Take Heart: The Crisis in the Church is Terrible, But We've Seen Others!

Some say we face today the worst crisis the Church has ever experienced. Perhaps it's true. Horrifying things occur on an almost daily basis. Satan's influence pollutes the Church in many places. But take heart. The Church rose and grew in the midst of crises in the first century and has seen one after another ever since. Has there ever been a time of universal peace without difficulty and persecution? Church history overflows with periods of crisis.

Meditation for Sunday: How's Your Zeal?

One of my readers left a comment on a post with a link to a terrific article on zeal based on the Rule of St. Benedict. (Thanks, Preston!) I recommend it to everyone who is fighting for the faith at any level, which, of course, should be all of us. We should be "zealous" for the faith, first of all in our families, and then in our parishes, our communities, our states, our country, and our world. But, as the author points out, we need to have a holy zeal and not the "zeal of bitterness." Here's an excerpt, but I recommend the entire article:

Tis the Season for Confirmation! All you Saints of God, pray for us.

Two of our grandchildren, Zack and Grace, are making Confirmation next week. Zack chose St. Benedict for his patron and Grace chose St. Teresa of Calcutta. In their honor I post these pictures with the promise that we will be praying for them to their adopted saints with the confidence that they will grow in the virtues shown so powerfully by their selected special friends among the prayer warriors of God.

Coincidence? Or Warning!

Earthquake in Italy destroys monastery of St. Benedict in Norcia

BEFORE