Aug 24 – Feast of St. Bartholomew, apostle Bartholomew was one of the Twelve Apostles. He was probably a close friend of St. Philip, as his name is always mentioned in the gospels in connection with Philip, and it was Philip who brought Bartholomew to Jesus. He may have written a gospel, now lost, as... Continue Reading →
10 August, Thursday — Unlearn
Aug 10 – Feast of St. Lawrence, deacon and martyr St. Lawrence was a third-century archdeacon of Rome, a distributor of alms, and “keeper of the treasures of the Church” in a time when Christianity was outlawed. On 6 August 258, by decree of Emperor Valerian, Pope St. Sixtus II and six deacons were beheaded,... Continue Reading →
9 August, Wednesday — Truly Great Faith
Aug 9 – Memorial for St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein), martyr After witnessing the strength of faith of Catholic friends, Teresa (1891-1942), originally a Jew, became interested in Catholicism and studied a catechism on her own, and she eventually ended up ‘reading herself into’ the Faith. She became a Carmelite nun, teaching... Continue Reading →
8 August, Tuesday — Fear and Faith
Aug 8 – Memorial for St. Dominic, priest, religious founder Dominic (1170-1221) was born of wealthy Spanish nobility, and was the son of Blessed Joan of Aza. Joan had difficulty conceiving and prayed at the shrine of St. Dominic of Silos, who had a tradition of patronage of that problem. When she became pregnant, she... Continue Reading →
7 August, Monday — Satisfaction Guaranteed
Aug 7 – Memorial for St. Sixtus, pope, martyr, and companions; St. Cajetan, priest Sixtus (d. 258) was an adult convert to Christianity. In his papacy, he dealt with the controversy concerning Baptism by heretics. He believed that anyone who was baptised with a desire to be a Christian, even if the Baptism was performed... Continue Reading →
31 July, Monday — The Blame Game
Jul 31 – Memorial for St. Ignatius of Loyola, Priest St. Ignatius (1491-1556) was wounded in the leg by a cannonball at the siege of Pampeluna on 20 May 1521, an injury that left him partially crippled for life. During his recuperation the only books he had access to were The Golden Legend, a collection... Continue Reading →
30 July, Sunday — “Smarty Pants”
17th Sunday in Ordinary Time 1 Kgs 3:5,7-12 Rm 8:28-30 Mt 13:44-52 “Give your servant a heart to understand how to discern between good and evil…” Ever since I was a little boy, I have been fascinated by King Solomon. The legendary figure that chose wisdom rather than riches or a long life. I remember telling... Continue Reading →
24 July, Monday — Is this a sign?
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 →
23 July, Sunday — The spirit helps us in our weakness
16th Sunday in Ordinary Time Wis 12:13,16-19Rm 8:26-27Mt 13:24-43 “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed…” The Catholic Church proudly proclaims it has been existing for more than 2000 years, with over 1 billion members. From mustard seed beginnings, it has indeed sprouted to the biggest ‘religious tree’ in the world. Yet within... Continue Reading →
19 July, Wednesday — I praise you, Father
Wednesday of Week 15 in Ordinary Time Exo 3:1-6,9-12Mt 11:25-27 “…no one knows the Son except the Father, just as no one knows the Father except the Son…” Today’s Gospel is significant, as it is one of the few recorded times when Jesus prayed himself. Previously, I thought he also prayed the “Our Father” (Matthew... Continue Reading →
OXYGEN 