Sep 13 – Memorial for St. John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor John’s (347-407) father died when he was young, and he was raised by a very pious mother. It was for his sermons that John earned the title ‘Chrysostom’ (golden-mouthed). They were always on point, they explained the scriptures with clarity, and they sometimes went... Continue Reading →
30 August, Monday — Questioning our Faith
Monday of Week 22 in Ordinary Time 1 Ths 4:13-18Lk 4:16-30 The Spirit of the Lord has been given to me, because he has anointed me. He has sent me to bring good news to the poor... In the gospel today, Jesus, who was preaching in the synagogue in this hometown of Nazareth, was driven... Continue Reading →
9 August, Monday — Life Beyond Earth
Aug 9 – Memorial for St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein), martyr After witnessing the strength of faith of Catholic friends, Teresa (1891-1942), originally a Jew, became interested in Catholicism and studied a catechism on her own, and she eventually ended up ‘reading herself into’ the Faith. She became a Carmelite nun, teaching... Continue Reading →
5 July, Monday — On Action
Jul 5 – Memorial for St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria, Priest St. Anthony (1502-1539) studied medicine at Padua, receiving his doctorate at age 22. Working among the poor in Cremona, he felt called to the religious life. He was ordained at age 26; legend says that angels were seen around the altar at his first Mass.... Continue Reading →
27 June, Sunday – Faith in God
13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Wis 1:13-15,2:23-242 Cor 8:7,9,13-15Mk 5:21-43 I will praise you, Lord, you have rescued me. The past one and a half year has been a whirlwind of events. The pandemic has brought about tremendous challenges to my faith, and it has been a difficult period time. The change in lifestyle was... Continue Reading →
27 May, Thursday — Meaning of Faith
May 27 – Memorial for St. Augustine of Canterbury, Bishop St. Augustine (d. 605) was a monk and abbot of St. Andrew’s abbey in Rome. He was sent by Pope Gregory the Great with 40 brother monks, including St. Lawrence of Canterbury, to evangelize the British Isles in 597. Before he reached the islands, terrifying... Continue Reading →
14 April, Wednesday — Words
Wednesday of the 2nd Week of Eastertide Acts 5:17-26Jn 3:16-21 ”God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not lost but may have eternal life” A close friend announced at Easter that she would not be returning to church after the pandemic is... Continue Reading →
2 Apr, Friday — Death for Life
Good Friday There is no Mass today. The readings are used in the afternoon celebration of the Lord's Passion. Isa 52:13-53:12Heb 4:14-16; 5:7-9Jn 18:1-19:42 See, my servant will prosper, he shall be lifted up, exalted, rise to great heights. The fourth song of the servant by the prophet Isaiah opens with such a dazzling and... Continue Reading →
19 March, Friday — Fathers In Faith
Friday of the 4th Week of Lent 2 Sam 7:4-5,12-14,16Rm 4:13,16-18,22 Mt 1:16,18-21,24 ...he did become the father of all nations. Today’s readings have two themes running in parallel -- fatherhood and faith. Being single, and of an age where I am 99% certain I will never experience the joys and despairs of fatherhood, I... Continue Reading →
30 January, Saturday – To Honour God’s Gift of Faith
Saturday of Week 3 in Ordinary Time Heb 11:1-2,8-19Mk 4:35-41 All these died in faith, before receiving any of the things that had been promised, but they saw them in the far distance… “Only faith can guarantee the blessings that we hope for, or prove the existence of the realities that at present remain unseen.... Continue Reading →
