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Bishop Burbidge opens this week's episode of Walk Humbly by giving thanks to God for the good news concerning Pope Leo XIV's health.   As we enter the final days of election season, he also reinforces our baptismal call to participate in public life and contribute to upholding the common good! Pray the "Rosary for Virginia" on Friday, October 30 in-person at All Saints in Manassas or via livestream.  As we approach National Vocation Awareness Week (November 1-7), consider inviting young men and women to the upcoming Quo Vadis and FIAT days taking place next month! Also consider joining the St. Therese Vocations Society to pray daily for vocations in our diocese.  Join Bishop Burbidge on Monday, November 2, as he celebrates the annual Mass in Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls' Day) at 11am at Fairfax Memorial Park. Be sure to also come to venerate the relics of St. Bernadette at her namesake parish in Springfield, November 5-6.   November is National Black Catholic History Month, an opportunity to thank God for the vibrant Black and African American Catholic community. Celebrate with us for a special Mass on November 22 at 9:30 AM at St. John Neumann in Reston.  The second annual Diocesan Week of Service is also nearly upon us! Reach out to your local parish to learn how you can get involved November 9-15.  Walk Humbly welcomes listener questions for Bishop Burbidge. Call or text (703) 778-9100 anytime with your question. Connect with Walk Humbly and Bishop Burbidge by texting WALKHUMBLY to 84576 for occasional alerts and updates.

Election Day is November 3rd. As Virginians, we should not vote out of mere habit, but rather always remember that casting our ballot is a sacred duty and something not to be taken lightly.  Faithful citizenship begins before we reach the polls. We take time to learn what is at stake. We pray to God for wisdom. We consider all our neighbors, our brothers and sisters, who will be affected by the outcome.  Then we vote with a view to what is truly good, right, and just—not what seems good only for us, but what serves the common good of all.  So, bring your faith and your conscience to your polling station and ask God to help you choose well. Our Commonwealth needs citizens who take their sacred duty to heart.

The signs of fall are arriving. Mornings are cooler, and the light fades earlier. After the long days of summer, many of us feel the year shifting.  Change can cause us to feel unsettled. Yet God does not change with the weather. He is the same in the heat of summer and the slight chill of autumn. He is the same when life is difficult and when it is calm. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  The more we know God, the more settled we will feel in every season. And because God remains consistent and faithful, his abiding presence with us—and the infinitive love and divine mercy which he pours out onto each one of us—can be the source of our confidence, serenity, and peace amidst the changes and challenges of life.

On this episode of Walk Humbly, Bishop Burbidge reflects on the importance of prayer and fasting during Respect Life Month and encourages Catholics to unite in prayer as Virginians prepare to vote on Ballot Questions 1 and 2.  Bishop also discusses Mental Health Sunday, addressing the importance of overcoming stigma, supporting those who struggle, and finding hope and healing in Jesus Christ, the Divine Physician. Watch a replay of "Grounded in Jesus' Truth: Lifestyles for Mental Health" by Deacon Brad Watkins from the 2026 Mental Health Day of Prayer.  Looking ahead, Bishop spotlights the 100th anniversary of World Mission Sunday and the Church's call to support missionaries worldwide. He also shares his excitement for RALLY 2026, an opportunity for young people to grow in faith and fellowship, and the upcoming Marriage Jubilee Mass honoring couples celebrating 25 and 50 years of marriage.  Plus, Bishop reflects on recent diocesan celebrations, offers prayers for Pope Leo XIV, and answers a listener's question about praying the Stations of the Cross outside of Lent.

A great spiritual writer once said: "To be always united with Jesus we must do everything calmly, without worrying about the difficulties that may arise. God does not live in troubled hearts." [St. Alphonsus]     Jesus wants us to be confident and joyful in our daily lives! How much time have we spent worrying about tomorrow, only to discover that the Lord was there all along, guiding us through every challenge? Looking back, we can often see that even in our moments of uncertainty, God never abandoned us.    So, with renewed faith, put aside your worries today and rejoice in knowing the nearness of the Lord. God does not live in troubled hearts: his presence brings hope and strength in every moment of our lives. It is the Lord who provides true peace, always.

It is easy to become bitter or hold a grudge after being treated poorly, or simply misunderstood. And sometimes, long after the moment has passed, we may be tempted to dwell on our past hurts. The Lord shows us another way: the freedom that comes through forgiveness.    Jesus tells us that if we forgive others, our Heavenly Father will forgive us. It is not always easy to offer pardon, but it is possible! With God's grace, even the deepest wounds can begin to heal.    So, pray for the grace to let go of grudges and bitterness and to extend forgiveness. It may not change the past, but it will transform the future. Then, you will know the Lord's mercy and peace, and experience the freedom that comes from a heart renewed by His love.

Prayer is one of the most important habits we can cultivate, yet practicing this habit often tests our patience and resolve. Even those who fervently pray day after day may sometimes wonder: does God hear my prayers?    Jesus teaches that perseverance, trust, and humility are essential for a strong prayer life. Do not be disheartened when you fail to see immediate responses. God will respond in his time and provide exactly what you need even if it is not what you expect. Trust him!  Pray with confidence. Approach the Lord with an open heart, ready to accept whatever he permits and to receive whatever he may choose to give. As you grow in humility and trust, you will experience deeper peace and a stronger faith. Stay faithful in prayer today—God is already at work.

