“Keeping Our Balance in Weighty Times”

February 3, 2026

Is your peace of mind weighed down, leaving you distraught and distressed? If true, what is needed to dissolve its darkness?

The word “serious” means weight, to be weighed down, and the word “peace” connotes order. Something seriously out of order is one reason for distress. Disorder generates a sense of chaos and turmoil, and destroys the foundations of peace.

Instead of looking for an outside solution, start by looking within ourselves, becoming solitary. To be “myself with myself alone.” This is difficult and almost unbearable in our perpetual motion existence. What is suggested is contacting our center, which is responsible for balancing our lives, to enlist our moral compass and let it guide us. What might be a good starting point to begin the process of improving our inner balance?

People have told me that when they are weighed down by disturbing events, they look at what needs to be put in order. They clean the floors, the kitchen, the bedroom, and the clothes, and change the home's decor. They enlist order that begets peace.

Pope St. Paul VI would add that after this step, the next step is to step back and admire the accomplishments, stop, and enjoy.

In Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, there is a scene in which Ivan is working in a brutal, dehumanizing Siberian gulag. It is early in the bitterly cold, dark morning. He works through the day laying bricks. As he completes part of his work, he steps back and admires it. Returning to his barracks, he recites a night prayer, “Thank you, Lord, for accomplishing good work in a brutal day.” Ivan dispels the weight of a horrendous existence with a glimmer of joy; he casts light and warmth on a dark Siberian existence. His prayer reflects that he is not alone but in the presence of God.

When weighty disorders afflict us, self-concern engulfs us, the alone, afflicted one. There is a tendency to look for outside help and forget God’s providence at work within us, to forget to say, “Thank you, Lord, for being at my side.

When we are weighed down, and everything seems out of control, don’t run outside, go inside yourself and reflect on what is altering your center’s balance. The solution is within us; seek it there.    

“Thou Shalt Not Covet Thy Neighbor’s Goods”

January 22, 2026

“What was going through your head?” Mom would yell every time we did something that was out of line.

Her cry remains relevant today, especially amid a proposed takeover of Greenland and territories protected by law and history. What is going through the heads of those causing a sense of selfishness, greed, egotism, and contradicting the Tenth Commandment, “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s goods”

To crave, lust after, and especially to envy are synonyms of covet. To make our country the supposed envy of the world by its deportment is the antithesis of the sacred principles upon which it is founded.

Envy is “A painful emotion of desiring what someone else has (possessions, success, power) and feeling discontent or resentful about lacking it that often leads to negative feelings, bitterness, or wishing the other person lacked that advantage.”

Undesirable fallout from envy is addressed in sage quotes. For example, Margaret Thatcher defined envy’s devastation: “The spirit of envy can destroy, it can never build.” Another sage thinker reminds us, “Although hatred is active and envy passive, there is one little step from envy to hate. And the Book of Proverbs teaches us, “A heart at peace gives life to the body. But envy rots the bones.”

The possible takeover of Greenland raises several hypothetical questions. For example, who is on the list of takeovers? What, realistically, do we envision as countering the greed caused by envy?

It is our moral compass, and we need to fire our courage to replace senselessness with Godliness. To start, we must increase our gratitude to God for the good God bestows on us. The Canticle of Daniel is a beautiful portrait of those gifts: “Blessed be the sun and moon, the animals, fish, and verdant fields that feed us, the beauty of nature and the seasons that lift our heart, and a caring God whose caring love is endless.” To desire more precious minerals, territory, and sovereignties is the result of envy’s destructive nature.

Christ's final wish for his disciples was that they be united as is the Trinity. The primary model for the world of the United Nations is the model for creating heartfelt concern for the poor, the immigrant, the unfortunate, the helpless, our brothers and sisters, and to live a life of justice whose primary role is the responsibility for one another, to live God’s love par excellence.    

“May God’s Light Shine”

January 20, 2026

“What is your idea of Heaven?” “I will be with my parents and experience God’s light,” answered Pope Benedict XVI.

