Prayer of St. Francis
The anonymous text that is usually called the Prayer of Saint Francis (or Peace Prayer, or Simple Prayer for Peace, or Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace) is a widely known Christian prayer for peace. Often associated with the Italian Saint Francis of Assisi (c. 1182 – 1226), but entirely absent from his writings, the prayer in its present form has not been traced back further than 1912. Its first known occurrence was in French, in a small spiritual magazine called La Clochette (The Little Bell), published by a Catholic Church organization in Paris named La Ligue de la Sainte-Messe (The League of the Holy Mass). The author’s name was not given, although it may have been the founder of La Ligue, Father Esther Bouquerel. The prayer was heavily publicized during both World War I and World War II. It has been frequently set to music by notable songwriters and quoted by prominent leaders, and its broadly inclusive language has found appeal with diverse faiths encouraging service to others.
Trinity Sunday
“My Life with the Walter Boys,” “Vampire Diaries,” “Twilight,” “Stranger Things,” and “Outer Banks,” what do all of these things have in common? Love triangles. And not the most wholesome love triangles. Today, we celebrate the solemnity of the most blessed Trinity, the most perfect, epic love triangle, the love relationship between the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. This is what…
Pentecost 2024
Okay, so I promise I am not a pagan. In Greek mythology, the God Prometheus steals heavenly fire and gives it to the people on earth. The gods, especially Zeus, are so upset that they condemn Prometheus to eternal punishment because they are jealous and want to withhold the fire. This is the crazy thing. Today, on Pentecost, it’s the opposite, that our Father in Heaven gives us his fire…
God Stays
So, two couples I’m preparing for marriage chose this Sunday’s Gospel for their wedding. So, I asked both couples the same question: “Why did you choose this reading?” Couple number one responded, “Yeah, we chose this gospel because it was the shortest option.” And I was like, “Bruh.” The second couple replied, “We chose this gospel because God wants to remain with us…
Ascension Day
Have you ever been away from home for a long time? And then you finally get back home, and suddenly, you walk into your house, and all of the fears, anxieties, and worries dissolve, and you feel safe. It’s amazing. And this Sunday, we celebrate the ascension, which is Jesus Christ going back home. The crazy thing is that this is not just for Jesus. This is for us. We one day will be…
Jesus Vs. The Worst of You
If you are a human being, you’ve probably used this phrase before, “I told you so.” I don’t use that phrase often, but it’s told to me a lot. In the gospel for this Sunday, Jesus has the perfect opportunity to say to Peter, “I told you so. Peter, I said you would deny me. I told you so.” Instead of rubbing Peter’s sins in his face, Jesus takes the worst moment in Peter’s life and redeems it into the most beautiful moment of his…