One who is searching for beauty and possibilities will always find them.  One who if searching for ruin and disaster will always find them.  The question of the angel to the women at the tomb on Easter morning rings true for each of us…”Whom do you seek?”  Lord, give us the desire only to seek [...]

If we ever suffer any want, however small, let us remember that Our Lord on the cross possessed nothing… He was on the cross that was given by Pilate. The nails and the crown were given by the soldiers. He was naked and when He died, cross, nails, and crown were taken away from Him. [...]

In continuation from yesterday’s post, (from Fr. Peter Lappin’s book Give Me Souls!)…  After Don Bosco had raised Charles from death…  ”Ohhhhh!”  A long drawn-out sigh issued from Charles’ lips.  As if awakening from a deep sleep, he stirred, opened his eyes, and stared at his mother. “Why did you dress me like this?”  he [...]

This is a story told in the book, “Give Me Souls” by Fr. Peter Lappin, SDB. One of the most extraordinary – and one of the most discussed – events in Don Bosco’s life took place in the year 1849. A fifteen year old boy named Charles who attended the Oratory fell ill and was [...]

I stole this off another blog…but since it’s a quote from Don Bosco, I think it’s “legit.” “The Salesian way of educating the young is quite simple. Basically, I insist on letting boys be boys. Let them play and enjoy themselves as much as they want as long as God is not offended. But if I [...]

I recently was going through some stuff in my office, (with the faithful assistance of my mother, RoseMary Clair), and we found a booklet by St. John Bosco…his advice to parents and teachers.  Here is some of what he said: The primary happiness of a child consists in knowing one is loved. The young must not [...]

I recently received this email and couldn’t help but think of my father, whose anniversary of passing is today.  I’m lucky Joe Clair was my father. Here is one of our email exchanges from the last Father’s Day he was alive: I wrote: Dear Dad, we once had a professor who said that the kids [...]

Ahhh….the parents…  or “the rents,” as they are sometimes called.  Here, I must first state that I’m an exception to every rule.  My parents are saints, and in every way, for me, that made  discernment and finally answering my call altogether different for me. I remember being a freshman in high school, and having my [...]

There are so many things in life for which we should be grateful, and so many gifts God showers on us in His goodness, that often, we have a great deal of confusion in choosing which of these gifts are of greatest value.  One gift I often speak about is the gift of life – [...]

I barely know Ben Stein.  In fact, I’ve seen him only a few times, and always on film (well, actually, probably digitally recorded).  He seems, however to be a man of great common sense.  Ben Stein has become my new hero… The other night, I watched a film (thank you, Sussex County Public Library), called Expelled: [...]