A Reflection on Venial Sin, the Confiteor, and Christ’s Mercy It happens sometimes when I least expect it. I kneel, cross myself, close my eyes, and begin to pray. Then, out of nowhere, a vision comes over me. I see … Continue reading →
A Reflection on How Hymns Shape Our Faith In the parish I grew up in, there were always two books in the pew: a missalette and The Young People’s Glory and Praise. During Mass we primarily sang from Glory and … Continue reading →
Finding Mission in Everyday Life I didn’t set out to become a football coach. Last season, I was standing on the sidelines watching the chaos of practice and the games. Coaches were trying to run plays, boys were scattered everywhere, … Continue reading →
A Marriage Reflection on Walking Together Toward God Over the last weekend, my wife and I celebrated nineteen years of marriage. Nineteen years by civil law, seventeen within the Church. We first got married in a small private ceremony. Her … Continue reading →
A Reflection on Prophetic Words and God’s Perfect Timing I wasn’t expecting anything out of the ordinary that afternoon at Adoration. I was at a chapel near where I work. It wasn’t even my home parish. I thought I would … Continue reading →
A Reflection on Spiritual Dryness, Discernment, and Trusting the Long Road I’ve been holding off telling this story. And as I sit here writing it, I’m still not sure I’m fully ready. But… here we go. I still remember the … Continue reading →
Learning to Sit Still With God I’ve been moving fast lately. Work. Church. Volunteer events. Projects for my family. It’s all good work. It’s all for someone else. Most days, it feels like I’m doing what I was built for. … Continue reading →
How the Enemy Traps Us in Shame Something happened today that is affecting my life right now, but while reflecting on that in prayer, I recalled a while back I was watching one of those news stories about a celebrity … Continue reading →
The Quiet Power of Spiritual Direction I didn’t go looking for a spiritual director. Someone suggested it. A friend of mine, who was already seeing one, said, “Thom, with everything you’re doing, especially discerning the diaconate, you should really think … Continue reading →
Honoring My Parents After They’re Gone It happened during an examination of conscience, just before confession. I was walking through the Ten Commandments in prayer, asking God to show me where I had fallen short. When I reached the Fourth … Continue reading →