Frank Friar Fridays
By Fr Patrick Baikauskas OP
Frank Friar FridaysMay 12, 2023
My summer reading suggestions
A Terrible Kindness - Jo Browning Wroe
You Dreamed of Empires - Alvaro Enrique
Counting by 7s - Holly Goldberg Sloan
A Thousand Ships - Natalie Haynes
Migrations - Charlotte McConaghy
The Covenant of Water - Abraham Verghese
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue - V.E. Schwab
Signal Fires - Dani Shapiro
Ask Again, Yes - Mary Beth Keane
Lessons in Chemistry - Bonnie Garmus
Miss Benson’s Beatle - Rachel Joyce
Middlemarch - George Eliot
Rules of Civility - Amor Towles
Whale Fall - Daniel Kraus
The Buried Giant - Kazuo Ishiguro
What's it mean to love like Jesus?
It's not easy for us, but it's not impossible either. And there are people in our lives to show us the way.
Are we meant to live alone?
The short answer - no! We are all connected to one another - like a great vine, and when we recognize that reality, we can accomplish great things.
Who is your good shepherd>
Or maybe it is you who is called to be a good shepherd for others!
Does your faith excite you?
To be truthful, maybe it doesn't - but we need to figure out how to do that - and then share it. This is vital stuff. If we want to stop the exodus of people from our Church, we have got to get excited - and then share it with others - everyone - start with our families - but don't let it stop there.
Is Jesus here yet?
Today we reflect on this question of Saint Thomas the Apostle. And we can ask the same things of ourselves - is Jesus here yet, in our own lives, and if so, can people see Jesus at work in our lives?
My God, God, why have you forsaken me?
We have a special episode of Frank Friar Friday this week. Fr. Vincent Davila, OP, BoilerCatholic, and good friend, joins us today to explore this question that has perplexed and troubled Christians for centuries. Br. Joseph Hilliker, OP joins me as a guest host. Joseph has been on FFF twice. Vincent is writing his doctoral dissertation on this cry of Jesus and provides some fascinating insights. It's the perfect listening experience for this Triduum and Easter week.
Why does God let evil happen?
Here's the answer (maybe) to a question that people have asked for centuries.
This promise is written on your heart!!
What would that mean if someone said that to you? What would you think? I'd think it was pretty important. And it is!!!
What does John 3:16 mean for you?
This is maybe the best-known verse of the Bible - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
How do we separate our needs from our wants?
Do we even think about those sorts of decisions? Or do we feel that we are battered by circumstances and things out of our control? Well, there is another way.
What does it mean to be transfigured?
Well, it means we are changed, but changed in a very special way. We don't often want to change, because it can make us uncomfortable or maybe it even hurts a little, but if we trust in God, and in the power of the Holy Spirit, then that change can be something life-changing - and in a good way.
A little trivia contest. What were Jesus' first words to his disciples?
And if they are the first words, they must be important....right? It's "Repent and believe in the Gospel." And that is what we hear again on this First Sunday of Lent.
The life of Saint Francis continues to witness for us a way to live our life
Even 800 years after his death, Francis of Assisi has something to say to us.
I hate to ask this question - do you find your faith boring?
I hate to ask because I think I know the answer - but our faith certainly isn't meant to bore us - hopefully, it will excite us AND the people in our lives.
Who are the authority figures in our lives?
If we accept an authority figure, does that mean we have to change? What if we don't want to change? What if we think we are doing pretty well just as we are? Maybe we need to look in the mirror and answer some tough questions about ourselves.
My trip to Sicily
I just returned from nine nights in Sicily - Palermo, Agrigento, Siracusa, and Taormina - with brief stops along the way. It was spectacular! Hear about the people we met, places we visited, and the food we ate.
Part III of the interview with Colleen Dulle on the Vatican Synod
You don't want to miss this final episode. In this last of a three-part episode, I talk to Colleen Dulle about some of the things that didn't happen at the Synod - the lack of any statements about LGBTQ Catholics or what will be the response of the Church for divorced and remarried Catholics.
Part II of the interview with Colleen Dulle on the Synod on Synodality
In this second part of the interview with Colleen Dulle, Vatican journalist with America magazine, we hear about some of the major themes to emerge from the synod - the role of women in the Church, and the importance of changes to lay and priestly formation, and what to expect this year as the process continues.
What is going on with this Synod on Synodailty?
Pope Francis began a process three years ago that has engaged the worldwide Church. That three-year process culminated in a synod this past October at the Vatican. It will continue throughout 2024.
Colleen Dullee is a journalist for the Jesuit magazine, America. Being a St. Louis native, I was able to interview Colleen while she was visiting family over the Christmas holidays. Colleen covered the synod for America magazine in Rome. Colleen provides an insider's account of what was happening and what we can expect in the months ahead.
Don't miss this three-part interview, beginning this week and continuing for the next two weeks.
If you haven't heard this radio play previously, or if you have, you don't want to miss the Christmas radio play performed by Dominican friars.
Back by popular demand: Dorothy Sayer's play, "The Man Born to be King"
The Dominican brothers perform a radio play written by the acclaimed British mystery writer Dorothy Sayers, author of the Lord Peter Wimsey novels. Fourteen Dominican brothers participated in this effort. We perform the first two scenes in her radio play, in the court of King Herod when the kings tell of their journey to find the messiah, and in the shepherd's home when the three kings visit Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.