Like many of us, I prayed the Psalms and read the Bible in which light is addressed frequently, but never thought of it in depth until now. Pope Benedict changed that.

In the World Creation story, the first thing God does is to create light and dispel darkness. St. Paul’s conversion begins with being struck down by a great light. The feast of Epiphany portrays the Magi following the Light, and Moses sees God’s divine light, causing his radiant face to be covered.

Without light, life cannot exist. Undoubtedly, rain produces life-giving food. But without the sun’s light, rain is worthless; light is the epitome of life.

After Christ’s Resurrection, the Holy Spirit endows the apostles with spiritual light: the gifts of wisdom, counsel, knowledge, fortitude, piety, and fear of the Lord, lifting God’s joyful life to its pinnacle.

One of the most touching experiences I have experienced has been associating with recovering alcoholics. They saw the light and finally admitted they were alcoholics. They realized they were addicted and humbly admitted needing help.

In the spiritual world, we call this conversion a metanoia, a change of heart.

Of all the organs we possess, the heart is the heart of them, the main control directing our life. In the souls of these alcoholics, a light had appeared in which they clearly saw the right road to travel.

When we return to the Creation Story, note that the first thing God does is to dispel darkness. Darkness is a lack of light that cripples the human and Godly spirit, drowning the gifts of the Holy Spirit in darkness.

Pope Leo is deeply concerned about our darkened environment caused by an increase in inhumanity, wars, persecutions, corruption, avarice, and a loss of God’s role in correcting life’s abrasions. Without sounding apocalyptic, much of what we are experiencing of God’s love and its spirit is being clouded by darkness, causing an increase in depression, disillusionment, and suicides.

Our times are especially calling for two gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom and courage. Wisdom is needed to get at the heart of inhumanity, to seek the essence of darkness, and courage must stand against today’s atrocities and march against them.

Our country is blessed by being “One Nation Under God.” Its greatest postmodern battle is to fight for God’s light to shine on us.

“Valuating Today’s Governing Deportment”

January 16, 2026

My grade school card contained grades in English, math, and spelling. But it also graded my deportment.

Bearing, demeanor, and manners are three synonyms of deportment that define a person’s behavior, modesty, breeding, good manners, self-discipline, and ethical sense.

Today we could use the renewal of grading deportment. Why say this? The Book of Proverbs gives us one reason. “Better good manners than good looks” points us to a virtue in which those who govern could improve by raising the question, How refined is their language with each other? Does it reflect modesty, self-discipline, and ethical discipline for achieving the best for the common good? How do we rank its behavior in terms of the direction of its manners? Who best to help us with this ranking?

As there is concern about the deportment of today’s leaders, so too was St. Paul in his time. “Guard against foul talk; Let your words be for the improvement of others, when this occasion offers, and do good to your listeners, otherwise you will only be grieving the Holy Spirit of God. Never have grudges against others, or lose your temper, or raise your voice to anybody, or call each other names, or allow any sort of spitefulness. Be friends with one another and kind and forgiving each other as readily as God forgave you in Christ.”

Today's speech has become increasingly vulgar and coarse, reducing its tone to trash talk. Instead of using it to improve relations with others, it is being wielded as a weapon to demean others, and it deserves a grade F.

It is no exaggeration to say that grudges and retaliations are daily occurrences driven by resentment and revenge. St. Augustine reminded us: “Resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.” Resentment and revenge are evil poisons of which he speaks.

Why is resentment so toxic? It is because it ignites a flurry of emotions: anger, sadness, frustration, confusion, and indignation, flooding our minds and leaving us with a sense of deep injustice.

Thanks to saints Paul and Augustine, we have a needed diagnosis of evil threatening our spiritual health. And thanks to these wise saints, we have spiritual doctors to cure them.

“Reality Conquering Life’s Deplorable Trends”

January 15, 2026

“Three great forces rule the world: stupidity, fear, and greed.”

 Albert Einstein’s insight summarizes today’s most undesirable anxieties needing in-depth scrutiny.

