These reflections are a result of more than 40 years of ministry as a Roman Catholic priest. Most of these years I spent in the Diocese of Charlotte which covers Western North Carolina. Now I am retired, and live in Medellín, Colombia where I continue to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Medellín.

Saturday of Our Lady, the Virgin Mary, October 23

If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you,
the one who raised Christ from the dead
will give life to your mortal bodies also,
through his Spirit that dwells in you. (Rom 8:1-11)

I always love that part in the Nicene Creed when we say, “for us and for our salvation.” It’s just a reminder that all that we celebrate in Christ is for a purpose: specifically “for us and for our salvation.” And so we ask the prayers of the holy Mother of God: "pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death. Amen."