The movie Romero is based on the true story of Archbishop Oscar Romero and the political unrest in El Salvador during the 1970s. The movie depicts the horrendous human rights violations that the government was committing against the Salvadoran people. Women were being raped and killed; everyday laborers were sometimes slaughtered at random; and priests, too, were being murdered. Romero, the archbishop of San Salvador, became a voice for the voiceless speaking out against the abuses, and he paid the ultimate price. On March 24, 1980, he was shot to death while celebrating Holy Mass. Read more »
Feeling Burdened? Surrender
Are You Missing the Gift of the Present?
So you have a problem. You find that you’re spending way too much time either dwelling on the past or thinking about the future. You truly want to stop, but you don’t know how; the past and the future are constantly luring you with their voices, and you keep listening to them.
You wonder why you’re constantly restless and why you lack interior peace and joy, but the answer is right before you—literally right before you. It’s called the present moment. Read more »
Which is Better: Self-Help or Friendship with Jesus?
The other day, as I was driving south on Route 95, I was awestruck by the autumn foliage. A couple of times I was tempted to stop and look, but that’s not the smartest thing to do when you’re on the highway during rush hour. However, when I was on the back roads about a mile from my parent’s house, I was able to stop for a few moments on a small bridge and take in a picture-perfect autumn-in-New England scene: the sun was shining, the trees along the river’s edge seemed to be on fire, brilliant with spectacular reds and yellows, and their colors were reflecting on the water. A “thank you Lord” welled up in my heart.
Life is so rich when our hearts are fully aware of the Lord’s presence and the daily gifts that He gives us. But how can we live each day with an awakened heart? How can we see not only the beauty of creation each day, but also the beauty of our lives? Pope Benedict gives us the best answer. Read more »
The Heart’s Deepest Longing
The deepest longing of the human heart is to love and to be loved; and what’s so amazing is that no one needs to teach us this truth. We know it innately. Our hearts long for love and we want to love back. But this longing to love and be loved often gets people into trouble because they try to fill that longing with things that simply can’t satisfy. Think, for example, of people who live promiscuously. They are, as the song says, looking for love in all the wrong places. As they try to satisfy their longing for love, they are left empty. Read more »
Whose Voice are You Listening to?
Do you hear voices? If you answered yes to this question while undergoing a psychological evaluation, the doctor may conclude that you’re schizophrenic. But it’s true that each day we do hear different voices. One voice discourages us while the other encourages us; one voice accuses us while the other comes to our aid; one [...]
The Solution to Your Sorrow
It’s impossible to be selfish and happy at the same time. I know this from experience, for if I’m honest with myself, I find the days that I am most miserable are the days that I am too focused on myself: on my problems, my frustrations, my weaknesses. I’m certain the same is true for [...]
Why Jesus is Different–and Why it Matters to Us
In 1925, the New York World publication celebrated the birthday of Abraham Lincoln with a cartoon that has become something of a classic. Two Kentucky farmers are pictured talking over a picket fence. One asks, “Anything new happen lately?” The other responds, “Nothing much. A new baby was born over at Tom Lincoln’s place, but [...]
Love Your Weakness
I don’t know about you, but there are moments when I am deeply aware of my weaknesses. These moments can be discouraging, and sometimes even frightening, because I become acutely aware of how capable I am of choosing sin over virtue, selfishness over selfless love, myself over the Lord. Our weaknesses can overwhelm us with [...]
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