Aug 21 – Memorial for St. Pius X, pope St. Pius X (1835-1914) encouraged frequent Holy Communion. He reformed the liturgy, promoted clear and simple homilies, and brought Gregorian chant back to services. He also reorganised the Roman curia, the administrative elements of the Church, and worked against the modern antagonism of the state against... Continue Reading →
20 August, Thursday — Checklists
Aug 20 – Memorial for St. Bernard, abbot, doctor St. Bernard (1090-1153) founded and led a monastery which had over 700 monks and 160 daughter houses. He revised and reformed the Cistercians, and was advisor to, and admonisher of, King Louis the Fat and King Louis the Young, and spiritual advisor to Pope Eugenius III,... Continue Reading →
19 August, Wednesday — Taking Care of Our Little Acre
Aug 19 – Memorial for St. John Eudes, priest, religious founder John Eudes (1601-1680) established seminaries, and founded the Congregation of Jesus and Mary Eudists to promote virtuous secular parochial clergy not bound by vows, but dedicated to improving the clergy through seminaries and missions. He also founded the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity... Continue Reading →
18 August, Tuesday — If you are willing to listen, you will learn.
Tuesday of Week 20 in Ordinary Time Eze 28:1-10Mt 19:23-30 "...it will be hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of heaven… it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of heaven." Two years ago, I had the... Continue Reading →
17 August, Monday — A Richer Exchange
Monday of Week 20 in Ordinary Time Eze 24:15-24Mt 19:16-22 I have kept all these. What more do I need to do? Are you going through a difficult season now? Do you sometimes feel that God is asking too much of you... and you find yourself either mumbling or wondering inside, "I have done so... Continue Reading →
16 August, Sunday — The Inclusive Mercy of God
20th Sunday in Ordinary Time Isa 56:1,6-7Mt 15:21-28 “Woman, you have great faith…” Today’s gospel is interesting because we see a side to Jesus that seems uncharacteristic. Despite the Canaanite woman shouting to get his attention, Jesus seems to ignore her pleas, the urgency of her request notwithstanding. She must have heard of his many... Continue Reading →
15 August, Saturday — God Always Delivers
Aug 15 – Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mary is taken up body and soul into the glory of Heaven, and with God and in God she is Queen of Heaven and earth. And is she really so remote from us? The contrary is true. Precisely because she is with God... Continue Reading →
14 August, Friday — Faithful Forever
Aug 14 – St. Maximillian Mary Kolbe, priest, martyr Maximillian Mary Kolbe (1894-1941) was known as a mischievous child, sometimes considered wild, and a trial to his parents. However, around the time of his first Communion, he received a vision of the Virgin Mary that changed his life. While still in seminary, he and six... Continue Reading →
13 August, Thursday — Seventy-Seven Times, and a Hug at the Door
Aug 13 – Memorial for St. Pontian, pope, martyr, and St. Hippolytus, priest, martyr Pontian was among the first victims of an anti-Christian new emperor. Rounded up with the antipope Hippolytus, Pontian was deported to the labour mines. While imprisoned, Hippolytus reconciled his differences with Pontian and even ordered his followers to bring themselves back... Continue Reading →
12 August, Wednesday — The four (or more) stages of negotiation
Wednesday of Week 19 in Ordinary Time Eze 9:1–7,10:18-22Mt 18:15-20 "For where two or three meet in my name, I shall be there with them." My first thought when I read the Gospel for today was that Jesus gave pretty detailed advice to his disciples about what they ought to do when someone sins against... Continue Reading →
OXYGEN 