Refugees, courtesy Associated Press IT is one of the most volatile topics in the world right now—and one of the least balanced discussions at that: refugees, and what do with the overwhelming exodus. St. John Paul II called the issue “perhaps the greatest tragedy of all the human tragedies of our time.” [1]Address to Refugees in Exile […]
While writing about the Storm of Fear, Temptation, Division, and Confusion recently, the writing below was lingering in the back of my mind. In today’s Gospel, Jesus says to the Apostles, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” [1]Mark 6:31 There is so much happening, so fast in our world as we approach the Eye of the Storm, that […]
THE NOW WORD ON MASS READINGS for Wednesday, February 1st, 2017 Liturgical texts here Peter’s Denial, by Michael D. O’Brien IT’s a bit surprising, really. After speaking with astounding wisdom and performing mighty deeds, onlookers could only sneer and say, “Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary?”
THE NOW WORD ON MASS READINGS for Monday, January 30th, 2017 Liturgical texts here A monk praying; photo by Tony O’Brien, Christ in the Desert Monastery THE Lord has put many things on my heart to write you in just the past few days. Again, there is a certain sense that time is of the […]
Look Up by Michael D. O’Brien If there is a Storm in our times, will God provide an “ark”? The answer is “Yes!” But perhaps never before have Christians doubted this provision so much as in our times as controversy over Pope Francis rages, and the rational minds of our post-modern era must grapple with the mystical. Nonetheless, […]
“You are the light of the world” (Matt 5:14) AS I attempt to pen this writing to you today, I confess, I have had to start over several times. The reason is that The Storm of Fear to doubt God and His promises, The Storm of Temptation to turn to worldly solutions and security, and The Storm […]
Photo by Darren McCollester/Getty Images TEMPTATION is as old as human history. But what is new about temptation in our times is that sin has never been so accessible, so pervasive, and so acceptable. It could rightly be said that there is a veritable deluge of impurity sweeping through the world. And this has […]
CHRISTMAS is over? You’d think so by the world’s standards. The “top forty” has replaced Christmas music; sales signs have replaced ornaments; lights have been dimmed and Christmas trees kicked to the curb. But for us as Catholic Christians, we are still in the midst of a contemplative gaze at the Word who has become flesh—God become […]
THE NOW WORD ON MASS READINGS for Saturday, December 31st, 2016 The Seventh Day of the Nativity of Our Lord and Vigil of the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God Liturgical texts here Embracing Hope, by Léa Mallett THERE is one word on my heart on this eve of the Solemnity of the […]
THE NOW WORD ON MASS READINGS for Wednesday, December 26th, 2016 Feast of St. Stephen the Martyr Liturgical texts here St. Stephen the Martyr, Bernardo Cavallino (d. 1656) To be a martyr is to feel the storm coming and willingly to endure it at the call of duty, for Christ’s sake, and for the good […]
THE NOW WORD ON MASS READINGS for Wednesday, December 21st, 2016 Liturgical texts here IN the Spring of 2014, I went through a terrible darkness. I felt tremendous doubts, surges of fear, despair, terror, and abandonment. I began one day with prayer as usual, and then… she came.
