I’ve posted on the power of the sacrament of Reconciliation before, but I realise that some of you might not know much about this amazing sacrament. I just participated in a Reconciliation evening last night, had one tonight, and will have one tomorrow night, each in a different parish (we priests back each other up to ensure everyone who comes has the chance to be well received). I thought I’d share a bit about what it is about.

It has been a crazy few days. I have a few ‘heavier’ posts on the back-burner…things like spiritual warfare, an update to the “Repas de Fraternité” post, reflections on the power of the sacrament of Reconciliation, and a blog post on the nature of time, all of which are inspired by events of the last few days. So what to blog about?

Munchkin! Y’ever play it? It’s hilarious!

I intensely dislike correcting. So I’ve decided to offer it up for the souls in purgatory…hopefully they can get some benefit out of it. Which brings me to a discussion that has been going on over at Disputations in the comments under the entry “Mea Culpa”, all about purgatory.

I got an email from one of my students recently who is a Seventh Day Adventist. She wanted to know a bit more about why Catholics have the office of Pope, what the point of his office is. I hope my reply to her was useful.

I visited a high school today. While it is a public non-denominational high school, the students are 90% Catholic. The purpose was a multi-faith assembly they were having — presentations were being given by students on 4 different faith traditions (Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and Buddhism) and I was invited to close the event with a prayer.

I spent some time with a few brother priests today, all recently ordained (and so we are all still curates, a.k.a. associate pastors), and as usual we got to kvetching about how the diocese is going, etc. As the saying says, “Wherever two or more priests are gathered, the bishop is there among them.” The same applies to assistant priests with their pastors…

I don’t know how many of you include fasting in your regular pattern of religious devotion, but if you don’t, I’d suggest you consider it. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus gives advice to his disciples on the attitudes they should adopt when fasting, which of course presumes that they fasted.

I just got back from a meeting to start to prepare for World Youth Day 2005 in Cologne, Germany. Yes, I know it seems a bit early to be working on this, but we want to really use this as a catechetical and evangelization opportunity.

Our basic strategy is going to follow a pattern similar to the RCIA model.

There will be an initial no-pressure period where young adults can “come and see” what the event and the experience is all about.

…are not Christians. No matter what they may claim.

I realise that in our terribly “politically correct” culture this is not a “nice” thing to say. But I now know of two people I care for who are thinking of becoming Mormons. I feel I need to set the record straight.

To be a Christian is to believe in Jesus, yes, but Jesus as the Second Person of the Trinity. What does this mean? “One God, in three Persons”. But still one (and only one) God.

Two years ago on December 7, I was ordained a priest. A day that will live in infamy? Hopefully not for that reason, at least…

It’s strange, I woke up and it was like any other day. I didn’t even remember it was my anniverary until a parishioner congratulated me this morning before our first Mass. I’m not sure if that is a sign of increasing humility or early senility…hopefully more of the former than the latter…