If our life is poured out in useless words, we will never hear anything, will never become anything, and, in the end, because we have said everything before we had anything to say, we shall be left speechless.

When the holy Abba Anthony lived in the desert he was beset by accidie (spiritual sloth), and attached by many sinful thoughts. He said to God, 'Lord, I want to be saved but these thoughts do not leave me alone; what shall I do in my affliction? How can I be saved?' A short while afterwards, when he...

Speaking to adolescents, I have often used this imagery of the inner temple to help them understand the Church's teaching regarding sexual intimacy. There is a 'narthex' of the soul, our 'outer courtyard.' This most public part of our lives represents the face we show the world. It is a place of...

In our prayer we should ask only for the salvation of our soul. Didn't the Lord say, Seek first the Kingdom of God, and all these things will be added to you? Easily, without the slightest difficulty, Christ can give us what we want. And remember the secret. The secret is not to think about asking...

The Eucharist is a liturgy. And he who says liturgy today is likely to get involved in a controversy. For to some--the 'liturgically minded'--of all the activities of the Church, liturgy is the most important, if not the only one. To others, liturgy is aesthetic, and a spiritual deviation from the...