Early next month, much of the Church will celebrate the Feast Day of St. Barnabas, honoring a first century saint whose example of support and encouragement is a timeless one. Introduced in the fourth chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, readers discover that he was also known by a more common name: “Joseph, also named by the apostles Barnabas (which is translated ‘son of encouragement’), a Levite, a Cypriot by birth, sold a piece of property that he owned, then brought the money and put it at the feet of the apostles.” Submitting to their authority, Barnabas was soon to illustrate for the disciples a picture of courage and selflessness that served as great encouragement to the most noted first century apostle....read more

Share What You Know ...read more

Directed by devotion to the Eucharist, public worship invites a reflective heart to hear and meditate on the words of the Scriptures, to enjoy worshipful fellowship with other parishioners, to hear the Gospel proclaimed, to pray, and to sing. To sing: it is the glory of some, and the bane of others. And yet, that should never be the case. The Psalms encourage the willing participation of the joyful, not merely the artful, and many more can participate with great joy than can sing with great skill. Throughout the Old Testament songbook, the faithful are commanded to sing, certainly true of Psalm 98. . .read more

Prayers of the Saints: St. Bernardino of Siena ...read more

Increasingly more true every off-season, papers, news magazines, and news broadcasts have printed and aired a great many stories satisfying the nation’s preoccupation with the sport of football. Thousands of websites feature the latest information, ensuring no fan’s hunger for news goes unaddressed, even during the summer. Always true, the offensive side of the game receives its due, and the field generals, each team’s quarterbacks, are frequently featured—those who can deliver, with skill and frequency, the perfect pass. Not to stretch a metaphor too far, we tend to pass along a great many things other than footballs, of course. One psalmist had a few things to say about that. . .read more

Filling Togetherness ...read more

Productive vines yield much fruit. After five or so years, a healthy, well-maintained kiwi vine will produce hundreds of pounds of fruit annually. Mature grape vines produce large bunches of healthy grapes. And, allowed to spread naturally, melons and pumpkins will ultimately cover a small yard, producing at least a half dozen specimens per vine—the smaller the individual fruits, the greater the number per vine. Healthy plants are the product of a substantial root system and, to maintain productivity, they require regular trimming. Pruning and rooted-ness are concepts with instructive value. Jesus drew attention to that reality, as recorded in the Gospel of St. John.. . .read more

Chosen for Blessing ...read more