While I was pastor of St. John’s in Leonia, New Jersey, the principal of the parish school died from cancer. It was a heavy blow to all those who knew her. Sr. Cecile Marie Begin was a tremendously gifted woman, who was very approachable to the students yet able to maintain discipline. After a long day in the school, she taught a preparation class for Confirmation. On the weekends she served as a Eucharistic minister ...

It started so quietly with reports coming out of China of a virus that was rapidly spreading through that nation. Then it moved into South Korea and other nations in the area before making itself felt throughout the world. Quickly, the planet was in the grip of the coronavirus that had no cure, as of yet. It became the only thing reported on network news, sometimes in a dramatic fashion. Fear grew as quickly as ...

I have always loved John’s passage of the Samaritan woman. There is a beautiful dialogue between Jesus and the woman who comes to gather water at the hottest time of the day. She expects to find no one at the well. She wants no one at the well, since that makes her life easier. She has endured enough comments and gossiping from others over her failed relationships. She has perhaps been used by others to ...

  It would be interesting to ask a group of people what they planned to give up or do during Lent. There would be some very impressive penances and some very great acts of charity. But underneath all those actions would be a penance no one would ever consider. They were going to stand still but move during the weeks of Lent, leading not to just Easter and a one day celebration but to a new ...

The Life of Saint Teresa of Avila by Carlos Eire | Princeton University Press, 2019 (280 pp). This book, The Life of Saint Teresa of Avila, should be renamed The Life of the Life of Saint Teresa of Avila. Why? Because the book is a more about Saint Teresa’s autobiography, The Book of Her Life (oftentimes shortened to Vida in Spanish and Life in English), than it is about Saint Teresa herself. Carlos Eire is a history ...

A number of years ago, John Glenn wrote a book describing the early days of the American space program. He, along with his fellow astronauts, went through challenging physical and psychological training. One day they were given a sheet of paper with one question, “who are you?” There were twenty blanks that needed to be filled. Glenn and the others thought this would be easy to finish. At first the answers came quickly. But it ...

As I write this reflection, the weather report is predicting 3 to 5 inches of snow for the Darien, Illinois area.  Just a few days ago, it was over 50 degrees Fahrenheit and beautiful, with early spring plants starting to show themselves. Now everything will be covered in snow! Some people might be frustrated while others are breathing a sigh of relief. The snow will cover the mess of fallen twigs and branches, flower beds that need tending, ...

On Saturday, January 18, 2020, Carmelites in Mexico gathered at the baroque-style Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Assumption in Zacatecas, Mexico, located in the historic city center, for the ordination of Br. Gregorio Vazquez, O. Carm., by the Bishop of Zacateca, Mons. Sigifredo Noriega Barceló. The baroque cathedral provided a beautiful backdrop for the ceremony. Bishop Barceló was very welcoming and provided much food for thought in his homily. The Carmelites were joined ...

The Carmelite Province of the Most Pure Heart of Mary welcomed five new members on Friday, January 10, 2020 at a profession ceremony at the Carmelite retreat house Villa Carmelitas in Lurín, Perú. They are: Miguel Angel Guerra Martínez, José Manuel Santos Alvarado, Juan Esteban Rodriguez Benítez, Frans Jhonatan Leyva Bardeléz, Eduardo Antonio Díaz. Due to the large number of people attending, the Profession Mass was held in the conference hall. Three of the newly professed ...

In a world like our own, where factionalism and deep religious and political divisions poison our relationships, a saint like Peter Thomas is like a breath of fresh air. His life as a devout Carmelite and a diplomatic healer and trouble-shooter reminds us that reconciliation and common ground are always possible with God’s help. Peter Thomas was born in the southern Périgord region of France, to a very poor peasant family. His piety and skill as ...