When Jesus had driven out a demon, some of the crowd said: “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.” Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven. But he knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and… Read More Frassati Reflection: Masking Our Demons

From the time the Lord led our ancestors out of the land of Egypt until the present day, we have been disobedient to the Lord, our God, and only too ready to disregard his voice. —Baruch 1:19 In today’s Gospel, the people of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum reject Jesus even after seeing Him perform mighty… Read More Frassati Reflection: Harmony and Dissonance

On this Feast of the Archangels, I thought I would share from a piece on angels I wrote a few years ago: I imagine angels to be like responsible teenagers asked to babysit their toddler siblings. I’m sure that my own guardian angel is often exasperated with me, as tends to happen when babysitting mischievous… Read More Frassati Reflection: Feast of the Archangels

For we brought nothing into the world, just as we shall not be able to take anything out of it. —1 Timothy 6:7 Think only how you may live, as it were, alone with God, removed from the world, the simple and pure life of the spirit, as though your soul were already in eternity…… Read More Frassati Reflection: The Root of Our Hope

When we encounter suffering, we sometimes plead with God, asking what we have done to deserve such pain. But when we look at Mary, we realize even she who was entirely innocent and pure was asked to endure great suffering and sorrow. Our suffering is not a punishment for wrongdoing; it is a gift, even… Read More Frassati Reflection: Our Lady of Sorrows

Anne, blessed above all others, we, too, bring our reverence, for you have given birth to the girl from whom He will come Who is the basis of all our hope. Blessed, indeed, above all others, and blessed in your offspring! The tongues of all believers sing the praises of your child. Every voice is… Read More Frassati Reflection: Feast of the Nativity of Mary

Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour. —Matthew 25:13 Pray, hope, and don’t worry. —St. Pio of Pietrelcina The parable of the wise virgins is a wake-up call for us to arise from complacency and be attentive to our salvation. However, Jesus is not telling us here to be anxious as… Read More Frassati Reflection: Stay Awake

“[T]hey would relapse and do worse than their ancestors, following other gods in service and worship, relinquishing none of their evil practices or stubborn conduct.” —Judges 2:19 Worshiping the one true God means kneeling before something far beyond our understanding. Everyone worships at some kind of altar: we glorify art, intelligence, health, success, affection. We… Read More Frassati Reflection: Yielding to Mystery

“The most deadly poison of our time is indifference.” —St. Maximilian Kolbe “There are two irreconcilable enemies in the depth of every soul: good and evil, sin and love. And what use are the victories on the battlefield if we ourselves are defeated in our innermost personal selves?” —St. Maximilian Kolbe When St. Maximilian Kolbe… Read More Frassati Reflection: Feast of St. Maximilian Kolbe

The children of Israel lamented, “Would that we had meat for food! We remember the fish we used to eat without cost in Egypt, and the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. But now we are famished; we see nothing before us but this manna.” —Numbers 11:4b–6 He said to them,… Read More Frassati Reflection: Feast and Famine