Category Archives: spirituality

Christmas Stories

Posted on December 19, 2025 by richp45198

I am a big believer in story-telling. I was told once that in the El Paso community I was known as a psychologist who told stories. And indeed stories are a great way to communicate therapeutic notions. But some stories … Continue reading →

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The Long Thanksgiving Dinner 2025

Posted on December 1, 2025 by richp45198

Thanksgiving has come and gone but it is never too late to celebrate this greatest of holidays! It is a time to celebrate family. It is a time to remind ourselves of the need for ongoing gratitude, especially during these … Continue reading →

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Senses as a Gateway to God

Posted on November 12, 2025 by richp45198

The Catholicism of my youth was at odds with our bodies. We were usually reminded that our bodies are “temples of the Holy Spirit”, implying that our human desires had no place in that temple. Further, discussions of sin tended … Continue reading →

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Favorite Bible Passages

Posted on October 31, 2025 by richp45198

Last Sunday I was assigned to do the reading at Mass. It was from 2 Timothy and was a favorite passage of mine; however, the translation watered it down and so, when I read it, I did so with the … Continue reading →

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Disputed Passages

Posted on October 21, 2025 by richp45198

Recently my son Ben posted this quote by Walt Whitman on his Linkdin page and invited readers to reflect on what they have learned on their “disputed passage” “Have you learned lessons only of those who admired you, and were tender with … Continue reading →

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Fr. Mychal Judge: A 9/11 Remembrance

Posted on September 11, 2025 by richp45198

In recognition of the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy, I repost this tribute to Fr. Mychal Judge, a man who deserves to be recognized as a saint. At this point in my journey, I have a need to surround … Continue reading →

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Chaplain (CPT) Emil J. Kapaun: A Saint for Our Time

Posted on August 22, 2025 by richp45198

I had never heard of Fr. Emil Kapaun until I saw the documentary “Fighting Spirit: A Combat Chaplain’s Journey”. The film focuses on the healing journey of former Chaplain Justin Roberts trying to recover from combat PTSD. He learned of … Continue reading →

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On Spiritual Experience

Posted on July 24, 2025 by richp45198

I recently had a spiritual experience. Our family was gathered on the coast of Oregon and one evening the area was enveloped in fog. I felt drawn to the fog and so I walked through the fog down to the … Continue reading →

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Excerpt from”Turn to the Beatitudes”

Posted on July 5, 2025 by richp45198

Here is an excerpt from my latest article “Turn to the Beatitudes” published in St. Anthony Messenger, A link to the full article is provided at the end. Christianity is in the news on a regular basis these days. Where … Continue reading →

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On Being A Psychotherapist

Posted on June 21, 2025 by richp45198

I long maintained that being a psychotherapist was a strange way to make a living. It is a job that relies on human suffering. It is a job with an uncertain outcome for the honest psychotherapist knows that we do … Continue reading →

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