Today is the Feast of the Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple as an infant.  In celebrating Mass this morning, the last two lines of the second reading caught my eye: “Because he himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.” In this context, the author of the Letter to the Hebrews (St. Paul, anyone?) is helping us to identify our own sufferings with the sufferings of Christ. In my life as a priest, I occassionally come across those who seem, umm…., shallow.  There … Continue reading →

VIS news – Holy See Press Office: APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION “VERBUM DOMINI”. The above link takes one to the press release of the Vatican Information Service regarding the publication of the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation “Verbum Domini,” which concludes the work of the 2008 Synod of Bishops on the Word of God in the Church. The Exhortation is broken down into three sections: Part I: “Verbum Dei” on ‘the fundamental role of God the Father, source and origin of the Word” and “the Trinitarian dimension of revelation.” Part II: “Verbum in Ecclesia” on ‘the Word of God and … Continue reading →