Spirituality of Nonviolence

This weekend I attended a Peace and Justice Retreat at the St. Francis Springs Prayer Center in Stoneville, North Carolina. The retreat was sponsored by Holy Name Province of the Order of Friars Minor. We used principles developed by Pace Bene. I’ll write and react more to what I experienced but I wanted to post … Read more

Justice and Peace will kiss

This weekend I’ll be participating in a Justice and Peace Retreat coordinated by the Friars of Holy Name Province. We’re traveling to Stoneville, North Carolina and the St. Francis Springs Prayer Center. I’m excited as I always am before a long trip. Tonight I’m having dinner with the Friars at Holy Peace Friary and then … Read more

A dark protective wall

I draw prayer round me like a dark protective wall, withdraw inside it as one might into a convent cell and then step outside again, calmer and stronger and more collected again.–Etty Hilsum. I get quotes sent to me everyday from Gratefulness.org a ministry of Brother David Steindl-Rast. Today’s quote was what I needed to … Read more

May Day

Minor Friar has a good post regarding May Day 2006 and the the current immigration debate. He’s also got a link to a good book on Catholic Social Teaching. The media and corporations have framed this debate falsely. Gee, what a surprise! The real issues is the greed of corporations in driving American citizens from … Read more

More Light: Behind the Da Vinci Code

More Light: Behind the Da Vinci Code Paula has written an insightful piece on the DaVinci Code. I have not read the book but I’ve read some of the reactions by readers. My mother who is an old school Catholic was pretty upset when my nephew confronted her about some points made in the book. … Read more

Practice of the presence of God

I get a daily quote from Gratefulness.org and here is today’s quote. “The time of business does not with me differ from the time of prayer, and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess God in as great tranquility as … Read more

Living with War

Here is a link to Neil Young’s new album entitled “Living with War“. As a veteran of the Vietnam era and a lifelong peacenik I found it gratifying to listen to this album. I was beginning to wonder if there was anyone out there that had a voice to speak to the thousands of people … Read more

Walking and talking

Steve Bogner has a very timely post on his blog today, Catholicism, Holiness and Spirituality. I believe that what you do is far more important that what you say. Walking what you talk is a far more effective demonstration of the Gospel than anything you might say. It’s politically popular to talk about family values … Read more

Mattie Stepanek

I just caught the end of segment on tonight’s “Larry King Show” about a truly gifted advocate for peace. I remember seeing him on television programs but never spent much time paying attention to what he had to say. Today as I listened to a tape recorded prior to his death I couldn’t help but … Read more

Go into the whole world

Today’s Gospel from St. Mark states, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.” That’s a tall order. That’s every creature not just every man or woman. How do I proclaim the Gospel to every creature? This means to me that the incarnational presence of Christ and the Gospel is for … Read more