The Seed
Good Laws Make Good Citizens
Posted by Erin Elking on 6/22/22
For any society to function well, there needs to be a good system of just laws by which citizens can order their lives. This is true in civil society, but also in the society of the Church. The Church is a society – it is God’s Society, His Kingdom ... Read More »
Eucharist-centered Living
Posted by Erin Elking on 6/15/22
Today the Church celebrates what is her official Eucharistic Solemnity, her “official act of homage and gratitude to Christ, who by instituting the Holy Eucharist gave to her greatest treasure” (Parsch, The Church’s Year of Grace, v.III, 17). The Eucharist is for us the never-ending fulfillment of Christ’s promise ... Read More »
Fathers in Faith
Posted by Erin Elking on 6/09/22
We reflect upon mothers and motherhood in May, and in the same way, I think we can reflect upon fathers and fatherhood during the month of June. There is much evidence that fatherhood is in a crisis today: there are many homes in which the father is absent, and ... Read More »
The Sacred Heart and Christian Living
Posted by St. Henry Parish on 6/01/22
June is a special month in the Church set aside for devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. While this and many other devotions have become less prominent in recent decades, “the Church has always valued, and still does, the devotion to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus so ... Read More »
Gratitude, Heads up, and Congratulations
Posted by St. Henry Parish on 5/27/22
Gratitude
Our porch chats at the rectory went very well. Thank you to everyone who made the trip to the prairie for socializing, conversation, and growth in mutual understanding and affection. When it centered on changes in the parishes, our conversation was “lively” at times, but charity prevailed and ... Read More »
Pray for Priests
Posted by St. Henry Parish on 5/20/22
This weekend, the Archdiocese of Cincinnati ordained 7 men to the Sacred Priesthood of Jesus Christ. I was in seminary with them and know them to be good, faithful men pursuing the call to holiness; it is a blessing for the Church that they have said “yes” to Lord. ... Read More »
Family Council
Posted by St. Henry Parish on 5/12/22
I know “Beacons of Light” is becoming a bit of a “bad word” and we may be tired of hearing about it, but it is one of the primary challenges standing before us today, one that has great potential if we maintain a spirit of hope. Recently, I reiterated ... Read More »
To Jesus Through Mary
Posted by St. Henry Parish on 5/05/22
In May, the Church gives us a yearly opportunity to give special attention to our Blessed Mother. While she should never be far from our minds and our hearts, in May (and in October as well), we look to her more intently as our mother, our teacher, and our ... Read More »
The Eucharist and Holiness
Posted by St. Henry Parish on 4/25/22
As we celebrate our children’s First Holy Communion this month, all of us have an opportunity to reflect upon our relationship to the Eucharist. Two things are helpful for us to consider in this regard: devotion and piety. Devotion is a certain ardor of affection in the things of ... Read More »
Consuming Easter Glory
Posted by St. Henry Parish on 4/21/22
During the eight days following Easter Sunday, the Church provides us with beautiful meditations in the Liturgy of the Hours (the Liturgy of the Hours is a collection of psalms, Scripture passages, Church writings, and prayers that every bishop, priest, deacon, and religious promise to pray multiple times every ... Read More »