As we continue to live this week, I offer this version of Chips Tenoso presenting "Be Exalted, O God":
Belated birthday greetings to Elizabeth, daughter of niece Allison Tanner, who recently celebrated her birthday!!! May each day of the upcoming year be filled with the Lord's choicest blessings!!!
Belated birthday greetings to brother Gregory, who celebrated his birthday yesterday!!! May each day of the upcoming year be filled with the Lord's choicest blessings!!!
"Summer vacations can begin to feel strangely exhausting before they even start. Flights are tracked, restaurant reservations compete for attention, and every spare hour is filled with activities meant to justify the cost of time away. In a culture shaped by optimization, even rest can become performance.
"Yet many people return from these carefully engineered trips more tired than when they left.
"Part of the pressure comes from the pace of modern life itself. . . .
"That is why the idea of a slower summer vacation feels newly important."
In a recent commentary, writer/scholar Daniel Esparza reflected on the Christian tradition treating rest as something sacred rather than optional and on the importance of planning a slower vacation (including leaving open space in the schedule and allowing time for prayer, silence, and boredom - the beginning of creativity and attention).
To access Mr. Esparza's complete post, please visit:
Aleteia: Daniel Esparza: The art of planning a slower summer (16 MAY 26)
"To preserve our cheerfulness amid sicknesses and troubles, is a sign of a right and good spirit." - Saint Philip Neri
As we continue our observance of Armed Forces Day, I offer this version of the Armed Forces Medley:
Today (Saturday, 16 May) is Armed Forces Day, 2026.
President Harry S Truman led the effort to establish a single holiday for citizens to come together and thank our military members for their patriotic service in support of our country.
On 31 August 1949, Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced the creation of an Armed Forces Day to replace separate Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force Days. The single-day celebration stemmed from the unification of the Armed Forces under one department - the U.S. Department of Defense.
As we observe this day, we salute the members of our communities who are currently serving and have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
United Service Organizations: When is Armed Forces Day?
"I hope to die young, but as late in life as possible." That quote from a Greek philosopher was a favorite of the legendary broadcaster and anchorman Ernie Anastos, who passed away a few weeks ago at age 82. Ernie spent more than 40 years delivering the news on New York's airwaves, but he also remained connected to The Christophers since befriending our former director, Father John Catoir, in the 1980s. The Christopher motto - "It's better to light one candle than to curse the darkness" - resonated with Ernie, whose approach to life was always a positive one.
During a Christopher Closeup interview in 2017, Ernie recalled his formative years: "I grew up in a home where we were taught to feel good about life [by] my mom, my dad, and particularly my grandfather, who was one of the first ordained Greek Orthodox priests in America. . . . He would walk out the door, and he would have some fruit in his hand to go visit someone in the hospital. He would go to a neighbor's house, and he would talk to people. . . . He brought people together. I remember in our home - because my grandparents lived with us - there would be meetings where he would bring in people from the Catholic faith, Jewish faith. He would be open to making sure we all understood that we came from the same source and that we were brothers and sisters and that we would love one another and respect one another. I learned that from him."
It was in his grandfather's extensive collection of books where Ernie first read the aforementioned quote by the Greek philosopher: That idea, Ernie said, reflects "the spirit and the affirmation of life. It's wanting to make sure that you never feel bored, that you always realize the magic and the newness . . . that we have in front of us, to be able to explore and become everything that we possibly could be, and to learn from others."
As much as Ernie tried to inject positivity into his work, the sad truth is that the news is often dark. How did he keep from becoming cynical when faced with those situations? Ernie responded, "The good Lord has given us life. . . . We can turn it into something beautiful or something ugly. With my experience working in the news all these years, I've seen the injustices. I've seen the unfairness. I've seen the pain. . . . I remember being on the air September 11th. I didn't stop for months. . . . Even to this day, we've had so many current events, unfortunately, that have happened, where you say to yourself, what's wrong? How come we can't come together?. . . . ..What can we do to try and make this a better world? I think we all have that opportunity. We just have to find a way."
Ernie attributed his longevity in the TV news business back to his immigrant grandparents, noting, "I can relate to all of those different age groups, especially now, since I've been married many years. My wife and I have raised two beautiful children and now we have grandchildren. . . . [I can relate to] people of all ages, of all ethnicities, of all races. I feel like I've been blessed to have that in my life."
The people who got to know Ernie Anastos, either personally or on our TV screens, were also blessed to have him in our lives. Though we wish he could have had more years on this earth, we are grateful that his youthful attitude stayed with him all his days.
This essay is a recent "Light One Candle"
column by Tony Rossi, Director of Communications, The Christophers; it is one of a series of
weekly columns that deal with a variety of topics and current
events.
