What are the Seven Sorrows of Mary?

In the days of apartheid in South Africa, one of the ways people expressed their opposition and their belief that someday it would be overcome, was to light a candle and put it in a window where it could be seen by anyone passing by.

The times we are living in are sad and dangerous. Locally, babies are being killed by parents on drugs. Suicide rates are rising all over our country. Ideologies are killing any respect for the truth.

On Dec. 8 we celebrated the feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.   What is the history of this feast?

Do you feel it?! Do you feel that unique joy and hope that surrounds us in our celebration of the Savior’s birth? It is not a logical hope because it comes in spite of the difficulties of life and the upheavals we see throughout the world. At times the world seems like a dead stump and as hard as we look there is no sprout, no hope. Why be so hopeful? We are hopeful because we do not hope in the world. We are hopeful because our God does not allow us to shut him out completely. He finds a space to enter our lives even if it means entering through a stable. Our Christmas joy is found in our HOPE IN THE LORD who does not, did not give up on us. The tree of Jesse that appears dead, gives life. The ancient prophesies for which people of faith waited centuries, are fulfilled. Where it seemed all was lost a Savior is born and the love of God is not held back. In spite of our troubles and concerns, we have hope in our God who is Emmanuel, God with us and born for us this Christmas Day. I pray that this hope will fill you and your family with joy this Christmas. I also pray that you have a prosperous, healthy and faith filled New Year. Hope in the Lord and Merry Christmas.

St. John the Baptist reminds us that Advent is a privileged time to turn back toward God — something it is never too late to do.

The full story of how Jesus Christ came to be born includes elements that we do not easily imagine when we sing our Christmas hymns.

This column is in memory of Bernice Lennox, whose funeral I celebrated Nov. 29, 2022. 

Several weeks ago you described what tabernacles are made of.  What about chalices?

These startling words of Jesus in St. John’s Gospel caused many of his disciples to say, “This saying is hard, who can accept it?

 This year Advent began on Nov. 27.  What is Advent all about?

It was October of 1963, my fourth year in Rome, the only student that year from the newly created Diocese of Baton Rouge, at the North American College. 

In the Lord’s Prayer, we ask God the Father to “lead us not into temptation.”  Does that mean that God will sometimes lead us to temptation?”

The Eucharist is the sacred meal that Jesus wished to share with his disciples the night before he died. 

Why should I go to confession if I have not committed a mortal sin?

There comes a time in life when it’s time to stop writing your resume and begin to write your obituary. I’m not sure who first coined that line, but there’s wisdom in it.