Jan 8 -- Epiphany of the Lord Epiphany, also known as Theophany in Eastern Christian traditions, is a Christian feast day that celebrates the revelation of God incarnate as Jesus Christ. In Western Christianity, the feast commemorates principally (but not solely) the visit of the Magi to the Christ Child, and thus Jesus Christ's physical manifestation to the Gentiles. It is sometimes called Three Kings' Day, and in some traditions celebrated... Continue Reading →
18 November, Friday — False Narratives
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, Thursday — The Weather Report
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... Continue Reading →
16 November, Wednesday — The Fear of Failure
Nov 16 – Memorial for St. Margaret of Scotland; Memorial for St. Gertrude, virgin St. Margaret (1045–1093)was the granddaughter of King Edmund Ironside of England, and the great-niece of St. Stephen of Hungary. She was born in Hungary, while her family was in exile due to the Danish invasion of England. Even so, she still... Continue Reading →
7 November, Monday — Forgiveness
Monday of Week 32 in Ordinary Time Tit 1:1-9Lk 17:1-6 “And if he wrongs you seven times a day and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I’m sorry’, you must forgive him.” Forgiveness can take you by surprise – especially if you’re the one who is being forgiven. Many years ago, my partner... Continue Reading →
3 November, Thursday — On Coming Home
Nov 3 – Memorial for St. Martin de Porres, religious St. Martin (1579-1639) was the illegitimate son of a Spanish nobleman, Juan, and a young freed black slave, Anna Velasquez. He grew up in poverty and spent part of his youth with a surgeon-barber from whom he learned some medicine and care of the sick.... Continue Reading →
5 September, Monday — On Virtue
Sep 5 – Feast of St. Teresa of Calcutta Mother Mary Teresa Bojaxhiu (born Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu, 26 August 1910 – 5 September 1997), honoured in the Catholic Church as Saint Teresa of Calcutta, was an Albanian-Indian Roman Catholic nun and missionary. She was born in Skopje (now the capital of North Macedonia), then part of the Kosovo Vilayet of the Ottoman Empire. After living in Skopje for eighteen years, she moved to Ireland... Continue Reading →
4 September, Sunday — Heavy Crosses
23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Wis 9:13-18Phi 9-10,12-17Lk 14:25-33 …for a perishable body presses down the soul, and this tent of clay weighs down the teeming mind. The last line of today’s gospel has always filled me with discouragement. Frankly, I have never understood it. The idea that I might have to renounce my whole... Continue Reading →
16 August, Tuesday — Stewardship
Aug 16 – Memorial for St. Stephen of Hungary When he succeeded his father as chief of a group of people, Stephen adopted a policy of Christianisation in Hungary for both political and religious reasons. He suppressed a series of revolts by pagan nobles and welded the Magyars into a strong national group. As king,... Continue Reading →
5 July, Tuesday — On Disunity, Part 2
Jul 5 – Memorial for St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria, Priest St. Anthony (1502-1539) studied medicine at Padua, receiving his doctorate at age 22. Working among the poor in Cremona, he felt called to the religious life. He was ordained at age 26; legend says that angels were seen around the altar at his first Mass.... Continue Reading →