Patrick Briscoe

2 weeks ago | oursundayvisitor.com | Patrick Briscoe

Rather than let confusion and division fester, the apostles came together in what we now call the Council of Jerusalem. Guided by the Holy Spirit, they clarified Church teaching and sent official representatives — Paul, Barnabas and others–to communicate their decision. This passage is remarkable because it reveals how doctrine is discerned and communicated in the life of the Church. It shows the apostles exercising their pastoral authority in union and in fidelity to the mission of Christ.

2 weeks ago | oursundayvisitor.com | Patrick Briscoe

As an Augustinian nun, St. Rita lived according to the Rule of St. Augustine — a spiritual framework that has shaped countless religious communities throughout the centuries. Interestingly, it’s also the rule followed by Pope Leo’s own religious order. I imagine we’ll see his papacy shine a special light on saints like Rita, whose lives were formed by the very rule that shaped him. What’s so beautiful about the Rule of St. Augustine is how simple and foundational it is.

2 weeks ago | oursundayvisitor.com | Patrick Briscoe

St. Thomas Aquinas, in his commentary on this passage, offers a stunning reflection. He says believing, obeying and persevering are ways by which we abide in Christ. Let’s look at each of these briefly, using the vine imagery to guide us. 1. Faith is the root. Our belief in Christ grounds us. Just as a vine sends roots deep into the soil to draw life and nourishment, so our faith anchors us in God. It’s from this faith that we receive strength in times of trial.

2 weeks ago | oursundayvisitor.com | Patrick Briscoe

That courage and resilience reminded me of something Pope Leo XIV recently said in his homily during the Missa pro Ecclesia — the first Mass celebrated by a new pope, offered with the College of Cardinals in the Sistine Chapel. A cardinal recently remarked to me that this Mass is, in fact, the true conclusion of the conclave.

2 weeks ago | oursundayvisitor.com | Patrick Briscoe

There’s a moment when Jesus, carrying his cross, falls to the ground before the Virgin Mary. She rushes to him, and the film cuts to a memory — Jesus as a little boy, stumbling and falling, with his mother running to catch him. The scene is devastating in its tenderness. And then, lying bruised and beaten under the weight of the cross, Jesus looks up at her and says the words from today’s reading: “Behold, I make all things new.” Then he rises and continues on his way.