually learn 'that here, in this life, all symphonies remain unfinished.'"
In a recent commentary, writer Effie Caldarola reflected on trusting in God and accepting the unfinished symphonies in our lives.
To access Ms. Caldarola's complete essay, please visit:
The Pilot: Echoes: Life's unfinished symphony (20 OCT 17)
Reflection Starter from Lettie Cowman
"Others may do a greater work,
But you have your part to do;
And no one in all God's heritage
Can do it so well as you." - Lettie Cowman (in Streams in the Desert)
But you have your part to do;
And no one in all God's heritage
Can do it so well as you." - Lettie Cowman (in Streams in the Desert)
03 November 2017
Thank You, Lord
Thank you, Lord, for our call to holiness and for the many graces You give us as we respond to this call.
Bishop Tobin on Our Call to Holiness
"The Celebration of All Saints on November 1st is a joyful and blessed
day for the Church; it's a victory celebration for us. On this day we
honor the saints, our heroes, members of the Church who are now
enshrined in the heavenly Hall of Fame. We look to the saints for
inspiration and guidance, and we pray for their assistance in our daily
lives.
"Pope John Paul II, now counted among the saints himself, put it this way: 'Let us all rejoice in the Lord on this Solemnity of All the Saints! Ours is a sheer joy, a strengthening one, like that found in a big family.'
"Devotion to the saints is one of the really special aspects of our Catholic Faith. It speaks to us of the 'Communion of Saints.' As I've observed previously, Catholics embrace their saints as favorite, if sometimes eccentric, members of our spiritual family.
"We know that our spiritual family, the Church, is comprised of diverse vocations - priests, deacons, religious and lay. Everyone has a role to play and an important contribution to make. The saints, however, remind us of the one vocation, the foundational vocation, that we share: the call to holiness! Simply put, that's the goal of our entire Christian life - to be holy!"
In a recent commentary, Bishop Thomas J. Tobin, of the Diocese of Providence (RI), reflected on the calling each person has - to be a saint.
To access Bishop Tobin's complete essay, please visit:
Without A Doubt: Holiness: The Vocation We Share (2 NOV 17)
"Pope John Paul II, now counted among the saints himself, put it this way: 'Let us all rejoice in the Lord on this Solemnity of All the Saints! Ours is a sheer joy, a strengthening one, like that found in a big family.'
"Devotion to the saints is one of the really special aspects of our Catholic Faith. It speaks to us of the 'Communion of Saints.' As I've observed previously, Catholics embrace their saints as favorite, if sometimes eccentric, members of our spiritual family.
"We know that our spiritual family, the Church, is comprised of diverse vocations - priests, deacons, religious and lay. Everyone has a role to play and an important contribution to make. The saints, however, remind us of the one vocation, the foundational vocation, that we share: the call to holiness! Simply put, that's the goal of our entire Christian life - to be holy!"
In a recent commentary, Bishop Thomas J. Tobin, of the Diocese of Providence (RI), reflected on the calling each person has - to be a saint.
To access Bishop Tobin's complete essay, please visit:
Without A Doubt: Holiness: The Vocation We Share (2 NOV 17)
Reflection Starter from St. Martin De Porres
"Compassion, my dear Brothers, is preferable to cleanliness. Reflect that with a little soap I can easily clean my bed covers, but even with a torrent of tears I would never wash from my soul the stain that my harshness toward the unfortunate would create." - Saint Martin De Porres (spoken to his Dominican brothers when admonished for bringing an elderly, dirty beggar off the streets and allowing him to take the saint's own bed while he cared for the sick man)
01 November 2017
"For All the Saints"
As we continue our celebration of All Saints Day, I offer this version of the Choir of King's College, Cambridge, UK, presenting "For All the Saints":
Solemnity of All Saints
Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of All Saints. The assigned readings are Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14; 1 John 3:1-3; and Matthew 5:1-12. The Responsorial Psalm is Psalm 24 (Psalm 24:1-6).
For one version of the Responsorial Psalm set to music, please visit:
YouTube: Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 24 "Lord this is the people that longs to see Your face"
The Gospel reading is as follows:
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven."
Reflections on these readings:
Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Sundays Salesian: All Saints (November 1, 2017)
Community in Mission: On the Feast of All Saints, a Pastoral Letter on Racism Reminds Us of the Communion of the Saints (1 NOV 15)
Aleteia: Deacon Greg Kandra: Praying for an end to terrorism: Homily for November 1, 2017, Solemnity of All Saints (1 NOV 17)
For one version of the Responsorial Psalm set to music, please visit:
YouTube: Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 24 "Lord this is the people that longs to see Your face"
The Gospel reading is as follows:
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven."
Reflections on these readings:
Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Sundays Salesian: All Saints (November 1, 2017)
Community in Mission: On the Feast of All Saints, a Pastoral Letter on Racism Reminds Us of the Communion of the Saints (1 NOV 15)
Aleteia: Deacon Greg Kandra: Praying for an end to terrorism: Homily for November 1, 2017, Solemnity of All Saints (1 NOV 17)
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