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 →
3 April, Monday — A Worthy Sacrifice for God
Monday of Holy Week Isa 42:1-7Jn 12:1-11 “Why wasn’t this ointment sold for three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor?” Our society today constantly seeks to measure results or returns. We struggle to justify any activity if we cannot see measurable results. Having tangible results is not enough -- we want them... Continue Reading →
26 February, Sunday — A Greater Gift
1st Sunday of Lent Gen 2:7-9,3:1-7Rm 5:12-19Mt 4:1-11 …but the gift itself considerably outweighed the fall. One activity during training or teambuilding makes use of a white sheet of paper and the facilitator asking people to draw one dot. Immediately, everyone’s attention is on that one dot and it seems as if they have forgotten,... Continue Reading →
7 January, Saturday — Gift of seeing a miracle
7 Jan – Memorial for St. Raymond of Penyafort, priest St. Raymond (1175-1275) was of Aragonian nobility. He was educated at the cathedral school in Barcelona, and became a philosophy teacher at the age of 20. He was a priest. He graduated from law school in Bologna, Italy, and joined the Dominicans in 1218. He... Continue Reading →
OXYGEN 