THE NOW WORD ON MASS READINGS for Tuesday, December 20th, 2016 Liturgical texts here The Annunciation; Sandro Botticelli; 1485 AMONG the most powerful and prophetic words spoken to Mary by the angel Gabriel was the promise that her Son’s Kingdom would never end. This is good news for those who fear that the Catholic Church is in […]
THE NOW WORD ON MASS READINGS for Tuesday, December 13th, 2016 Opt. Memorial of St. John of the Cross Liturgical texts here From the Creation of Adam, Michelangelo, c. 1511 “OH well, I tried.” Somehow, after thousands of years of salvation history, the suffering, death and Resurrection of the Son of God, the arduous […]
As I continue to study the “beast” of Revelation 13, some fascinating things are emerging which I wish to pray and reflect on further before writing them. In the meantime, I am receiving letters of concern again about the growing division in the Church over Amoris Laetitia, the Pope’s recent Apostolic Exhortation. For the moment, I want […]
SEVERAL weeks ago, I wrote that it is time for me ‘to speak directly, boldly, and without apology to the “remnant” who are listening. It is only a remnant of readers now, not because they are special, but chosen; it is a remnant, not because all are not invited, but few respond.’ [1]cf. The Convergence and the Blessing That […]
The following meditation is based on today’s second Mass reading of the first day of Advent 2016. In order to be an effective player in the Counter-Revolution, we must first have a real revolution of the heart… I am like a tiger in a cage. Through Baptism, Jesus has thrown open the door […]
Pope Francis Closes the “Door of Mercy”, Rome, Nov. 20th, 2016, Photo by Tiziana Fabi/ AFP POOL / AFP THE “Door of Mercy” has closed. All across the world, the special plenary indulgence offered at cathedrals, basilicas and other designated places, has expired. But what about the mercy of God in this “time of mercy” in which […]
THE NOW WORD ON MASS READINGS for Tuesday, November 15th, 2016 Memorial of St. Albert the Great Liturgical texts here WHEN Jesus passes by Zacchaeus, He not only tells him to come down from his tree, but Jesus says: Come down quickly! Patience is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, one that few of us […]
I received a number of letters and comments over the weekend from my American friends, nearly all of them cordial and hopeful. I get the sense that some feel I am a bit of a “wet rag” in suggesting that the revolutionary spirit afoot in our world today has not nearly run its course, […]
A word that has given me strength for many years now came from Our Lady in the famed apparitions of Medjugorje. Mirroring the urging of Vatican II and the contemporary popes, she also called us to look at the “signs of the times”, as she implored in 2006: My children, do you not recognize the […]
THE NOW WORD ON MASS READINGS for Thursday, October 27th, 2016 Liturgical texts here St. John Paul II on a prayer walk near Edmonton, Alberta (Arturo Mari; The Canadian Press) IT came to me a few years ago, as clear as a flash of lightning: it will only be by God’s grace that His children will […]
Photo by Janice Matuch A friend connected to the underground Church in China told me of this incident not long ago: Two mountain villagers descended into a Chinese city looking for a specific female leader of the underground Church there. This elderly husband and wife were not Christians. But in a vision, they were given […]
Litany of Humility by Rafael Cardinal Merry del Val (1865-1930), Secretary of State for Pope Saint Pius X O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me. From the desire of being esteemed, Deliver me, Jesus. From the desire of being loved, Deliver me, Jesus. From the desire of being extolled, Deliver […]
PART I The Monastery of the Trinitarians of Mary, Tecate, Mexico ONE might be forgiven for thinking that Tecate, Mexico is the “armpit of Hell.” By day, temperatures can reach nearly 40 degrees Celsius in the summer. The land is pocked with massive rocks making agriculture nearly impossible. Even so, rain rarely visits the […]
THE NOW WORD ON MASS READINGS for Friday, September 1st – 2nd, 2016 Liturgical texts here Associated Press I have returned from Mexico, and am eager to share with you the powerful experience and words that came to me in prayer. But first, to address the concerns noted in a few letters this past month…
THE NOW WORD ON MASS READINGS for Wednesday, August 17th, 2016 Liturgical texts here Our Lady of Grace and the Masters of the Order of Montesa Spanish School (15th century) I AM so blessed, in many ways, by the present mission Jesus has given me in writing you. One day, over tens years ago, the […]
Pope Francis opening “doors of mercy”, December 8th, 2015, St. Peter’s, Rome Photo: Maurizio Brambatti/European Pressphoto Agency FROM the very beginning of his pontificate, when he refused the pomp that often accompanies the papal office, Francis has not failed to stir controversy. With deliberation, the Holy Father has purposely tried to model a different […]
THE NOW WORD ON MASS READINGSfor Friday, August 12th, 2016Opt. Memorial of St. Frances de Chantal Liturgical texts here SEVERAL years ago during the pontificate of St. John Paul II, Cardinal Carlo Caffara (Archbishop of Bologna) received a letter from Fatima visionary, Sr. Lucia. In it, she described what the “Final Confrontation” would be […]
IT is a refugee crisis unseen in magnitude since World War II. It comes at a time when many Western nations have been or are in the midst of elections. That is to say, there is nothing like political rhetoric to cloud the real issues surrounding this crisis. That sounds cynical, but it is a […]
THE NOW WORD ON MASS READINGSfor Thursday, August 4th, 2016Memorial of St. Jean Vianney, Priest Liturgical texts here EVERY day, I receive an email from someone who is upset by something Pope Francis has recently said. Every day. People aren’t sure how to cope with the constant flow of papal statements and perspectives that seem at odds […]
THE NOW WORD ON MASS READINGS for Tuesday, June 28th, 2016 Memorial of St. Irenaeus Liturgical texts here LOOKING over his shoulder at the past 2000 years, and then, the times directly ahead, John Paul II made a profound statement: The world at the approach of a new millennium, for which the whole Church […]
Yonhap/AFP/Getty Images WHAT would it be like to stand in the winds of a hurricane as the eye of the storm approached? According to those who have been through it, there is a constant roar, debris and dust are flying everywhere, and you can barely keep your eyes open; it is hard to stand […]
By Mark Mallett “THAT Pope Francis!” Bill slammed his fist on the table, turning a few heads in the process. Fr. Gabriel smiled wryly. “What now Bill?” “Splash! Did you hear that?” Kevin quipped, leaning across the table, his hand cupped over his ear. “Another Catholic jumping over the Barque of Peter!”
