21st Sunday in Ordinary Time Jos 24:1-2,15-18Eph 5:25-32Jn 6:60-69 …Christ loved the Church and sacrificed himself for her… I remember speaking with a colleague years ago about marriage and we were discussing about the challenges that married couples go through. I cannot remember much of this conversation, but I do remember how it ended. “If it... Continue Reading →
9 August, Monday — Life Beyond Earth
Aug 9 – Memorial for St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein), martyr After witnessing the strength of faith of Catholic friends, Teresa (1891-1942), originally a Jew, became interested in Catholicism and studied a catechism on her own, and she eventually ended up ‘reading herself into’ the Faith. She became a Carmelite nun, teaching... Continue Reading →
22 June, Tuesday — God is our guard and our shield
Jun 22 – Memorial for St. Paulinus of Nola, bishop; Memorial for St. John Fisher, Bishop & St. Thomas More, martyrs Paulinus (c.354–431) was a friend of St. Augustine of Hippo, and St. Nicetas of Remesiana, and was mentioned for his holiness by at least six of his contemporary saints. He was a distinguished lawyer... Continue Reading →
21 June, Monday — Listening to the inner voice
Jun 21 – Memorial for St. Aloysius Gonzaga, religious St. Aloysius (1568-1591) was an Italian noble who grew up in a castle as the son of a compulsive gambler. He suffered from kidney disease, but considered it a blessing as it left him bed-ridden with time for prayer. While still a boy himself, he taught catechism to poor boys. At age... Continue Reading →
20 June, Sunday — Active and Passive Faith
12th Sunday in Ordinary Time Job 38:1,8-11 2 Cor 5:14-17Mk 4:35-41 “Why are you so frightened?” I am intrigued by the sport of American football. I remember the first time I learned about it, when my friend, Joe, explained the rules. The game is divided into two portions -- offence, and defence. When one is... Continue Reading →
5 May, Wednesday – My Heavenly Vinedresser
Wednesday of the 5th Week of Eastertide Acts 15:1-6Jn 15:1-8 “Every branch in me that bears no fruit he cuts away” It is strange how an experience can totally change how one perceives and understands the world around him. In today’s Gospel, our Lord Jesus talks about how His Father, the vinedresser, cuts away every... Continue Reading →
1 May, Saturday – Seeking the Father through Jesus
May 1 – Feast of St. Joseph the Worker St. Joseph (d. 1st century) was a descendant of the House of David. He was a layman, a builder by trade; traditionally a carpenter, but may have been a stone worker. He was the earthly spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the foster and adoptive father... Continue Reading →
30 April, Friday – Being Faithful
30 Apr – Memorial for St. Pius V, pope Antonio Ghislieri (1504-1572) was born to impoverished Italian nobility, the son of Paolo Ghislieri and Domenica Augeria. He worked as a shepherd as a boy, and received an excellent education in piety and holiness, including a scholastic education from a Dominican friar. He joined the Order... Continue Reading →
29 April, Thursday – Remembering to Be Servants
29 Apr – Memorial for 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 and... Continue Reading →
28 April, Wednesday – Walking the Talk
28 Apr – Memorial for St. Peter Chanel, priest & martyr; Memorial for St. Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort, priest St. Peter Chanel (1803-1841) was born to a peasant family and was a shepherd as a boy. He was an excellent student and was ordained at 24. He was assigned to Crozet, a parish in decline; he... Continue Reading →
OXYGEN 