For centuries, the mysteries of religion, theology, and the wonders of God have captivated and unsettled the human mind. These are my reflections as I seek to find clarity for the uncertainties and questions that plague my mind.
“Vocatus Atque Non Vocatus Deus Aderit”
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In My Own Words: Understanding
By Alex J. Nagem © April 12, 2025 I was grocery shopping at Kroger’s the other day when I noticed a young boy walking with his parents. I’m not good at guessing ages, but he looked to be under the age of six. He wore red goggles over his eyes. He ran toward the…
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In My Own Words: A Gift of Prayer
By: Alex J. Nagem © April 12, 2025 I received a special gift from Deacon Doug Brieding: a prayer rope, known as a chotki in Russian. Deacon Doug and I had a conversation on prayer during a function we were attending. Surprisingly, we would talk about prayer, right? What else would he and I…
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In My Own Words: Passion Revisited
By: Alex J. Nagem © April 7, 2025 It is known as devotion, fury, dedication, affection, joy, ecstasy, rapture, anger, excitement, suffering, devotion, and intensity. “Passion is defined as a strong inclination toward a self-defining activity that people like (or even love), find important, and in which they invest time and energy regularly. The self-defining…
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In My Own Words: Easter Belief
By Alex J. Nagem © April 4, 2025 The Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary defines the word “belief” as “the feeling of being certain that something exists or is true.” Judging by the number of parishioners who attend church services from the Tenebrae through Easter Sunday, one can say that attendance is based on a…
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In My Own Words: The Eucharist
By: Alex J. Nagem © 4.1.2025 The following is from a witness I gave at my home parish, St. Michael Parish in Wheeling, WV. What would be your witness if asked your thoughts on the Eucharist? What would you say about our Lord and Savior being present in the form of this small round wafer?…
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In My Own Words: Some Things Are Not Meant to Be Known
By: Alex J. Nagem © March 31, 2025 St. Anthony of Egypt is known as the Father of All Monks. He was a Christian hermit and the best known of the Desert Fathers. For those unaware, the Desert Fathers were Christian hermits who lived in the Egyptian desert beginning in the 3rd century A.D. They…
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In My Own Words: A Conversation with God, But I Forgot the Question
By: Alex J. Nagem © March 29, 2025 Me: Good morning, God. Do you have some time to talk? God: I am always here for you, my son. I am always present in your life. I thought you would understand this by now. Me: You know, sometimes I am nervous talking to you. Your introduction…
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In My Own Words: What Might Be Challenging to Express
By: Alex J. Nagem © March 29, 2025 The following may be challenging to express on any day: I accept your will, dear God. Consider this: You know God exists. You believe in God. You understand that God created everything we see and don’t see. God is always with us in every joy and storm…
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In My Own Words: A Letter from God
By: Alex J. Nagem © 3/26/2025 My Dear Children, I want to take this time to tell you I have been watching and thinking of you. For most of you, your week began well. I saw you in many churches, praying, celebrating the Eucharist, and meditating on what is right and wrong. This made…
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In My Own Words: Are You Ready?
By: Alex J. Nagem © March 25, 2025 Jesus’ Birth Foretold 26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin [a]engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the [b]descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was [c]Mary. 28 And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, [d]favored one! The Lord [e]is with you.” 29 But…