
The Origin of Open Door
In December of 1968, Father Chet was pastor of Holy Comforter Parish in Charlottesville, Virginia. It was his practice to mail the parish bulletin and written reflections to a growing list of interested people. When he received a sizeable monetary gift to be used at his discretion, he formalized the operation and began in earnest to address a “variety of topics which might be of interest and of help in solving the problems, questions, and difficulties facing many of us today.”
This was the beginning of the Open Door publication. Over the next 40-plus years, Father Chet wrote about spiritual, theological, and psychological topics. Below are re-publications of his original messages.
How to Encounter God: An Easter Message of Love
Father Chet, 1978 (republished April 16, 2023)
Since religion is primarily a loving encounter between God’s person and our person, there is an intimate connection between our capacity for natural, human love and our capacity for encounter with God. By grace, the person of God touches our inner self and fills us with God’s own life of love. Unless we have developed the natural powers for love within our soul, it is often impossible to enter into a full, loving union with God. Continue Reading
Mercy, Trials, Amen: More on the Lord’s Prayer, Part III
Father Chet, 1977 (republished February 11, 2023)
We are to show the same mercy to others as we hope to receive from God. We must be willing to forgive others “seventy times seven!” – which means to never refuse to forgive. This is the forgiveness and mercy we expect from God as a matter of course. We promise God in the Lord’s Prayer that this will also be the kind of mercy we show our fellow human beings… Continue Reading
Republished in 2022
Faith, Hope, and Charity: Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Father Chet, 1996 (republished February 6, 2022)
Deepening Your Prayer Life: All that I Am
Father Chet, 1979 (republished April 5, 2022)
Deepening Your Prayer Life: The Practice of Prayer
Father Chet, 1979 (republished June 7, 2022)
United Under Our Father: Meditation on the Lord's Prayer
Father Chet, 1977 (republished August 9, 2022)
Who Art in Heaven: Meditation on the Lord's Prayer, Part II
Father Chet, 1977 (republished October 16, 2022)
Give the Gift of Prayer this Christmas
Father Chet, 1999 (republished December 4, 2022)
Republished in 2021
Change: Knowledge, Resistance & Resilience
Father Chet, February 1, 1975 (republished Feb. 1, 2021)
Holy Week: The Redemptive Value of Suffering
Father Chet, Holy Week 1969 (republished March 30, 2021)
What are We Doing About Social Development?
Father Chet, June 15, 1971 (republished June 2, 2021)
A Crossroads: Unity in the Catholic Church (Part I)
Father Chet, March 31, 1973 (republished August 15, 2021)
A Crossroads: Holding onto Truth (Part II)
Father Chet, March 31, 1973 (republished October 2, 2021)
Advent A Gift of Time
Father Chet, Christmas 1992 (republished December 11, 2021)
Republished in 2020
Evils in Our Present Day of Life: Indifference
May 1, 1969 (republished Aug. 7, 2020)
Our Personal Challenge: Meeting the Needs of Our Times
February 1, 1969 (republished Oct. 4, 2020)
Honoring the Incarnation of God
December 1991 (republished Dec. 3, 2020)