THE NOW WORD ON MASS READINGS for Wednesday, August 17th, 2016 Liturgical texts here Our Lady of Grace and the Masters of the Order of Montesa Spanish School (15th century) I AM so blessed, in many ways, by the present mission Jesus has given me in writing you. One day, over tens years ago, the […]
Yonhap/AFP/Getty Images WHAT would it be like to stand in the winds of a hurricane as the eye of the storm approached? According to those who have been through it, there is a constant roar, debris and dust are flying everywhere, and you can barely keep your eyes open; it is hard to stand […]
THE NOW WORD ON MASS READINGS for Tuesday, June 14th, 2016Liturgical texts here POPE Francis has thrown open wide the “doors” of the Church in this Jubilee of Mercy, which has passed the halfway mark as of last month. But we might be tempted to deep discouragement, if not fear, as we see not […]
LENTEN RETREAT Day 40 AND so, we have come to the end of our retreat… but I assure you, it is just the beginning: the beginning of the great battle of our times. It is the beginning of what St. John Paul II called…
This writing was first published March 24th, 2009. “the smoke of Satan is seeping into the Church of God through the cracks in the walls.” —POPE PAUL VI, first quote: Homily during the Mass for Sts. Peter & Paul, June 29, 1972 THERE is an elephant in the living room. But few […]
The Sinful Woman, by Jeff Hein SHE wrote to apologize for being so rude. We had been debating on a country music forum about excessive sexuality in music videos. She accused me of being rigid, frigid, and repressed. I, on the other hand, tried to defend the beauty of sexuality in sacramental marriage, of monogamy, […]
Photo by Al Hayat, AFP-Getty THE past two weeks, I have taken time, as I said I would, to ponder my ministry, its direction, and my personal journey. I’ve received many letters in that time filled with encouragement and prayer, and I am truly grateful for the love and support of many brothers and […]
THE NOW WORD ON MASS READINGSfor Monday of the Second Week of Lent, March 2nd, 2015 Liturgical texts here THERE is a line from Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings that, among others, jumped out at me when the character Frodo wishes for the death of his adversary, Gollum. The wise wizard Gandalf responds:
PART III — FEARS REVEALED SHE fed and clothed the poor with love; she nurtured minds and hearts with the Word. Catherine Doherty, foundress of the Madonna House apostolate, was a woman who took on the “smell of the sheep” without taking on the “stench of sin.” She constantly walked the thin line between […]
This was among the first words or “trumpets” that I felt the Lord wanted me to blow, beginning in 2006. Many words were coming to me in prayer this morning that, when I went back and re-read this below, made more sense than ever in light of what is happening with Rome, Islam, and everything […]
NOW WORD ON MASS READINGSfor March 5th, 2014Ash Wednesday Liturgical texts here FOR eight years, I have been writing to whoever will listen, a message that can be summed up in one word: Prepare! But prepare for what? In yesterday’s meditation, I encouraged readers to reflect on the letter Dear Holy Father… […]
THE point of this entire series on the charismatic gifts and movement is to encourage the reader to not be afraid of the extraordinary in God! To not be afraid to “open wide your hearts” to the gift of the Holy Spirit whom the Lord wishes to pour out in a special and powerful […]
Maria Esperanza, 1928 – 2004 The cause for canonization of Maria Esperanza was opened January 31, 2010. This writing was first published on September 15th, 2008, on the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. As with the writing Trajectory, which I recommend you read, this writing also contains many “now words” that we need […]
IT was Servant of God, Maria Esperanza (1928-2004), who said of our present generation: The consciences of this beloved people must be violently shaken so that they may “put their house in order”… A great moment is approaching, a great day of light… it is the hour of decision for mankind. —The Antichrist and […]
The Prodigal Son, the Return by Tissot Jacques Joseph, 1862 THE Lord has been speaking non-stop since I arrived here in Paray-le-Monial. So much so, that he has been waking me up to converse in the night! Yes, I would think I was crazy too if it were not for my spiritual director ordering […]
Fifth Joyful Mystery: The Finding in the Temple, by Michael D. O’Brien. LAST week, the Holy Father sent 29 newly ordained priests into the world asking them to “proclaim and witness to joy.” Yes! We must all continue to witness to others the joy of knowing Jesus. But many Christians do not even […]
I AM the spiritual head of my wife and children. When I said, “I do,” I entered into a Sacrament in which I promised to love and honor my wife until death. That I would raise the children God may give us according to the Faith. This is my role, it is my duty. […]
Rembrandt van Rijn, “The return of the prodigal son”; c.1662 MY time in Rome at the Vatican in October, 2006 was an occasion of great graces. But it was also a time of great trials. I came as a pilgrim. It was my intention to immerse myself in prayer through the surrounding spiritual and […]
FEAST OF OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY AFTER the fall of Adam and Eve, God declared to Satan, the serpent: I will put enmities between you and the woman, and your seed and her seed: she shall crush your head, and you shall lie in wait for her heel. (Gen 3:15; Douay-Rheims) Not only […]
I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who sat on the throne. It had writing on both sides and was sealed with seven seals. (Rev 5:1) IMMINENCE AT a recent conference where I was one of the speakers, I opened the floor to questions. A man stood up and […]
Peter’s Denial, by Michael D. O’Brien From a reader: My concern and question is within myself. I have been raised Catholic and have also done the same with my daughters. I have tried to go to church practically every Sunday and have tried to be involved with activities at church and in my community […]
Christ Grieving Over the World, by Michael D. O’Brien FROM a letter I recently received: I have read your writings for 2 years and feel they are so on track. My wife receives locutions and so much of what she writes down is parallel to yours. But I have to share with you that […]
BEFORE I lay out the map of these writings below as they have unfolded this past year, the question is, where do we begin?
I OPENED the scriptures recently to a word which quickened my spirit. Actually, it was November 8th, the day the Democrats took power in the American House and Senate. Now, I’m a Canadian, so I don’t follow their politics much… but I do follow their trends. And that day, it was clear to many […]
THE FIRST MIRACLE IT’S becoming a tradition: the first day of every concert tour is usually a dramatic one. Today’s was spectacular. Last summer, we had sudden electrical problems the night we were leaving. This winter, the sound and lighting equipment trailer detached from the tour bus. We found out the next day–in another city. […]
I RECENTLY met with a group of other Catholic leaders and missionaries in Western Canada. During our first night of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, a couple of us were suddenly overcome with a deep sense of grief. The words came to my heart, The Holy Spirit is grieved over ingratitude for […]