Sep 19 – Memorial for St. Januarius, Bishop and Martyr St. Januarius (d. 305) was arrested on account of his profession of the Christian religion during persecution of Christians. He was cast into the fiery furnace, through which he passed wholly unharmed. On the following day, along with a number of fellow martyrs, he was... Continue Reading →
14 September, Saturday – Sign for our times
Sep 14 – Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross The feast was celebrated in Rome before the end of the 7th century. Its purpose is to commemorate the recovering of that portion of the Holy Cross which was preserved at Jerusalem, and which had fallen into the hands of the Persians. Emperor Heraclius... Continue Reading →
11 September, Wednesday — “Rich Man, Poor Man.”
Wednesday of Week 23 in Ordinary Time 1 Cor 7:25-31Lk 6:20-26 “How happy are you who are poor…” “Do you want to be rich and be condemned or be poor and have eternal life in Heaven?” As Christians, I wonder what our answer would be. For those of us that didn’t have very much when... Continue Reading →
3 September, Tuesday — Recognising God’s Hand
Sep 3 – Memorial for St. Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor St. Gregory (540-590) collected the melodies and plain chants so associated with him, that they are now known as Gregorian Chants. He was elected by unanimous acclamation for pope. Incidentally, he was also the first monk to be pope. Before his papacy, he... Continue Reading →
23 August, Friday — Valley of Dry Faith
Aug 23 – Memorial for St. Rose of Lima, virgin A beautiful girl and devoted daughter, Rose (1586-1617) was so devoted to her vow of chastity, she used pepper and lye to ruin her complexion so she would not be attractive. She lived and meditated in a garden, raising vegetables and making embroidered items to... Continue Reading →
25 June, Tuesday — Turning to our God
Tuesday of Week 12 in Ordinary Time 2 Kgs 19:9-11,14-21,31-36Mt 7:6,12-14 ‘Give ear, Lord, and listen. Open your eyes, Lord, and see’ In today's first reading, we read about the mind games played by Sennacherib, King of the Assyrians, with Hezekiah, the King of Judah. With a strong track record of exterminating her enemies, Sennacherib... Continue Reading →
11 June, Tuesday — Answering God’s call
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 →
21 May, Tuesday – Learning how to ask correctly
May 21 – Saint Christopher Magallanes and his Companions St. Cristóbal Magallanes Jara was born in the state of Jalisco in Mexico, in 1869. He was ordained priest at the age of 30, and became parish priest of his home town of Totatiche. He took a special interest in the evangelization of the local indigenous Huichol... Continue Reading →
7 May, Tuesday — Become a Believer
Tuesday of the 6th Week of Eastertide Acts 16:22-34John 16:5-11 ’Sirs, what I must I do to be saved?’ Brothers and sisters, In today’s first reading, we are told of how Paul and Silas have been unjustly arrested, stripped and flogged. They are then locked up in the inner prison with their feet fastened in... Continue Reading →
29 April, Monday — Release Your Burden
29 April -- Memorial of St Catherine of Siena, virgin & doctor St. Catherine (1347-1380) was the youngest child in a large family. At the age of six, she had a vision in which Jesus appeared and blessed her. Her parents wanted her to marry, but she became a Dominican tertiary. She was a mystic... Continue Reading →