Radio appearance tomorrow: 7 am ET on Morning Air

The fine folks at Morning Air have invited me on to speak tomorrow at 7 am ET, and the topic of choice will be Advent. Because believe it or not, the season of Advent is literally only a month away (but how!?).

You can listen to the program online by clicking on and opening this player in your browser; or you can find where Relevant Radio is carried on your local radio station.

Fond memories: the first time I ever went on the show, four years ago, was to talk about my article, 5 Ways to Make the Most of Advent. Tomorrow, though, I will be talking more about Advent in the context of this bizarre and trying (and seemingly never-ending) year. I believe Catholic traditions are important for a lot of internal and external reasons; they help us mark the passage of time, they help us feel connected to a larger body or movement (identity), and they can even serve as a means of evangelization to others.

However, in a year as broke-down as this one, I would not be surprised if it takes extra work on the part of Catholics to commit to, and be intentional about, observing the Advent season. It has been hard to maintain faith with church closures, record levels of Catholic church vandalism, general persecution of practicing Christians in America, and a lack of access to the sacraments. Do I really have to put in effort now, at the end of the year? Why not just drink your way through the holidays, eh? Forget your devotional, and acts of service, and lighting the candles. Let’s just get this year over with.

So I want to encourage people to - not do that. Instead, really do Advent. Don’t give into grief or a feeling of helplessness. Ultimately, it is a season of waiting (something which we have gotten very good at this year), in hopeful, and joyful, anticipation of the birth of Christ. So have a Christmas poetry reading (even if virtually). Contribute to your parish’s holiday food drive. Buy a devotional and spend ten minutes in prayer and reflection each morning (I’ll be doing Bishop Barron’s). And make a determination now, as to what your Advent practices will be. As I point out in that article, it’s not a competition, and the purpose is to bring you closer to God. Let’s bring it home strong, shall we? Take that, enemy of our human nature. And 2021, whatever you have in store, may God give us the grace to get through it.

A buncha prayin' you can do

Friends, everyone and their mama is praying a novena these days, and I’m pleased as punch. Got an impossible cause? Pulling your hair out because of the election? Never fear! There’s a novena for that. As Padre Pio said, Pray, hope, and don’t worry.

Here’s a few of the ones I have noticed are occurring right now:

Pray More Novenas: Novena to St. Jude, Patron of Impossible Causes

From PMN: “Saint Jude is the patron of Hopeless Causes and Desperate Situations. Pray these novena prayers to Saint Jude with confidence. Catholics have relied on his intercession in times of extreme need for centuries. This Apostle and Martyr has helped countless souls through his epistle in the New Testament and his intercessions on behalf of those who seek his aid in times of trial. Pray this novena for your intentions asking St. Jude to intercede to God the Father, His Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit on your behalf.”

Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara (SSVM): Litany of the Immaculate Conception

From SSVM: “As the upcoming elections approach and in light of the recent events we have experienced as a country, we are reminded of the great importance and efficacy of prayer, especially through the intercession of our Immaculate Mother, patroness of the “Land of the Free”. We ask you to join us in invoking Mary, Immaculate Conception, for the United States of America, especially by praying the Litany of the Immaculate Conception (1476).”

I am praying the St. Jude. I suppose I am a novena purist because I do not like to have more than one going at a time - seems disrespectful. Rather pray one with my whole heart.

Anyway, I hope you are well. And I hope these prayers will help you be well and harmonious with God and the times he has chosen us to live in.

Children of Abraham

I had an interesting thing happen during prayer this morning.

I was praying the Catena, the prayer of the Legion of Mary, which contains an adaptation of Mary’s Magnificat. These words for some reason stood out to me today:

He protects Israel His servant,
remembering His mercy,
The mercy promised to our fathers,
to Abraham and his sons for ever.

And I thought, are Abraham’s sons just his Jewish descendants? Are Christians his sons and daughters?

Cut to the first reading for today, which I read immediately after, and which comes from Galatians 3:7-14:

Brothers and sisters:
Realize that it is those who have faith
who are children of Abraham.

Whoa! St. Paul continues:

Scripture, which saw in advance that God
would justify the Gentiles by faith,
foretold the good news to Abraham, saying,
Through you shall all the nations be blessed.
Consequently, those who have faith are blessed
along with Abraham who had faith.
For all who depend on works of the law are under a curse;
for it is written, Cursed be everyone
who does not persevere in doing all the things
written in the book of the law.
And that no one is justified before God by the law is clear,
for the one who is righteous by faith will live.
But the law does not depend on faith;
rather, the one who does these things will live by them.
Christ ransomed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us,
for it is written, Cursed be everyone who hangs on a tree,
that the blessing of Abraham might be extended
to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus,
so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

So, there’s your answer. I do not know what it was in the Magnificat that drew my attention to wondering about Abraham’s children this morning, but I will credit my guardian angel for making me pay attention to something I ought to be paying attention to. Further, that is not the end of the story: I will return to these words and see what else God wants to bring out. And I am glad to know that by faith I am one of Abraham’s.