Dec 14 – Memorial for St. John of the Cross, priest, religious, doctor of the Church St. John (1675–1726) was born in poverty. He cared for the poor in the hospital in Medina. He became a lay Carmelite brother in 1563 at age 21, though he lived stricter than their Rule. He studied at Salamanca.... Continue Reading →
13 December, Tuesday – The Father’s Will
Dec 13 – Memorial for St. Lucy, virgin, martyr St. Lucy (c. 283) was a rich, young Christian of Greek ancestry. She was raised in a pious family, and vowed her life to Christ. Her Roman father died when she was young. Her mother, Eutychia, arranged a marriage for her. For three years, she managed... Continue Reading →
12 December, Monday — Opening Our Eyes & Hearts
Dec 12 – Memorial for Our Lady of Guadalupe Guadalupe is, strictly speaking, the name of a picture, but the name was extended to the church containing the picture and to the town which grew up around the church. It makes the shrine, it occasions the devotion, it illustrates Our Lady. It is taken as... Continue Reading →
11 December, Sunday — Joy
3rd Sunday of Advent Isa 35:1-6,10Jas 5:7-10Mt 11:2-11 "... yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he is." Blessed New Year! As we begin the new liturgical year, how wonderful it is to be reminded that we all should be filled with Hope, Peace, Joy & Love as we await the... Continue Reading →
10 December, Saturday — Entering into relationship
Dec 10 – Our Lady of Loreto The Basilica della Santa Casa (English: Basilica of the Holy House) is a Marian shrine in Loreto, in the Marches, Italy. The basilica is known for enshrining the house in which the Blessed Virgin Mary is believed by some Catholics to have lived. Pious legends claim the same house was flown over by angelic beings from Nazareth to Tersatto (Trsat in Croatia), then... Continue Reading →
9 December, Friday — Being like children
Dec 9 – Memorial for St. Juan Diego, hermit, layman John (1474-1548) was born an impoverished free man in a strongly class-conscious society. He was a farm worker, a field labourer, and a mat maker. He became a married layman with no children. Even as a pagan, he was a mystical and religious man, and... Continue Reading →
8 December, Thursday — Let us be humble and surrender to Him!
Dec 8 – Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary On this and the following eight days, the Church celebrates, with particular solemnity, the immaculate conception of the ever-blessed Virgin Mary who, from all eternity, was chosen to be the daughter of the heavenly Father, the spouse of the Holy Ghost, the... Continue Reading →
7 December, Wednesday — Bridge Over Troubled Water
Dec 7 – Memorial for St. Ambrose, bishop and doctor of the Church St. Ambrose (c.340–397) was born to the Roman nobility. He was the brother of St. Marcellina and St. Satyrus. He was educated in the classics, Greek, and philosophy at Rome, Italy. He was a poet and a noted orator. He was a... Continue Reading →
6 December, Tuesday — Love Song
Dec 6 – Memorial for St. Nicholas, bishop St. Nicholas (d. 346) was a priest and abbot, and the bishop of Myra, Lycia (modern Turkey). He was generous to the poor, and a special protector of the innocent and wrong. Many stories grew up around him prior to his becoming Santa Claus. One story is... Continue Reading →
5 December, Monday — A Spirit of Joy
Monday of 2nd Week of Advent Isa 35:1-10Lk 5:17-26 They will come to Zion shouting for joy… I was taking the subway recently and noticed the faces of the commuters. I could count only two or three smiling faces and they all came from the younger children. They were all playing with each other and... Continue Reading →
OXYGEN 