Author: Fr. John Waiss

Fr. John Waiss

Father John Waiss is the pastor of St. Mary of the Angels Church in Chicago, Illinois. He is also a member of Opus Dei, the prelature founded by St. Josemaria Escriva.

May, Month of Mary

May 14, 2024May 14, 2024 Articles, Faith and Spirituality

During the month of May, which the Church dedicates to Mary, if we look around the world, we see many people sharing their love for Mary by going to visit shrines dedicated to her, saying the Rosary, etc. All of her privileges come from the fact that she is the Mother of God. As he […]

The Universal Destination of Creation and the Common Good

April 30, 2024April 26, 2024 Articles, Family and Kids

The Common Good is the good of the whole human family. When a couple marries, the individual spouses no longer seek each one’s individual good independent of the other but must pursue the good of the marriage, the couple, and the family they form. The same is true for the city, state, nation, the Church, […]

Blessed the Peacemaker (Commandment 7)

April 22, 2024April 24, 2024 Articles, Faith and Spirituality

Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God (Matthew 5:9). Peacemakers love peace, working to heal discord between people and to reconcile sinners estranged from God. “Sowing peace all around us: that is holiness” (Gaudete et Exsultate, 89). Peace is innate to man’s vocation, felt in our natural desire and aspiration […]

Marital Lies and Mortal Sins

April 16, 2024April 25, 2024 Articles, Family and Kids

Married persons also need a pure heart to avoid sins against the sixth beatitude, by using marital relations in a disordered way by putting limits or conditions on their total, unconditional self-giving. This breaks and distorts the image of God’s total, unconditional self-giving in the Holy Trinity. The most common way is using contraception. What […]

Marital Love and Fidelity

April 9, 2024April 8, 2024 Articles, Faith and Spirituality

Purity of heart is essential for a relationship with God, especially since the pure union of a man and woman in a lifelong marriage reflects God’s image and likeness as a Trinity of persons. All sinful lust distorts marriage and thus distorts God’s image and likeness; and we cannot see God through a distorted image. […]

Extramarital Lies

March 25, 2024March 25, 2024 Articles, Catechesis

NOTE: This article features some sensitive topics that may not be suitable for younger readers. Please use discretion. Often young people challenge the Church: “Why must we wait until we are married to have sex? When I hear such questions I like to ask: “Why would you want to?” The young people are taken aback […]

Eyes Ordered for Love

March 16, 2024March 18, 2024 Articles, Faith and Spirituality

Our Lord links the beatitude, Blessed are the pure in heart, to the sixth and ninth commandments— Thou shalt not commit adultery nor covet thy neighbor’s wife. As Christ says: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that every one who looks lustfully at a […]

Blessed are the Pure of Heart

March 11, 2024March 8, 2024 Articles, Faith and Spirituality

Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God (Matthew 5:18). Pope Francis notes: This Beatitude speaks of those whose hearts are simple, pure and undefiled, for a heart capable of love admits nothing that might harm, weaken or endanger that love. The Bible uses the heart to describe our real intentions, the […]

St. Josemaría’s Love for Freedom

March 5, 2024March 4, 2024 Articles, Faith and Spirituality

The right to the exercise of freedom, especially in moral and religious matters, is an inalienable requirement of the dignity of the human person. This right must be recognized and protected by civil authority within the limits of common good and public order (CCC 1738). St. Josemaría had a great love for freedom, while insisting […]

Religious Freedom and Obedience to the State

March 1, 2024February 26, 2024 Articles, News and Culture

The state has a duty to protect the private and public exercise of religion and each person’s right to religious freedom—no one should ever be forced to act against his conscience: In what way does a person exercise his or her proper right to worship God in truth and in freedom? Every person has the […]

Respecting Authority and Civic Laws

February 22, 2024February 21, 2024 Articles, Faith and Spirituality

Jewish leaders often challenged Jesus, yet he encouraged us to respect all legitimate authority. For example, when the Scribes and Pharisees try to trap our Lord, dragging before him a woman they caught in adultery: should we obey the Law, which commands good Jews to stone such persons, or obey the Roman law, which forbids […]

Family (Social) Participation

February 11, 2024February 12, 2024 Articles, Family and Kids

Children often complain and criticize parents and their rules, especially when they don’t get to do what they want. Citizens often do the same with governmental leaders and laws. Yet our responsibility goes beyond obeying legitimate authorities and laws. As children grow they are called to take on more responsibility for the well-being of the […]

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