The French novelist and essayist Léon Bloy once made this comment about God’s power in our world: “God seems to have condemned himself until the end of time not to exercise any immediate right of a master over a servant or a king over a subject. We can do what we want. He will defend Himself only by His patience and His beauty.”

This is the third in a series of four columns by Fr. Frank Freitas about prayer and praying. (Here's part 1, part 2 and part 4)

Early Christian monks believed in something they called acedia. More colloquially, they called it the “noonday devil,” a name that essentially describes the concept.

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Feb. 5 (Year A) Isaiah 58:6-10; Psalm 112; 1 Corinthians 2:1-5; Matthew 5:13-16

Why does God seem so distant or even absent in our world? Why are our societies and nations so polarized and torn by divisions?

This is the second in a series of four columns by Fr. Frank Freitas about praying and prayer. (Here's part 1, part 3 and part 4)

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Jan. 29 (Year A) Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13; Psalm 146; 1 Corinthians 1:26-31; Matthew 5:1-12

What if we were aware of an approaching disaster?

Recently a man came to me, asking for help. He carried some deep wounds, not physical wounds, but emotional wounds to his soul.

This is the first in a series of four columns by Fr. Frank Freitas about prayer and praying. (Here's part 2, part 3 and part 4)

Recently, while on the road giving a workshop, I took the opportunity to go the cathedral in that city for a Sunday Eucharist. I was taken aback by the homily.

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Jan. 22 (Year A) Isaiah 9:1-4; Psalm 27; 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17-18; Matthew 4:12-23

In the depths of gloom and suffering, the most welcome gift is a message of true hope and encouragement.