“Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth; and God has placed in the human heart a desire to know the truth—in a word, to know Himself— so that, by knowing and loving God, men and women may also come to the fullness of truth and themselves.”
-St. John Paul II Preface to Fides et Ratio
Fides et Ratio Reflections
St. Sharbel Makhluf
Today we remember the priest, St. Sharbel Makhluf, who died in 1898. Known as the “Hermit of Lebanon,” the former shepherd spent long hours in prayer and centered his life around the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass—concentrating and consecrating his time in that prayer of prayers before, during, and after Mass.
The Collect for today’s Mass highlights his ardent devotion to the Lord:
“O God, Who called the Preist Saint Sharbel Makhluf to the solitary combat of the desert and imbued him with all manner of devotion, grant us, we pray, that being imitators of the Lord’s Passion, we may merit to be co-heirs of His Kingdom. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. AMEN.
It's About Time
The Great Outdoors
Allen Lake, Itasca State Park
On a recent trip to Minnesota’s Itasca State Park with our grandsons, we relished the time outdoors, enjoying so many aspects of the Creator’s overflowing beneficence.
The visit brought to mind the concluding verse of Psalm 8: “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Thy name in all the earth!”
World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly
This Sunday, July 26, is the Sixth Annual “World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly.” Established by Pope Francis in 2021, it is observed on the Sunday near the July 26 feast of Sts. Anne and Joachim, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Grandparents of Jesus. Note: this year it falls precisely on the 26th!
The theme selected by Pope Leo XIV is “I will never forget you” (Is 49:15), and according to the Vatican, it “reminds us that God’s unwavering love is the ultimate answer to the isolation and neglect so often experienced by the elderly. It brings comfort and hope, assuring us that the Lord knows each of us personally, forgets no one, and loves us unconditionally, even through the frailties of old age.”
A happy day of celebration this Sunday to all grandparents and great-grandparents.
(As I frequently say, “Being grandpa is the best.”)
Prayer for the Sixth World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly
Pope Leo XIV Visits the Elderly
Let us pray:
Holy Father
Who watches over every person
Watch over me too when I am elderly.
You have revealed your name to me in Christ,
And You were not discouraged by my frailties.
You hold me tenderly in your hands,
And You caress my lines.
You will never forget me! (see Is 49:15).
Grant that I may not fear my weakness;
Help me learn to love it
Just as You love it.
Help me learn to listen to it
Just as You listen to it.
Help me embrace it
Just as You have chosen it –
You who, though all-powerful, clothed yourself in humility.
May growing old strip away all our pride
and all division
So that we may live these years
united in You.
You will never forget us! (see Is 49:15)
Amen.
(From the Vatican Dicastery for the Laity and Family Life)
President’s Proverb
“Whenever you get there, there is no there there.”
– Gertrude Stein
Hagstrom’s Attempt at Humor (HAAH!)
Sunday Psalm Sampler
“Everything written about Me in the Law of Moses and in the Prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.”
-Luke 24:22b
Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)
- Lectionary Readings: Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time | USCCB
- Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 119:57, 72, 76-77, 127-130
- Responsorial Refrain: “Lord, I love Your commands.” (119:97a)
- Chris Brunelle’s YouTube Recording: R&A Psalm 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2026, Psalm 119
Also used on the Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Psalm 119 is the longest Psalm and longest chapter of the 46 Old Testament books. The ultimate acrostic, it employs eight verses for each of the 22 Hebrew letters for a total of 176 verses. Every verse celebrates the Law of the Lord, and synonyms for the Law include commandments, decrees, ordinances, precepts, promises, statutes, ways, and words.
The Law of the Lord is an unparalleled treasure, and thus the Psalmist declares, “The law of Your mouth is to me more precious than thousands of gold and silver pieces” (Ps 199: 72).
In Matthew’s Gospel reading this Sunday, Jesus declares that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a pearl of great price or a treasure buried in a field. That find is well worth the finder selling everything else to obtain its splendor. This week, let us be mindful of that endearing and enduring treasure as we sing joyfully, “Lord, I love Your commands.”
Our President
Mike Hagstrom
Mike Hagstrom was named President of St. John Paul II Catholic Schools and Director of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Fargo on March 15, 2016, and officially assumed the role on July 1, 2016. In his application for the position, he described his leadership philosophy as one of stewardship, writing:
“My approach would be that of stewardship of the great gift of Catholic Schools. With the help of God’s grace and all our stakeholders, we can be good stewards together, ensuring that our schools not only survive, but thrive. They are designed for human flourishing, forming the whole person, each and every student made in God’s image and likeness, endowed with a transcendent dignity and destiny.”
Before stepping into diocesan leadership, Mike dedicated 31 years to Shanley High School, where he taught Religion and served in a variety of leadership roles. During his time there, he embodied the spirit of St. Bede’s words: “I have always found delight in learning, teaching, and writing.”
Mike earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master of Arts in Systematic Theology from Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota. He and his wife, Shawn, are the proud parents of two Shanley graduates, Therese (’08) and Joseph (’16), and grandparents to James and Oliver.
