Jul 24 – Memorial for St. Charbel Makhluf, Priest St. Charbel was a Lebanese monk, born in a small mountain village and ordained in 1858. Devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary, he spent the last twenty-three years of his life as a hermit. Despite temptations to wealth and comfort, St. Charbel taught the value of... Continue Reading →
23 July, Thursday — Abide in Me
Jul 23 – Memorial for St. Bridget of Sweden, Religious Coming from a noble yet religious background, St. Bridget (1302-1373) was friend and counsellor to many priests and theologians of her day. As chief lady-in-waiting to Queen Blanche of Namur, she counselled and guided the Queen and King Magnus II. She was harassed by others... Continue Reading →
22 July, Wednesday — A Love Supreme
Jul 22 – Memorial for St. Mary Magdalene There is actually very little solid information about her, and both scholars and traditions differ on the interpretation of what we do know. She was a friend and follower of Jesus. Filled with sorrow over her sin, she anointed Christ, washed his feet with her hair. He... Continue Reading →
21 July, Tuesday — Family Relations
Jul 21 – Memorial for St. Lawrence of Brindisi, priest, religious, doctor St. Lawrence (1559-1619) joined the Capuchin Friars in 1575. He studied theology, the Bible, French, German, Greek, Spanish, Syriac, and Hebrew. He was an effective and forceful preacher in any of his several languages, founded convents and wrote catechisms. As the chaplain of... Continue Reading →
20 July, Monday — Signs
Jul 20 – Memorial for St. Apollinaris, Bishop & Martyr According to tradition, Apollinaris was a native of Antioch in the Roman Province of Syria. He was made the first Bishop of Ravenna by St. Peter during the persecutions of Emperor Vespasian (or Nero, depending on the source), On his way out of the city... Continue Reading →
19 July, Sunday — Tended by Grace
16th Sunday in Ordinary Time Wis 12:13,16-19Rm 8:26-27Mt 13:24-43 … your sovereignty over all makes you lenient to all. There was a time when I thought strength meant certainty, control, and the ability to prevail. I admired people who commanded attention, who could win arguments, influence outcomes, and never seemed vulnerable. Yet the more I... Continue Reading →
18 July, Saturday — Discipleship and Social Justice
Saturday of Week 15 in Ordinary Time Mic 2:1-5Mt 12: 14-21 Lord, do not forget the poor. To the Jews, land held great significance – it was seen as an inheritance from God for each tribe and family. Though land was seen as ultimately belonging to God -- its true owner -- it accorded social... Continue Reading →
17 July, Friday — Spirit of the Law
Friday of Week 15 in Ordinary Time Isa 38:1-6,21-22,7-8Mt 12:1-8 The Pharisees noticed it and said to him: "Look, your disciples are doing something that is forbidden on the sabbath. But he said to them: "Have you not read what David did when he and his followers were hungry...?" The times we are living in... Continue Reading →
16 July, Thursday — Trust in the Lord
Jul 16 – Memorial for Our Lady of Mount Carmel The Church celebrates on this day the feast of the Scapular of Mount Carmel. The scapular, which derives its name from the Latin word scapulæ, meaning shoulders, is a dress which covers the shoulders. It is best known among as the name of two little... Continue Reading →
15 July, Wednesday — Approach Him with humility and He will reveal Himself
Jul 15 – Memorial for St. Bonaventure, bishop, religious, doctor St. Bonaventure (1221-1274) entered the Franciscan Order when he was 22. At the age of 35 he was chosen General of his Order and restored a perfect calm where peace had been disturbed by internal dissensions. He did much for his Order and composed The... Continue Reading →
OXYGEN 