Since the beginning of the Church (and going way back to our Jewish roots), incense has been part of our liturgy. St. John, in the book of Revelation, has a vision of it being part of the heavenly liturgy. It is one of those elements of the Mass that help emphasize the transcendent nature of what we’re doing – we are engaged in nothing less than the worship of the one true God...

Monday, December 12th, is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. I never get tired of hearing her message to St. Juan Diego. As far as I'm concerned, they're the most beautiful words she has ever spoken in her apparitions. So I want to take this opportunity to share some of them with you once again...

This Thursday is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, a Holy Day of Obligation and a beautiful day to honor Our Lady,...

The word “Advent” means “coming”. By the 4th Centruy, the first evidence of Advent is written from the Council of Saragossa, Spain in 380 AD Advent has a double meaning. The first two weeks of Advent the scripute readings look to the 2nd coming of Christ. The last two weeks of Advent have to do with the first coming of Christ in Bethlehem....

This week is Thanksgiving, of course, and we have much to be thankful for. I preached a couple months ago about how humility is necessary for any other virtue to be properly exercised. I said, "Faith without humility is hypocrisy. Hope without humility is presumption. Love without humility is manipulation." I could add to that, thanksgiving without humility is boasting and blasphemy.

There is a very interesting category of saints in the Church we call "mystics", many of whom are women who received extensive visions and revelations from God...

As we continue to hear news and feel effects regarding inflation, shortages of goods, etc., it is important for us as Christians not to be caught up in any spirit of fear or complaining...

All Soul's Day (Nov. 2nd) is the day we dedicate to praying for all the faithful departed who are still suffering in purgatory...

The Church begins November by celebrating the two other dimensions of the Church. We are the Church Militant. The Church Triumphant is rejoicing in heaven and the Church Suffering is undergoing purification...

This Saturday is the feast of St. John Paul II, a pope who most of us remember. His favorite prayer was... the Rosary, so it is fitting that his feast falls during...

This week, I'm headed to Cleveland... not because I'm a Browns fan. In fact, I have no idea if there is anything to see or do in Cleveland at all! But every year I attend the Canon Law Society of America Convention, which is held in various cities around the country, and this year it's in Cleveland...

The Feast of the great St. Francis of Assisi is coming up this Tuesday. It is freshly meaningful to me this year, as I am now pastor of a church of which he is the patron...

The September Institute in Sheridan last week was a nice opportunity to reconnect with priests, deacons, and lay leaders from around the diocese. There was a big emphasis on "adult faith formation"....

This week Deacon Mike, Delilah, and I will be in Sheridan for the Diocesan September Institute...

I truly enjoyed being back here in Worland after leaving in 2001. It brought back so many fond memories....

This Thursday is the birthday of a very special person in the lives of all of us... Our Heavenly Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary. Happy birthday, Mama...

This Wednesday we start CCD! I'd like to set before our eyes two very important principles that must guide our CCD endeavors...

Major Catholic Feast Days, like Christmas and Easter are accompanied by octaves -- eight days of intense celebration of the feast. There used to be a lot more octaves in the Church...

Monday, August 15th, is the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary into heaven. Normally it would be a Holy Day of obligation...

Saturday, August 13th is the feast day of Blessed Michael McGivney, the founder of the Knights of Columbus. In his honor let us pray the Litnay of Blessed Michael McGivney...