Restoration
Column: New Millennium
This column contains articles by the Madonna House Director General of Priests.
Jesus, Where Are You? — by Fr. David May. If you’ve ever visited Madonna House, Combermere, you may know that we have a vegetable garden plot located between St. Mary’s and the Madawaska River. This very sandy but flat piece of land has been steadily... (July 29, 2008)
Prayer at a Roadside Shrine — by Fr. David May. She gazes in the direction of the Madawaska River, though that river is hidden by trees and shrubs. Passers-by on our road do not see her either, since the majestic pines that survived the tornado of... (June 08, 2008)
Formation of Conscience and the Responsibility to Vote — by Fr. David May. The Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead is the ultimate affirmation of the gift of life itself. The Resurrection is the Father’s final "word" on the destiny of his children. As Christ said,... (April 21, 2008)
Entering the Gates of Jerusalem — by Fr. David May. If you have followed with seriousness the journey from Ash Wednesday to Holy Week, you will notice that there is a very distinctive turn of the season come Palm Sunday.... (March 14, 2008)
Life in the Ultimate Net — by Fr. David May. Everything was in readiness for dinner. Only the guest of honor was lacking. Finally he arrived and reclined at table, as the custom was in those days. The host was scandalized that his guest had not... (February 12, 2008)
A Question for the New Year — by Fr. David May. Why get up in the morning? Well, of course there are practical reasons that for most people hardly make the question worth asking. I have to go to work. I need to bring home a paycheck.... (January 04, 2008)
Becoming Small Enough to Think Big — by Fr. David May. If someone asked you what is the most important thing you do to prepare for Christmas, what would you say? Decorate? Advent wreath? Finish shopping by mid-December? Daily Mass? Rosary? Cook for the feast? Get a... (December 10, 2007)
Reconciliation at the Heart of the Church — by Fr. David May. For some time now I’ve considered writing about developments in the Roman Liturgy at this moment in the Church’s history. With the publication on July 7 of Pope Benedict’s Motu Proprio on the Latin Mass, the... (October 24, 2007)
The Endless Jubilee — by Fr. David May. Six o’clock on a June morning: I head out of the dorm bordering on the llano to go for a morning walk before the desert heat really takes off. I find my way to the dike... (September 20, 2007)
While Walking on Perrier Road — by Fr. David May. Winter, spring, summer, or fall, I love the early morning. Do you? I love the quiet at the beginning of the day, and I use that precious hour or two for prayer and then some exercise.... (May 10, 2007)
Magnificent Beginnings — by Fr. David May. Have you given much thought lately to the Solemnity of the Annunciation? My hunch is: you haven’t. This magnificent celebration of the Word becoming flesh in the womb of the Virgin Mary nearly always happens in... (March 26, 2007)
Expect a Miracle — by Fr. David May. If you took a survey of people in Madonna House, Combermere, you would probably find very few who would pick February as their favorite month. Usually by the time it has begun, we have already had... (February 19, 2007)
Thoughts on a Winter’s Evening — by Fr. David May. Have you ever lived and worked on top of an oven? I do. The office I currently occupy in my position as director of priests in Madonna House is located on the second floor of our... (January 03, 2007)
No Rest for the Blessed — by Fr. David May. "Hello, everyone, I’m back! It’s the director general of priests!" That or a phrase like it was often my cry this past summer as I strode into the Madonna House cemetery to cut the grass. "You... (November 01, 2006)
Weapon of Choice — by Fr. David May. At the moment of writing this article, plans for peace in the world seem to be literally blowing up in our faces. No matter where one turns—Israel, Lebanon, Palestine, Iraq, Sri Lanka, Somalia, Afghanistan, to name... (October 17, 2006)
Life on a Shoestring — by Fr. David May. My phone—an English antique with an imperious and unadjustable bell—rang out at 2:30 in the morning. With a sinking feeling and adrenalin cylinders firing, I leapt out of bed. "Hello. Fr. David here."... (September 22, 2006)
Do You Want Fire? — by Fr. David May. "Zeal for my Father’s house consumes me" (Ps 69:9, Jn 2:18). "I cannot rest!" This is us… unable to rest because we love. "I shall arise and go and find my Beloved, for I shall not... (July 07, 2006)
Words to Light the Way — By Fr. David May. On May 16, 2006, Fr. David celebrates the 25th anniversary of his priesthood. Twenty-five years ago I was preparing to be ordained a priest. I had just finished a whirlwind of studies for a Masters degree... (May 16, 2006)
Bigger Than the Big Screen — by Fr. David May. In the Church’s Office of Readings for Ash Wednesday, there is an excerpt from the letter of Pope St. Clement to the Corinthians. The passage chosen begins as follows: “Let us fix our attention on the... (March 01, 2006)
The Most Childlike of Us All — by Fr. David May. “The Gospel of Life is at the heart of Jesus’ message.” These are the opening words to that great encyclical letter of Pope John Paul II, Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life). Ten years after it... (February 06, 2006)
Of Visions and Visionaries — by Fr. David May. It’s a very quiet evening here at the main house of Madonna House. Everyone seems to have gone “home” early except for two applicants downstairs, one of whom is answering the phone. But the phone is... (January 02, 2006)
A Wake-Up Call? — by Fr. David May. Every day after lunch, we take time for a short period of spiritual reading and discussion. At St. Benedict’s Farm recently, we were reading a staff letter by Catherine Doherty on the theme of joy in... (November 14, 2005)
Entering the Silence of God — by Fr. David May. October. The month of the holy rosary. And if there is anything I can’t stand, it’s a pious article about praying it! Mind you, I do pray it. In fact, I love the rosary. But in... (October 04, 2005)
Something People Love in a Priest — by Fr. David May. This year the month of July will hold a most special gift for Madonna House and for the Church: Kieran Kilcommons will be ordained to the priesthood on the 9th. In this same year, Fr. Paul... (July 08, 2005)
Canada on Its Knees? — by Fr. David May. At the beginning of March Canadian Catholics received a rather unusual request from their bishops. The hierarchy proposed that in the days preceding March 19 (Solemnity of St. Joseph, Husband of Mary), a novena be prayed... (May 02, 2005)
Are You Ready for the End? — by Fr. David May. At the turn of the century there was in the air in certain Catholic and non-Catholic circles an expectation that God was about to do a Great Thing. For some, the cup of evil seemed so... (April 04, 2005)
A Radical Solution — by Fr. David May. I’ve just come rushing upstairs in the main house of MH near the end of afternoon teatime to begin this new column for Restoration. I have about one hour’s writing time before traveling down the road... (March 10, 2005)