Folly and irrationality are synonyms for stupidity, the antithesis of wisdom. Folly denotes a clouding of the mind incapable of understanding the essence. No doubt, governing today can be mind-boggling, and without a doubt, this calls for capable, in-depth thinkers, an aggiornamento, an updating of consortia.

Today, much of our media environment is poisoned by fear, dwelling on hyped-up, unsettling news.

Add to this signs of increasing greed, with a lust for power, dominance, more money, and excessive possessions. Aristotle warned: “The high-minded man must care for the truth more than for what people think.” Greed tends to lead to untruthfulness to appease it, which in turn leads to high-mindedness. How can they be brought down to earth?

Poet and moral philosopher Dante Alighieri reminded us: “Worldly fame is but a breath of wind that blows now this way, and not that way, and changes name as it changes direction.”  Dante echoes the Book of Ecclesiastes, which reminds us that life is a “whisp,” echoing the song words, “Is that all there is?”

We have a standing joke on Capitol Hill that goes, “Do you remember Senator So and So?” To which the reply is, “Senator who?”

The book of Sirach reminds us of the end of our life and what we ultimately achieve. “A man grows rich by his sharpness and grabbing, and here is the reward he received for it; I have found rest and now I can enjoy my goods; but he does not know how long this will last; He will have to leave his goods for others and die. Preserve at your duty, take pleasure in doing it well and grow old achieving it.”

Christopher Walken gives sound advice for those who govern: “If you know how quickly people forget the dead, you’ll stop living to impress people.”

Dante, Sirach, and Walken’s wisdom raise the question, “At what level of conscientiousness are those who rule? What ultimately are their duties and priorities? What controls their thinking and actions most?

The word “statesman” means a respected, skilled, and wise political leader experienced in government, focused on public good, national/international affairs, and wise policy, often contrasted with a mere politician focused on power.

May a new age of statesmen and stateswomen bless us with an aggiornamento, an updating of our best conscientious thinkers.

“The Essence of Joy”

January 13, 2026

As I listened to Gustav Holst’s Jupiter, Bringer of Joy, St. Thomas Aquinas’ principles of joy and almsgiving came to mind, in which he stated that there is corporal almsgiving and spiritual almsgiving.

Corporal almsgiving is feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, harboring the harborless, visiting the sick, ransoming the captive, and burying the dead.

Spiritually, almsgiving is instructing the ignorant, counseling the doubtful, comforting the sorrowful, reproving the sinner, forgiving injuries, bearing with those who trouble and annoy us, and praying for all.

On spiritual alms giving, Aquinas quoted Pope Gregory the Great: “Let him that has understanding beware lest he withhold his knowledge; let him that has abundance of wealth, watch he slacken his merciful bounty; let him who is a servant of art be most solicitous to share his skill and profit with his neighbor; let him who has an opportunity of speaking with the wealthy, fear lest he be condemned for retaining his talent, if when he has the chance he plead not with him the cause of the poor.”

Note the common denominators. The first is putting aside our comfort to comfort the discomforted. Many of the hungry are often tattered, seemingly lost, and homeless. In cases like these, Pope Francis prompted the clergy, “To get out among the poor and get dirty.” The poor are sometimes hygienically unclean, which some helpers tend to avoid.

Interestingly, Pope Gregory pointed to some enjoying a wealth of knowledge as part of almsgiving. The pride of gaining knowledge can create forgetfulness of the poor seeking it. The lauded philosopher Confucius contended, “Give instruction unto those who cannot procure it for themselves.” Yes, be an almsgiver!

It is easy to concentrate on poverty’s dark side and neglect its joyful side. Almsgiving is a virtue leading to joy. Why say this? Because we are happiest when we create happiness. Just think of parents experiencing the joy of their children gushing over presents. In his treatise on joy, Pope Saint Paul VI spoke of the joy inspired when we step back and take pleasure in well-done work.

In giving alms, a masterpiece of goodness is created. In the Bible, we see God stepping back, admiring his creation, and uttering, “It is good.”

