• The little bit of Pilate within.

    I have had this thought on my brain all day today — and I really need to get it out.  It’s getting late and I haven’t even had time to make dinner yet.  The stomach is growling.  But the thought persists and will not be denied!  Bear with me here while I fill you in. This morning while walking and pondering the sorrowful mysteries as I said my mental rosary – I had one of those ‘ah-hah!’ moments that have been popping up quite frequently lately.  Moments where I gain insight based on looking at something from a perspective that I hadn’t considered before.  This morning that perspective had to…

  • Prayer in Praise of the Trinity

    I venerate and glorify You, O most Blessed Trinity, in union with that ineffable glory with which God the Father, in His omnipotence, honors the Holy Spirit forever.   I magnify and bless You, O most Blessed Trinity, in union with that most reverent glory with which God the Son, in His ineffable wisdom, glorifies the Father and the Holy Spirit forever.   I adore and extol You, O most Blessed Trinity, in union with that most adequate and befitting glory with which the Holy Spirit, in His unchangeable goodness, extols the Father and the Son forever.  Amen.

  • Thought for the day? The Trinity.

    The Diocese of Pittsburgh launched a brief commentary on social media this morning.  It features our pastor here at Saint Kilian parish, Fr. Charles Bober.  In the video, he speaks succinctly on the mystery of the most Holy Trinity and allows the eye of the person behind the camera to wander just a tad and take in the gorgeous view of the stained glass windows of our very new church.  Follow the link to have a listen. Click HERE –>  Father Bober on the Trinity.

  • Mary, Mother of the Church

    Today is the very first celebration of the Blessed Virgin Mary, mother of the Church. This memorial, added to the calendar just a few months ago by Pope Francis, is to be celebrated on the Monday following Pentecost Sunday. You can read briefly about it on the Relevant Radio website – I will spare you having to read me going on and on about it. But I can’t help but find this so timely and appropriate for our 33 Days to Morning Glory group. If you have the Relevant Radio app — go to “Shows on Demand” in the menu – pick “In Conversation with God”, and give a listen…

  • Pentecost

    Today is Pentecost Sunday.  Prior to His Ascension, Christ promised His Apostles that He would remain with them always, and send to them a Paraclete, the Holy Spirit.  On Pentecost Sunday, we remember the descent of the Spirit on those Holy Apostles, gathered in the Upper Room, as they were filled with grace and truth.  Christ’s promise is extended to us as well.  When we are open to the grace of God, the Holy Spirit dwells within our soul and remains with us, sanctifying us, strengthening us, directing us, and blessing us.  Pray for the gifts and the fruits of the Holy Spirit.  Cooperate with His guidance. O King of…

  • For your listening pleasure …

    Now that the weather has finally taken a turn for the better – I have been making a concerted effort to fit in some daily walking.  Generally, I am hit or miss when it comes to needing ‘entertainment’ while walking.  Most days it’s enough to take in the scenery or perhaps do some mental prayer while putting the miles behind me, but over the last week I kept feeling the urge to put in the earbuds and listen to music.  Each time, barely a few steps in, I would think to myself “You should have spent some time finding some sort of podcast or good audio file for spiritual inspiration…

  • I thirst.

    This week, our parish 33 Days to Morning Glory retreat group is reading through the section on Mother Teresa and unpacking the words of Christ on the Cross; “I thirst…”.  The perspective that Mother Teresa brings to these two simple words, that by themselves seem so plain, enrich our understanding of what God wills for us and the direction in which we should be heading.  I wanted to share a few things with that group, and anyone else who might be interested.  The first is a link to MOTHER’S LETTER in full (mentioned in today’s reading assignment and a bit longer than what is reproduced in the book) and also a…

  • Challenge and Change: Holy Anyway!

    All of the material that I intended to upload to the website for this retreat workshop topic – the one in the title – is now available.  Under topics you’ll find “Holy Anyway“- check it out if you want to read more about the subject of dealing with the challenges that confront you in life from a proper, Christian perspective.  Each of them (the challenges that is) should be regarded as opportunities to grow in virtue and holiness.  Easy?  Probably not if we’ve let our life become inundated with prideful living and a little bit of a sense of entitlement, but as with all else, practice makes perfect.  Once we…

  • The little things …

    Sometimes it’s the littlest of things that simply make my day.  Less than half an hour ago, on a mission down the hall to check out space and seating, I passed by the 3rd grade classroom in which I have spent a good deal of time subbing over the past several months.  They were getting ready for dismissal — the door was open — and I stopped for a moment to wave as many of them were writing on the white board in the front of the room.  They rushed to the door when they saw me with their arms outstretched for hugs, smiling, talking a mile a minute.  As…