Dec 11 – Memorial for St. Damasus I, Pope Pope Damasus I (304-384) -- All lovers of Scripture have reason to celebrate this day. Damasus was the pope who commissioned Saint Jerome to translate the Scriptures into Latin, the Vulgate version of the Bible. Damasus was a sixty-year-old deacon when he was elected bishop of Rome in 366. His reign was marked by violence from... Continue Reading →
10 December, Sunday — How have I responded to God in the past year?
2nd Sunday of Advent Is 40:1-5,9-112 Pet 3:8-14Mk 1:1-8… with the Lord, 'a day' can mean a thousand years, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord is not being slow to carry out his promises, as anybody else might be called slow; but he is being patient with you all … It... Continue Reading →
9 December, Saturday — Celebrate Jesus
Dec 9 – Memorial for St. Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin, hermit, layman John (1474-1548) was born an impoverished free man in a strongly class-conscious society. He was a farm worker, a field labourer, and a mat maker. He became a married layman with no children. Even as a pagan, he was a mystical and religious man,... Continue Reading →
7 December, Thursday — Faith like a mustard seed
Dec 7 – Memorial for St. Ambrose, bishop and doctor of the Church St. Ambrose (c.340–397) was born to the Roman nobility. He was the brother of St. Marcellina and St. Satyrus. He was educated in the classics, Greek, and philosophy at Rome, Italy. He was a poet and a noted orator. He was a... Continue Reading →
6 December, Wednesday — The Lord is my shepherd
Dec 6 – Memorial for St. Nicholas, bishop St. Nicholas (d. 346) was a priest and abbot, and the bishop of Myra, Lycia (modern Turkey). He was generous to the poor, and a special protector of the innocent and wrong. Many stories grew up around him prior to his becoming Santa Claus. One story is... Continue Reading →
5 December, Tuesday — On Authenticity
Tuesday of the 1st Week of Advent Isa 11:1-10Lk 10:21-24 “…and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” I have just gotten through performance appraisal season and this time round, I decided to have one-on-one chats with the staff who were assessing others for their first time. In those chats, I was heartened... Continue Reading →
4 December, Monday — Let’s go to God’s House
Dec 4 – Memorial for St. John Damascene, priest, doctor of the Church St. John Damascene was born in Damascus about 675. After holding public office for a time, he withdrew to the monastery of Sabas near Jerusalem. He wrote ‘The Fount of Wisdom’, in which he presented a comprehensive teaching on Christian doctrine, which... Continue Reading →
3 December, Sunday — When was the last time you cried for someone else?
1st Sunday of Advent Isa 63:16-17, 64:1,3-81 Cor 1:3-9Mk 13:33-37 Why, Lord, leave us to stray from your ways and harden our hearts against fearing you? One Saturday morning, I was all alone in Nativity Church, in quiet prayer before a statue of the Sacred Heart. It was a dismal morning -- huge storm clouds were threatening -- and the inside... Continue Reading →
24 December, Saturday — Me before You : Action
24 December 2 Sam 7:1-5,8-12,14,16Lk 1:67-79 “…for you will go before the Lord to prepare a way for him…” Today’s Gospel shares with us Zechariah’s song of praise of God. Like Mary, two days ago, he too praises the graces that God has bestowed on His people. Zechariah also charts the path for John. If... Continue Reading →
23 December, Friday — Me before You : Faith
Dec 23 – Memorial for St. John of Kanty, presbyter St. John of Kanty (1390-1473) was a Polish country lad. A brilliant student at the University of Krakow, Poland, he became a priest and professor of theology at the University of Krakow, where he was falsely accused and ousted by university rivals. At the age... Continue Reading →
OXYGEN 