Ash Wednesday marks the start of Lent, 40 days spent in prayer, fasting, and almsgiving in preparation for Easter. Lent gives us the opportunity to serve others through almsgiving, practice self-control through fasting, and abstain from luxuries to help lead us to...

Today we celebrate the feast of the Visitation, when the Blessed Virgin Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth. It may seem strange to celebrate a mere visit between family members, but this is no ordinary visit.  Mary had just given her ‘yes’ to God, agreeing to bear his...

“Give it all to God,” the priest said after I described my struggles with sinfulness, my shortcomings, my stubborn selfishness. “Give it all to God,” he said, “and know that He loves you. He loves you. He loves you.” Let those words wash over you in a wave of mercy –...

February 29 -Thursday of the Second Week of Lent Readings: Jer 17:5-10, Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6, Lk 16:19-31 Invitation to Prayer: Lord, direct our servant hearts to you.  Reflection: I’ve known many rich people, many more poor people, and still even more Pharisees in my...

Tomorrow two seemingly unrelated observations will collide in Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day. The day of fasting when many Christians receive the mark of ashes on their foreheads will seem to stand in stark contrast to the bright red and pink store displays of...