Reflections

This past weekend, I once again had the opportunity to celebrate the sacrament of matrimony with a young couple.  The experience remains foremost in my thinking in these days.  I have found that my wedding homilies flow in a certain manner depending on the...

Vincentian View: In-Between Times We sometimes refer to that period which is sandwiched between two events as an “in-between” time. The occurrences which flank this interval often provide its character and purpose.  The unifying force of the interlude draws the two...

Vincentian View: “The Smell” All of us have heard the by-now famous statement of Pope Francis at a Chrism Mass where he told the gathered priests “Be shepherds with the smell of the sheep.”  To render “smell” as “scent” compromises the intent.  The earthy...

Vincentian View: “Promises” I have been thinking about promises. On Easter Sunday, I joined with a Christian community in renewing my baptismal promises.  I am sure that many of you did as well.  I rejected Satan and his empty promises, and I confessed my belief in...

Vincentian View: “Peace be with you” If you have gotten messages from me, you will see that I most often finish my notes with “Peace” or “Peace in the Risen Lord” or some such variation on “peace.”  Many people may feel that it is a left over from my hippie-days and...

Vincentian View: “Your Paul” At different times, many of us have probably considered the difference between: (a) reading a story and then seeing the movie; and (b) seeing the movie and then reading the story.  I am sure that I saw the Sherlock Holmes movies before I...

Vincentian View: “The Power of Gentleness” Do you remember Aesop’s fable about the contest between the sun and the wind?  They were arguing about who was stronger.  They saw a man walking along the road and agreed that whoever could get the coat off his back was...

Vincentian View: "Founder's Week" In my day job, I am the Executive Director of the Vincentian Center for Church and Society (VCCS) at St. John’s University. That sounds pretty impressive and it does fill up a business card. In my office, I have a terrific Executive...

Vincentian View: "Give me your tired, your poor" When I was in grade school, I memorized lots of material for different subjects.  This included much of the Baltimore Catechism.  One recalled poem has been making an appearance in my mind more frequently in these...