Two enlightening models of the desert/wilderness experience are Blessed Charles deFoucauld, the nineteenth century holy man of the Sahara Dessert, and Father Carlo Carretto, a twentieth century … more

The English word hermit comes from the Greek meaning desert or uninhabited. St. Paul of Thebes, St. Anthony of the Desert and St. Mary of Egypt were among the first Christians to embrace life as … more

For many years St. Joseph’s Abbey, the Trappist Monastery at Spencer, M.A., was the site of my annual retreat. Like the monks’ day — early to bed, early to rise — these hours on retreat were … more

The appearance of Moses and Elias alongside the transfigured Jesus Christ is most appropriate. These two celebrated Old Testament prophets, like Jesus Christ himself, experienced the inner reality … more

Henry David Thoreau’s fame rests largely on his wilderness experience along the shores of Waldon Pond in Concord, Massachusetts. Actually Thoreau’s cabin was less than a mile from the center of … more

The Diocesan Office for Religious sponsors a day of recollection for the congregations of sisters and brothers who staff the schools, nursing facilities, and parish ministries in the Diocese of … more

The Hebrew Scriptures have a segment of seven texts called “The Books of Wisdom.” The seven traditional volumes are Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Wisdom and Sirach. The Book … more

St. Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount, comprising chapters 5, 6 and 7 of his Gospel, contains possibly the most famous Scripture passages within the New Testament — with the possible exception of the … more

“Women and children first” has been the motto of gentlemen perhaps since the chivalrous days of the Middle Ages and certainly since the era of stiff courtesy that marked the nineteenth century. … more

Jesus must have been pleased upon returning to his home town of Nazareth to find his opening words delivered on a Sabbath at the local synagogue to be well received by his neighbors and … more