Sep 15 – Memorial for Our Lady of Sorrows Different sorrows of Mary have been honoured in the Church’s history, but since the 14th century, these seven have come to be regarded as the seven ‘dolors’ (sorrows) of the Blessed Virgin Mary: 1. The Prophecy of Simeon2. The Flight into Egypt3. The Loss of the... Continue Reading →
22 August, Saturday — Fulfilling God’s work in us
Aug 22 – Our Lady, Mother and Queen Whoever, therefore, reverences the Queen of heaven and earth – and let no one consider himself exempt from this tribute of a grateful and loving soul – let him invoke the most effective of Queens, the Mediatrix of Peace; let him respect and preserve peace, which is... 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 →
25 June, Thursday — Humility Revisited
Thursday of Week 12 in Ordinary Time 2 Kg 24:8-17Mt 7:21-29 "…and what a fall it had!" Today's readings see the fall of the kingdom of Judah and the house built on sand. The message, at first glance, seems rather depressing; but I feel there is an important theme in these two readings -- the... Continue Reading →
13 June, Saturday — Hammer of the Heretics
Jun 13 – Memorial for St. Anthony of Padua, priest, religious, doctor St. Anthony's (1195-1231) wealthy family wanted him to be a great nobleman, but for the sake of Christ he became a poor Franciscan. When the remains of St. Bernard and his companions, the first Franciscan martyrs, were brought to be buried in his... Continue Reading →
3 June, Wednesday — Belief in Jesus who loves us
Jun 3 – Memorial for St. Charles Lwanga & companions, martyrs One of 22 Ugandan martyrs, St. Charles Lwanga is the patron of youth and Catholic action in most of tropical Africa. He protected his fellow pages aged 13 to 30 from the homosexual demands of the Bagandan ruler, Mwanga, and encouraged and instructed them... Continue Reading →
2 June, Tuesday — Focusing on God
Tuesday of Week 9 in Ordinary Time 2 Pt 3:11-15,17-18Mk 12:13-17 "Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar -- and to God what belongs to God." The modern world today has blurred all boundaries between work and leisure. There is often talk about 'work-life balance' or 'work-life harmony', but there is always that element... Continue Reading →
1 June, Monday — Love is illogical
Jun 1 – Memorial for St. Justin, martyr He was born at the beginning of the second century in Nablus, in Samaria, of a pagan Greek family. He was an earnest seeker after truth, and studied many systems of philosophy before being led, through Platonism, to Christianity. While remaining a layman, he accepted the duty... Continue Reading →
19 April, Sunday — Purpose Driven by the Holy Spirit
3rd Sunday of Easter Acts 2:14,22-331 Pet 1:17-21Lk 24:13-35 “Did not our hearts burn within us as he talked to us on the road and explained to the scriptures to us?” I was told, when I was in my first years of working, that passion would drive my will to work. Yet, I realised that... Continue Reading →
22 March, Sunday — Gazing upon Jesus
5th Sunday of Lent Ez 37:12-14Rm 8:8-11Jn 11:1-45 “Let us go too, and die with him” Persecution is a real struggle for all around us. It is often understood to be the death of physical life for the sake of Jesus but instead, we need to understand that persecution can be subtle. It can take... Continue Reading →