THE NOW WORD ON MASS READINGS for Tuesday, June 14th, 2016Liturgical texts here POPE Francis has thrown open wide the “doors” of the Church in this Jubilee of Mercy, which has passed the halfway mark as of last month. But we might be tempted to deep discouragement, if not fear, as we see not […]
THE NOW WORD ON MASS READINGS for June 7th, 2016 Liturgical texts here Elijah Sleeping, by Michael D. O’Brien THESE are the days of Elijah, that is, the hour of a prophetic witness being called forth by the Holy Spirit. It is going to take on many facets—from the fulfillment of apparitions, to the prophetic […]
THE NOW WORD ON MASS READINGS for June 6th, 2016 Liturgical texts here TO the point: we are entering a period where the earth is plunging into a great darkness, where the light of truth is being eclipsed by the moon of moral relativism. In case one thinks such a statement is fantasy, I […]
The Last Trumpet, photo by Joel Bornzin I have been shaken today, literally, by the voice of the Lord speaking in the depths of my soul; shaken by His inexpressible grief; shaken by the deep concern He has for those in the Church who have utterly fallen asleep.
THE NOW WORD ON MASS READINGS for May 31st, 2016 Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Liturgical texts here Visitation, by Franz Anton Pmaulbertsch (1724-1796) WHEN this present and coming Trial is over, a smaller but purified Church will emerge in a more purified world. There will rise from her soul a song of praise… the […]
AP Photo THE events unfolding around the globe tend to set off a flurry of speculation and even panic among some Christians that now is the time to buy supplies and head for the hills. Without a doubt, the string of natural disasters around the globe, the looming food crisis with drought and the collapse […]
“Two Deaths”, by Michael D. O’Brien IN a response to my article Fear, Fire, and a “Rescue”?, Charlie Johnston wrote At Sea with his perspective on future events, thereby sharing with readers more of the private dialogues we’ve had in the past. This provides, I think, a crucial opportunity to underscore some of the most important aspects of […]
I have received many letters asking me to comment on Amoris Laetitia, the Pope’s recent Apostolic Exhortation. I have done so in a new section in the greater context of this writing from July 29th, 2015. If I had a trumpet, I would blare this writing through it… I often hear both Catholics […]
from Pentecost by El Greco (1596) OF course, a reflection on the “gift of tongues” is going to stir controversy. And this doesn’t surprise me since it is probably the most misunderstood of all charisms. And so, I hope to answer some of the questions and comments I’ve received over the past few days on this […]
Christ and the Good Thief, Titian (Tiziano Vecellio), c. 1566 THERE is so much confusion today as to what “love” and “mercy” and “compassion” mean. So much so that even the Church in many places has lost her clarity, the force of truth that at once beckons sinners and repels them. This is no more evident […]
THERE is a far greater plan behind the Lenten Retreat which so many of you just participated in. The call at this hour to intense prayer, the renewal of the mind, and faithfulness to the Word of God is actually a preparation for Reign—the reign of the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in […]
BASKING in the warmth of the charcoal fire Jesus has lit through our Lenten Retreat; sitting in the glow of His nearness and Presence; listening to the ripples of His ineffable Mercy gently caressing the shore of my heart… I have a few random thoughts left over from our forty days of reflection.