On May 17, 1971, a Broadway musical, entitled Godspell, opened and has since been revived a number of times. It is review of the life of Jesus through his parables. The title of the play is actually an Old English word from which the word “Gospel” is derived. It means glad tidings or good news. It began as a project for drama students at Carnegie Mellon University. It involves a...
Who among us is not capable of compiling a catalog of the negative. In almost every human life there are episodes of anxiety, depression, grief, and exhaustion. Some have experienced injustice and despair. Others are forced to live among opposing forces who are at war. We have all been exposed to images of starvation. We have seen people trying to escape these negative experiences only to...
Even though St. Dominic is the founder of the Order of Preachers (which uses the Rule of St. Augustine), Franciscans still refer to him as Our Holy Father St. Dominic. Tradition and legend tell us that Francesco Bernadone and Domingo de Guzman met sometime during their lifetimes. Together they founded two of the most widely known Religious Orders, both of them very much present in our 21st...
The two readings that we proclaim today seem to be antithetic, that is they seem to proclaim two different points of view. The oracle of the prophet Jeremiah speaks of the children of Israel returning to their homeland. As they walk through the desert from Babylon to Jerusalem, they are met by the Lord. This oracle is full of rejoicing as God pronounces love for the children of Israel....
Immediately before the verses that we read from the Second Letter of Peter on this Feast of the Transfiguration, St. Peter sets the context in which we should read them. He remarks: “I shall also make every effort to enable you always to remember these things after my departure.” Peter wants to be sure that we remember his experience of Jesus Christ, and in particular, his...