Oct 28 – Feast of Sts. Simon and Jude, Apostles St. Simon was an apostle called the Cananean or Zealot because of his zeal for the Jewish law. He was not from Cana, nor a member of the Zealot party. Like all the Apostles, he was a convert, and was trained by St. Peter the... Continue Reading →
18 October, Monday — Learning about St Luke the Evangelist
Oct 18 – Feast of St. Luke the Evangelist St. Luke (d. 74) was born to pagan Greek parents, and possibly a slave. He was one of the earliest converts, and a physician studying in Antioch and Tarsus. He probably travelled as a ship’s doctor, and many charitable societies of physicians are named after him. Legend... Continue Reading →
17 October, Sunday — Jesus’ humanity
29th Sunday in Ordinary Time Isa 53:10-11Heb 4:14-16Mk 10:35-45 For it is not as if we had a high priest who was incapable of feeling our weaknesses with us; but we have one who has been tempted in every way thatwe are, though he is without sin. When I first read this passage, I found... Continue Reading →
3 October, Sunday – Marriage Vows
27th Sunday in Ordinary Time Gen 2:18-24Heb 2:9-11Mk 10:2-16 What God has united, man must not divide From the very beginning, when He created Adam and Eve, God instituted and intended a union between a man and a woman, they are to become one in marriage. In fact, it is one of the seven Sacraments... Continue Reading →
2 October, Saturday — You cannot go astray from God without consequence
Oct 2 – Memorial for The Guardian Angels The term ‘guardian angels’ refers to the belief that each soul has an angel who is available to shepherd the soul through life, and help bring them to God. Belief in the reality of angels, their mission as messengers of God, and Man’s interaction with them, goes back... Continue Reading →
1 October, Friday — Deceit runs evil errand
Oct 1 – Feast of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor, Patroness of Missions Born to a pious middle-class French family of tradesmen, Francoise-Marie Thérèse Martin (1873–1897) was the daughter of Blessed Louis Martin and Blessed Marie-Azelie Guerin Martin, and all four of her sisters became nuns. Her mother died when Francoise-Marie was only... Continue Reading →
30 September, Thursday — Peace is a virtue that accounts for goodness
Sep 30 – Memorial for St. Jerome, Priest and Doctor St. Jerome (347-419) led a misspent youth. He later converted in theory, being baptised in 365, and then had a true conversion when he studied theology. He was a monk, and revised the Latin text of the Bible. The result of his 30 years of work was... Continue Reading →
21 September, Tuesday — Is there a Doctor in the House?
Sep 21 – Feast of St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist St. Matthew was the son of Alphaeus, and he lived at Capernaum on Lake Genesareth. He was a Roman tax collector, a position equated with collaboration with the enemy by those from whom he collected taxes. Jesus’ contemporaries were surprised to see the Christ with a... Continue Reading →
14 September, Tuesday — An Act of Faith
Sep 14 – Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross The feast was celebrated in Rome before the end of the 7th century. Its purpose is to commemorate the recovering of that portion of the Holy Cross which was preserved at Jerusalem, and which had fallen into the hands of the Persians. Emperor Heraclius... Continue Reading →
13 September, Monday — Faith like a Roman Centurion
Sep 13 – Memorial for St. John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor John’s (347-407) father died when he was young, and he was raised by a very pious mother. It was for his sermons that John earned the title ‘Chrysostom’ (golden-mouthed). They were always on point, they explained the scriptures with clarity, and they sometimes went... Continue Reading →