Background information:
The Christophers
"Saint Joseph cared for the family that the Lord entrusted to him. Guardianship means being attentive to others, respecting their choices, and caring for them. St. Joseph shows us that presence and guardianship are inseparable dimensions: we can only care for others by being present, and we are only present when we assume responsibility for the other." - Pope Leo XIV
As we continue our celebration of the Ascension, I offer this version of "Do Not Stand and Stare in Wonder":
Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. The assigned readings are Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:17-23, and Matthew 28:16-20. The Responsorial Psalm is Psalm 47 (Psalm 47:2-3, 6-9).
For one version of the Responsorial Psalm set to music, please visit:
YouTube: Spirit & Psalm 2025 – Ascension – Psalm
Today's Gospel reading is as follows:
Reflection on these readings and on this celebration:
Crossroads Initiative: Ascension of Christ & the New Evangelization
uCatholic: The Solemnity Of The Ascension
Aleteia: Philip Kosloski: Jesus ascends and the devil descends on the Ascension (8 MAY 24)
"It was such a relief when my spiritual mentor told me, 'A balanced life is a myth.'
"Maybe you know this myth well. It tells us that life can be neatly divided into compartments, and that we can give the right amount of energy, attention, and productivity to each one. Nothing falls behind. Nothing becomes chaotic. Nothing is strained. Nothing spills over. Nothing costs too much.
"If one is looking for balance, do not read the Gospel."
In a recent commentary, Father Joe Newman, OSFS, reflected on the importance of faithfully loving and living God-s will in this moment/
To access Fr. Newman's complete post, please visit:
De Sales Weekly: Provincial Reflection: Balanced? (a4 MAY 26)
"God's blessings flow continuously, but unless we make ourselves into a vessel for them, they will flow elsewhere. Prayer is the act of turning ourselves into a vehicle for the Divine. Prayer changes the world because it changes us." - Rabbi Jonathan Sacks
As we celebrate Mother's Day (Happy Mother's Day to all mothers, grandmothers, godmothers, and others who serve in the role of a mother!), I offer this presentation of "Sing of Mary" to offer Mother's Day greetings to our Blessed Mother, Mary
Today the Church celebrates the Sixth Sunday of Easter. The assigned readings are Acts 8:5-8, 14-17; 1 Peter 3:15-18; and John 14:15-21. The Responsorial Psalm is from Psalm 66 (Psalm 66:1-7, 16, 20).
For one version of the Responsorial Psalm set to music, please visit:
YouTube: Respond & Acclaim 2026 - Easter 6 - Psalm
The Gospel reading is as follows:
Jesus said to his disciples: "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father,
and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows him. But you know him, because he remains with you, and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me, because I live and you will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him."
Reflections related to these readings:
Community in Mission: Lessons of Love - A Homily for the 6th Sunday of Easter (9 MAY 26)
Benedictine College: This Sunday, Your Baptism Is for Others, Not Just You (7 MAY 26)
Word on Fire: Five Signs of the Holy Spirit (Cycle A * Easter * 6th Week)
The Pilot: Echoes: Scott Hahn: Alive in the Spirit (8 MAY 26)
The Quiet Corner: Monasticism in Transition: A 900-Year Legacy Faces a New Horizon (8 MAY 26)
"At first glance, the story of Scott Borba sounds almost too cinematic to
be true. A former model, actor, beauty entrepreneur, and co-founder of e.l.f. Cosmetics,
he spent years immersed in the world of image, luxury, and success
before walking away from it all to become a Catholic priest. Yet what
makes his story so compelling is not the dramatic change itself, but the
quiet realization that beauty, on its own, was never enough."
In a recent commentary, writer Cerith Gardiner
reflected on Deacon Scott Borbal and his call to the priesthood.
To access Ms. Gardiner's complete post, please visit:
Aleteia: Cerith Gardiner: The millionaire beauty entrepreneur becoming a priest (8 MAY 26)
"The Lord commands us to love one another as He has loved us (cf. Jn 13:34): it is the love of Jesus that gives birth to love in us. Christ Himself is the criterion of true love: love that is faithful forever, pure and unconditional, love that gives without wanting to possess." - Pope Leo XIV
It’s time for some classical music. This is a presentation of Joseph Haydn’s String Quartet in C Major, Op. 20, No. 2, as presented by the Isidore String Quartet:
"Many years ago, while on a visit to America, a wealthy businessman was fascinated by a powerful microscope. Looking through its lens to study crystals and flower petals, he was amazed at their beauty and detail. So he decided to purchase one of these instruments of marvels and take it back to his country.
