21 Jan – Memorial for St. Agnes, virgin and martyr At the age of 12 or 13, St. Agnes was ordered to sacrifice to pagan gods and lose her virginity by rape. She was taken to a Roman temple to Minerva (Athena), and when led to the altar, she made the Sign of the Cross. She... Continue Reading →
20 January, Thursday – The gift of free will
20 Jan – Memorial for St. Fabian, pope and martyr; Memorial for St. Sebastian, martyr Pope St. Fabian (d. 250) was a layman and a farmer. He came into Rome on a day when a new pope was to be elected. A dove flew in and settled on his head. The gathered clergy and laity took... Continue Reading →
19 January, Wednesday – Who are you battling with?
Wednesday of Week 2 in Ordinary Time 1 Sam 17:32-33,37,40-51Mk 3:1-6 …for the Lord is Lord of the battle... I must be at the age in life (that most everyone in every generation reaches); that age when it just seems that the world is going to hell in a handbasket; that age when it seems... Continue Reading →
20 November, Saturday – Who’s plan is it?
Saturday of Week 33 in Ordinary Time 1 Mac 6:1-13 Lk 20:27-40 …things had not turned out for him as he had planned Do things ever really turn out exactly as we planned? This week, all our first readings are from Maccabees (the two books in the Holy Bible right before Job). The story of a faithful... Continue Reading →
19 November, Friday – What is first and foremost in your daily routine?
Friday of Week 33 in Ordinary Time 1 Mac 4:36-37,52-59Lk 19:45-48 …they rose at dawn and offered a lawful sacrifice... When we rise each morning, we all have a routine – don’t we? It may be a little different on the weekends and holidays, but we have a routine. Our morning ritual -- a variety of things... Continue Reading →
18 November, Thursday – One Degree
Nov 18 – Memorial for the Dedication of the Basilicas of St. Peter and St. Paul The Basilica of St. Peter is located within the Vatican City. It occupies a unique position as one of the holiest sites and as the greatest of all churches of Christendom. It is the burial site of St. Peter,... Continue Reading →
17 November, Wednesday – Holy Detachment
Nov 17 – Memorial for St. Elizabeth of Hungary, married woman, religious St. Elizabeth (1207-1231) was a princess, the daughter of King Andrew of Hungary, and the great-aunt of St. Elizabeth of Portugal. At the age of 13, she married Prince Louis of Thuringia. She built a hospital at the foot of the mountain on which... Continue Reading →
18 September, Saturday – What is your heart made of?
Saturday of Week 24 in Ordinary Time 1 Tim 6:13-16Lk 8:4-15 "...choked by the worries and riches and pleasures of life and do not reach maturity." I’m not sure where I read this, but it speaks to this parable: The devil knows he has multiple opportunities to interrupt God’s work from the time we received the word... Continue Reading →
17 September , Friday – Where will your free will take you?
Sep 17 – Memorial for St. Robert Bellarmine, Bishop and Doctor St. Robert (1542-1621) wrote the most complete work of his day to defend Catholicism against Protestant attack. He also wrote a children’s catechism and a catechism for teachers. As cardinal-priest, he gave most of his money to the poor. At one point he used... Continue Reading →
16 September, Thursday – Love in action serves
Sep 16 – Memorial for Sts. Cornelius, Pope and Martyr; and Cyprian, Bishop and Martyr St. Cornelius (d. 253) was elected after a year-and-a-half period, during which persecutions were so bad that papal ascension was a quick death sentence. He worked to maintain unity in a time of schism and apostasy. He called a synod... Continue Reading →
OXYGEN 