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This Sunday, we will honor all those living out the beautiful vocation of fatherhood. Fathers and people who act in the role of a father have touched all of our lives, and we pray in a special way for those men. Let us ask for the intercession of the saints who lived out their fatherly vocation, that they may be models for loving, compassionate, and Christ-centered fatherhood.

Here are just a few of these saintly fathers:

I have made many mistakes and learned many lessons over the years as a parent. It became clear early that when my child felt sad or was hurt, I would feel that pain as well. There have been days when I would wait to talk to one of my children to just gauge how they were doing. I would begin to ask them how their day had gone, was everyone nice to them, did anyone pick on them? I wanted to know how they were doing.

 The sacrament of Reconciliation, also commonly known as confession, is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. Just like all the other sacraments, Reconciliation is an outward sign instituted by Christ that effects grace in the soul of the recipient. In this beautiful sacrament of healing, we are cleansed of the sins that have ruptured our communion with God, and we receive grace and healing to help us continue living virtuous, Christ-centered lives.

A prayer that has been on my heart recently is a line from the Fifteen Prayers of St. Bridget of Sweden: “Hide me in your wounds.” The phrase kept coming to mind during prayer, and I couldn’t figure out why or what it meant.

On Sunday we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, also commonly referred to as Corpus Christi. Although this feast didn’t gain a place in the liturgical calendar until the Middle Ages, it commemorates what is perhaps the most fundamental aspect of our Catholic faith--the true presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.

The Church canonizes individuals who have lived lives of heroic virtue, followed Jesus, and are now in heaven. But what about the holy men and women of the Old Testament? Are they in heaven, and can we look to their example?

Before you head to the beach or fire up the grill this Memorial Day, I encourage you to take a few moments to ponder the sacrifices made by the many men and women who have served our country in the military. On this day, we remember and pray for these souls who died so that we may live in freedom.