Thoughts from the First Session of Fr. David Torkington's course, Prayer to Contemplation

I decided to do a retreat with Fr. David Torkington by listening to his 15 session series on Prayer to Contemplation. Every Sunday I plan to listen to one of the videos until I finish it. Here are some ideas and thoughts from the first session which was excellent. I hope you will join me:

God's power finds Its full scope in human weakness.

Some things are worth repeating: A Post about Truth Telling and Truth Tellers

I originally wrote this post in 2018 linking to Fr. Weinandy's letter to Pope Francis calling him to account in a profoundly charitable way. The pope didn't take it well, to say the least. And he continues to treat those who criticism him, not as brothers and sisters in the Lord, but as enemies with a "suicidal attitude" who are "closed up inside a dogmatic box." The number of insults from the pope against traditional Catholics is legion. Those who defend the faith, those who should be his pride and joy, are castigated and persecuted. Suffering persecution faithfully is a challenge and an opportunity and we can see some of its fruits, especially among the young men studying for the priesthood who are more orthodox than their predecessors.

Nice As It Sounds, Not All In This World Are Children of God

"I baptize you in the name of the Father,

the Son, and the Holy Spirit."

We have a new baby in our family and she will be baptized soon.  She will become a child of God.  Through the Sacrament using water and words she will be reborn and her name will be forever recorded in heaven as a redeemed member of the human race through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

Just as no infant can ever re-enter the womb of its mother and be born again into this world, no infant or child or adult can ever be re-baptized or reborn of water.  Once is enough for all eternity in both cases. 

Hope for the Future: An Essay from Une Femme who Happens to be my Granddaughter

My granddaughter, Mia, was confirmed in May and recently wrote about her experience. As I read her essay, I felt a surge of hope for the future. I know God is pleased with young Catholics like Mia who are not afraid to publicly profess her faith and share it with others. At fourteen she is an aide to the second grade CCD teacher in her parish. Every week she shares about a saint offering heroes to her young charges. We were chatting this morning about various ways to bring alive her saint stories in ways the children will remember. Please pray for Mia and all of the children of the Church who represent her future. While the world is dark indeed there are many candles lighting up the darkness. 

A Fire I Won’t Put Out

by Mia Doyle

Pentecost Sunday Meditation: Come, O Holy Spirit, Fill the Hearts of Your Faithful...

...and kindle in them the fire of Your love.

Have you ever burnt yourself? Remember the relentless pain only relieved by continuous icing. Think of the power of fire, its power for good, its power for evil.

Fire can cook your food, heat your home, provide a cheerful warmth in the fireplace on a snowy night when Jack Frost nips at your nose. It can make a fun, happy memory for little ones at an outside bonfire or an indoor winter picnic with hot dogs and marshmallows on the menu.