Mercy. What are we asking for when we ask for God's mercy? Because we use the word during the penitential rite in our Eucharist, we often think of the plea for mercy as a petition for forgiveness, but ...

Sunday, Sept. 17, is the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Mass readings: Sirach 27:30-28:7; Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12; Romans 14:7-9; Matthew 18:21-35. Today’s Gospel draws us into a sensitive area ...

As a pastor of over 41 years, I’ve listened to the stories of so many people carrying their burdens, heard their confessions and the struggles to let go of the past. And then there are the things that ...

The inability or ability to move beyond our own inner rage or anger in order to forgive another often says more about our own inner and spiritual state than it is does about those who require or need ...

“Help me, O Lord, that my eyes may be merciful, so that I may never suspect or judge from appearances, but look for what is beautiful in my neighbors’ souls and come to their rescue” (Diary, No. 163).

A Scripture scholar stated that of all the Apostles, St. Thomas needs a publicist! Solely on the basis of today’s Gospel, Thomas is remembered as the “doubting Thomas.” It seems to be a bit unfair, if ...

Hell hath no fury like a mob riled up by demagogues. Some well-placed, hateful words can stir up ferocious shouts and actions that few of the people involved would perform singly or in moments of ...

Fabulous books have been written about prayer, and myriads of prayers are available in print. Here, prayer language is primarily Scripture itself. The poetry, songs, dialogue, and prose of the Bible ...

It has been good to read the letters recently that do a great job of explaining that Jesus’ life was one of compassion, love, acceptance and forgiveness. It astonishes and humbles me to think that God ...