In an active life

In an active life is sown the seed of wisdom; but he who reflects not, never reaps; has no harvest from it, but carries the burden of age without the wages of experience; nor knows himself old, but from his infirmities, the parish register, and the contempt of mankind. And age, if it has not … Read more

I do not know

I do not know how to love God except by loving the poor. I do not know how to serve God except by serving the poor…. Here, within this great city of nine million people, we must, in this neighborhood, on this street, in this parish, regain a sense of community which is the basis … Read more

I think our shepherds,

I think our shepherds, our pastors, can take for instance, Chapter Four [of Amoris Laetitia], ‘Vive l’amore’ (‘How to live love’). It’s a great catechesis. You can take it chapter by chapter, passage by passage, and work through it in the parish, in the communities. It’s a great catechesis on marital and familial love. And … Read more

And what an example

And what an example of the power of dress young Oliver Twist was! Wrapped in the blanket which had hitherto formed his only covering, he might have been the child of a nobleman or a beggar;—it would have been hard for the haughtiest stranger to have fixed his station in society. But now he was … Read more

Do you know, we’re

Do you know, we’re right underneath Springtime Parish? This place is the opposite of springtime. Everything past prime, boarded up for the season. Just above us, the light shines golden on daffodils full of rainwine and heartgrass and a terrible, wicked, sad girl I can’t get back to. I don’t even know if I want … Read more