Thinking about St. Paul this morning. You know the guy: persecutor of the first followers of Jesus, struck blind by the revelation of Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus (Acts 9). Do we remember the story?

It’s been said that 2 of the greatest gifts God can give you is to be present at the moment of someone’s birth and at the moment of someone’s death.

Just some guy??? It’s that time of year again. Christmas is no sooner over and we are already to set our sights on Easter.

Isn’t there something about new things? In their crisp pristine newness, they are both captivating and appealing.

HEY, there is NO Fourth Week of Advent! Instead we springboard right from that sneaky Fourth Sunday right onto Christmas Eve.

“It’s beginning to look a lot like Gaudete Sunday” . . . said NO ONE EVER! Yet that’s where we are, the third Sunday of Advent.

Mary do we know?... Do we know how awesome you are, holy and full of grace? That because of your “May it be done to me according to your word” (LK 1:38), all that we celebrate now is possible?

Abide with Me these days of ADVENT: I’m waiting in joyful hope for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ. He Who is, was, and is to come. Jesus is the greatest of our sacred mysteries, and the season of Advent brings us face to face with this trifold mystery.

Is Jesus Christ my King? There comes a time when we all will have to answer this question definitively. My guess is that when He asks, He will already know our answer.

Our Call to Holiness: Really? Even me? God help me...which is exactly the point! It absolutely takes God’s help and grace to help us to become holy.

The Four Last Things: The Church is clear about the last things that I must face. They are the same for all of us: death, judgement, heaven, hell. (Not purgatory. Purgatory means we've made it and are on the way to heaven!)

“To keep death daily before one’s eyes.” (RB 4:47) It’s November. Notice anything different in church?

“Go to the Madonna. Love her! Always say the Rosary. Say it well. Say it as often as you can! Be souls of prayer. Never tire of praying, it is what is essential. Prayer shakes the Heart of God, it obtains necessary graces!” —St. Padre Pio