"He thoroughly enjoyed using it until one day he examined a few grains of rice he was planning to eat for dinner. Much to his dismay, he discovered that tiny living creatures were crawling on the grains. Since he was especially fond of this staple food in his daily diet, he wondered what to do. Finally, he concluded that there was only one way out of this dilemma - he would destroy the instrument that caused him to discover this distasteful fact! So he smashed the microscope to pieces.
"'How foolish!' you say, 'those little critters are still there even if he chooses not to see them.' But how many people do the same thing with the Word of God? They try to rid themselves of it because it reveals their sinful nature." - Source Unknown; shared in "Apple Seeds," May 2020
Today, 8 May, is being observed as National Public Gardens Day. This observance is designed to a day to promote awareness of North America's public gardens (including botanic gardens, arboreta, historic gardens, or other public gardens). The observance is held on the Friday before Mother's Day.
Background information:
American Public Gardens Association
Facebook: American Public Gardens Association
"We tend to think of prayer as something that requires stillness, a chair,
a chapel, a quiet corner, and a moment carved out of a day that already
feels too full. And yet, for centuries, Christians have also prayed on
the move, walking fields, cloisters, and city streets, discovering that
movement itself can become a form of attention. It is only now, rather
curiously, that science is beginning to confirm what was once simply
lived."
In a recent commentary, writer Cerith Gardiner
reflected on how Christians ave long understood that walking could steady both body and soul.
To access Ms. Gardiner's complete post, please visit:
Aleteia: Cerith Gardiner: Why walking might be the prayer we've forgotten (7 MAY 26)
“Most people spend their entire lives on a fantasy island called 'Someday I'll'" - Denis Waitley
Thank you, Lord for the abundance of blooming flower gardens during the month of May.
Son Joseph participated in the recent American Lung Associations' Fight for Air Climb in Providence, RI. His fund raising goal was $2,750, and, as of this writing, he reach $3825 (the fourth highest total of any individual participant). He also did well in the actual climb, with a time of 2:34.7, finishing #21 out of 188 individual civilian participants and #5 in his age group - males age 40-49. Well done, Joe!!!
"On May 8, the Church celebrates the first anniversary of the election of Pope Leo XIV. While many are still amazed that a cardinal born and raised in the US became pope, others are impressed with his personal style, pastoral approach to problem-solving, and experience working with other bishops and clergy.
"In the Oblate world, many of us were encouraged by the papal name Cardinal Robert Prevost chose upon his election. . . ."
In a recent commentary, Father Jack Kolodziej, OSFS, reflected on some of the Salesian virtues displayed in the life and leadership of the twenty-first-century Leo.
To access Fr. Kolodziej's complete post, please visit:"Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway." - Earl Nightingale
This week, the week of 3-9 May, is being observed as Public Service Recognition Week, an observance designed to honor the men and women who serve as federal, state, county, and local government employees.
For more information related to this observance, please visit:
Public Service Recognition Week
Partnership for Public Service
Birthday greetings to nephew Steven Dymek, whose birthday is today! May this day, and each day of the upcoming year, be filled with an outpouring of the Lord's choicest blessings!
"In the Gospel of John, Jesus speaks about himself as the Good Shepherd, making a variety of parallels. In particular, he explains that his sheep will hear his voice: . . .
"At first glance that seems like something easy: Jesus will call us by name and will simply lead us to greener pasture.
"However, in practice we typically don't hear Jesus' voice. We may want to hear Jesus speak to us, but are confused because we never do."
In a recent commentary, writer Philip Kosloski reflected on how God speaks in silence and on the importance of detaching ourselves from the noise (including screen time) that surrounds us,
To access Mr. Kosloski's complete post, please visit:
Aleteia; Philip Kosloski: How can we hear the voice of the Good Shepherd? (26 APR 26)
"Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett
It's time for some jazz, a genre of music I enjoy. Here is a presentation of Duke Ellington's "Take the 'A' Train" by the United States Army Field Band's Jazz Ambassadors:
Today, 4 May, the State of Rhode Island is celebrating Rhode Island
Independence Day, a commemoration of the state's independence from Great
Britain on 4 May 1776.
This year is the 250th anniversary of the Rhode Island General
Assembly's declaration of independence from the British crown. Rhode
Island was the first North American colony to do so.
Fore more information about Rhode Island Independence Day, please visit:
This Day in History: May 4, 1776 - Rhode Island becomes first colony to renounce allegiance to George III
New England Historical Society: May 4, 1776: Rhode Island Independence Day
Rhode Island Secretary of State: A Guide to Rhode Island Government & History
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