We all wrestle with the tension between living the life we feel God calling us to and feeling the weight of temptation and error. Augustine invites us to discover love as the path from error to God.
Psychology professor Angela Duckworth in her TED Talk “Grit: The power of passion and perseverance” explains that doing well in school and in life depends much more on something other…
Purity of heart is a human need because the human heart is caught by various desires. Some more superficial. Others are deeper. Some are temporary, and others last longer. Some…
by Brian Lowery, OSA Editors Note: This posting was is part of a class given by Fr. Brian Lowery, OSA titled "The Spirituality of the Rule of Saint Augustine" in…
by Jeremy Hiers, OSA In times of pain and suffering, one can often feel lonely and isolated. This is especially true when facing illness, grief over a loved one, or…
by Jeremy Hiers, OSA Isaiah 41:13-20 is a reminder to God’s people that despite the sinful things they had done, God would not forsake or abandon them. The people had…
by Jeremy Hiers, OSA Last weekend I went home to Cincinnati for a visit and some members of the family wanted to surprise my 7 year old niece and 3…
by Jeremy Hiers, OSA According to Brandon Vogt, author of the book Return: How to Draw Your Child Back to the Church, for every one person who enters the Catholic Church approximately…
Editors Note: This reflection was originally published in the Voices from Prison and the Edge newsletter (issue #30), a publication of the Adeodatus Prison Ministry under the Augustinian Defenders of…
As we journey towards Christmas, the Advent season invites us reflect on the hope we have that Christ has come and Christ will come again to free us. Yet, throughout…
Editors Note: This poem was written by someone who has faced incarceration. It was originally published in the Voices from Prison and the Edge newsletter (issue no. 34), a publication…
How do we advocate for peace and justice in a world that is not always open to honest "dialogue" on the solutions we are all hungry for? Solutions that call…
By Jeremy Hiers, OSA How often do we think about the end times? In Luke 21:5-11, God invites us to reflect on just this. It is easy to get caught…
Editors Note: the following reflection was written by someone who faced incarceration and addiction. It was originally published in the newsletter Voices from Prison and the Edge (issue #34), a…
Mary, Mother of Captives, give us your compassion for those in prison. Mend in mercy the broken in mind and memory. Soften the hard of heart, the captives of anger.…
Curated by Jeremy Hiers, OSA What can the life and teachings of a man who lived over 1600 years ago teach us today about hope today? Consider these quotes by Saint…
As I was reflecting on Jesus' explanation of the Parable of the Dishonest Steward found in Luke 16:9-15, I recalled a tour I recently took of Kensington, an area of…
by Fr. Jeremy Hiers, OSA A few years ago, I watched a film called Footprints: The Path of Your Life which followed the journey of several young men who traveled…
by Jeremy Hiers, O.S.A. Roll away the stone. At Christmas we rejoiced that love has come. Now at Easter we rejoice that love has won. Love always wins. On…
by Sam Joutras, O.S.A. Imagine going to a doctor appointment and telling the doctor other people’s diseases. Then, as you’re giving the doctor a survey of others’ diseases, you mention that…