Oblate Formation 
Posts concerning Oblate and Novice formation. These include articles which are also applicable to most Christians, whether Oblate or not. Additional articles on instruction of various parts of the Rule can be found under that category.
Negativity Not Only Stymies Your Life but Is Also Usually a Lie
Life on earth is a constant struggle to find our equilibrium. On our way to that balance, God sends us favors (as indications). Most are small. They add up. There are also the little admonishments. Some are not so little. Mostly we are punished by the lack of His Presence. When we abuse anything God… Read More ›
Seven foods to live longer
Some things about life—and how long we get to enjoy it—are out of our control. But emerging nutrition science research, as well as data collected from people in their 90s and beyond, shows what, when, and how we eat has a profound influence on how long we live. Want to eat for a long and… Read More ›
A Reflection On the Benedictine Vow of Stability
By: Msgr. Charles Pope Most Catholics are familiar with the three vows taken by most religious of poverty, chastity and obedience. To these three, St. Benedict (whose feast we celebrated Wednesday), added a fourth for the Benedictine order, the vow of stability. Our summer seminarian who had considered joining the Benedictines at one time spoke… Read More ›
Gospel of Life
This icon depicts Jesus consoling a beloved disciple when he experienced the unexpected frustration and sacrifice required of those who would follow in the footsteps of Christ. Living the Christian life has never been an easy task, and today is no exception! In a world wrought with selfishness and sin, there is opposition all around…. Read More ›
The Many Disguises of Satan
By: Msgr. Charles Pope It would be easy if Satan came as he is often portrayed, with horns and a pitchfork. We would naturally flee this ugliness. Alas, he often comes cloaked in beauty, in sheep’s clothing: He claims to offer us freedom and autonomy from an unreasonable God and Church, liberation from rules and… Read More ›
A Time of Extremes: Over praise of Youth and coddling those in error violates truth and shows no real love
A true prophet and a true friend are the same: not to be feared — like lightning, like thunder — but cherished because both a friend and prophet love you enough to want you to know the supreme truth. They want you free (who you really are). A friend tells you the truth, not just… Read More ›
Forget the nit-picking
There are times, in all of our walks with God, in Catholicism, when we have something to say. There may be a matter, at church, to be blunt, that we don’t much like. There may even be scandal. Sometimes, it’s just a personal preference. We may be agitated at the length of a homily. Or… Read More ›
A sweet comfort crept into my soul
Well, I will tell you how it was. In the pinch of the campaign up there (at Gettysburg) when everybody seemed panic stricken and nobody could tell what was going to happen, oppressed by the gravity of our affairs, I went to my room one day and locked the door and got down on my… Read More ›
The rights of all stamped with the image and likeness of God
[These States], by their representatives in old Independence Hall, said to the whole world of men: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” This was their majestic… Read More ›
Is humility unrealistic in today’s society?
Modern society is full of labels and stereotypes: poor, rich, enemy, ally, good, evil, conservative or liberal. Labels can inhibit humble openness to others. They point a finger at the “other” and in the process make it almost impossible for us to listen to each other and value each other as persons. Even worse, labels… Read More ›