Monday of Week 2 in Ordinary Time Heb 5:1-10 Mk 2:18-22 “New wine, fresh skins!” It has been close to two years since I decided to stop consuming alcohol. Well, I do take a sip now and then on social occasions but in relation to the amounts I used to drink in the past, my... Continue Reading →
17 January, Sunday — Caretaker duty
Jan 17 -- 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time 1 Sam 3:3-10,191 Cor 6:13-15,17-20Jn 1:35-42 Your body...is the temple of the Holy Spirit... In my late teens and early twenties, I was fit and fab (I reckon most of us were). I went to the gym four times a week, played squash competitively and even earned some... Continue Reading →
8 January, Friday – Seeking Solitude
Jan 8 -- Friday after Epiphany Sunday 1 Jn 5:5-13Lk 5:12-16 “‘…but he would always go off to some place where he could be alone and pray.” A friend once told me that I am still searching for my own space, my sanctuary, even though I do have a roof over my head which I... Continue Reading →
7 January, Thursday – Recognising
Jan 7 – Memorial for St. Raymond of Penyafort, priest St. Raymond (1175-1275) was of Aragonian nobility. He was educated at the cathedral school in Barcelona, and became a philosophy teacher at the age of 20. He was a priest. He graduated from law school in Bologna, Italy, and joined the Dominicans in 1218. He was... Continue Reading →
28 December, Monday — The goodness we seek
Dec 28 – Feast of the Holy Innocents, martyrs The Holy Innocents are the children slaughtered by Herod the Great when he tried to kill the infant Christ. Patron Saint Index The children died for Christ, though they do not know it. The parents mourned for the death of martyrs. The Christ child makes of... Continue Reading →
26 December, Saturday — Our DNA traits
Dec 26 – Feast of St. Stephen, protomartyr St. Stephen was the first Christian martyr. A deacon and a preacher, all we know of him is related in the Acts of the Apostles. While preaching the gospel in the streets, angry Jews who believed his message to be blasphemy dragged him outside the city, and stoned... Continue Reading →
12 December, Saturday — Who was that man?
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, Friday — What if…?
Dec 11 – Memorial for St. Damasus I, pope St. Damasus (306-384) was raised in a pious family. His father was a priest in Rome, and Damasus served for a time as deacon in his father’s church, St. Laurence. He was ordained a priest and became assistant to Pope Liberius. He was elected the 37th pope... Continue Reading →
22 November, Sunday – Christ Our King
Nov 22 – Solemnity of Christ The King (falls on 34th Sunday in Ordinary Time) Christ The King is a title of Jesus based on several passages of scripture and used by all Christians. The name is found in various forms in scripture: King Eternal (1 Timothy 1:17), King of Israel (John 1:49), King of... Continue Reading →
1 November, Tuesday – The Pursuit of ‘Happy’-ness
Nov 1 -- Solemnity of All Saints All Saints’ Day is celebrated in honour of all the saints, known and unknown. In terms of Roman Catholic theology, the feast commemorates all those who have attained the beatific vision in heaven. The beatific vision is the eternal and direct perception of God enjoyed by those who... Continue Reading →