Tuesday of Week 14 in Ordinary Time Hos 8:4-7,11-13Mt 9:32-37 And when he saw the crowds he felt sorry for them because they were harassed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd. The Book of Hosea is a difficult read. The premise of Hosea is of a prophet who continues to love and forgive... Continue Reading →
4 July, Saturday — On Turning 250
Jul 4 – Memorial for St. Elizabeth of Portugal Elizabeth (1271-1336) was a princess with a pious upbringing who became Queen of Portugal before she was a teenager. Elizabeth suffered through years of her husband’s abuse and adultery, praying all the while for his conversion, and working with the poor and sick. She rode onto... Continue Reading →
3 July, Friday — Faith, Doubt, Grief
Jul 3 – Feast of St. Thomas, Apostle Thomas (d. 72) was ready to die with Jesus when Christ went to Jerusalem, but he is best remembered for doubting the Resurrection until allowed to touch Christ’s wounds. He preached in Parthia, Persia and India, though he was so reluctant to start the mission that he... Continue Reading →
25 April, Saturday — On Mission
25 Apr – Feast of St. Mark, evangelist St. Mark is believed to be the young man who ran away when Jesus was arrested (Mark 14:51-52), and the “John whose other name was Mark” (Acts 12:25). He was a disciple of St. Peter who travelled with him to Rome, and was referred to as “my... Continue Reading →
24 April, Friday — A Small Pause
24 Apr – Memorial for St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen, priest & martyr St. Fidelis Sigmaringen (1577-1622) was a lawyer and teacher of philosophy. Disgusted by the greed, corruption, and lack of interest in justice by his fellow lawyers, Mark Rey abandoned the law, became a priest and a Franciscan friar with his brother George. He... Continue Reading →
26 March, Thursday — On Dementia
Thursday of the 5th Week of Lent Gen 17:3-9Jn 8:51-59 “Who are you claiming to be?... My father-in-law is battling dementia. The speed at which he is slipping, is terrifying. He was fine, and in full control of his faculties only 3 months ago. But he had a fall, and now, seems lost and confused,... Continue Reading →
25 March, Wednesday — Letting Go
25 Mar – Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord The annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary by Gabriel the archangel that she was to be the Mother of God (Luke 1), the Word being made flesh through the power of the Holy Spirit. The feast probably originated about the time of the Council of... Continue Reading →
19 February, Thursday — Choose Life
Thursday after Ash Wednesday Deu 30:15-20Lk 9:22-25 “Choose life, then, so that you and your descendants may live, in the love of the Lord your God, obeying His voice, clinging to him…” I am probably dating myself here, but I used to love the British pop group from the 1980s, ‘Wham!’. Yes, that fabulous duo,... Continue Reading →
18 February, Wednesday — On Aging
Ash Wednesday Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent and occurs forty days before Easter (excluding Sundays). It falls on a different date each year, because it is dependent on the date of Easter; it can occur as early as Feb 4 or as late as Mar 10. Ash Wednesday gets its name from... Continue Reading →
8 January, Thursday — On Epiphany
Thursday after Epiphany Sunday 1 Jn 4:19-5:4Lk 4:14-22 …and his commandments are not difficult, because anyone who is begotten by God has already overcome the world… Christmas has come and gone, and now, as we settle into the new year, we begin to reflect on the week that was Christmas. For a lot of us,... Continue Reading →
OXYGEN 