January 10, 2021 My dear brothers and sisters, we cannot separate our personal spiritual lives from the rest of our lives. We cannot separate the economic, political, moral dimensions of our lives into boxes of interest and pretend or hope that one does not affect the other. The stock market is not God. Our bankContinue reading “The Baptism of Our Lord”
Author Archives: lovetowrite12345
New Year’s Day 2021
1/1/21 A New Year! Such a day and a celebration began 4,000 years ago in the Babylonian culture– associated with the harvest of grains used in eating and drinking – a moment of thanksgiving to the gods for the gift of Life. In 45 BCE (Before the Common Era), the Emperor Julius Caesar determined thatContinue reading “New Year’s Day 2021”
Christmas 2020
It takes a lifetime to comprehend and to “take in” the meaning of Christmas. It is so much more than all the accumulated customs of music and smells and food from all the countries of the world. Christmas begins before time began, before there was a world, a planet among the planets. In his gospel,Continue reading “Christmas 2020“
III Advent
12/13/20 Today is “Rejoice in the Lord” Sunday, “Gaudate in Latin. For the pessimists among us and those who are tired of lockdowns and masks, there is very little to be happy about. The original use of this phrase from St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians was a welcome relief from the rigors of fastingContinue reading “III Advent”
November 29, 2020: Advent I
“Be watchful! Be alert!” Scripture scholars believe that Mark wrote the first Gospel in the late 60’s of the First Century, sometime before the Romans destroyed the City of Jerusalem. They were tired of the hometown terrorists trying to force them to leave their occupation. Throughout the Gospels, we hear Jesus exhorting all of hisContinue reading “November 29, 2020: Advent I“
November 15, 2020: XXXIII Sunday
What kind of a reputation would you like to have at the end of your life? One who pushed his way through life? Or one who was grateful and served his way through life? The answer to either one will also determine where we find ourselves at the end of life. We are or willContinue reading “November 15, 2020: XXXIII Sunday “
All Saint’s Day
November 1, 2020 It was not until the mid 9th century, that European Catholics began to celebrate the feast of all the Saints. After almost a thousand years, there were too many good people to name and to remember. Simply, there were not enough days in the year. Soon after, there sprang up today’s commemoration. Continue reading “All Saint’s Day”
As I Turn Eighty…
(Below are some of Father Mangini’s reflections, which he posts in the spirit of encouraging sharing and discussion in the comments at the end of the page.) As I turn 80 years old, I wonder first of all how I got to 80. From time to time over the years, as I attended someone else’sContinue reading “As I Turn Eighty…“
XXIX Sunday: October 18, 2020
What crime did our patron saint, Ignatius of Antioch commit to anger the Roman Emperor who lived 800 miles away in the year circa 100? He talked about Jesus as the Son of God that implied that the Emperor was not God. St. Ignatius was guilty of sedition — of trying to undermine and unseatContinue reading “XXIX Sunday: October 18, 2020”
XXVII Sun Ordinary Time: October 4, 2020
Today, statues of St. Francis of Assisi appear in our gardens, sometimes with small water bowls inviting birds to drink or perhaps a bird sitting on his shoulder. Today is his feast day. St. Francis was blessed personally with a vision, with an insight and with an understanding about all of creation and how itContinue reading “XXVII Sun Ordinary Time: October 4, 2020“
