Holy Innocents
Rubens’ Virgin and Child surrounded by a wreath of chubby, pink Innocents (c. 1618) is delightful. Notice the almost mischievous smile of Baby Jesus. Does...
All that has gone before
A wise and dear friend wrote me from her cloister for the feast of the Epiphany. By God’s providence, our lives, with their changes and...
Remembering Montmartre
Twenty-nine years ago today, a few young men prayed this Act of Consecration together in the crypt of the Basilica of Montmartre in Paris. I...
The Struggle of Prayer
Relinquishing Control What does it mean to pray for someone or something? If I pray to obtain control over someone or something, I am wasting...
A First Saturday
Was anyone else struck by the Holy Father’s allusion, in today’s Regina Caeli message, to the “Marian dimension” of Pope John Paul II’s death on...
Irish Catholic Kvetch
Saint Patrick’s Day Secularized I wanted to buy a few cards for Saint Patrick’s Day to send to family and friends both in Ireland and...
Weary With Holding In
I offered the Sunday Vigil Mass in a suburban parish last Saturday in order to help out a friend and brother priest. Father is very...
Ecce quam bonum et quam jucundum
What do these Catholic bloggers do when they meet? Pray. Sing. Talk. Eat. Pray. Sing. Talk. Eat. Did I mention the singing? This photo of...
More Solace for the Sizzling
Space for Grace So, is it sufficient to want chastity, to ask for it, and to wait for it? Yes. But if you really want...
Overflowing Thanksgiving
Ireland Reflecting on my recent pilgrimage to the Shrine of our Lady of Knock in County Mayo, Ireland, I understand that the grace given me...
Nothing Happens Without Your Permitting It
Yesterday I returned from preaching a retreat to the Bridgettine Sisters (Order of the Most Holy Saviour) at the Convent of Saint Birgitta, Vikingsborg, in...
Rome Unvisited
Tomorrow I will be leaving Rome. I expect to be away from the Eternal City for the remaining summer months. I will know better what...
Saints Marcellinus and Peter
Birthday Today, June 2nd, is my 55th birthday! When I went downstairs for collazione this morning, I discovered that Fra Bernardo Maria had baked a...
Bonjour, tout le monde!
Bonjour, tout le monde. Je m’appelle Jean et j’habite tout près du monastère Saint–Benoît à Nans–sous–Sainte–Anne dans le Jura français. Je suis allé à la...
Sunset in Assisi
I took this photo after attending Vespers and Adoration with my friends Leonard and Mark at San Damiano in Assisi on Monday evening. The friars...
A note from Don Marco
Dear friends, I thank Lisa for giving you news of my arrival in Rome. I do not have internet access as yet and so have...
3 January, The Holy Name of Jesus
This will be my last entry until I get settled in at Santa Croce in Gerusalemmme in Rome. I leave tomorrow on the wings of...
Packing for the Eternal City
My dear friends Christopher and Lisa Hoffer–Schaefer and Nadine Casey spent their New Year’s Day afternoon and evening helping me pack. I would never have...
Merry Christmas to All, and to All a Good Night!
Before I go to bed, I want to say, Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night! After Mass at the Glorious Cross,...
I Love New York
I made a day trip into New York City today. Thanks to Deacon Richard Russo, Father Jacob Restrick, O.P. and I were able to visit...