Jul 24 – Memorial for St. Charbel Makhluf, Priest St. Charbel was a Lebanese monk, born in a small mountain village and ordained in 1858. Devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary, he spent the last twenty three years of his life as a hermit. Despite temptations to wealth and comfort, St. Charbel taught the value... Continue Reading →
3 June, Tuesday — Running the Good Race
Tuesday of the 7th Week of Eastertide Acts 20:17-27Jn 17:1-11 “But life to me is not a thing to waste words on, provided that when I finish my race I have carried out the mission the Lord Jesus gave me — and that was to bear witness to the Good News of God’s grace.” My... Continue Reading →
1 May, Thursday — The power of conversion
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... Continue Reading →
16 October, Wednesday — Cultivating the inner self
Oct 16 – Memorial for St. Hedwig, Religious; Memorial for St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, Virgin St. Hedwig (1174–1243) was the daughter of the Duke of Croatia, and aunt of St. Elizabeth of Hungary. She married Prince Henry I of Silesia and Poland in 1186 at the age of 12, and became the mother of seven.... Continue Reading →
14 October, Monday — The sign of Jonah
Oct 14 – Memorial for St. Callistus I, Pope and Martyr St. Callistus (d. 223) was born a slave, owned by Carpophorus, a Christian in the household of Caesar. His master entrusted a large sum to Callistus to open a bank, which took in several deposits, made several loans to people who refused to pay... Continue Reading →
18 November, Saturday — The view from the other side of the Cross
Nov 18 – Memorial for the Dedication of the Basilicas of St. Peter and St. Paul The Basilica of St. Peter is located within the Vatican City. It occupies a unique position as one of the holiest sites and as the greatest of all churches of Christendom. It is the burial site of St. Peter,... Continue Reading →
23 May, Tuesday — Running the Good Race
Tuesday of the 7th Week of Easter Acts 20:17-27Jn 17:1-11 “But life to me is not a thing to waste words on, provided that when I finish my race I have carried out the mission the Lord Jesus gave me — and that was to bear witness to the Good News of God’s grace.” As... Continue Reading →
10 April, Monday — Faith in dark times
Easter Monday Acts 2:14,22-33Mt 28:8-15 “...they will see me there.” Before I attended the Conversion Experience Retreat (CER) in 2015, I had been 'spiritually dry' for a long time. During this time, I just could not experience God in my life. For the most part, I heard and felt nothing. This silence troubled me. Imagine... Continue Reading →
25 January, Wednesday — Our God Moment
25 Jan – Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul St. Paul (3-65) was a Jewish Talmudic student and a Pharisee. He was a tent-maker by trade. Saul the Jew hated and persecuted Christians as heretical, even assisting at the stoning of St. Stephen the Martyr. On his way to Damascus to arrest another group... Continue Reading →
11 January, Tuesday — On Duality
Tuesday of Week 1 in Ordinary Time 1 Sam 1:9-20Mk 1:21-28 ...the unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions and with a loud cry went out of him. The anniversary of my father’s death happened on 3 Jan. The shadow of his passing has coloured all my Christmases since. I often wonder what he would... Continue Reading →