Nov 4 – Memorial for St. Charles Borromeo, bishop St. Charles (1538-1584) was born to a wealthy, noble family, the third of six children, and the son of Count Giberto II Borromeo and Marghertita de’ Medici. He was the nephew of Pope Pius IV. He suffered from a speech impediment, but studied in Milan, and... Continue Reading →
3 November, Sunday — Fortress of Hope, Horn of Salvation
31st Sunday in Ordinary Time Deu 6:2-6Heb 7:23-28Mk 12:28-34 …but this one, because he remains forever, can never lose his priesthood. The Twelve Apostles in Australia are a collection of massive limestone stacks off the coast of the Great Ocean Road. These amazing geological formations were formed by erosion of the original limestone surface of... Continue Reading →
20 September, Friday — Simple In Virtue, Steadfast In Duty
Sept 20 -- Memorial of Saints Andrew Kim Taejon, Priest, and Paul Chong Hasang, and their Companions, Martyrs For centuries, Korea was closed to all outside influences, and all contact with foreigners was forbidden. No missionaries went there. Nevertheless, a number of laymen sought to find out all that they could about the outside world,... Continue Reading →
17 September, Tuesday — Jesus Touches Our Sorrow
Sep 17 – Memorial for St. Robert Bellarmine, Bishop and Doctor St. Robert (1542-1621) wrote the most complete work of his day to defend Catholicism against Protestant attack. He also wrote a children’s catechism and a catechism for teachers. As cardinal-priest, he gave most of his money to the poor. At one point he used... Continue Reading →
19 August, Monday — A Richer Exchange
Aug 19 – Memorial for St. John Eudes, priest, religious founder John Eudes (1601-1680) established seminaries, and founded the Congregation of Jesus and Mary Eudists to promote virtuous secular parochial clergy not bound by vows, but dedicated to improving the clergy through seminaries and missions. He also founded the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity... Continue Reading →
6 August, Tuesday — Light, Glorious and Forgiving Light
Aug 6 – Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord Today we celebrate the occasion on which Christ revealed Himself in shining splendour to Peter, James, and John. Moses and Elijah were present, and are taken to signify the Law and the Prophets. They testify to Jesus as the promised Messiah. God the Father also... Continue Reading →
29 May, Wednesday — If Only We Knew the Full Price
May 29 -- Memorial of St Paul VI, Pope Pope Paul VI was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 21 June 1963 to his death in August 1978. Succeeding John XXIII, he continued the Second Vatican Council, which he closed in 1965, implementing its numerous reforms. He fostered improved ecumenical relations with Eastern Orthodox and Protestant churches,... Continue Reading →
29 April, Monday — Release Your Burden
29 April -- Memorial of St Catherine of Siena, virgin & doctor St. Catherine (1347-1380) was the youngest child in a large family. At the age of six, she had a vision in which Jesus appeared and blessed her. Her parents wanted her to marry, but she became a Dominican tertiary. She was a mystic... Continue Reading →
28 April, Sunday — Quieten Your Mind, God Knows Everything
5th Sunday of Easter Acts 9:26-311 Jn 3:18-24Jn 15:1-8 Whoever remains in me, with me in him, bears fruit in plenty; for cut off from me you can do nothing. Have you gone out for a walk in the forest recently? In Singapore, where I am, the tropical heat has been quite brutal. But if... Continue Reading →
16 April, Tuesday — Christ is Our Daily Bread, Why Wait?
Tuesday of the 3rd Week of Eastertide Acts 7:51-8:1aJohn 6:30-35 “Sir, give us that bread always”… Jesus answered: “I am the bread of life.” The Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. How many of us forget that as practicing Catholics, we have this privilege of receiving Christ in Holy Communion every day? Are we aware that... Continue Reading →