Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,   St. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians is a powerful read. The passage we hear at Mass this weekend comes from the seventh chapter and may, at first blush, seem a bit odd. It sounds almost as though St. Paul is discouraging marriage. In fact, St. Paul is situating marriage and celibacy in the context of a much broader theology of the Church, and laying the groundwork for a world vision that merits theological reflection and spiritual contemplation. To understand the letter, and thus to understand St. Paul’s theological points, it is helpful…read more

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,   In the last two weeks, this space has been dedicated to the first sacrament we received, Baptism. On the day of our spiritual rebirth, we were washed in the waters of Baptism. This sacrament freed us from original sin and brought us into the life of grace. Unfortunately, we live in a fallen world. As such, we find ourselves after baptism still fighting against sin and temptation, still, it seems at times, irresistibly drawn to sin and its consequences. This human condition, inclined to sin, is called “concupiscence.” We find ourselves plagued by…read more

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,   Last week, this column dealt with the subject of the sacrament of Baptism. This foundational sacrament, necessary for salvation, brings us into the life of the Church, opens us to the grace of God available in the other sacraments, washes us free of original sin, and bestows on us our true identity as sons and daughters of our heavenly Father. We saw last week how important it is to make planning and preparing for baptism (especially of children) a priority, and how the administration of baptism should not be delayed unnecessarily. An important…read more

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Today’s celebration of the feast of the Baptism of our Lord brings the Christmas season to a close. On this day, the Church meditates on the ending of Jesus’ hidden life, and looks forward to the beginnings of His public ministry to the world. The Church also presents the event of Jesus’ baptism as the reason behind the Sacrament of Baptism which we received in infancy, or in some cases, as adults. In this first Christian sacrament, this gateway into the life of grace, God takes simple acts and simple elements, and uses them…read more