
Reflections
Search Articles
Life That Conquers Death: Easter Traditions of Ukraine
Be guided through Rome's Holy Week by Fr. Barry Strong, OSFS, Superior General of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales...
A Prayer for Easter
Throughout Lent, Fr. Michael Newman, OSFS, has been reflecting and writing about the teachings of Bl. Louis Brisson, OSFS, the founder of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales. Here he offers a quote and prayer from Bl. Brisson about Easter...
The Celebration of Lent and Easter in Rome
Be guided through Rome's Holy Week by Fr. Barry Strong, OSFS, Superior General of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales...
Inherit This Cross
All who are baptized in Christ have inherited the cross of Christ, and when Oblates take their first vows, we receive our profession cross. Crosses can be seen as burdens, but how can we be transformed when we learn to see our crosses as gifts?...
Walking Humbly Along the Way
As we progress through the days of Holy Week, we are reminded that Jesus did not pick those who had it “all figured out.” How can the journey of Jesus during the Easter Triduum continue to transform our struggles and our weaknesses?...
Better Now
Love of neighbor is on par with love of God and follows it immediately. When I entered the Oblates, my first superior, Fr. John Lehner, OSFS, was a great example of this. How can we learn from Fr. John's example of love, gentleness, patience, and meekness?...
Mercy’s Memory
Forgiving and being forgiven pose such a hurdle for our emotional life because it touches on the most sensitive parts of our past. Even when we can bring ourselves to make an act of forgiveness, what are we to do with those painful memories?...
Watching, Walking, & Praying on Holy Thursday
The tradition of celebrating Holy Thursday with a processional pilgrimage from church to church is making a comeback. This is a unique opportunity to spend time with the Lord...
And a Child Led Them
Children are constant sources of surprise and wonder. Scripture tells us that a child led them. Is that really so? Read how Fr. Dave Whalen discovered what children can do...
Unique Chilean Customs
In Chile, Lent and Easter are significant religious celebrations within the Catholic community. Learn about Chilean customs, including a special celebration known as Cuasimodo, pictured here, which is held on the first Sunday after Easter...
Hardened Heart?
I often take my imperfections and make them my identity, and get spiritually trapped by shame. Does that sound familiar? As we journey through Lent, let's reflect on the difference between guilt and shame. and what St. Francis de Sales teaches...
Which Will to Follow?
It can be difficult to discern God’s Will in our lives, and often takes an open, honest dialogue with God, or is made clear through someone we encounter in our lives. How can we tune into God’s Will, and what questions can we ask ourselves to help us? ...
No Greater Love
Jesus' sacrifice is a model of selflessness and genuine love. Twenty-five years ago, the Church recognized a group of religious women who made the ultimate sacrifice during one of the darkest times in modern history. How can we learn from their selflessness, faith, and courage?...
It’s Who You Know…
Peter, James, and John grow in their understanding of who Jesus is through their experience of the Transfiguration. How are we challenged to find a God of our understanding? What can the uniqueness of Salesian Spirituality offer in this search?...
Cloistered and Connected
When the Visitation Order was founded in America, it also embraced a ministry of education to young women. As schools and monasteries grew up together, students, faculty, staff, and families learned that to be cloistered didn’t mean to be invisible. What can we learn from their devotion to the ministry of showing?…
Lenten Challenge
Lent is a very special time in the Church year when we are invited to “go the extra mile.” Traditionally, our Lenten practices include prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. How can you go the extra mile, deepen your heartfelt outreach? What does St. Francis challenge us to do?...
Will you?
Looking for people to love what we love is natural, but it is also a recipe for great upset. How many times have you hoped someone would think, feel, or love as you do, only to be disappointed? Since we cannot expect people to always be like us, where can we turn in scripture to guide our hearts? ...
An Opportunity to Go Within
Almsgiving is one way to show gratitude for all the Lord has given to us. What can we do this Lent to give back to those who are in need? How can we dedicate time each day to talk with our God, heart to heart?…