Frank Friar Fridays

Do we even think about those sorts of decisions? Or do we feel that we are battered by circumstances and things out of our control? Well, there is another way.

Well, it means we are changed, but changed in a very special way. We don't often want to change, because it can make us uncomfortable or maybe it even hurts a little, but if we trust in God, and in the power of the Holy Spirit, then that change can be something life-changing - and in a good way.

And if they are the first words, they must be important....right? It's "Repent and believe in the Gospel." And that is what we hear again on this First Sunday of Lent.

Even 800 years after his death, Francis of Assisi has something to say to us.

I hate to ask because I think I know the answer - but our faith certainly isn't meant to bore us - hopefully, it will excite us AND the people in our lives.

If we accept an authority figure, does that mean we have to change? What if we don't want to change? What if we think we are doing pretty well just as we are? Maybe we need to look in the mirror and answer some tough questions about ourselves.

I just returned from nine nights in Sicily - Palermo, Agrigento, Siracusa, and Taormina - with brief stops along the way. It was spectacular! Hear about the people we met, places we visited, and the food we ate.

You don't want to miss this final episode. In this last of a three-part episode, I talk to Colleen Dulle about some of the things that didn't happen at the Synod - the lack of any statements about LGBTQ Catholics or what will be the response of the Church for divorced and remarried Catholics.

In this second part of the interview with Colleen Dulle, Vatican journalist with America magazine, we hear about some of the major themes to emerge from the synod - the role of women in the Church, and the importance of changes to lay and priestly formation, and what to expect this year as the process continues.

Pope Francis began a process three years ago that has engaged the worldwide Church. That three-year process culminated in a synod this past October at the Vatican. It will continue throughout 2024. Colleen Dullee is a journalist for the Jesuit magazine, America. Being a St. Louis native, I was able to interview Colleen while she was visiting family over the Christmas holidays. Colleen covered the...

Back by popular demand: Dorothy Sayer's play, "The Man Born to be King" The Dominican brothers perform a radio play written by the acclaimed British mystery writer Dorothy Sayers, author of the Lord Peter Wimsey novels.  Fourteen Dominican brothers participated in this effort.  We perform the first two scenes in her radio play, in the court of King Herod when the kings tell of their...

What if we don't feel like rejoicing? What do we do then?

Has anyone asked you that yet? They will. There might be a lot of things on our today list, but what is the most important thing we can do on it? To prepare ourselves for the greatest gift we've ever received - Jesus Christ in our lives.

Advent is a season for waiting and expectations. How does our loving God help us?

I have been reading and listening to some things the past week that got me thinking about my dad and Thanksgiving.

How do we use our talents? Fr Patrick Baikauskas OP Description God has given us all sorts of gifts. Valuable gifts. Sometimes we may think we don't have much in the way of talent, but God thinks otherwise, and he wants us to be generous in how we share them.

This is a tough question, but the readings for this coming Sunday, give us a difficult lesson. We might want to avoid the issue, but we can't.

For many of us, but sadly not all, our mothers and fathers are the very first - and maybe the most powerful example we receive of unconditional love. Can we imitate that?

God expects us to love God with everything we've got - AND - to love others. Simple, but it is difficult - because it means we are to love even the people who hate us and hurt us.

I am delighted to introduce my old friend and fraternity brother, Pastor Ken Behr to our FFF audience. Ken is a retired Protestant pastor and has his own podcast - Prophecy Countdown. On that podcast, the end times come up frequently, and especially so when we have harbingers of war in the Holy Land. Listen to our engaging conversation on that topic and others.

The readings for this Sunday compare heaven to the experience of sharing in a great banquet. But there is a question - an invitation - before we get into the feast. How do we respond?

There are lots of ways that are culture influences us - good and bad - maybe more bad - and so we are all called to conversion - to change - and that can hurt - but it is what will bring us our greatest joy and peace.

God has made a lot of promises to us. And he keeps them. It's important for us to do the same with the people who know us - our families, friends, neighbors, co-workers - even the stranger. Being truthful and keeping promises is something we can rightfully expect - and then people will expect the same from us.

The parable this week is about the generous landowner who pays the workers who worked only an hour the same as those who worked all day. He was generous in ways that can be difficult for us to understand, but it is supposed to be a parable that gets us thinking - how am I called to act?

In this Sunday's reading, we hear Jesus being asked by Peter, "How many times do I have to forgive, as many as seven?" Well, actually we're called to do much more, but why is it so difficult for us?