About Ronald Patrick Raab, C.S.C.

Ronald Raab, C.S.C.,serves as religious superior at Holy Cross House, a medical and retirement home for the Congregation of Holy Cross, Notre Dame, Indiana

A Christmas Wish List for the Church: Published in Ministry and Liturgy Magazine October 2014

Posted on December 26, 2015 by Ronald Patrick Raab, C.S.C.

I ran across this wish list from last Christmas, 2014. I still pray for the Church in this way in this Christmas season….

Broken But Not Divided

John the Baptist
Charcoal: Ronald Raab,CSC

(The editor of Ministry and Liturgy Magazine asked all of the contributors to create a wish list for the Church. The list was started by my reflections from the October issue, 2014. I also offer this version of John the Baptist. This drawing was my very fist in charcoal in the early autumn.)

A Christmas Wish List for the Church

I pray that when we place the infant Jesus in the manger in all of our parishes that we will also work hard to find adequate placements for foster and orphan children and learn to receive children running across national boarders trying to escape poverty or war.

I pray that when we decorate our sanctuaries for Christmas that we will also use our resources to find housing for mothers and children who face domestic violence especially in our suburbs.

I pray that when…

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On The Margins – Luke 2:41-52

Posted on December 26, 2015 by Ronald Patrick Raab, C.S.C.

Listen to “On the Margins”. This broadcast comes from Mater Dei Radio 88.3. ( This edition does not have the usual opening and closing). The Word Made Flesh lives in the family of humanity. This feast is not just about blood relatives, but the search for Jesus. We are all searching for Jesus, the goal of our lives. The search continues because life unfolds in new ways in which we need God. The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph; Feast, December 26, 2015.

LISTEN NOW: CLICK HERE

Stream live On The Margins on KBVM 88.3FM on Saturdays at 3:45pm and Sundays at 8am.

Christmas 2015

Posted on December 24, 2015 by Ronald Patrick Raab, C.S.C.

“Nativity and Cross”
Painting: Ronald Raab, CSC 2015

On this Christmas evening, my heart goes out to all people who ache for peace and for the basics of life. In this Year of Mercy, may our lives be flooded with God’s love. I pray that we may live out that love in the world by offering people the essentials of food, clothing, water and a compassionate presence. On this tender day of remembrance and joy, may God find a home in you. (Litany: Ronald Raab, CSC)

A Litany of Prayer for Christmas Mercy

Response: In your compassionate mercy, O God

Receive me when I am bent down with burden…

Receive me when my face is frozen from past regrets…

Receive me when I fear reaching out beyond my worry…

Receive me when I am reluctant to be known or heard…

Guide me when I prefer the shadows of my loneliness…

Guide me toward the light of your care for me…

Guide me with your hand of forgiveness even when I resist…

Guide me to my own heart where love is still being born…

Give joy when I am searching to make sense out of life…

Give joy in my family life this holy season…

Give joy in prayer for our fragile world…

Give joy in my forgiving thoughts about my enemies…

Open new thoughts for us when we are trapped in negative thinking…

Open new paths for us even along roads of cynicism…

Open new directions for us because our own paths lead nowhere…

Open new doors of love in this Year of Mercy…

Be peace in our collective voices of loathing and lashing out…

Be peace in our hatred of one another…

Be peace in our resistance of change…

Be peace in every city and nation…

Jesus, be born among our broken hearts and fragile lives…

Jesus, be born among the marginalized…

Jesus, be born in our desire for a better world…

Jesus, be born in our children for their future…

Jesus, send your mercy from the manger where you were born…

Jesus, send your mercy with the light of a star…

Jesus, send your mercy with Joseph’s care and fidelity…

Jesus, send your mercy in the integrity of Mary, your mother…

Jesus, help us become the mercy we seek…

Merry Christmas,

Fr. Ron

FaithND “Camouflage Christmas”

Posted on December 23, 2015 by Ronald Patrick Raab, C.S.C.

Click here to read an edited version of my article “Camouflage Christmas”. The original article was published in Ministry and Liturgy Magazine, October 2015.

FaithND published this article today in the daily reflections.

“Getting Ready”

Posted on December 23, 2015 by Ronald Patrick Raab, C.S.C.

“Getting Ready”
Painting: Ronald Raab, CSC

“Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand” Psalm 25

As we come to the end of the Advent season, let us lift up our heads, our hearts and see the beauty of life and the coming of our Savior. Blessings to you all as you travel, prepare, cook, wrap and wait for your family, your guests and the unexpected moment of grace.

Mater Dei Radio: “In Person” Monday December 21, 2015

Posted on December 21, 2015 by Ronald Patrick Raab, C.S.C.

Dina Marie from Mater Dei Radio interviewed me about yesterday’s gospel for the Fourth Sunday of Advent. Click here for the ten minute interview.

On The Margins – Luke 1: 39-45

Posted on December 17, 2015 by Ronald Patrick Raab, C.S.C.

Listen to “On the Margins”. This broadcast comes from Mater Dei Radio 88.3. ( THIS EDITION DOES NOT HAVE THE USUAL OPENING AND CLOSING) . There is a great antipiation for our place within the Incarnation. God is here among us and we are called to humble ourselves to discover Jesus. Pray for peace. The Fourth Sunday of Advent, December 20, 2015.

LISTEN NOW: CLICK HERE

Stream live On The Margins on KBVM 88.3FM on Saturdays at 3:45pm and Sundays at 8am.

Mater Dei Radio, 88.3 “In Person” from Monday December 14, 2015

Posted on December 14, 2015 by Ronald Patrick Raab, C.S.C.

Dina Marie, from 88.3 in Portland, OR interviewed me this morning for about ten minutes on the Third Sunday of Advent.

CLICK HERE to listen to this interview.

On The Margins – Luke 3:10-18

Posted on December 10, 2015 by Ronald Patrick Raab, C.S.C.

Listen to “On the Margins”. This broadcast comes from Mater Dei Radio 88.3. “Gaudete Sunday”, a moment of rejoicing, half way to Christmas. We listen to Luke describe our right relationships, to prepare a way for Christ Jesus. We have begun a “Year of Mercy”. How do we learn to live with one another? Third Sunday of Advent, December13, 2015.

LISTEN NOW: CLICK HERE FOR THIS WEEK”S EDITION

Stream live On The Margins on KBVM 88.3FM on Saturdays at 3:45pm and Sundays at 8am.