“To a poor man, however, be generous; keep him not waiting for your alms; Because of the precept, help the needy, and in their want, do not send them empty handed.

Store up almsgiving in your treasure house, and it will save you from every evil; Better than a stout shield and a sturdy spear, it will fight for you against the foe” (Sirach 29: 8-9, 12-13)

One of the sad side effects of a tragedy like the earthquake in Haiti is that there are some pundits who use the disaster to push their… Continue

“When you come in to visit me, who asks these things of you? Trample my courts no more! Bring no more worthless offerings; your incense is loathsome to me. New moon and Sabbath, calling of assemblies, octaves with wickedness, these I cannot bear.

Your new moons and festivals I detest; they weigh me down, I tire of the load. When you spread out your hands, I close my eyes to you. Though you pray the more, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood! Wash yourselves clean! Put away your mi… Continue

“Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, ‘How hard it is for who have wealth to enter the Kingdom of God!’ The disciples were amazed at his words. So Jesus again said to them in reply, ‘Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.’ They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves, ‘Then who can be saved?’ Jesus looked at them and said, ‘For human beings… Continue

“My son, take care of your father when he is old; grieve him not as long as his lives. Even if his mind fail, be considerate of him; revile him not all the days of his life; kindness to a father will not be forgotten, firmly planted against the debt of your sins---a house raised in justice to you.… Continue

I am the Minister (i.e. President) of a local Secular Franciscan Order fraternity in Boston, MA. Today, I got a call on my cell phone from my fraternity Secretary. When she heard my voice, she was very relieved. It turns out that our Regional Minister, who is on a trip to Florida, had been contacted by someone, and was told that I had died. She called o… Continue