Author
A Vincentian View: The Paraclete Usually when I consider the word “Paraclete,” I think of “advocate” or “intercessor” or “counselor” or some such term. “Paraclete” is, of course, one of the ways in which we often refer to the Holy Spirit. As we approach the...
A Vincentian View: Taking a Second (Better) Look I think it is rare that we get things right the first time—at least, that is my experience. In order to learn how to do something, I need to do it more than once. To really understand something, to really allow it to...
A Vincentian View: Seeing and Believing Two words seem to emerge regularly in our Gospel readings of the Easter Season: one word is “seeing” and the other is “believing.” I think these powerful words go together as we think about the way in which we express and grow...
A Vincentian View: A Feast for the Senses Life. The very air pulses with the celebration of the gift of life on the evening when we remember and we celebrate the paschal mystery. On this night, Jesus was raised from the dead to live forever and to draw us into...
A Vincentian View: The Way of the Cross Are you in the practice of praying the Stations of the Cross? I have known a number of people for whom this is a regular devotion. In different parishes and situations, I have heard the Stations said in numerous ways. Some...
A Vincentian View: Windows on St. Joseph On many occasions, I have mused on the beautiful stained glass windows in our St. Thomas More Church on the Queens’ campus of St. John’s University. Sometimes, I will go to the Church to pray, and my attention gets drawn to a...
A Vincentian View: Marked Men and Women For the past few years, since I have been back at St. John’s, I have celebrated the 8:00 mass on Wednesdays. It is one of my ordinary responsibilities. Usually, I am joined by 25-30 regular members of the University...
A Vincentian View: “Hope in Ashes” When I play poker, I do so solely for enjoyment. You can tell that by some of the games which I will play. One may be familiar to you: “Blind Man’s Bluff.” In this poker game, each player receives one card face down. Then...
A Vincentian View: “A Vincentian Pentecost” Like many of you, I have been thinking about the 400th anniversary year for a while. Partly, that is because of my desire to celebrate it worthily as an individual and within my ministry, but more so because I want to...
A Vincentian View: “An Examined Life” Socrates wrote: “The unexamined life is not worth living.” The sentiment gives color and force to the desire for making a retreat, a nightly examen, a preparation for the sacrament of reconciliation, a heartfelt psalm of thanks. ...