Saturday, March 31, 201809Lent is almost over, and many of us are already evaluating our Lenten resolutions. How did you do? Did you keep your resolutions? Let me suggest a few things to keep in mind as we reflect on our resolutions.
Tuesday, February 6, 2018026
By Father John Bayer
Special to The Texas Catholic
A thorny theological problem that occupies many people is the relationship between divine grace and human freedom. Nothing happens apart from the will of God, who creates and governs all things. And yet, we are still free to choose whether to go left or right every time we stand...
Monday, November 27, 2017036Christ commands us to love with “all” our heart, soul and mind (Mt 22:34-40). But what does that look like? To speak about “all” a heart is to speak about a “pure” heart: a simple, whole and straightforward heart, free from anything extraneous. When we love purely, we are unified by a single love.
Thursday, October 19, 2017058Confession is a great gift of Catholic spirituality. Thankfully, we enjoy it at every Mass; and, hopefully, we enjoy it sacramentally at least once a year. Catholic faith has always insisted upon freedom and so upon the need to examine our conscience and to accept responsibility for our lives. Anyone who follows Pope Francis knows that...
Thursday, October 5, 2017025A story. Some time ago I had lunch with a black friend in a major city. I asked him what it was like when he first met the couple that informally adopted him by mentoring him after he aged out of foster care. He said something like, “During the first six months I was suspicious, because I had been burned many times before, but then I...
Friday, June 30, 2017015
By Father John Bayer
Special to The Texas Catholic
Pentecost, which we celebrated last Sunday, commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Mary and the Apostles (Acts 2:1-47). Shortly before Jesus suffered, died and rose again, he promised an advocate, teacher and counselor to his budding church – the Holy Spirit (John...
Wednesday, May 10, 2017026I am convinced Catholics have an important gift to give to the world through the “social teaching” developing in the Church since Rerum Novarum in 1891. But even though all the popes between Leo XIII and Francis have put the economic, political and social impact of the Gospel at the forefront of their agendas, the world is still...
Thursday, September 8, 2016017Catholics emerged in the late 19th and early 20th century as a voting bloc united in defense of the poor and immigrant classes and against certain social changes: basically in support of the old Democratic party. This unity disappeared in the second half of the 20th century. According to the statistics, today a Catholic is as likely as...
Monday, July 25, 201606By Father John Bayer
Special to The Texas Catholic
Debate is a part of every healthy society. When we refuse to create space for charitable and spirited discussion, violence or indifference is sure to follow. Debate is good, both in our country and in the church. But it is disturbing to see the character of our political debates...
Wednesday, March 30, 201602What is the meaning of Easter? How would you explain it to someone? How do you explain it to yourself? One way to get at the meaning of Easter is to see its connection to Christmas. Both these feasts celebrate one beautiful reality: the child Jesus.
