The cross is not given to the perfect— it is given to the present.
Not to those who feel holy, but to those who are human.
As Fr. Patton observes, the Way of the Cross is not for those living in abstract piety, but for those willing to incarnate faith in the mess of real life.
Which means—quite inconveniently— that my distracted, noisy, imperfect morning is not an obstacle to the cross.
It is the very place where I meet it.
For Christ does not ask me to carry the cross beautifully.
Only faithfully.
4. Oratio
Lord Jesus,
You who carried the cross not because it was easy, but because it was love,
meet me here— in my resistance, in my distraction, in my weakness.
I confess that I do not feel ready. I do not feel devout. I do not feel strong.
Faith is lived not in abstraction, but in concrete acts of love, especially in difficult circumstances.
Today, I will:
Communion is the Diocese of Amarillo’s Centennial pillar for March
Accept one small inconvenience without complaint.
Enter into one moment of silence, even if it feels restless.
Walk with others in their burdens, not trying to fix them, but to accompany them.
For communion is not formed by avoiding the cross, but by carrying it together.
6. Song Pairing 🎵
🎶 “Hallelujah” – Leonard Cohen🎵
A song that holds both brokenness and praise— a reminder that even in imperfection, even in struggle, there can still be a hallelujah.
7. Movie Pairing 🎬
🎬Movie: “The Passion of the Christ” (2004)
A stark portrayal of suffering freely embraced— revealing that the cross is not merely endured, but chosen in love.
I want to share the latest episode of The Introverted Apostle — a podcast that has helped me revisit my own journey and see things in a different light. This episode features Deacon Tino Frausto and it hits close to home for anyone who has ever thought: “This isn’t my ministry… or my personality.” 😅 Deacon Tino’s story is a powerful reminder that God doesn’t wait for us to feel ready — He simply invites us to say yes. From wanting to stay behind the scenes to proclaiming the Gospel, his journey shows how grace often begins just outside our comfort zone.
Need a clean slate? We’ve got mercy for that. 🙏 In this episode, we unpack Divine Mercy Sunday, the life and mission of Saint Faustina, and why God never stops inviting us back…no matter how far we think we’ve gone. It’s a powerful mix of real stories and practical faith. Whether you’re all in or still figuring things out, this conversation brings clarity, encouragement, and a reminder that grace always has the final word — and that confession isn’t something to fear…it’s a gift. Plot twist: God’s mercy is undefeated. 🏆
Kick off your day with 5 minutes of faith! Revised Standard Version (RSV) translation New Testament: • Luke 6:27-36 • Matthew 18:21 Old Testament: • Proverbs 25:21-22 Catechism of the Catholic Church: • Paragraph 1970 • Paragraph 2263 Takeaways: • Saint Jerome taught that responding to someone’s wrongdoing with kindness can soften their heart, burn away their anger, and lead them to repentance. • When someone annoys you…like cutting you off in traffic…try praying for them instead of reacting in anger. • If people insult or mistreat you because of your faith, stay faithful and hopeful. Jesus promises that your reward in heaven will be great.
My Story
Photo used by permission of Douglas Kirkland/Corbis via Getty Images
Memorial in the Grotto of St. Mary’s Cathedral. The inscription says: “In memory of the death of innocence of the victims of clergy sexual abuse. When innocence dies…a life stops. It is essential that we never forget.“
I was one of “the few” Bishop Zurek spoke of in this letter. He first posted it in August of 2019, and in response to my, “calling out all the more“, he kept reposting it atop the diocesan news page until December 11, 2019. There it remains to this day.
Fr. Ed Graff, brought here from Philadelphia by Bishop Matthiesen, was arrested in 2002 for sexually assaulting a minor and died later that year in jail. Despite the harm linked to his ministry, he was buried in an honored section of Llano Cemetery among our pioneering clergy — a decision that continues to wound survivors and raise hard questions for our diocese.
A tribute to Bishop Matthiesen—now a complex symbol in our diocesan history, erected by former priest John Salazar, whose later abuse conviction reminds us how painful chapters of the Church’s past must be faced honestly as we seek healing and communion.
Bishop Matthiesen, who rode the white horse of public activism even as he brought abusive priests into our diocese such as John Salazar—wounds that still mark us today. I spoke with him often, pleading with him to reconsider his “no regrets” about bringing those priests here…
Bishop Zurek, who told the Diocese of Amarillo he had “no facts” about the Philadelphia report even as Amarillo’s connection to that tragedy was headline news. When I continued to speak out, as Bishop Yanta had once urged me to do, he later wrote that I was not among the faithful and loyal disciples whom the Lord Jesus desires.
While we recognize your thoughtful suggestion for a renewed dialogue on Bishop Matthiesen, the present circumstances do not present an opportunity for it. I think it would foster division not dialogue. We remain confident in God’s providence and hopeful for what the future may bring.
