Category: Catholic Men of Faith
The Paradox of Help
Back in 2006, shortly after I came into the Catholic Church, a friend and fellow parishioner shared an observation with me after Mass one morning which had a profound effect on me: “Randy, I have noticed that you really enjoy helping people. But, you are very uncomfortable when people try to help you. By not [...]
Seven Point Checklist for Catholic Dads
I was talking to a fellow dad over lunch recently about the challenges of raising kids today. After the usual story swapping and a discussion about bad cultural influences, my friend left the table saying, “I need to get back to the office. Next time we get together we should brainstorm a handy checklist for [...]
10 Ways for Men to Increase Work & Family Balance
My wife got run off the road today. Some guy was in a big hurry and didn’t like the fact that Kathi had slowed down to merge onto the highway behind a school bus full of children. So he accelerated from behind her car, and drove up beside her, forcing her onto the berm. After [...]
Surrender and Strength
Few souls understand what God would accomplish in them if they were to abandon themselves unreservedly to Him and if they were to allow His grace to mold them accordingly.” — St. Ignatius Loyola What is the connection between surrender and strength? Surrendering to Christ and putting His will before my own for the first [...]
The Healing Mysteries
An Anglican Encounters the Catholic Rosary As a young Anglican curate from an Evangelical background I wasn’t too sure what to do when a friend gave me a rosary. Not wanting to dismiss a form of prayer which was important to millions of Christians around the world, I got a book which explained the rosary and [...]
Listen My Son — Benedictine Wisdom for Fathers
When your seven -year-old son is screaming and slapping what do you do? Do you wade in screaming and slapping? Do you come down heavy with threats and retaliation? Do you opt out — letting your wife deal with it? A sixth century monk has some wise answers to the everyday challenges of being a [...]
8 Tips for Catholic Men
I had a recent epiphany as I was preparing myself for Reconciliation and realized that I was about to confess many of the same sins I have been struggling with for years. I have made progress in some areas, but feel that I am going backwards in others. Didn’t Einstein once say that the definition of [...]
Responding to the Crisis of Fatherhood
Today, Catholic Americans mark two celebrations: Holy Trinity Sunday and Father’s Day. The feast of the Holy Trinity is an occasion on which not only Catholics seek to deepen their appreciation of the mystery, and enter into the reality, of the communion of persons who is our Triune God. In particular, it’s a day on [...]
A Valuable Lesson in Humility
I am sitting in a mandatory, 2-hour informational meeting related to my decision to volunteer in an activity for one of my sons. It is the fourth time I’ve been required to attend the session during the past six years. I won’t go into details about the content, but you’ll just have to trust me [...]
The Story of Champions
Once upon a time there was a boy named David. His dad was a golf professional, and his family lived on the fifth hole of a modest golf course. Every day David spent hours hitting golf balls, tee to green, over and over again, until the hazy orange light of the setting sun could no [...]
Recent Comments