Servant of God Dorothy Day was an American journalist, social activist, and Catholic convert who co-founded the Catholic Worker Movement. Her work inspired countless others and earned her recognition as one of the most influential Catholic figures of the 20th century.

Of all the many wonderful, thorough examinations of conscience I have come across, the one I normally utilise is very simple, and perfectly suited to someone like me who is not capable of profound thought at the end of the day. It’s just one very short question: Which Christs did I not recognize today?

Growing up Catholic means I must have heard a million times the  passage in Matthew’s Gospel about how do- ing things for the “least of these” means you have done them for Jesus. Okay, that is an exaggeration to make a point. But it has been a slogan for so many social justice activities, from clothing and canned food drives, to letter writing campaigns and peaceful protests.

Blessed Carlos Manuel or, Blessed Charlie, was a Puerto Rican layman who dedicated his life to serving the Church. He worked and studied diligently to spread his love of the Catholic faith, especially the liturgy and sacred music to all those he touched.

When my grandfather died, my parents, siblings, and I were left with the question: what’s to become of the house?   Anyone who has inherited property knows that it’s not simply a matter of assuming ownership of a plot of land upon which sits four walls and a roof. Those four walls and a roof usually contain memories and objects — an enormous volume of both, in the case of my grandfather. When they’re left to you, you have to sift through them, the memories and the objects, and with each one you have to think: Is it worth it? Do I keep it? Will I need it?

When I was a kid, I hated playing Monopoly because my siblings and friends always seemed to win. But worse was how it happened. Scared to risk my fake money on buying properties, I’d hold on to it. My opponents hungrily bought up the various real estate squares on the board. Then, inevitably, my poor, low-equity self would land on their spots, pay them rent, and my money would drain to zero. It seemed so unfair. The rich get richer, and the poor get poorer. I had to learn that monopoly money is meant to be spent. I was scared to lose some of it. So, I lost all of it.

Saint Rose-Philippine Duchesne was a French Roman Catholic religious sister and missionary who served France during the French Revolution before immigrating to the USA. She established the First Sacred Heart convent in North America and dedicated her life in service to the poor.

I think if any of us were asked the question, “Do you love wisdom? Do you seek wisdom?” we would, at first, be a little taken aback. And then we would answer quickly “Of course!” with absolutely no doubt in our minds.

Lately I’ve been enjoying the deep meaning of Eastern icons. I love how they express a tapestry of meaning in a way that can surpass the written or spoken word. Today’s parable of the ten virgins from Jesus is a good example. Try googling “wise and foolish virgins icon” and you’ll see an image of how our Christ meets our heart’s deepest needs if we attend to him with the proper attitude. 

Venerable Mother Henriette DeLille was a woman of faith, perseverance, and service who dedicated her life to the people of New Orleans. Her courage, compassion, and dedication to the oppressed was a shining example of what it means to live a life of service and love.

“Mommy, you haven’t been making any sacrifices.”   My daughter was peering through the little opening in the plastic cover of the “sacrifice jar” we made for Lent this year. The repurposed oatmeal container, jazzed up with glitter glue and pictures of St. Therese of Lisieux, was more than half-filled with little slips of paper bearing descriptions of the various sacrifices family members had made for one another.

Last Easter season a new convert to Catholicism at my parish asked me with a grave tone in her voice: “Why do we call priests ‘father’ if Jesus says, ‘Call no man on earth your father, for you have one Father, who is in heaven’?” Thinking myself clever, I asked, “Do you think it’s okay to call someone your ‘teacher’ or ‘mister’ or ‘dad’?” She said, “Yes, I do.” I responded, “Well, Jesus seems to forbid that, too. So, it’s obviously hyperbole that he’s using.” She thought for a moment and declared, “Then I will stop using those words, too!” And she walked away. Not the outcome I was seeking. 

Blessed Father Francis Xavier Seelos was a German immigrant and Redemptorist priest deeply committed to serving those marginalized in the USA during the 1800s. He was known for his gentle and compassionate nature and his tireless dedication to the poor and the sick.

One of the quickest things you learn as a parent is how dangerous it is to explain too much, especially when your kid is teetering on the brink of a rebellion. The fewer words you use, the more power they have. A kid who is about to be carried away by their feelings needs to be brought back to earth with a tether made of short, succinct directions.

In our secularized culture, we all struggle with belief in God, at least to some degree. An atheist man named Robert Bridges once wrote to his friend, the Jesuit poet Gerard Manley Hopkins, asking how he could possibly learn to believe in God. Hopkins pithily responded: “Give alms.” Would that help someone tempted by atheism today, like you and me?

Venerable Rafael Cordero y Molina dedicated his life to the free education of children in Puerto Rico. Born into a black family and, thus, barred from the local schools as a child, he established a school committed to inclusion and provided free education for any in need.

Too often, I confuse this world with the next.   Every day has its set of problems that need dealing with. Some are very easily discernible as problems of this world: I am tired, and I need a nap and a latte. Some are very obviously problems of eternity: I need to ask for forgiveness, but I’m not ready to admit it.

With little more than a year until the elections, I find myself feeling, like many Catholics, both dread and energized. Dread, because our democratic republic can be a messy endeavor and campaigns a long, nasty, and unedifying slog; energized, because hope for positive societal change can be enticing and engaging. As a pastor, I see similar conflicting attitudes in those whom I serve. How can Catholics best engage our political arena in a way which is truly helpful and worthwhile?

Saint Rafael Guízar y Valencia was a Catholic bishop who cared for the poor in Mexico. He bravely continued his mission while in exile, in the face of constant life-threating conflicts with the Mexican government.

I like to think that any self-respecting doomsday prepper would find something to admire in my van’s stores of extra clothes, snacks, boredom-busting toys, sunscreen, and seasonal outerwear. You never know when you’re going to pass a free splash pad or a particularly amazing sledding hill. And you never know when one of the kids is going to find the world’s most irresistible mud pile or fall into a river.