Every Christmas, I consider changing this, but I keep coming back to it. I always begin the same way, saying to myself, “I want to write a word to the young people sitting in the pews before Christmas Mass, who may be looking up from their phones long enough to read something from the priest.” Adding, “It should be short, and maybe include a graphic to catch their attention.”

It may have been before the Fall, and I’m sure Thomas Jefferson meant well in declaring that it was in 1776, but it seems that truth is no longer self-evident. Rather, it must be learned. What’s more, we must have it revealed to us. And our Christian claim is that there is only one Man who can reveal it - the One who referred to Himself as “the Way, the Truth, and the Life,” adding, “No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Marian Night: As this Tuesday will fall between the Feast of The Immaculate Conception and the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, I hope you will come to the church at 6PM on that evening (Tuesday the 10th) for a Holy Hour in honor of Our Blessed Mother, which will include music, preached Solemn Vespers, and Benediction. Come, celebrate the wonders of Our Blessed Mother.

Some time ago, an old student of mine called for spiritual counsel. He’s been playing professional baseball since his graduation from high school and faces a tremendous amount of pressure in the big league. I recommended to him a morning prayer routine with Scripture, preferring the beginning of the day, because very little good happens in the night time.

The structure of the Catholic Church is more like a monarchy than a democracy. It’s more of a kingdom than a country. The language alone is a giveaway. We call Christ “Lord,” and the Blessed Mother “Our Lady.” Bishops are referred to as “Excellency,” and cardinals as “Princes of the Church.”

“And when you have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.’” Those words Our Lord spoke to his disciples are certainly among his most unsettling. What could he have meant by them?

On one occasion last week, I woke up thinking about finances - those of the parish and my own as well. Then, in the chapel, the Spirit led me to a meditation on mercy, where I was given to see a relationship between the two.

It was born of remembering something Pope Francis said, which has stayed with me. He said, “Only mercy creates.” I continue to return to that for hope, because it reminds me that although there is much decline in this present age, there is also mercy.

While serving as high school chaplain, I tried all sorts of ways to get the attention of the students. Not seldom, unfortunately, I would try too hard while speaking to them.