Whatever one’s faith you must have to admit it requires a little faith in mystery and surrender to the same. This Labor day begins the last third of the year and before you know it, you will be seeing and hearing Christmas Carols and decorations. But it is the perfect day to pause, gather one’s…

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The author concludes his book Always We Begin Again by reminding the reader of some basic precepts.   Lead one’s life faithful to one’s best character. Exercise patience with our own and other’s faults. No book or words can accomplish what is necessary in one’s own life. Life cannot be totally understood only experienced. Love…

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I am hearing more and more often people say about religion that is the cause and impetus for great wars, cruelty, and inhumanity. Certainly, what is happening in the Middle East is feeding that type of reasoning. I hear it as well from young people as a reason to avoid joining a church or attending…

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One of the best experiences one has on “sabbatical” is learning about service to others with humility. Similar to the Benedictine rule, life in the “monastery” called prison is very similar, except there are not a lot of Gregorian chants from the brothers. Rap and hip hop are heard a lot more than chanting. But…

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  Around Christmas time I usually get the question, “What do you want for Christmas?” My answer is usually something like, “I don’t need a thing.” I am then told by the recipient of my answer, that I’m not being helpful.   In the Benedictine way of thought, our needs should be very small, and our…

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