In the days following the Red Sox breaking the curse of the Bambino in 2004, one frequently heard of visits to cemeteries to put a remembrance at the graves of loyal and long-suffering family members. In a matter of infinitely greater importance, one might expect the same in the aftermath… Read More »The Reward of Her Labors
Adoration of the Magi by Matthias Stom At the risk of sounding too modest, much can be said for the Christian faith. Among other things, you don’t have to check your brains at the door to be a Christian. You don’t have to whitewash any of the misery and hardships… Read More »Herod and the Magi
Our ordinary experience of God, if I can use that term, is one of distance, a distance which seems to belong to the nature of things. God is God, after all, the one beyond whom it is impossible to conceive of anything greater – and we are who we are… Read More »The Nearness of God
Our Father Painting by Jen Norton ….by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress. These words form part of what is formally called the embolism, the short prayer said by the priest after the recitation of the Lord’s prayer at… Read More »Anxiety or Distress: Deliver us, O Lord.
Brooklyn Museum – The Rich Young Man Went Away Sorrowful – James Tissot The following is a reflection on the Sunday Gospel for October 10, 2021. I’m trying to work this out for myself. What’s the role of the poor in the story of the rich man in today’s Gospel?… Read More »Overcoming Sadness
The following is Fr. Dennis’ homily for the Feast of Sts. Anne & Joachim, given at the closing novena Mass at St. Anne Shrine in Fiskdale, MA, this past Monday. The Assumptionists have ministered at the shrine and parish since 1955. I may not be the best person to talk… Read More »First World Day for Grandparents & the Elderly
Today’s guest post is written by Fr. Marciano (“Chano”) Lopez Solis, A.A.Fr. Chano is a member of our new community in El Paso, Texas, based at St. Francis Xavier Parish. Our efforts at the parish focuses on meeting the spiritual and material needs of migrants; our presence along the U.S./Mexico… Read More »Guest post: letter from the desert
Fr. Dennis in El Paso with Fr. Marciano, one of the founding members of the new community My five day visit to El Paso was something of a whirlwind, but here are some enduring impressions: Our local AA community, Peter, Ron and Chano, fully constituted only within the last several… Read More »Letter from the desert: Provincial Edition
a tale of three prepositions a reflection by Fr. Dennis Gallagher What’s in a preposition? When it comes to understanding the Christian life, quite a bit. Take three of them – for, with, and in – and consider their relative force as each one relates to our relationship to Christ.… Read More »I am the Vine, you are the branches
Today’s reflection is from Fr. Dennis Gallagher A.A., Provincial Superior of the Assumptionists in North America What does it mean to live from the power of the resurrection? What does this look like? I’m reminded of one of Emeritus Pope Benedict’s most quoted statements: “being a Christian is not the… Read More »Easter Sunday