In the 1995 Academy Award winning movie “Braveheart,” the main character, William Wallace, delivers a powerful speech to a group of men who are considering running away from battle:

Jesus enjoins us to pray for our enemies and forgive one another from the heart; He tells us to forgive seventy times seven times (Mt. 18: 21-22) and to ask the Father to “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us” (Mt. 6:12).

In suffering, we all agree on one point—we don't like it. But there are many disagreements on how to avoid suffering, and what to do when it inevitably catches up with us.

In this video clip, Fr. Spitzer describes level 3 happiness, the happiness of living for others. Level 3 happiness is so powerful that it even enabled Viktor Frankl, author of "Man's Search for Meaning," to survive a prisoner of war camp during WWII.

Last week witnessed an unprecedented, worldwide and—perhaps unwilling—participation in the suffering of Good Friday. Now it is time to let the blinding light of the Resurrection penetrate the darkness of these days!

There is a story told of a little boy who comes running to his mother exclaiming joyfully, “Momma, look what I found for you!” He is clutching a beautiful rose in his little fist, and the mother sees instantly that his hand and wrists are scratched and bleeding. No thorns were going to stop him from obtaining this treasure for his mother!

It often happens that people use evil in the world as an argument against the very existence of God. Bluntly, if God is good, how can it be that a child gets cancer? How can it be that a young mother dies, or that a friend becomes paralyzed? Why do bad things happen to good people?

With social distancing and self-quarantines, it can be challenging not to succumb to depression and a sense of helplessness. 

Much has transpired since my last message on the feast day of St. Joseph—just 13 days ago. The number of people infected in the USA has risen significantly, and on Sunday President Trump and his medical advisors told us that the social distancing guidelines will remain in place until at least April 30th and that we should not expect the country to be "well on its way to recovery" until June 1st. Those living in many parts of the world are experiencing similar situations.

In the video below, a Fr. Spitzer’s Universe viewer writes: