Forty-one years ago my dear brother, Thomas, died while I was in Puerto Rico. It was a traumatic experience. I remember hearing the voice of the Lord saying to me: “I am the resurrection and the life.
Dad always went to church with us every Sunday. After dinner one evening, my father summoned my brother and me to a private talk in the living room. I sensed punishment coming, and had my plea ready.
Some years ago there was a movie called “Shadowlands,” the story of the writer C.S. Lewis. Lewis, played by Anthony Hopkins, has trouble seeing suffering as part of the human condition. There is one scene especially that connects with this holy day, this Good Friday.
“Those who do not remember the past are doomed to repeat it.” When we fail to remember fully our past, we fail to master it, learn from it, and make it our own. Rather than living the present, we relive the past.
Happy Birthday, St. John Neumann! We’re happy to celebrate the birthday of our beloved confere by announcing the winners of the third annual St. John Neumann Essay Contest. This year we asked Catholic school students in grades 6-12 to reflect on the topic, "What are some of the obstacles to pursuing a religious or priestly vocation that young men and women face today, and how can they be encouraged to answer God’s call?"
Today’s Gospel focuses on Judas. At the moment of betrayal in the garden, Jesus calls Judas by the affectionate title of “friend.” “Friend,” He says, “why have you come?” Perhaps this is a final effort to save Judas.
By Rev. Joseph Krastel, C.Ss.R. The Spirit of Lent: Seven Lenten Meditations on the Work of the Holy Spirit “We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee, because by thy holy cross, thou hast redeemed the world.” During Lent, especially at the Stations of the Cross, Catholics offer this tribute to Our Redeemer, first phrased by St. Francis of Assisi in the twelfth century.
“Love your enemies.” Jesus is deeply troubled the night before His death. Reclining at table with His closest disciples, He tells them that one of them is about to betray Him. The beloved disciple leans against Jesus’ chest and asks Him to reveal the betrayer’s identity.
Reproduced from the Spring 2013 edition of Plentiful Redemption By Rev. Andrew Costello, C.Ss.R. Mom and Dad had died years ago. They had 2 sons, Jack and Jim, born 5 years apart. Jack, the younger brother, started to have questions about his parents after he hit 55 years of age.
Today’s reading from the Gospel of John focuses on a loving act of the anointing of Jesus’ feet by Mary, the sister of Lazarus. This text points to the major events that will unfold this Holy Week. When Mary washes the feet of Jesus, it is an action that anticipates the foot washing that Our Lord will do for His disciples at the Last Supper.
When I was in grade school, and the teacher asked the class a really tough question, she would often say, “Put on your thinking caps.” Just like pretending to zip up our mouths and be quiet, we would each reach for some imaginary hats and plop them on our heads.
Reproduced from the Spring 2013 edition of Plentiful Redemption. By Rev. John McGowan, C.Ss.R. Editor’s Note: During this Year of Faith, we present a series of reflections from Redemptorists who began their religious and/or priestly lives in the years during or immediately after the Second Vatican Council.
By Rev. Joseph Krastel, C.Ss.R. The Spirit of Lent: Seven Lenten Meditations on the Work of the Holy Spirit At Baptism, the Holy Spirit grafts us like a branch onto Christ, the vine. Also, the Spirit who unites us to Christ gives us seven spiritual gifts that are reinforced at Confirmation.
Reproduced from the Spring 2013 edition of Plentiful Redemption Last fall, the Redemptorists honored Jeff and Brenda Vredenburg with the title of Redemptorist Oblate. The honor is the highest bestowed by the worldwide Congregation on a layperson, and is given in recognition of a person’s commitment to the Redemptorist mission to preach the Good News to the poor and most abandoned.
By Rev. Ray Corriveau, C.Ss.R. Reproduced from Plentiful Redemption, Fall 2009 One of the Redemptorist themes, formulated by the 1985 General Chapters, is “to evangelize the poor and to be evangelized by the poor.” Clement, with his peasant beginnings in Moravia and his own experiences of poverty, already had this Redemptorist stamp imprinted on him, which made him so much at home with the Redemptorists.
As the world welcomed Pope Francis, Redemptorists in the Baltimore Province joined in the celebration. "May God be praised and honored by the election of Pope Francis!" said Baltimore Provincial Kevin Moley .
By Rev. Joseph Krastel, C.Ss.R. The Spirit of Lent: Seven Lenten Meditations on the Work of the Holy Spirit One of the great yearnings of Jesus is unity among his followers. At the Last Supper, Jesus is pictured saying: “That they all may be one, as you, Father are in me and I in you, that they also may be one in us, that the world may believe that you sent me.” (Jn 17:21) Christ entered a world torn by hatreds, mistrust and betrayals.
Reproduced from Spring 2013 edition of Plentiful Redemption By Stephanie K. Tracy On a warm, cloudy day, the streets of the Melrose neighborhood in the South Bronx bustled with people, cars, buses, trucks, bicycles.
In this edition, read about our ministry at Immaculate Conception Parish in the Bronx , situated in the poorest congressional district in the country. Also, as part of our Year of Faith celebration, Fr.
By Rev. Joseph Krastel, C.Ss.R. The Spirit of Lent: Seven Lenten Meditations on the Work of the Holy Spirit During Lent, many Catholics absorb the mood of the season by attending weekday Mass. Getting up early to attend Mass before work; using lunch breaks; or stopping into their parish church for an evening Lenten Mass, people combine Lenten sacrifice with the schedules of nearby churches.