Dec 31 – Memorial for St. Sylvester I, pope St. Sylvester (d. 335) was pope in the reign of Emperor Constantine I, who built the Lateran and other churches. He sent legates to the First Council of Nicaea, and was involved in the controversy over Arianism. The spurious Donation of Constantine was supposedly given to St.... Continue Reading →
30 December, Thursday – Prayerful contemplation
6th day within the Octave of Christmas 1 Jn 2:12-17Lk 2:36-40 Meanwhile the child grew to maturity, and he was filled with wisdom; and God’s favour was with him. I often wondered how Jesus’s childhood went by. Was it one which was uneventful, like a typical ordinary child? Did he also struggle with the usual... Continue Reading →
29 December, Wednesday – The Spirit of Giving
Dec 29 – Memorial for St. Thomas Becket, bishop, martyr St. Thomas (1118-1170) was of Norman ancestry. He was educated at Merton Priory, Paris, Bologna, and Auxerre. He was a civil and canon lawyer, a soldier and officer. He was archdeacon of Canterbury, and was a Friend of King Henry II, as well as Chancellor of... Continue Reading →
28 December, Tuesday — ‘Christflyer’
Dec 28 – Feast of the Holy Innocents, Martyrs The Holy Innocents are the children slaughtered by Herod the Great when he tried to kill the infant Christ. Patron Saint Index The children died for Christ, though they do not know it. The parents mourned for the death of martyrs. The Christ child makes of... Continue Reading →
27 December, Monday — Seeing is believing…
Dec 27 – Feast of St. John, apostle, evangelist St. John, also known as the ‘beloved disciple’ of Jesus, was the son of Zebedee and Salome, brother of St. James the Great, and was called one of the Sons of Thunder. Before becoming Jesus’ disciple, he was already a disciple of St. John the Baptist,... Continue Reading →
26 December, Sunday — We are family
Dec 26 – Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph We celebrate the Holy Family of Nazareth which is the model for all who fear the Lord and walk in his ways. - the Sunday Missal 1 Sam 1:20-22,24-28 1 Jn 3:1-2,21-24 Lk 2:41-52 Think of the love that the Father has... Continue Reading →
25 December, Saturday — You are the crown and splendour of the Lord
Dear Oxygen readers, The Core Team wishes one and all a blessed, peaceful and joyous Christmas filled with God's graces and love. May He continue to light out paths and guide us on our journeys as we come to know Him more. Christmas Day -- Vigil Mass Isa 62:1-5Acts 13:16-17,22-25Mt 1:1-25 ...no longer are you... Continue Reading →
25 December, Saturday — The Ultimate Present
Christmas Day -- Midnight Mass Isa 9:1-7Tit 2:11-14Lk 2:1-14 God’s grace has been revealed... I look forward to Christmas now even more than before, when it was about presents and parties. With my nephew and niece both studying in London, and my sister (their mum) on a self-quarantine after flying back from Europe, there is... Continue Reading →
25 December, Saturday — Come bearing a Gift
Dec 25 – Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord Christmas Day -- Mass at Dawn The name ‘Christmas’ was derived from Old English: ‘Cristes Maesse’ -- Christ’s Mass. It is a celebration of the anniversary of the birth of our Lord. In the earliest days of the Church, there was no such feast; the... Continue Reading →
25 December, Saturday — Do You See What I See?
Christmas Day -- Mass during the Day Isa 52:7-10Heb 1:1-6Jn 1:1-18 ...and that life was the light of men... Merry Christmas, everyone! I cannot help but feel that the world is finally emerging from the darkness of the past year and that collectively, we can all look forward with a renewed hope that things are... Continue Reading →
OXYGEN 