There are people who are trained and are competent to assist us as we journey in conforming our lives to God’s perfect will. We should seek wise counsel because the challenges are too numerous for us to journey alone. In the Gospel of Mark 10:17, a role example of director/directee takes place: A man runs up to Jesus. (the necessity of spiritual direction) He kneels down in front of Jesus. (humility) He asks Jesus’ assistance. (docility) “Good teacher,” he says. (recognition of the primary director of the soul) “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” (desire to obey) Unfortunately,… Read More

 Why do Catholic churches have the “crucified Christ” on the cross versus the “risen Christ?” — Carol from Petersburg Read More

A pandemic miscellany: My parents, in assisted living in Decatur, found aggressive measures in their residence being taken relatively early. I am grateful for the management’s foresight. I have not seen Mom and Dad since early March. Needless to say, we keep in touch by phone. Read More

Why do I have to go to Mass every Sunday? It’s eerie, in a way, to be sitting out on my porch with the smell of freshly mown grass and the sight of flowering trees and look across at an empty church parking lot as we make our way through the coronavirus pandemic. I’ll be honest, it feels a little weird to be writing about why we have to go to Mass every Sunday when the faithful are not able to come to Mass! I’ll still answer the question, but I wanted to be authentic about the approach and wonder… Read More

With the waves of change and winds of uncertainty buffeting us these days, I’m reminded of two “go-to” Scripture passages that I often reflect on in times like this: “On that day, as evening drew on, he said to them, ‘Let us cross to the other side.’ Leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him. A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up. Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and… Read More

I want to go to confession, but I can’t due to the coronavirus. What is this I hear about making a perfect contrition? Read More

One of the many inspiring messages from praying with the Sacred Scriptures is that God creates us to be in community. We are not intended to be isolated. We need to depend on, seek council from and encourage one another. In fact, this is the underlying assumption of why the New Testament was written. St. Paul mentors Timothy and Titus. He writes to the churches throughout Asia Minor encouraging and calling them to share community with one another. He simply follows the example of Jesus as he mentored his Apostles every day for three years. Read More

Why do Catholics eat fish on Fridays and when did this start?— Stan in Liberty Read More

Please clarify the Catholic Church’s position on divorce. I had been taught as long as I remained unmarried after being divorced, I was still in good standing with the church, and could continue to receive the sacraments. I was recently researching mortal sins, and saw an article saying annulment was “permitted” by the church, but not divorce. I would sure appreciate clarification. — Anonymous in our diocese Read More

After the death of Jean Vanier on May 7, 2019, I wrote about his groundbreaking work in establishing relationships with people with intellectual disabilities. I in fact had a personal memory: Mr. Vanier had spoken to my seminary nearly 40 years ago. I felt the genuineness of his willingness to carry out this most important work. Read More

The evil one attempts to steal our peace in order to block our reception and response to God’s messages. Worries, anxieties, fears, wanton passions and inflamed anger are all ways that the evil one tries to agitate our spirit to make it unreceptive to the Holy Spirit. He does this by distracting us from the reality of the present moment. Instead, the devil tempts us to dwell on unpleasant thoughts of the past or the possible foreboding future. Neither of these is the reality of now. In this way, the evil one tricks and steals our peace and the possible… Read More

Why do the altar boys/girls stand on each side of the priest holding a candle now during the homily? —Teresa in St. Elmo Read More

What is the Catholic Church’s teaching on evolution? — Stan in Liberty Read More

Can you please tell us why the Feast of the Circumcision is deleted from the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church? I was raised over 70 years ago in our faith. I have the Missal with this in it. Now young Catholics have no idea it ever existed. Will you explain this? — Joe in Jacksonville Read More

Mary, our Blessed Mother, is the ultimate created expression of the Holy Spirit. Her guidance and understanding of the Holy Spirit are inexpressible. She is truly the Mother of God because God entrusted himself to her and he became Incarnate, the Redeemer of mankind. The Holy Spirit waited for her “yes,” then the Man-God was conceived in her womb. In the books of Exodus and Numbers, Moses and the Israelites discerned and heard aloud the Word of God in the tent of meeting. The Ark of the Covenant, in a shimmering Cloud of Glory, dwelt in this tent. This is… Read More

It’s Oscar time! I imagine that this note is surprising, coming from me. I do not see many movies. Regular readers of this column know that I am more into books than films. I am the type of person who, when I see a film based on a book I’ve read, find the film to be something of a cheat. Read More

Our faith has its own “sniffer.” It can sniff out good doctrine from bad doctrine when our hearts are attuned to prayer and flexible in the hands of God. This is the gift of “spiritual sense.” Faith is the infused gift we receive at baptism that enlightens our spiritual intellect. It is capable of illuminating the mind and heart with supernatural instinct and insight, but only when we are living in accord with the teachings of the church. The Holy Spirit speaks in a voice that is gentle, still and small; made audible especially to us. If we allow ourselves… Read More

All the readings are so serious from the Bible. Are there any readings that tell us, did Jesus have a sense of humor? — Mike and Lynn in Sherman Read More

The two fundamentals most lacking in the spiritual lives of most people today, I believe, are curiosity and imagination. How can we grow in relationship with God if we are not the least bit curious about who he is and what he’s about? Read More

In Chapter 13 of Matthew’s Gospel, our Lord gives us the parable of the sower. In this parable —a parable of the Kingdom of God—seeds are sown in various places: on bird-filled paths, rocky ground, shallow soil, amidst thorns and thistles, and on fertile soil. Only the fertile soil offered proper ground for the seed to sprout and grow. Read More