There is a Longing

  As a child, there were probably about three different manners with which I could answer my parents whenever they called me: first, I could have responded with obedience; second, I could pretend to not have heard and ignore them; and third, if there were enough distractions, I could have really not heard them or been able to distinguish their voices. If I responded, it would likely be rewarding and at the very least, I would have made an act of obedience. But if I ignored or failed to hear their call, I would have lost that opportunity. Similarly, God our Father calls us each individually, knocking at our heart in every moment. Our Lord, the Good Shepherd, desires to lead us to the Father, and breathes forth the Holy Spirit to guide us. The Blessed Trinity takes delight in the soul surrendered to love and pours forth the abundance of life within her.  But so often, we do not love…we do not follow our Shepherd! We ignore God’s call when the life He wishes for us does not...

Luke 24: 13-35 Two weeks have passed since we celebrated the glorious solemnity of the Resurrection and we now enter into the third week of Eastertide. But perhaps, with the two disciples destined for Emmaus, we are already departing from Jerusalem. As time goes on, it is an easy temptation to leave Easter behind us, as though it were separate from our lives. Especially in our secularized culture, the beauty of the Resurrection is obscured and detached from our “everyday life,” which, in reality, this great mystery encompasses.  We can imagine ourselves in the situation of the two disciples whom we hear about today. At an unexpected moment, a man appears by our side and engages in conversation with us. Do we recognize this stranger? That which occupies our heart is most likely to come up in the course of this conversation, for we find that this stranger has a mysterious way of speaking to our very depths. What is it that surfaces? Perhaps we believe that we understand, but this...

Catherine Cosie was born November 25, 1493 to Greek Orthodox parents in Komani, Montenegro. During her early years, she was a shepherdess, common in that area. She was also a visionary. Visions of the Child Jesus & Jesus on the cross appeared to her while she was shepherding.  Catherine later took a job with a Catholic family in Kotor (Cattaro). Inspired by her visions & all she learned, she converted to Catholicism & after a few years became an anchoress (a female who withdraws from society for prayer & contemplation). In her case, her cell was next to the Church of St. Paolo where she could still participate in the Mass without leaving her cell. She became a Third Order Dominican & took the name Osanna, still living as an anchoress. People from all over & from all walks of life sought her advice & intercessions for peace.  More visions appeared to her, various mysteries of Christ's life. She was also plagued with demonic manifestations which she w...

A s we are still in the season of Easter, let us turn to the saints & what they have to say about this blessed time... “Throughout the Easter season the Church will make the joyful announcement resound:  Surrexit Dominus vere!  The Lord is truly risen! … Our prayer rises fervently to the Divine Savior for all and for each of you: for priests and for the souls consecrated to God; for the bold and thoughtful youth, the future hope of the Church; for Christian families, especially for those who in their wombs keep the precious deposit of a numerous sonship with greater fidelity and sacrifice; for those whose advanced age makes the heavenly homeland look with firm hope; for those who study, who teach, who work; especially for workers who do heavy work during the day and night; for the sick, who are so dear to us. We want to assure everyone that not only our particular predilection constantly follows them, but also that their life, even if hidden and humble, is so precious befo...

Esther Blondin was born on April 18, 1809 into a farming family in Quebec. Her Christian family instilled a great love of Divine Providence & the Eucharist, as well as faith in suffering patiently. Unfortunately, many of the French Canadians in this 19th century were illiterate due to a Church ruling…girls could not be taught by men & boys could not be taught by women. Rather than open two separate schools, many parishes chose to have neither. Because of this, by the age of 22, Esther was still illiterate. She worked at the Convent of the Sisters of the Congregation of Notre Dame as a domestic. She later registered as a boarder so that she could learn to read & write, then became a novice. Ill health prevented her from going further within the congregation. As a teacher in a Vaudreuil parochial school, she gradually learned the reason behind the illiteracy & in 1848 felt a call to found a religious congregation to educate boys & girls in the same schools. Her bishop...

John 20:19-31 “It’s alright, I’m okay…I’m here,” or in more modern terms, “It’s all good.” These aren’t the words Jesus addresses to the Apostles on the occasion of their first meeting after His death. At this point, they were still living in fear, not knowing or believing the Resurrection had taken place. After having spent the last three years in companionship, they now suffered the pain and confusion, the inconsolable grief, at the death of their Teacher. Perhaps they were even beginning to feel a sense of shame and sorrow for abandoning Him in His darkest hour.  But Jesus does not condemn them. He doesn’t make reference to their failure. Rather, He offers them peace. He gives to them, in person, the merits of His passion. “ Peace be with you. ” If the Apostles doubted their ability to meet Jesus’ call, perhaps feeling, more than ever, a great unworthiness, He encouraged them and called them afresh. “ As the Father has sent me, so I send you. ”  It is an invitation to...

As winter quietly gives way to spring, flowers softly lift their heads, the sun silently rises and a warm breeze begins to whisper. Quietly also does Our Lord arise and emerge from the tomb, clothed in glory after His victory over death. But where are the trumpet blasts, the triumphant cries, the great crowds? While heaven rings with rejoicing, Christ receives only the infant blossom, the morning sun, and the gentle breeze to share in the first moments of His great victory.  In His infinite wisdom, our glorious King preferred these quiet hours to be the heralds of His splendor on earth. The most beautiful things seem to be enclosed in silence…so on this most beautiful of days, let us take a quiet moment to behold the grandeur of such a King…our King!