A Brain-Teaser with a Consoling Twist
John H. Hampsch, cmf Here’s a head-scratcher for you. Imagine the earth as a smooth, non-mountainous ball, girded by a metal band at the equator. Now imagine enlarging that 25,000-mile band by, let us...
View ArticleTo be Forgiven, Forgive
The greatest challenge of Christian spirituality is to believe that no one is intrinsically unlovable, and no one is intrinsically unforgivable. No one can keep you from loving or forgiving, although...
View ArticleTHE AFFLICTED COMFORTING THE AFFLICTED
John H. Hampsch, cmf One of the many purposes of suffering—one seldom recognized as such—is its ability to equip us to comfort and encourage others effectively; it fashions us into more refined...
View ArticleThe Theology of Hero-Worship
John H. Hampsch, cmf After one of Bill Cosby’s performances a young couple went backstage hoping to get the comedian’s autograph on the baby book that was to chronicle the infancy of their newborn...
View ArticleBeautiful Reasons for Praying the Rosary Even More Often
By: Father Gabriel Amorth, Chief Exorcist of the Vatican writes: One day a colleague of mine heard the devil say during an exorcism, “Every Hall Mary is like a blow on my head. If Christians knew how...
View ArticlePrayer Preference—and Its Limits
John H. Hampsch, cmf Just as each person favors a certain lifestyle, preferred types of food, or choice of entertainment, so also every praying Christian has his or her own “personalized” modality of...
View ArticlePrayer of the Amateur—the “Gimme” Response
John H. Hampsch, cmf Everybody enjoys that endless litany of knock-knock jokes. So let’s try one now. Here goes. “Knock-knock.” “Who’s there?” “Art” “Art who?” “Artcha gonna let me in? If that quip...
View ArticleSummary Response to Objections to Mary’s Perpetual Virginity
Perhaps the most persistent objection to Mary’s post partum virginity is the frequent scriptural references to Jesus’ “brothers” (e.g., Matthew 13:55, Mark 3:31-35, Luke 8:20, John 2:12 and 7:3-5, Acts...
View ArticleEucharist Question: Why do we have two forms of Communion?
Question: If it is true that, in receiving the consecrated Host at Mass, we receive the entire Christ—his human body and blood with his created human soul, along with his uncreated divinity, then what...
View ArticleHomosexuality—Hereditary or Acquired?
The question of homosexuality as an inherited trait, rather than environmentally caused, is a very problematical issue among some sociologists, although the vast majority of professionals in this field...
View ArticleMuslims and Christians –Is Unity Possible by the “Chr – Islam” Movement?
John H. Hampsch, cmf In this ecumenical issue, several distinctions need to be made. First, as Pope Francis said,, even atheists can be saved by virtue of their sincerity of conscience; for those...
View ArticleFirst things First—Prioritize Your Life
A successful businessman was zipping along through a residential district in his new Jaguar, at a somewhat reckless speed, when he heard a thud that told him something had hit his car door. He skidded...
View ArticleGhosts and Purgatory—a Conjectural Insight
What most Catholics don’t know is that Mary said at Medjugorje that there are many forms of purgatory that extend beyond our traditional views of that transitional state of heaven-bound human souls. I...
View ArticleFirst things First—Prioritize Your Life (revised)
A successful businessman was zipping along through a residential district in his new Jaguar, at a somewhat reckless speed, when he heard a thud that told him something had hit his car door. He skidded...
View ArticleYour Presence is Requested
“Stay here and watch with me” (Matt. 26:38) Recent medical research has shown, statistically, that post-operative hospital patients who experience frequent or prolonged visits from concerned family...
View ArticleInvocation to Mary, Mother of the Church
O Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, we entrust to you the entire Church. Remember all your sons and daughters; make their prayer effective before God; preserve them solid in faith; strengthen their...
View ArticlePoint/Counterpoint: He Said/She Said
The following playground conversation took place between two first-grader twins, one an avid feminist and the other an intransigent anti-feminist: The little girl questioned her twin brother, “Tommy,...
View ArticleParadise is Not Heaven
Gospel Reading: Luke 23:35-43 A young priest boasted to his pastor, “I feel that my sermon was really anointed today. I had the people glued to their seats.” “Well,” said the Monsignor, “I guess that’s...
View ArticlePrayer for Universal Triumph over Evil (click on title)
O Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and the Holy Spirit, through the mighty intercession of the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God and our Mother, and through the intercessions of St. Joseph her Spouse, St....
View ArticleWhat Do Angels Do All Day? (click on title)
For some, the Bible’s definition of angels seems to be consoling, but for others, almost threatening. The citation I refer to is Hebrews 1:14: Angels are “ministering spirits sent to serve those who...
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