2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Isa 62:1-51 Cor 12:4-11Jn 2:1-11 “Do whatever he tells you.” Such simple words spoken by our Immaculate Mother. Although simple, those words hold so much meaning and depth. As parents, we expect our children to do whatever we tell them because we know best (most of the time). As a... Continue Reading →
27 November, Saturday — Staying Awake
Saturday of Week 34 in Ordinary Time Dan 7:15-27Lk 21:34-36 “Watch yourselves, or your hearts will be coarsened with debauchery and drunkenness and the cares of life…Stay awake, praying at all times...” Whether you want to admit it or not, we are creatures of habit. Habit could be a good thing, a virtue; or it... Continue Reading →
26 November, Friday — All Will Pass Away
Friday of Week 34 in Ordinary Time Dan 7:2-14Lk 21:29-33 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” We have all heard the saying ‘This too shall pass’. Although it is not a biblical saying, it does relate somewhat to the ideology of the Christian mind. Life, as we... Continue Reading →
25 November, Thursday — Signs of Life
Nov 25 – Memorial for St. Catherine of Alexandria, virgin, martyr St. Catherine (d. 305) was a noble who was learned in science and oratory. After receiving a vision, she converted to Christianity. At the age of 18, during the persecution of Maximus, she offered to debate the pagan philosophers. Many were converted by her arguments,... Continue Reading →
24 November, Wednesday — Endurance in Adversity
Nov 24 – Memorial for St. Andrew Dung-Lac, priest, martyr, and companions, Martyrs of Vietnam Between the arrival of the first Portuguese missionary in 1533, through the Dominicans and then the Jesuit missions of the 17th century, the politically inspired persecutions of the 19th century, and the Communist-led terrors of the 20th, there have been... Continue Reading →
28 September, Tuesday — Love and Mercy
Sep 28 – Memorial for St. Wenceslaus, martyr; Memorial for St. Lawrence Ruiz and Companions, Martyrs St. Wenceslaus (907-929) was the son of Vratislav I, Duke of Bohemia, whose family had been converted by St. Cyril and St. Methodius, and Drahomira, daughter of a pagan chief, who was baptised on her wedding day but apparently... Continue Reading →
27 September, Monday — Pride
Sep 27 – Memorial for St. Vincent de Paul, Priest St. Vincent (1581-1660) spent four years with the Franciscan friars getting an education. He was taken captive by Turkish pirates and sold into slavery, then freed when he converted one of his owners to Christianity. He started organisations to help the poor, nursed the sick, found... Continue Reading →
26 September, Sunday — Jealousy
26th Sunday in Ordinary Time Num 11:25-29Jas 5:1-6Mk 9:38-43,45,47-48 “Anyone who is not against us is for us.” There is a common theme in today’s First Reading and Gospel. In the First Reading, Moses was asked to stop two young men from prophesying when they were not the ‘chosen’ ones like the elders. In the Gospel,... Continue Reading →
31 July, Saturday — Pride
Jul 31 – Memorial for St. Ignatius of Loyola, Priest St. Ignatius (1491-1556) was wounded in the leg by a cannonball at the siege of Pampeluna on 20 May 1521, an injury that left him partially crippled for life. During his recuperation the only books he had access to were The Golden Legend, a collection... Continue Reading →
30 July, Friday — Familiarity Breeds Contempt
Jul 30 – Memorial for St. Peter Chrysologus, Bishop & Doctor An adult convert, St. Peter (406-450) fought paganism and heresy, enforced reforms, and built several churches and ornate altars in his see. A preacher with outstanding language skills, he was given the name ‘Chrysologus’, referring to his ‘golden word’. 176 of his sermons have... Continue Reading →