Sinless Hands, Clean Hearts

Homily, 11-25-24; Monday of the 34th Week in Ordinary Time: “Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD? or who may stand in his holy place? He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean, who desires not what is vain.” These are words we hear in our responsorial psalm today. Indeed who can ascend… Continue reading Sinless Hands, Clean Hearts

Should Catholics attend non-Catholic weddings?

Bulletin Q&A Article; Published 11-24-24: Should Catholics attend non-Catholic weddings? What about a “Catholic” who is having a wedding in their backyard? I read in one article that the answer to the general question about the acceptance of attending a wedding is: “Yes, if it is a real marriage.” If the first question is in… Continue reading Should Catholics attend non-Catholic weddings?

Stay Rooted in Your Faith

Homily, 11-18-14; Monday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time: We can reflect on how well rooted are we in our faith? Our responsorial psalm says that he who delights in the law of the LORD and meditates on his law day and night, is like a tree planted near running water. It will stand… Continue reading Stay Rooted in Your Faith

Great Lakes National Cemetery

Bulletin Q&A Article; Published 11-17-24: I plan on being buried at Great Lakes National Cemetery next to my late husband. I have a concern since it is not a Catholic cemetery. Will my grave be blessed? Catholic cemeteries are special. As I indicated in a bulletin article from last year (https://orthoscopy.net/index.php/2023/11/15/catholic-cemeteries/), they, along with churches,… Continue reading Great Lakes National Cemetery

Slavery to Truth

Homily, 11-11-24; Memorial of Memorial of St. Martin of Tours: In the lengthy introduction to his letter to Titus, St. Paul refers to himself as a slave of God. He is a slave because he is trying to be totally obedient to Jesus Christ who sent him out to be an apostle to the Gentiles.… Continue reading Slavery to Truth

Rescuing Blessed Items

Bulletin Q&A Article, Published 11-10-24: I worked in an antique mall some years ago and rescued quite a few items I felt shouldn’t be there. What is the right way for people to handle these possibly blessed treasures? It is great, if you have the resources, to rescue items that appear in antique shops or… Continue reading Rescuing Blessed Items

Fighting Distractions in Prayer

Homily, 11-4-24; Memorial of St. Charles Borromeo: Yesterday, in his homily, Fr. Hurley touched on some of the difference between the three different levels of ordination: deacon, priest, and bishop. In the current Church, the levels are very distinct and the requirements for ordination to them are very rigorous. But it wasn’t always so. Today… Continue reading Fighting Distractions in Prayer

Finding our Way Home

Homily, 10-28-24; Feast of Simon and Jude, Apostles: Home sweet home, or as Scott Hahn declares in the title of his book: Rome Sweet Home. The Church is our home here on earth built on the foundation of the apostles, including Jude and Simon the Zealot that we honor today. Jesus is the cornerstone who… Continue reading Finding our Way Home