Tuesday of Week 1 in Ordinary Time 1 Sam 1:9-20Mk 1:21-28 ...the unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions and with a loud cry went out of him. The anniversary of my father’s death happened on 3 Jan. The shadow of his passing has coloured all my Christmases since. I often wonder what he would... Continue Reading →
10 January, Monday — On Family Traditions
Monday of Week 1 in Ordinary Time 1 Sam 1:1-8Mk 1:14-20 “The time has come...and the kingdom of God is close at hand.” In the past, it would be family tradition to go to church for Christmas Mass, then head home for Christmas family dinner. Ours used to be a Catholic family. I wouldn’t exactly... Continue Reading →
8 October, Friday — Catholics In A Strange Time
Friday of Week 27 in Ordinary Time Joel 1:13-15;2:1-2Lk 11:15-26 “But on arrival, finding it swept and tidied, it then goes off and brings seven other spirits more wicked than itself...and set up house there...” I turned 46 this year. And though 46 is not a milestone birthday by any stretch, the fact that ‘mid-life’... Continue Reading →
7 October, Thursday — Ask, Seek, Knock
Oct 7 – Memorial for Our Lady of the Rosary This day was originally observed as the Feast of Our Lady of Victory. Its date was chosen to commemorate the European victory at the third naval Battle of Lepanto in 1571. This battle marked the high point of Turkish (Muslim) advance on European soil with... Continue Reading →
6 October, Wednesday — Schadenfreude
Oct 6 – Memorial for St. Bruno, Priest St. Bruno (1030–1101) was educated in Paris and Rheims, France. He was ordained in 1055. He taught theology, and one of his students later became Blessed Pope Urban II. He presided over the cathedral school at Rheims from 1057 to 1075. He criticised the worldliness he saw in... Continue Reading →
4 October, Monday – On The Road That Leads Away From God
Oct 4 – Memorial for St. Francis of Assisi Francis Bernardone (1181–1226) was the son of Pietro Bernadone, a rich cloth merchant. Though he had a good education and became part of his father’s business, he also had a somewhat misspent youth. He was a street brawler and some-time soldier. He was captured during a conflict... Continue Reading →
6 July, Tuesday — Wrestling With God And Ourselves
Jul 6 – Memorial for St. Maria Goretti, Virgin & Martyr Maria Goretti (1890-1902) was a beautiful and pious farm girl, one of six children of Luigi Goretti and Assunta Carlini. In 1896 the family moved to Ferriere di Conca. Soon after, Maria’s father died of malaria, and the family was forced to move onto... Continue Reading →
5 July, Monday — On Action
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 →
4 July, Sunday — 4th of July
14th Sunday in Ordinary Time Eze 2:2-52 Cor 12:7-10Mk 6:1-6 I was given a thorn in the flesh…. to beat me and stop me from getting too proud. Just before Thanksgiving last year, I received word from the United States government that my application for citizenship had finally been approved. It was a surreal feeling,... Continue Reading →
17 April, Saturday — On Doubt And Fear
Acts 6:1-7Jn 6:16-21 It is I. Do not be afraid. There’s an old trope, ‘The devil’s in the details’, that I’ve been ruminating over a lot this last week. Working out the fine print for any life decision is always daunting -- sometimes enough to put you off even pursuing it. Everyone wants the dream.... Continue Reading →
OXYGEN 