Bruno, born in 1030, is also known as Saint Bruno the Carthusian for the monastic order he founded. He studied in Reims and was ordained in Cologne in 1055. In 1057 he went back to Reims to lead the school, a post he kept for almost 20 years. He was made chancellor of the church of Reims in 1075 but left soon after in protest of the behavior of new bishop Manasses de Gournai who was finally deposed in 1080. Bruno refused the nomination to replace de Gournai as it was his intention to retire to live in solitude and prayer. He had a vision in a dream to go with Bishop (later Saint) Hugh of Grenoble. Bruno, Hugh, and five other religious settled at Chartreuse and founded the Carthusian order in 1084.

Be careful what you wish for! You’ve probably heard the phrase “Be careful what you wish for.” In my experience, it’s not often utilized with a lot of charity. You usually hear it said as a warning. The unspoken sentiment behind it is this: You’re not as strong as you think you are.

Why does God allow evil and suffering to occur? Looking around at what is happening in the world, it is tempting to get angry with God for not actively intervening. Jesus walked among the suffering and evil of his day. While he healed some things, he simply sat with the sinner, challenged the leaders, and spoke against injustice. Jesus spoke of God’s kingdom and his vision for humanity. But he made it very clear that it is our responsibility to realize this vision.

As adults, unless we are dealing with children, “obedience” is not a word we typically like to hear. It often brings connotations of military protocols, deference to superiors at work, or conforming to laws and practices. In a culture that has learned to challenge authority, being obedient is understood more as something I “have” to do, not “want” to do. Do you ever see merit in wanting to be obedient?

You may know St. Wenceslaus better than you think, he is in fact, the “Good King Wenceslas” from the Christmas carol penned in the 19th century.

Picture it: family game night. What are you playing? Monopoly? Clue? Chess? Poker?   Whatever your game of choice, I’ll bet the night is a lot more fun when everyone tries their best to win. Sure, no one likes an obnoxiously competitive opponent — but if we’re being honest with ourselves, it’s actually more annoying to face off with someone who just doesn’t care. A little competition gives the activity a pulse. It keeps everyone interested. It speaks to the worthiness of the endeavor.

We can be blindly arrogant and selfish. For some, the lens through which we view life is the lens of self-benefit. Having this myopic vision, the plight and station of others are off our radar and of no genuine concern. Being self-sufficient and resilient, we can wonder if all of this “God-talk” is for real.

“If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.” Regardless of how the message of faith is received, a total conversion of mind and heart is needed for it to take root and have meaning.

Best known as Padre Pio, St. Pius was born Francesco Forgione in 1887 in Pietrelcina, Italy. As a young boy he suffered many illnesses including typhoid. He joined Capuchin Franciscans at 15and took the name of Pius or "Pio" in honor of Pope Pius I. He was ordained in 1910, and at this time he received the marks of stigmata, the wounds of Christ, but they eventually healed. Frequent illnesses continued to plague him as a young man.

Most people don’t intend on being selfish. The reality of selfishness usually lies in the grey shades of our decision-making. We would never go out of our way to kick a homeless person begging by the highway exit. We would never steal money from our parish collection plate. 

Human beings are often very clever when managing money and making a profit. Sometimes, we place so much of our sense of security in money that we lower ourselves to deceit and fraud. Our need to produce a profit can easily lead to economic injustice and exploitation.

“You cannot serve both God and mammon.” Merriam-Webster defines mammon as material wealth or possessions, especially having a debasing influence. While God does not take issue with our need to use money for the business of our lives, there can be a problem with the attitudes we bring to it.

Born in Catalonia Spain in 1580, Saint Peter Claver studied at first at the University of Barcelona and then joined the Jesuits. He became friends with fellow brother Saint Alphonsus Rodriguez who encouraged him to be a missionary in the New World. Accordingly, Saint Peter went to Cartagena, a city in present-day Columbia where he was ordained in in 1615.

“It’s not that I want you to do it. It’s that I want you to want to do it.” If you’re married or in a relationship, your partner has probably either said something like this to you or you have said it to them. If one of you hasn’t said it, you have probably wanted to, and it’s likely that a big argument or two was had where you dance around the sentiment, these exact words flashing in your mind like an old-time movie marquee.

“Stand up straight and don’t slouch!” Many a child has heard these words bellowed from their mother’s lips. We need the perspective of others to help us understand when we are not walking as straight as we could be. God sends us the Holy Spirit to correct and guide us so that our paths through life can be straight.

What virtue is the cornerstone of discipleship? Love. Jesus preached about it, lived it, and summarized his greatest commandment featuring it. Love is in our DNA. To follow Jesus, then, is to follow the path of love. While this may appear to be an attractive and easy option, it most assuredly is not. Authentic love always comes with sacrifice.

Saint Gregory the Great lived in a most turbulent time. There were devastating episodes of plague, the sacking of Rome and the breakdown of strong Roman rule, invasions by Lombards and Franks, floods, and a widening gap between imperial Byzantium and the Roman Church.

Some people have “the rich relation” in their family tree. Aunt Cindy, who is always traveling somewhere new and exciting. Cousin Richard and his lake house. Your sister and brother-in-law who buy a new car every year.

“Humble yourself the more, the greater you are.” These words from Sirach are packed with wisdom. Who we become, and the success we achieve, is due not only to our own merits but also to God’s grace. Without God, we cease to be.

People who are concerned with their own advancement and agenda have little room for anyone else. With an almost addictive pursuit of esteem and acknowledgment from others, they become little more than entitled embodiments of the vice of pride. Public humiliation or embarrassment can hit them hard.