25 Jan – Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul St. Paul (3-65) was a Jewish Talmudic student and a Pharisee. He was a tent-maker by trade. Saul the Jew hated and persecuted Christians as heretical, even assisting at the stoning of St. Stephen the Martyr. On his way to Damascus to arrest another group of... Continue Reading →
25 December, Saturday — You are the crown and splendour of the Lord
Dear Oxygen readers, The Core Team wishes one and all a blessed, peaceful and joyous Christmas filled with God's graces and love. May He continue to light out paths and guide us on our journeys as we come to know Him more. Christmas Day -- Vigil Mass Isa 62:1-5Acts 13:16-17,22-25Mt 1:1-25 ...no longer are you... Continue Reading →
25 December, Saturday — Come bearing a Gift
Dec 25 – Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord Christmas Day -- Mass at Dawn The name ‘Christmas’ was derived from Old English: ‘Cristes Maesse’ -- Christ’s Mass. It is a celebration of the anniversary of the birth of our Lord. In the earliest days of the Church, there was no such feast; the... Continue Reading →
14 December, Tuesday — Yes, Lord!
Dec 14 – Memorial for St. John of the Cross, priest, religious, doctor of the Church St. John (1675–1726) was born in poverty. He cared for the poor in the hospital in Medina. He became a lay Carmelite brother in 1563 at age 21, though he lived stricter than their Rule. He studied at Salamanca. He... Continue Reading →
13 December, Monday — Blind Obedience
Dec 13 – Memorial for St. Lucy, virgin, martyr St. Lucy (c. 283) was a rich, young Christian of Greek ancestry. She was raised in a pious family, and vowed her life to Christ. Her Roman father died when she was young. Her mother, Eutychia, arranged a marriage for her. For three years, she managed to... Continue Reading →
12 December, Sunday — The pursuit of Happiness
3rd Sunday of Advent Zep 3:14-18Phi 4:4-7Lk 3:10-18 I want you to be happy, always happy in the Lord. I love the word ‘Happy’. Just looking at the word or derivatives of the word makes me happy. I recently read about the Happiness U Curve. In a longitudinal study, it shows that beginning from the... Continue Reading →
13 November, Saturday – Faithful I Will Be
Saturday of Week 32 in Ordinary Time Wis 18:14-16;19:6-9Lk 18:1-8 Pray continually and never lose heart Today’s gospel reading brings to mind a few other bible verses — ‘Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.’ 1 Ths 5:16- 18. ‘Be... Continue Reading →
30 October, Saturday – Conducting Our Affairs with Humility
Saturday of Week 30 in Ordinary Time Rm 11:1-2,11-12,25-29Lk 14:1,7-11 I do not want you to be ignorant, in case you think you know more than you do. Most of my friends will call me a no-nonsense kind of a person; take no prisoners. I simply cannot stand it when someone is constantly late for... Continue Reading →
29 October, Friday – Immense Love
Friday of Week 30 in Ordinary Time Rm 9:1-5Lk 14:1-6 I would willingly be condemned and be cut off from Christ if it could help my brothers of Israel, my own flesh and blood. Which of us would not do anything in our power to pull our loved ones out of a difficult situation, no... Continue Reading →
24 July, Saturday — Deciphering between wheat and weeds
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... Continue Reading →
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