20 Jan – Memorial for St. Fabian, pope and martyr; Memorial for St. Sebastian, martyr Pope St. Fabian (d. 250) was a layman and a farmer. He came into Rome on a day when a new pope was to be elected. A dove flew in and settled on his head. The gathered clergy and laity... Continue Reading →
16 January, Monday — New Wine, New Wineskins
Monday of Week 2 in Ordinary Time Heb 5:1-10Mk 2:18-22 “And nobody puts new wine into old wineskins; if he does, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost and the skins too. No! New wine, fresh skins!” As we settle into the new year, both Liturgical and Gregorian, how are you... Continue Reading →
30 November, Wednesday – Full Speed Ahead
Nov 30 – Feast of St. Andrew, apostle St. Andrew was the first Apostle of Jesus Christ. He was a fisherman by trade, and the brother of Simon Peter. He was a follower of John the Baptist. Andrew went through life leading people to Jesus, both before and after the Crucifixion. He was a missionary... Continue Reading →
2 July, Saturday – Change is how we became a New Creation in Christ
Saturday of Week 13 in Ordinary Time Amo 9:11-15 Mt 9:14-17 “Nor do people put new wine into old wineskins; if they do, the skins burst, the wine runs out, and the skins are lost.” In ancient times, the wineskins were made of sheep or goat hides that were partly tanned and retaining, to a... Continue Reading →
29 June, Wednesday – Courage in Life’s Uncertainty
June 29 – Solemnity of Saints. Peter and Paul, Apostles Peter (c.1–64) was a professional fisherman. He was the brother of St. Andrew the Apostle, the man who led him to Christ. Given the name Simon, he was renamed “Peter” (rock) by Jesus to indicate that Peter would be the rock-like foundation on which the... Continue Reading →
6 July, Tuesday — Wrestling With God And Ourselves
Jul 6 – Memorial for St. Maria Goretti, Virgin & Martyr Maria Goretti (1890-1902) was a beautiful and pious farm girl, one of six children of Luigi Goretti and Assunta Carlini. In 1896 the family moved to Ferriere di Conca. Soon after, Maria’s father died of malaria, and the family was forced to move onto... Continue Reading →
27 August, Thursday — Black Swans and White Angels
Aug 27 – Memorial for St. Monica, married woman St. Monica was distressed to learn that her son had accepted a heresy and was living an immoral life. For a while, she refused to let him eat or sleep in her house. Then one night, she had a vision that assured her Augustine would return to the... Continue Reading →
4 July, Saturday — New Wine, New Wineskins
Jul 4 – Memorial for St. Elizabeth of Portugal Elizabeth (1271-1336) was a princess with a pious upbringing, who became Queen of Portugal before she was a teenager. Elizabeth suffered through years of her husband’s abuse and adultery, praying all the while for his conversion, and working with the poor and sick. She rode onto... Continue Reading →
OXYGEN 