On this episode of Walk Humbly, Bishop Burbidge explains the meaning and significance of beatification as the Church beatifies Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. Read about when Blessed Archbishop Sheen came to the diocese and tune into the livestream of the Beatification Mass celebrated in St. Louis.   Bishop expresses his hope to defeat the dangerous amendments threatening our state constitution and continues to encourage all to get out and vote early. Learn more and pledge to Vote no catholicsvoteno.com.   Read or replay his recent message to all the faithful of the diocese.   He also reflects on National Migration Week, Hispanic Heritage Month, and a diocesan retreat for persons facing serious illness. Join us for the Hispanic Heritage Mass and Festival on October 4.  Tune in until the end when he answers a listener's question about fostering greater engagement in faith formation at home.  Find a media gallery from the CALLED Conference for young adults held this month.  Walk Humbly welcomes listener questions for Bishop Burbidge. Call or text (703) 778-9100 anytime with your question. Connect with Walk Humbly and Bishop Burbidge by texting WALKHUMBLY to 84576 for occasional alerts and updates.

One of the great American traditions every autumn is time spent with friends and family reveling in the achievements of our favorite college and pro sports teams.     We all naturally admire the excellence of a star athlete or the potential for a promising team to go "all the way" and win a championship.    Sports betting, however, increasingly threatens to ruin the pure enjoyment of our games. Young and old alike often wager money they can ill afford to lose. One in four adults maintain a sports betting account of some kind. Nearly half of bettors admit wagering more than they should, and more than half lose their wagers.    By all means, enjoy the games—enjoy them for what they are!—but while the allure of a quick profit may be enticing, don't bet on it.

In every family and in every community, grandparents and the elderly are precious gifts.  Our world moves quickly and looks toward what is new, but our grandparents and the elderly remind us of what endures: wisdom, patience, faithfulness, and love. Through their stories, sacrifices, and examples, they connect us to where we have been and guide the generations that follow.  We must make time for our grandparents and our elders. Call them. Visit them. Listen to their stories. Pray with them and for them. Above all, remind them that they are loved, cherished, and always remembered.   As we celebrate our grandparents and the elderly this week, may God abundantly bless them may we always honor their dignity, cherish their presence, and give thanks for the ways they enrich our families and communities.

On this episode of Walk Humbly, Bishop Burbidge highlights the USCCB prayer, education, and advocacy campaign on abortion pills, the most prominent method of abortion in the United States.   He reflects on the solemn anniversary of September 11, 2001, and what is being done in the diocese to remember the lives lost and lives affected from the tragedy of 9/11. Watch God, at the Pentagon, 10-minute diocesan documentary produced for the 20th anniversary.  In 2017, Pope Francis opened a path to beatification for a Christian who freely offers his life out of love. Today, Bishop is promulgating an edict inviting the faithful to make known any useful information they may have regarding the Cause for Mr. Thomas Vander Woude. Learn more about Thomas Vander Woude and his cause for beatification and canonization.  On Tuesday, September 15 at 10:00 a.m., Bishop will lead a Holy Hour at the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More to pray for guidance of the Holy Spirit this election season. Early voting begins on September 18. Can't join in-person? Be united in prayer via livestream.  Pledge to Vote no on Ballot Question 1 and Ballot Question 2 at catholicsvoteno.com.  He also previews Mental Health Sunday on October 11, a day designated by U.S. bishops inviting Catholics to pause and reflect on healing and hope around mental health in their local parish community.  Tune in until the end when he answers a listener's question on scrupulosity.  Walk Humbly welcomes listener questions for Bishop Burbidge. Call or text (703) 778-9100 anytime with your question. Connect with Walk Humbly and Bishop Burbidge by texting WALKHUMBLY to 84576 for occasional alerts and updates.

Labor Day honors all whose daily work contributes to healthy families and a stronger nation. All who labor participate in God's plan for our happiness.  This is because "work" is more than "a job." In God's design, the true purpose of our daily work is to praise him and serve one another. By God's grace, we can see how our "work" can become a "calling"—an invitation to do all things with excellence and a spirit of service.  We also remember those who are unemployed or underemployed and pray that God grants them meaningful work and fair family wages.   May we all find renewed purpose this Labor Day, recognizing that by our daily work we labor with the God who created and sustains our world, day by day.

We live in a world that often encourages us to measure our worth by our appearance, accomplishments, or possessions. It is easy to become preoccupied with how others see us rather than who we truly are.  Yet the most important question we can ask is: Who am I in the sight of God?  The greatest truth about our lives has nothing to do with what we own or how successful we are. The greatest truth is that we are beloved sons and daughters of God, created in his image and redeemed by his love.  When we remember who we are in Christ, we can experience true confidence and peace. May we live each day rooted in God's love, grateful for the one who calls us his own beloved sons and daughters.

On this episode of Walk Humbly, Bishop Burbidge reflects on the upcoming beatification of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen and his enduring legacy of evangelization through media and unpacks how Question 1 on the ballot in Virginia this fall threatens parental rights.   Join Bishop Burbidge as he leads us in a Eucharistic holy hour on September 15 to pray for faithful citizenship this election season. Pledge to vote no at catholicsvoteno.com.   Bishop Burbidge highlights the upcoming Season of Creation, beginning with the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation on September 1. He also previews the annual CALLED Conference for young adults taking place on September 19.  Walk Humbly welcomes listener questions for Bishop Burbidge. Call or text (703) 778-9100 anytime with your question. Connect with Walk Humbly and Bishop Burbidge by texting WALKHUMBLY to 84576 for occasional alerts and updates.

Far too often we delay what matters most—putting aside growth in faith, important decisions, and even simple acts of kindness. We may tell ourselves that we address the big issues later, or do good acts another time—when life feels less busy. But what if those very things that could bring real blessings never happen because we waited too long?  Today is God's gift. We must live today with purpose, refusing to allow procrastination to rob us of the good we are called to do. In sacred scripture, we hear the Lord's parable of the workers in the vineyard. The lesson? Do good work and do not delay!  Tomorrow is not guaranteed. Today is a precious gift from God. By his grace, embrace it, cherish it, and live it fully.