Author Archives: Thomas Griffin

Thomas Griffin 5/14/20 (For Ascension Press) Ever feel like you were the odd one out? That someone else was selected for a task that you would have been perfect for? Why does Matthias get chosen to become the twelfth apostle? One possibility for the position was a man named Joseph, also known as Barsabbas, andContinue reading “Choosing Matthias: Much More Than Mere Casting Lots”

Thomas Griffin 5/12/21 (For Ascension Press) At the beginning of my lessons on the Mass, as a middle school teacher, I always showed the trailer to Altaration by Ascension Press. The video is filmed in slow motion with loud music, soft lighting, strong doses of incense, and a clever use of suspense. After showing the video oneContinue reading “Anamnesis and the Key to Mass”

Thomas Griffin 5/4/21 (For Crisis Magazine) ESPN recently published an article about the Derek Chauvin verdict which graded the manner in which professional sports leagues kept their promises following the death of George Floyd. Specifically, how have they fought against racism and systemic violence of police toward African Americans? Several leagues and many players called out race as theContinue reading “The Most Political and Misguided Year in Sports”

Thomas Griffin 4/23/21 (For Crisis Magazine) The decline of the Catholic Church in America was happening rapidly before COVID-19. Returning to the methods that produced the radical decline in Sunday Mass attendance along with the low numbers of marriages, baptisms, catechumens, and overall members practicing their faith would be both ignorant and fatal. What weContinue reading “The Church Should Not Return to Normal”

Thomas Griffin 4/21/21 (For The Federalist) During the week after Easter this year, the archbishop of New York, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, wrote a letter to his flock entitled “It’s Time to Get Back to Mass!” His message served several purposes: an announcement, a teaching, and a reflection on the necessity of worship in the life of theContinue reading “Cardinal Dolan Is Right: It’s Time To Get Yourself Back To Church In Person”

Thomas Griffin 4/14/21 (For Ascension Press) If we can place a proper translation on everything that John the Baptist acted on and preached about, it would be something very simple and straightforward: Pay attention! He enters the scene of Scripture in the womb of his mother, Elizabeth. When Mary arrives to see her cousin, afterContinue reading “John the Baptist: Pay Attention”

Thomas Griffin 4/9/21 (For Catholic Exchange) Ascension Press’ latest book by Fr. Mark-Mary Ames entitled Habits for Holiness: Small Steps for Making Big Spiritual Progress is a necessary read for all contemporary Catholics desiring to grow closer to Christ and bring others to his side. The practical nature and simple challenges contained within these pages allow oneContinue reading “Habits for Holiness: A Mission of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal”

Thomas Griffin 4/3/21 (For The Federalist) Holy Saturday is the forgotten day amidst Holy Week. Christians remember the institution of the Eucharist and the priesthood on Holy Thursday, the brutality of Jesus’ sacrificial suffering on Good Friday, and the empty tomb on Easter Sunday. Yet Holy Saturday often remains in the shadows. It’s within suchContinue reading “Holy Saturday: Between Despair and Hope”

Thomas Griffin 4/2/21 (For Crisis Magazine) The story of Holy Week recounts the historical events surrounding Jesus’ Passion, Death, and Resurrection; but it also pinpoints common failures of humanity while providing the antidote that ultimately saves us. A suffering world needs to dive into the causes of darkness that surround it and investigate deep withinContinue reading “A World in Crisis Needs Good Friday”

Thomas Griffin 4/1/21 (For Catholic Exchange) Pandemic restrictions impacted Christian worship during their holiest of weeks in March 2020, but those regulations have had continued negative consequences on the faith throughout the course of the last year or so. This is a pivotal issue because humanity truly runs the course established by religion because ourContinue reading “Religion, Culture and Pandemic Worship”