“The Common Good Is Alive and Well”

January 9, 2026

In The Greatest Sentence Ever Written, author Walter Isaacson explores the meaning of common ground and the American dream in the Constitution.

“In feudal England, common ground was the land where commoners --- yes, that’s where the word commoners comes from --- could all graze their herds,” Isaacson points out.

He continues it is not just about land societies but common grounds such as schools, libraries, police, and fire protection. These were called the commuiter bona, the goods in common.

Today, social and political scientists often point to the cleavage between rugged individualism and the embrace of the common good. Straightforward phrases best portray this division: “This is my world in contrast to saying this is our world.” “My concerns are primary in contrast to saying my concerns are universal and for the common good.”

The history of selfish-mindedness versus unselfish-mindedness has existed since the beginning of humankind.

Benjamin Franklin, to the contrary of this fact, lauded a type of common ground, where people were treated with equal dignity to serve their creator. He quotes the motto, Bona profundere Deum est, which translates, “To pour forth benefits for the common good is divine.” It nourishes the conditions for democracy in a free-market system. His thoughts are not only the basis of wholesome democracy but a religion-driven democracy. Christ, in His final admonition to his disciples, pleads, “That all of them may be one, as You Father, are in Me and I am in You.” Note how Christ emphasizes unselfish unity. How then do we promote this spirit of unity and human concern for the common good?

One way is to survey those who are already living that spirit. In the parish I serve, there is a parish pantry. It is a commons for the less fortunate to graze and be replenished.

City ambulance sirens are forever signifying a commons for those seriously suffering.

Churches abound as commons for the homeless, as do doorways along Pennsylvania Avenue, where beggars often receive handouts of food. When giving to them, I have witnessed these donors not only donate but also speak a word of concern and support to them. The list of commons and of caring, loving communities is endless. Their charity and benevolence are a joy to behold in the midst of life’s poverty, representing an American dream come true.

“Facing Aging”

January 7, 2026

In Italian, Maledetta vecchiaia means “Cursed be old age.”

Several reasons for uttering this exist, one being the loss of loved companions. Added to this is the darkness of having nothing to look forward to or waking up with nothing to do. Topping the list of aging’s problems is the loss of health, stamina, and fear of death.

Enter Robert Frost, who encouraged us to see our present situation in a positive light, the light needed to pierce the world of negativism.

“The woods are lonely, dark, and deep. But I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep.”  

When aging dampens the flame of hope so does forward thinking that prompts us to be forward thinking.

Before we succumb to hopelessness and paralyzing depression, the spirit of prudence dictates that we consult energizing wisdom that has the power to move us out of the doldrums.

When troubles were taking hold of us, my mother would say, “That is in your head, face up to it and move ahead.” As my mom pointed to the head, so did Albert Einstein focus on it to overcome the anxiety of aging. He stated, “Learn from yesterday, live for today, and hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.”

Note the same spirited message of moving forward that Frost’s message connotes. Here, we are reminded to examine what is darkening our minds and why we are depressed. Is fearing aging the result of pining for a past that may have been wonderful, but is over? Are we so locked into the past that it has stifled our ability to embrace forward thinking? Aging reminds us that the past is no longer, sameness has been ruptured, do we seek sameness to the detriment of our physiological health requiring that we keep moving? To resurrect the past is to dig up the dead and mourn, to allow grief to stunt our joy, hopefulness, and faith in the future. Have we let the darkness of aging and also of tumultuous times smother the light that still shines on us? Is our mind overwhelmed to the point of losing the zest for embracing life’s challenges and envisioning miles still to come?

The ball is not only on our court but in our heads --- time to get out there and play the best game of our lives left to us.

Undoubtedly, aging comes with health problems and loneliness. If we reflect on its possibilities for deeper wisdom and understanding, for putting our life in better order, and for deeper faith in God our Creator, its light-filled merits far outweigh its dark side.

As long as we have our senses, we have the choice to age gracefully or gracelessly.

