Jun 28 – St. Irenaeus, bishop, martyr Irenaeus (c.130–202) was a disciple of St. Polycarp of Smyrna. He was ordained in 177. He was Bishop of Lugdunum, Gaul (modern Lyons, France). He worked and wrote against Gnosticism, basing his arguments on the works of St. John the Apostle, whose gospel is often cited by Gnostics.... Continue Reading →
21 June, Saturday — From God, to farm, to table
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... Continue Reading →
19 June, Thursday — Your Will Be Done On Me
Jun 19 – St Philip Minh, Priest and Companions, Martyrs St Philip Minh is a Vietnamese martyr. Born in Vietnam, he joined the Society for Foreign Missions of Paris and was ordained a priest with the purpose of working for the Church in Vietnam. Seized by anti-Catholic forces, he was beheaded. He was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1988. Vietnamese Martyrs, also... Continue Reading →
13 June, Friday — Staying focused on Jesus
Jun 13 – Memorial for St. Anthony of Padua, priest, religious, doctor St. Anthony's (1195-1231) wealthy family wanted him to be a great nobleman, but for the sake of Christ he became a poor Franciscan. When the remains of St. Berard and his companions, the first Franciscan martyrs, were brought to be buried in his... Continue Reading →
11 June, Wednesday — The Courage to Encourage
Jun 11 – Feast of St. Barnabas, apostle St. Barnabas (martyred 61) founded the Church in Antioch. He was a Levite Jewish convert, coming to the faith soon after Pentecost. Barnabas is mentioned frequently in the Acts of the Apostles, and is included among the prophets and doctors at Antioch. Like Paul, Barnabas believed in... Continue Reading →
10 June, Tuesday — No situationships, please
Tuesday of Week 10 in Ordinary Time 2 Cor 1:18-22Mt 5:13-16 Remember it is God himself who assures us all... There exists in modern parlance, a term -- 'situationship' -- which is a situation where both parties are in a relationship, but without the associated norms and expectations of being in one. Perhaps this stems... Continue Reading →
6 June, Friday — Habemus Papum
Jun 6 – Memorial for St. Norbert, bishop, religious founder St. Norbert (1080-1134) had been born to the nobility and raised around the royal court. There he developed a very worldly view, taking holy orders as a career move when he joined the Benedictines. A narrow escape from death led him to a conversion experience,... Continue Reading →
5 June, Thursday — Same same, but different
Jun 5 – Memorial for St. Boniface, bishop and martyr Educated at the Benedictine monastary at Exeter, England where he became a monk, Boniface (c.673–754) was a missionary to Germany from 719, assisted by St. Albinus, St. Abel, and St. Agatha. They destroyed idols and pagan temples, and then built churches on the sites. He... Continue Reading →
2 June, Monday — Negotiation vs Unconditional Love
Jun 2 – Memorial for Sts Marcellinus & Peter Saints Marcellinus and Peter (sometimes called Petrus Exorcista – Peter the Exorcist; Italian: Marcellino e Pietro) are venerated within the Catholic Church as martyrs who were beheaded. Hagiographies place them in 4th century Rome. They are generally represented as men in middle age, with tonsures and palms of martyrdom; sometimes they hold a crown each. - Wikipedia Acts 19:1-8Jn... Continue Reading →
26 May, Monday — Spirit of Truth
May 26 – Memorial for St. Philip Neri, Priest St. Philip Neri (1515-1595) came from a poor family, though he was related to Italian nobility. His father, Francisco Neri, worked as a notary. Philip’s brother died in childhood, but his two sisters, Caterina and Elisabetta survived. He was a pious youth, and was taught humanities... Continue Reading →
OXYGEN 