PERSPECTIVES
PERSPECTIVE
Care at the hour of our death
It was the title of a retreat held in June at Carondelet Hospitality Center in Latham that caught my attention: "Spirituality, Pastoral Care and the Happy Death."
REFLECTION
A novena to St. Anne
Growing up during the 1990s, I typically spent a lot of time during my summer vacations with my paternal grandmother and her sister in South Troy.
REFLECTION
Martha and Mary: a summer Gospel
The story of Jesus going to visit the two sisters, Martha and Mary, is one of my favorite passages of Scripture. It is such an ordinary, homey event. What could be more natural or human than going to visit a friend or family member?
PERSPECTIVE
What I really want to say
In the weeks between the election and the inauguration, I pondered what I should say to all the people who disagreed with me during the recent campaign for president -- especially those who challenged me on social media and even posted stories that turned out not to be true.
PERSPECTIVE
Bringing child sexual abuse to light
Recently, I read about two individuals -- actress Jane Fonda and WNYT-TV's Jason Gough -- recounting their experiences with sexual abuse as children. I admire the strength and courage they showed in speaking out about their experiences, as it is a difficult subject to talk about.
REFLECTION
Hindsight, biblical and otherwise
Whenever I hear or see something that does not ring true, I recall my dad saying, "Believe none of what you hear and only half of what you see."
REFLECTION
What Holy Thursday meant
On Holy Thursday, Christians all over the world sat down to break bread and share the Lord's Supper. Hopefully, we also shared Jesus' message and put it into practice.
REFLECTION
Marriage, according to Oz, an Italian and a long-wed couple
In 1921, a young Italian who would someday be the prime minister of Italy, Alcide DeGaspari, wrote an impassioned letter to the woman he intended to marry, Francesca Romani. It was a marriage proposal in artful prose.
HOMILY FOR STUDENTS
Hank Williams, Mother Teresa and Jesus Christ
Southerners revere the memory of the late Hank Williams (1923-53), arguably the greatest country-western entertainer of the last century. His career was tragically cut short by a premature death at the age of 30. Sixty-plus years later, Williams' name is still one of the most recognizable in many areas of …
PERSPECTIVE
A Labor Day reflection
The Benedictines' motto, "Ora et Labora," means "work and prayer." As Labor Day approaches, it's worth thinking about the connection between work and prayer. Both involve authenticity.
PERSPECTIVE
Armchair evangelizing
For as long as I remember, strangers have shared their struggles with me. It's an honor to simply listen. Occasionally, I attempt to infuse faith into the conversation.
OUR NEIGHBORS' FAITH
'Radical solidarity:' Labor Day and how to love our neighbor
The story of the Good Samaritan articulates one of the core values of the Christian faith: that we are our siblings' keepers. We have a responsibility for one another's well-being, the scope of which transcends the economic, cultural and political lines that divide us.
PERSPECTIVE
If religion means duty, what's our duty?
Recently, someone asked me how I would define "religion." Considering the reputation of organized religion in today's increasingly secular world, I thought about it for a few minutes.
REFLECTION
The end of a year, the beginning of a new one
A lot of thoughts go through my mind at the turn of the year. I think of the blessings I've experienced during the past year and how generous and kind God is to all of us. This year, I am particularly grateful to God for sending me to St. Mary's …
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