Father Ray Dobson’s Blog

Courage without the swagger A social-media image recently came to me bearing these words: “I don’t care who it ticks off, I’m saying it anyway.” It then spoke of Christ’s love and concluded: “If you love Jesus and are not ashamed of Him, put Amen and share this.” The person sharing such a message may

The Practice of Freedom: Learning to Live the Virtues What Do We Mean by Virtue? When we hear the word virtue, we may think of being respectable, well-mannered, or morally upright. Christian virtue certainly affects how we behave, but reaches much deeper than good manners or social ethics.Virtue is the life of God taking shape

The practice of freedom: Learning to live the virtues Part II There is a form of impatience that sounds remarkably like faith.It is certain, forceful and ready with an answer. It may say: “The Bible is clear.” Or: “The Church has always taught this.”Both statements may be true. There is room in the Life in

IntroductionMaturity in Christ does not make everyone alike, but produces the same fruit of the Spirit in wonderfully different lives.The Church walks one common Way, yet each unique person walks that Way amid particular circumstances.Our relationship with God is personal, but is not self-invented. We do not each receive a different Gospel.We share the same

DRAWN NOT DRAGGED The deepest humor of the Church is not found in jokes but in reversals.Again and again, Holy Scripture presents situations that appear hopeless.The younger son wastes everything and comes home in disgrace. Yet the father runs to meet him.A blind beggar becomes the one person who truly sees. Fishermen become apostles, evangelists,

Part II: The Saints were funnier than we think The saints understood something many of us forget: a person who takes God seriously does not need to take him/herself seriously.One of the most beloved stories concerns St. Lawrence.When Roman officials demanded the treasures of the Church, St. Lawrence gathered the poor and presented them before