May 24 – Mary, Mother of the Church In Roman Catholic Mariology, Mother of the Church (Latin: Mater Ecclesiae) is a title officially given to Mary by Pope Paul VI. The title was first used in the 4th century by Saint Ambrose of Milan, as rediscovered by Hugo Rahner. It was also used by Pope Benedict XIV in 1748 and then by Pope Leo XIII in 1885. Pope John... Continue Reading →
23 May, Sunday — When God draws a line in the sand
Pentecost The Christian holiday of Pentecost is a moveable feast, which is celebrated on the 50th day (the seventh Sunday) from Easter Sunday. It commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ while they were in Jerusalem celebrating the Feast of Weeks, as described in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 2:1–31). The holiday is also called ‘White Sunday’ or ‘Whitsunday’... Continue Reading →
15 May, Saturday — Ask Jesus!
Saturday of the 6th Week of Eastertide Acts 18:23-28Jn 16:23-28 "Until now you have not asked anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and so your joy will be complete." As a cradle Catholic, I know the drill. I make the sign of the Cross and intone, “In the name of the Father,... Continue Reading →
6 May, Thursday – The Father’s Love
Thursday of the 5th Week of Eastertide Acts 15:7-21Jn 15:9-11 As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you 6 years ago, during Mission Week, which was held a week before World Youth Day, I was placed in a foster home with a family of 2 parents and their 2 teenage children. The... Continue Reading →
6 April, Tuesday — The day we are born, and the day we discover why
Easter Tuesday Acts 2:36-41Jn 20:11-18 “… and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise that was made is for you and your children...” I write this reflection on my daughter’s birthday – March 15. This is the day she turns 21. For those of you parents who have similarly seen your kids reach... Continue Reading →
5 April, Monday — Cling on, even if only by your fingernails
Easter Monday Acts 2:14,22-32Mt 28:8-15 “I saw the Lord before me always, for with Him at my right hand nothing can shake me” In a scene from an old Sylvester Stallone movie, a woman was trying to cross a chasm between two mountain escarpments, using a rope tied across the two sides. Halfway across, the carabiner... Continue Reading →
4 April, Sunday — Redeemed, Restored, Renewed, Resurrected.
Easter Sunday Acts 10:34,37-431 Cor 5:7-8Jn 20:1-9 …when Christ is revealed -- and he is your life -- you too will be revealed in all your glory with Him. That Jesus rose from the dead following his crucifixion on the cross is all but a given, especially to Christians. Or at least, it should be.... Continue Reading →
3 April, Saturday — Learning about the importance of wisdom
Holy Saturday -- Sixth Reading Bar 3:9 – 15,32 – 4:4 Who has found the place of wisdom? As someone who has not attended the Easter Vigil for years (or more accurately, decades), the Oxygen reflections were a good chance for me to find out more about the passages featured in this ‘mother of all... Continue Reading →
3 April, Saturday — Constant conversion through God’s grace
Holy Saturday -- Seventh Reading Eze 36:16-17,18-28 “You will live in the land I gave to your ancestors. You shall be my people and I will be your God.” When I read this passage from Ezekiel, it struck me as rather stern and remonstrating in tone, rather similar to the reading before it. Ezekiel was... Continue Reading →
2 Apr, Friday — Death for Life
Good Friday There is no Mass today. The readings are used in the afternoon celebration of the Lord's Passion. Isa 52:13-53:12Heb 4:14-16; 5:7-9Jn 18:1-19:42 See, my servant will prosper, he shall be lifted up, exalted, rise to great heights. The fourth song of the servant by the prophet Isaiah opens with such a dazzling and... Continue Reading →
OXYGEN 