“Andre Bessette’s Inspiring Warm Heartedness”

January 6, 2026

Beautiful memories abounded as I celebrated the feast of St. Brother Andre Bessette CSC. As chaplain to Andre’s Holy Cross Brothers, I experienced their inspiring kindness. Some brothers worked on the grounds while others taught at the University of Notre Dame and their Junior College.

Andre Bessette was neither. He was sickly, uneducated, and lived a simple life. His desire to be a Holy Cross priest was refused. Fortunately, a kindly priest experiencing his holiness helped him become a Holy Cross brother. For four decades, his ministry was as church doorman.

He not only welcomed people but listened to their concerns and pains, causing people to seek him in hopes of a cure. Word spread, causing thousands to seek his miraculous healing, mirroring Christ’s caring mercy.

Ironically, I encountered the spirit of Andre in Portland, Oregon, which I visit frequently. On the train from the airport into Portland, tents of the homeless were everywhere, as they were in the city as well. I say this ironically because the neighborhood in which I lived contains the church of Andre Bessette, dedicated to serving the poor. Its novena covers the enormous tasks in ministering to the poor.

From all evil let us pray:

From the brutality of and violence;

From the hardship of poverty and loss;

From the addiction of drugs and alcohol;

From the fear of isolation and hardship;

From the evil of war and hatred;

From the corruption of sin and darkness;

From the terror of gunshots and stabbings;

From the suffering of illness and disease;

From the cold of loneliness and self-pity;

From the bitterness of homelessness and empty pockets;

From the plague of prostitution and pornography;

From the chains of mental illness and all discriminations;

From the desperation of pride and jealousy;

From the silence of apathy and neglect;

From the wounds of sexual molestation and abuse;

From the deserts of ignorance and suffering;

From the arrogance of racism and greed;

From the burden of grief and despair;

From the torture of broken promises and empty commitments;

From the doubt of selfishness and insecurity;

From the web of egoism and self-centeredness;

From the outrage of revenge and the death penalty;

From the seduction of materialism and gossip;

From the sins of gluttony and avarice;

From the dark cloud of sexism and ageism;

From the trap of cynicism and refusal to forgive;

And from all evil.

A gigantic list of woes and immorality requiring the big heart of Andre Bessette.

“The Power of Wisdom”

January 5, 2026

The tension was intense as I stood on the edge of Lake Michigan, waiting to start the triathlon swim. The cause of pressure was competing with fifty other swimmers at the start, then bicycling twenty-six miles, followed by a 10-k run.

Suddenly, the Nike theme “Just do it” came to mind, reducing the stress and lifting my spirits. Taking it to heart was exactly what I needed.

Much of my early upbringing was filled with wise quotes. In Italian, I learned “Chi va piano, va sano e va longtano,” or “He who goes slowly goes safely and a long way.” It is a reminder that patience and reflection are key to success in anything we undertake. Lao Tzu reminds us, “Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.”

I also learned “Chi dorme con i cane si sveglia con le pulci,” which translates to “If you sleep with dogs you wake with fleas.”  As a child, my mom would repeatedly say, “Only go with those who make you better.”

Quotes filled with wisdom and virtue abound with insights into living the best of life. For example, Albert Einstein reminded us, “Whoever is careless with truth in small matters cannot be trusted in important affairs.” He also stated, “The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything.”  How true, we are not meant to be spectators but contributors to the common good and truth.

And then Marcus Aurelius asserted, “Nothing happens to anyone that he can’t endure,” echoing Christ reminding us, “My grace is significant.”

If we examine the impact of wise sayings, we learn we are creatures of imprinting, learning first attachments that are stamped within us. My wise Italian admonitions, for example, were the attachments of ideals planted in me for my well-being.

As a child, I sat at my Italian grandfather’s knee, who never went to school but knew life. I can still hear his voice, “Gini, this is the way and the truth of life.” And too, my dad’s patience was an example of “va piano” “Take your time and get it straight.”

Often, I observe parents whose children exude energy, requiring exceptional energy to keep up with them. And yet it is well worth the effort when forming a newborn human being in the values of life.