The Life of Virtue

Another fine article from an Illinois priest who has begun teaching...gasp!...TRUTH!   http://www.humanaevitaepriests.org/ Enjoy!

As I read the latest Spirit & Life Newsletter from Fr. Tom Euteneuer, I was saddened to hear of the death of a great champion of the Gospel of Life such as Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo.  I was also joyful that he has been called from his life of defending the Faith toward Eternal Life where no defense is necessary.  I pray that his legacy lives on, and that his successor will take up the task of defense confidently and ably. God bless!

I really do enjoy these things when I have time... 1. The rules of the game get posted on the beginning. 2. Each player answers the rules about himself. 3. At the end of the post, the player tags five people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they’ve been tagged and asking them to read his blog. What I was doing ten years ago: Finishing my junior year of high school.  This day, ten years ago: at school and work (a buss boy at a steakhouse!).  This moment, ten years ago: probably asleep in study hall. Five things on my To-Do list today: 1. Get wife and son out the door to work and daycare. 2. Morning prayer. 3. Give final exam for history class. 4. Work to build the culture of life and love among the youth of my community (seemingly unattainable!). 5. Get frozen yogurt with wife and son (who may or may not eat it). Things I would do if I were a billionaire: 1. Ensure the finacial stability of my family. 2. Pay off my parish...

All faithful Christians can appreciate the statement that it is difficult to live one's faith each and every day.  However, each one also knows that professing the faith which bears its founder's name requires a change of attitudes and actions in every facet of daily existence.  Jesus taught and performed miracles not only on the Sabbath; His work was executed at all times, in all situations.  How could we ever claim Him as our standard-bearer and yet not allow the lessons and experiences of Sunday to alter (for the better) every other moment of our week? In his address to the bishops of the United States , Pope Benedict identified this separation of profession and action as a key component of America's deep, ongoing religious and moral crisis.  American Catholics, clergy included, have not provided a public witness that mirrors their confession on Sunday, and thus a void has been created that must be filled.  If such a void is not filled with "Christ Our Hope," i...

As you all know by now, Pope Benedict has arrived in the United States, and he has visited President George Bush at the White House.  Yet again, the pontiff's vision and methods are clear from his opening remarks during that brief meeting with our country's chief executive. There are more than a few thoughts in that address that are worthy of consideration, but time limits that exercise.  The focus of this post, then, will be directed toward the final paragraph of the written text.  After reading those words, it is most difficult to understand how people still hold such scathing hatred of this wise, charitable, and holy man. Pope Benedict offers a great deal of admiration and respect for our country: "America has traditionally shown herself generous in meeting immediate human needs, fostering development and offering relief to the victims of natural catastrophes."  His analysis is unbelievably accurate!  There is no other secular nation that provides as much aid to t...

Today, I celebrate the beginning of my fifth year as a Catholic; four full years of being in the home that God intends for all of his human creation! I remember my reception into full communion, and I smile with joy.  I recall my earliest efforts to deepen my knowledge of the one, true faith and the spirituality that comes along with it.  I laugh at my own naivete because I thought that I had the fullness of everything on that blessed night four years ago. No, my friends.  I was stubborn as usual.  I was only a spiritual babe on April 10, 2004, and I am not sure that I'm even a sprititual toddler today.  I am sure of one thing, however: God works SLOWLY! Despite all of my stubborn, prideful efforts to consume every aspect of this beautiful Church, God has made one fact abundantly clear.  He has told me on many occassions, "Slow down!"  I shall try!  Friends, please pray that my fifth year may be ever more fruitful than the ones before.  Pray also for the Church's neop...

"Why doesn't God answer my prayers?" Everyone who reads this post has probably heard that question at least once.  Some of us have even asked that question (to ourselves or to others explicitly), perhaps on multiple occassions.  Well, the answer is clear! We've all heard the cliche: God does answer prayers; sometimes He answers with "No."  Indeed, He does, and such is His divine, omniscient prerogative!  However, in this author's own prayers and meditations, it seems necessary to seek a deeper explanation. The Gospel of John offers a wonderful insight: "We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if any one is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him" (Jn. 9:31).  Thus we can explain the lack of "acceptable" answers from the Giver.  Only when we cut sin out of our lives (a difficult task in its own right), worship God properly, and conform our will to His do we begin to receive the answers for which we beg. There ...