This is Gaudete Sunday - We are called to rejoice!!
What if we don't feel like rejoicing? What do we do then?
Are you ready for Christmas?
Has anyone asked you that yet? They will. There might be a lot of things on our today list, but what is the most important thing we can do on it? To prepare ourselves for the greatest gift we've ever received - Jesus Christ in our lives.
Reflections on the readings for the First Sunday of Advent
Advent is a season for waiting and expectations. How does our loving God help us?
Some thoughts about dads and Thanksgiving
I have been reading and listening to some things the past week that got me thinking about my dad and Thanksgiving.
How do we use our talents?
How do we use our talents?Fr Patrick Baikauskas OPDescription
God has given us all sorts of gifts. Valuable gifts. Sometimes we may think we don't have much in the way of talent, but God thinks otherwise, and he wants us to be generous in how we share them.
If God were to call you home today, would you be ready?
This is a tough question, but the readings for this coming Sunday, give us a difficult lesson. We might want to avoid the issue, but we can't.
Loving like a mother - a father - can we do that?
For many of us, but sadly not all, our mothers and fathers are the very first - and maybe the most powerful example we receive of unconditional love. Can we imitate that?
Why is it so difficult to love as we ought?
God expects us to love God with everything we've got - AND - to love others. Simple, but it is difficult - because it means we are to love even the people who hate us and hurt us.
Why do we worry about the end times?
I am delighted to introduce my old friend and fraternity brother, Pastor Ken Behr to our FFF audience. Ken is a retired Protestant pastor and has his own podcast - Prophecy Countdown. On that podcast, the end times come up frequently, and especially so when we have harbingers of war in the Holy Land. Listen to our engaging conversation on that topic and others.
What will heaven be like?
The readings for this Sunday compare heaven to the experience of sharing in a great banquet. But there is a question - an invitation - before we get into the feast. How do we respond?
Change can be difficult - but it's not impossible
There are lots of ways that are culture influences us - good and bad - maybe more bad - and so we are all called to conversion - to change - and that can hurt - but it is what will bring us our greatest joy and peace.
How good are we at keeping commitments?
God has made a lot of promises to us. And he keeps them. It's important for us to do the same with the people who know us - our families, friends, neighbors, co-workers - even the stranger. Being truthful and keeping promises is something we can rightfully expect - and then people will expect the same from us.
Are you generous or stingy?
The parable this week is about the generous landowner who pays the workers who worked only an hour the same as those who worked all day. He was generous in ways that can be difficult for us to understand, but it is supposed to be a parable that gets us thinking - how am I called to act?
Why is it so hard to forgive another?
In this Sunday's reading, we hear Jesus being asked by Peter, "How many times do I have to forgive, as many as seven?" Well, actually we're called to do much more, but why is it so difficult for us?
Do you build up - or tear down?
How do we confront the people we love - and the people we live with? Jesus shows us the way.
I talk to Br. Alonso Salas, OP about his work on the streets of Memphis this summer
Listen to this interview with Br. Alonso Salas, OP, a second year student brother and his inspiring story of meeting and accompanying those living on the margins on the streets of Memphis.
What's it like to be a chaplain in a big city hospital trauma center
This week we interview Br. Joseph Hilliker OP who we interviewed last year detailing his summer experience in Kenya. This summer he served as a chaplain in a Houston ER. Hear his inspiring story.
Highlights of our pilgrimage to Poland and Prague
After four attempts over three years - we finally made it - thanks be to God. Hear some highlights of our pilgrimage.
God is her co-counsel
Missy Sims was recently featured in a New York Times article that details her legal suit against big oil companies on behalf of several cities in Puerto Rico. She blames them for climate change and that their indifference has been the cause of the devastating storms that have plagued that island. What comes through very clearly is that she her Catholic faith has guided her in this David vs. Goliath undertaking.
The Transfiguration and Oppenheimer
Transfiguration is about an openness to being changed. I think there is some interesting theological connections to the film Oppenheimer.
What is the most precious thing you own?
This is a question we may need to ask ourselves everyday - but let's really reflect on this question this week. every day
Costa Rica - Pura Vida
Having just returned from a vacation in Costa Rica, I thought I would offer some of my reflections on this extraordinary place. Pura Vida is the official slogan of Costa Rica, and people say it as often as people say Ciao! in Italy. Literally it. means "pure life" but it means more in the way the Ticos use it. It mean's "Everything is great, how about you?" or "Isn't this day beautiful?" or "Gosh, it is so nice to meet you. I failed to mention that on our first night in Costa Rica we got to visit Boiler Catholic Beatriz Cisneros - what a special occasion that was!!
Let's unburden ourselves
We can let ourselves get weighed down. That's a choice. There's another one too.
What's the key to our happiness?
Does the answer surprise you?
We are all worth a lot - a lot - in the eyes of God - and me
and so what are we called to do about it?
Let our hearts be on fire!!!
Yes, we are supposed to love one another as Jesus loves us - but let's kick it up a bit.
We extend a special welcome
This is a welcome statement a made a couple of times at St. Tom's, but I believe we lived it out every day. Feel free to share it - and live it.
What does it mean for YOU when we celebrate the Holy Trinity?
We - meaning priests - tend to make it complicated. It isn't. Celebrating the Trinity means celebrating hospitality.
What do you with all the gifts you have received?
God has given us a lot - maybe we don't notice. Do we keep them to ourselves - or share them? Easy question.