Father John A. Kiley | Rhode Island Catholic

From Self-Denial to Spiritual Enhancement: A Guide to a Meaningful Lent

Lent has popularly and properly been considered a season of mortification and self-denial. Catholics have given up candy as children and beer or wine as adults. The faithful have sworn off their … more

2/19/26

Moving from Conduct to Contemplation

Occasionally the Bible even quotes the Bible. Here the prophet Isaiah is quoted by St. Paul in his first letter to the church at Corinth to be heard in this coming Sunday’s second reading at Mass. … more

2/12/26

Reflections on Grace and the Cross

Certainly among the most celebrated words in Sacred Scripture are those read in the opening lines of Genesis: “In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was without … more

2/5/26

Following the Path of St. Bridget and St. Maria Elizabeth Hesselblad

St. Bridget of Sweden (1304-1373), from an early age, had visions of the crucified Christ. She lived her married life in the court of the Swedish king Magnus II. Mother of eight children, Bridget … more

1/29/26

From Woonsocket to Capernaum

My mother had very few relatives. The Hanleys and the Coffeys in Woonsocket were her aunts and her cousins. My father however had a good number of relatives mostly in Providence. His aunt Rose and … more

1/22/26

Building Bridges with God and Neighbor

At the midpoint of the last century, Western Europe was ably guided by three practicing Catholic executives. Robert Schuman guided France, Konrad Adenauer directed Germany and Alcide De Gasperi held … more

1/15/26

Finding Christ in Glory and in Trial

The liturgy of the Catholic Church, the teachings of the Catholic Church, and the daily prayer life of the Catholic Church rightly and understandably exalt Jesus Christ as Universal King, the Son of … more

1/8/26

Three Chimes, Three Mysteries

Until the last century, Church bells had framed the Christian day for most of the Western world’s history. Awakened in the morning by the peal from the local church, workers went off to their jobs, … more

12/18/25

An Unflinching Call to Serve the Poor

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (English edition) is a 904 page volume that sits on many a rectory office shelf with very few pages wrinkled from frequent use. The tome’s understandable … more

12/11/25

Discerning God’s Will in Our Modern World

The ancient Jews were certainly justified in fostering high expectations for their kings. The people of Israel had suffered greatly under foreign kings and had been equally disappointed in some of … more

12/4/25

Advent and the Call to Prepare for Christ’s Arrival

The season of Advent in the Roman Catholic calendar anticipates the coming of Christ from three different perspectives: Christ’s physical birth in Bethlehem; the daily sacramental and spiritual … more

11/27/25

100 Years of the Kingship of Christ

This year marks the 100th anniversary since Pope Pius XI closed the Holy Year 1925 with the addition to the Sacred Liturgy of a special observance to honor the Kingship of Our Lord Jesus Christ. The … more

11/20/25

Perseverance in Challenging Times

The modern state of Israel has certainly its share of political and military disturbances. The bombing of the King David Hotel in Jerusalem in 1946 was just the beginning of the modern Jewish … more

11/13/25

The Ancient Roots and Living Faith of the Catholic Cathedral

In the present day the mention of a cathedral brings to mind the central church of a local diocese. Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Providence, the happily restored Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, and … more

11/6/25

Baptism, Burial, and the White Garment

For many decades, perhaps even for many centuries, an infant’s baptismal garment was a prideful decision on the part of parents. Perhaps a baptismal robe had been handed down from one … more

10/30/25

How the late pontiff’s motto and scripture define the path to redemption

Pope Francis’ episcopal and papal motto was “Miserando atque eligendo” which might be broadly translated “Miserable yet chosen.” No doubt the pontiff viewed himself as … more

10/23/25

Persistent Prayer and Doctrinal Faith

The nasty widow in this coming Sunday’s Gospel passage from St. Luke (18:1-8) is traditionally suggested as a model for a Christian prayer life. The persistent woman is envisioned pounding on a … more

10/16/25

The Enduring Message of St. Timothy: Courage, Scripture and Faith

After two thousand years, the Christian community is still reading a somewhat melancholy letter from an elderly preacher to his novice disciple about the desperations and the hopes that the young … more

10/9/25

From Ancient Prayer to Papal Decree: The Rich History of the Rosary

Prayer beads or knotted prayer ropes have long been in use by various religious societies. Within Christianity, the early Desert Fathers might have employed these prayer chains as a guide for … more

10/2/25

Indifference deadens charity and dulls justice

The prophet Amos was very much the outdoors man. He was a sheep breeder and a pruner of sycamore trees. Yet the prophet had seen enough of life in both the northern kingdom, Israel, and the southern … more

9/25/25