Canons On The Run

We all know the feeling: a sinking feeling in the stomach, a tight neck, back, or shoulders. Our bodies are telling us tension has showed up again, uninvited, and now obviously present. Tension shows up in our lives and relationships whether we like it or not. However, when met with openness and confidence and grounded in finding God’s will, the tension we experience actually can become an opportunity for transformation. 

As October draws to a close and November begins, the Church once again presents us with the human reality of death in the celebrations of All Saints Day and All Souls Day. This comes at a poignant time for the Norbertine Community of St. Norbert Abbey as our co-hosts traveled back to the abbey to celebrate the life and death of a confrere.  Listen to how the Norbertine community prayerfully embraces the reality of death and clings to the hope of Christian resurrection and triumph over death!

When injuries or infirmities creep into our lives, physical or spiritual, we tell ourselves, "I can take care of this," or, "This will probably go away." Why do we instinctively resist seeking professional help?  Like a doctor wants to make our physical ailments better, so our God wants to help us find true healing and wholeness. By letting God into our pain, God's love transforms us so that we can begin to better understand what St. Paul wrote: "when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Corinthians 12:10).

When it comes to balancing work in life, it often comes down to deciding to say “Yes” or “No.” This is no easy task! Our podcast co-hosts reflect on some decision-making in their own lives, and how ordering this discerning process toward God has guided them to finding the best way to move forward. Sometimes even a “No” surprisingly opens doors that actually are saying “Yes” to God.
“Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ ” —Matthew 5:37

In the seemingly humdrum moments of life, it’s easy to lose sight of goals and motivation. Our co-hosts reflect on recent experiences that helped them to step outside of themselves, to see the gifts that God has given them, and to use them to help others. For all of us, by seeing and sharing these gifts, we all not only get “unstuck,” but we continue to grow in holiness—into the people God made us to be. 

“Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” —Matthew 10:39. Experiencing some major milestones in their formation, our co-hosts reflect on their profession of vows within the Norbertine community and call to Holy Orders. Within the podcast they compellingly share their journey filled with uncertainty, hope, and faith and how they wholeheartedly were able to say “yes” to God and to their community. 

“You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27)—this is the greatest commandment, but just what does loving our neighbor look like? Who exactly is our neighbor? Back from their summer travels, our co-hosts reflect on how they learned more about this call in places they least expected. 

Frater Jordan Neeck, O. Praem., and Frater Johnathan Turba, O. Praem., continue their short-and-sweet “summer interview series” with Norbertine guest Fr. Matthew Dougherty, O. Praem. Currently a doctoral student of ecology and evolutionary biology at Yale University, Fr. Dougherty reflects upon his vision of the world, and the beauty and wonder of all God’s creation. (this episode originally published in 2018)

Guest Deacon Patrick LaPacz, O. Praem., shares his circuitous journey to Norbertine priesthood with our podcast co-hosts. After spending his first two years in the seminary preparing for diocesan priesthood, Deacon LaPacz discusses his calling to live instead with the community of St. Norbert Abbey, and the perspective and understanding he has gained about himself and God’s call in his life. (this episode originally published in 2018)