Saturday of Week 21 in Ordinary Time 1 Ths 4:9-11 Mt 25:14-30 ...so I was afraid, and I went off and hid your talent in the ground. I used to pay very little attention to the servant who hid the talent in the ground. In my mind, I saw him as a disappointment. I would even... Continue Reading →
1 September, Friday — Delayed
Friday of Week 21 in Ordinary Time 1 Ths 4:1-8 Mt 25:1-13 The bridegroom was late... In another version of this reading, it was written that the bridegroom was ‘long delayed.’ I personally like this version better (and yes, I have Bibles with both the UK and US versions – all Catholic :)). When you say... Continue Reading →
5 August, Saturday — God provides resets
Aug 5 – Memorial for Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome First raised at the order of Pope Liberius in the mid-fourth century, the Liberian Basilica was rebuilt by Pope Sixtus III shortly after the Council of Ephesus affirmed Mary’s title as Mother of God in 431. Re-dedicated at that time... Continue Reading →
4 August, Friday — Space Only for God
Aug 4 – Memorial for St. John Mary Vianney, priest In his youth, John Mary Vianney (1786-1859) taught other children their prayers and catechism. As a priest, was assigned to a parish which suffered from very lax attendance. He began visiting his parishioners, especially the sick and poor, spent days in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, did penance for... Continue Reading →
3 August, Thursday — In the Physical Presence of the Divine
Thursday of Week 17 in Ordinary Time Exo 40:16-21, 34-38Mt 13:47-53 The tabernacle was set up... When I was young, I was drawn to the tabernacle in the Altar, and in the Adoration Room. The veil added to the mystery, and I wondered what was inside. I remember trying to catch a glimpse every time... Continue Reading →
1 July, Saturday — Our Hearts Recognize the Lord
Saturday of Week 12 in Ordinary Time Gen 18:1-15Mt 8:5-17 …just give the word and my servant will be cured. It is not clear whether the centurion was a follower of Jesus Christ before this event. I wonder how he managed to get to know Jesus so much that he put his trust in him.... Continue Reading →
30 June, Friday — Gift of Accomplishing Something for Ourselves
Jun 30 – First Martyrs of the Church of Rome These holy men and women are also called the “Protomartyrs of Rome”. They were accused of burning Rome by Nero, who burned Rome to cover his own crimes. Some martyrs were burned as living torches at evening banquets, some crucified, and others were fed to... Continue Reading →
27 May, Saturday — Sacred Tradition: Our Source of Faith
May 27 – Memorial for St. Augustine of Canterbury, Bishop St. Augustine (d. 605) was a monk and abbot of St. Andrew’s abbey in Rome. He was sent by Pope Gregory the Great with 40 brother monks, including St. Lawrence of Canterbury, to evangelize the British Isles in 597. Before he reached the islands, terrifying... Continue Reading →
5 April, Wednesday — The Humility of Jesus
Wednesday of Holy Week Isa 50:4-9Mt 26:14-25 They paid him thirty silver pieces… When asked how they would introduce Jesus, one of my Catechism students said that Jesus was ‘humble’. That started the discussion that Jesus is the perfect Adam. The first Adam committed the original sin out of pride, because he wanted to be... Continue Reading →
4 April, Tuesday — With God All This Time
Tuesday of Holy Week Isa 49:1-6Jn 13:21-33,36-38 All the while, my cause was with the Lord. When we started our Catechism class this year, I asked the students to write to God. We had them seal those letters in an envelope which we were planning to return at the end of the year. One of... Continue Reading →