Jul 11 – Memorial for St. Benedict, abbot, religious founder Born to Roman nobility, Benedict (c. 480–547) was the twin brother of St. Scholastica. He studied in Rome, Italy, but was dismayed at the lack of discipline and lackadasical attitude of his fellow students. He fled to the mountains near Subiaco, living as a hermit... Continue Reading →
10 July, Friday — Staying Attuned
Friday of Week 14 in Ordinary Time Hos 14:2-10Mt 10:16-23 “Beware of men: they will hand you over to sanhedrins and scourge you in their synagogues." We live in a competitive world. There are scarce resources that are unevenly distributed. Many of us work to achieve financial security so that we can provide for our... Continue Reading →
9 July, Thursday — Pursued by God, Sent in Love
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we welcome Jessica, a wife and mother of three, who sometimes overthinks to the point of inertia and who has learned that there is great joy in surrendering everything to the Lord. During her children’s school years, she had a habit of accidentally forming small communities of parents.... Continue Reading →
8 July, Wednesday — We Are Called
Wednesday of Week 14 in Ordinary Time Hos 10:1-3,7-8,12Mt 10:1-7 …proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is close at hand… Would you agree that calling us by our name is very pleasant to our ears? When a person calls me bymy name, I feel something special. How much more if it were Jesus Christ who... Continue Reading →
7 July, Tuesday — On Disunity
Tuesday of Week 14 in Ordinary Time Hos 8:4-7,11-13Mt 9:32-37 And when he saw the crowds he felt sorry for them because they were harassed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd. The Book of Hosea is a difficult read. The premise of Hosea is of a prophet who continues to love and forgive... Continue Reading →
6 July, Monday — Having Faith in God’s Healing
Jul 6 – Memorial for St. Maria Goretti, Virgin & Martyr Maria Goretti (1890-1902) was a beautiful and pious farm girl, one of six children of Luigi Goretti and Assunta Carlini. In 1896 the family moved to Ferriere di Conca. Soon after, Maria’s father died of malaria, and the family was forced to move onto... Continue Reading →
5 July, Sunday – Surrender your burden to God
14th Sunday in Ordinary Time Zec 9:9-10Rm 8:9,11-13Mt 11:25-30 "Come to me all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest...Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light." All who are burdened – that’s all of us, is it not? It seems that we who have much, have also collected... Continue Reading →
4 July, Saturday — On Turning 250
Jul 4 – Memorial for St. Elizabeth of Portugal Elizabeth (1271-1336) was a princess with a pious upbringing who became Queen of Portugal before she was a teenager. Elizabeth suffered through years of her husband’s abuse and adultery, praying all the while for his conversion, and working with the poor and sick. She rode onto... Continue Reading →
3 July, Friday — Faith, Doubt, Grief
Jul 3 – Feast of St. Thomas, Apostle Thomas (d. 72) was ready to die with Jesus when Christ went to Jerusalem, but he is best remembered for doubting the Resurrection until allowed to touch Christ’s wounds. He preached in Parthia, Persia and India, though he was so reluctant to start the mission that he... Continue Reading →
2 July, Thursday — Jesus Sees Our Faith
Thursday of Week 13 in Ordinary Time Amo 7:10-17Mt 9:1-8 “Courage, my child, your sins are forgiven.” Some time back, a friend returned back home to spend time with her 12-year-old nephew, who was in his last stages of cancer. The family were struggling to come to terms with his illness. From shock, to hope,... Continue Reading →
OXYGEN 