In the New Year, many people’s resolutions revolve around their desire to lead healthier lives. They may want to give up drinking or smoking or eating sweets. Others want to get to the gym more often or start going for walks or runs outside. There is an intrinsic recognition that to lead a better life,...Continue reading→

Every New Year prompts a proliferation of self-improvement resolutions – diet, quit a vice, exercise more, spend less time on social media, etc. These can be good things, and indeed necessary things for our physical and emotional health. Quickly though, lists fade, self-control wains, and our attention moves to the next shiny thing (at least...Continue reading→

We are beginning a new year, within the nationwide Eucharistic Revival initiated by the U.S. Catholic bishops that began on June 19, 2022, the Feast of Corpus Christi. As we consider our New Year’s Resolutions, perhaps we can make one of them Eucharistic, include an increase in our “diet” of the Bread From Heaven, Jesus...Continue reading→

We are well into Advent, as the coming of the Christ-child is near. What a good time to find ways to bring joy and happiness to our family, friends, neighbors, and to all of Chicago. Last week we considered how to draw others to make a good Confession in preparation for Christmas by sharing with...Continue reading→

It’s that time of year when gratitude and greed intersect. Have you ever reflected on the fact that during this season of Thanksgiving and pre-Christmas shopping, our culture is simultaneously telling us to be thankful while also pushing us to buy more stuff and want more gifts? The irony is not lost on me. I...Continue reading→

Faith, hope and love. We see these words printed on t-shirts, home décor and coffee mugs. Did you know that they are more than just a nice phrase? They are the three theological virtues. The theological virtues relate directly to God. They dispose Christians to live in a relationship with the Holy Trinity. (Catechism of...Continue reading→

The Christmas toy catalogs have already begun to show up in the mailbox.  My children have been paging through them multiple times, circling items that meet their eyes and asking if they can put them on their Christmas lists. Toys, electronics, and decorations are beginning to fill store shelves and soon we will see ads...Continue reading→

In this month of the Holy Souls, as we pray for the faithful departed, we would be remiss if we did not also consider our own death. We probably all agree that a peaceful death is the ideal situation. Who better to turn to for help than Saint Joseph, the patron of departing souls and...Continue reading→

We kicked off this month with the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, more commonly known as All Souls Day, on November 2. But let’s not forget that the entire month of November is dedicated to remembering the Holy Souls. Who are the Holy Souls? I’m so glad you asked. The Holy Souls are all...Continue reading→