Oct 7 – Memorial for Our Lady of the Rosary This day was originally observed as the Feast of Our Lady of Victory. Its date was chosen to commemorate the European victory at the third naval Battle of Lepanto in 1571. This battle marked the high point of Turkish (Muslim) advance on European soil with... Continue Reading →
16 September, Friday — The Church Ain’t No Lie
Sep 16 – Memorial for Sts. Cornelius, Pope and Martyr; and Cyprian, Bishop and Martyr St. Cornelius (d. 253) was elected after a year-and-a-half period, during which persecutions were so bad that papal ascension was a quick death sentence. He worked to maintain unity in a time of schism and apostasy. He called a synod... Continue Reading →
13 September, Tuesday — Existence
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 →
3 August, Wednesday — Growing with Faith
Wednesday of Week 18 in Ordinary Time Jer 31:1-7Mt 15:21-28 “Woman, you have great faith. Let your wish be granted.” When the woman asked Jesus to heal her daughter, she mentioned that "even house-dogs can eat the scraps that fall from their master’s table." It was a real eye-opener for me that even the ‘scraps’... Continue Reading →
1 August, Monday — Little Faith
Aug 1 – Memorial for St. Alphonsus Liguori, bishop, religious founder, doctor Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787) vowed early to never to waste a moment of his life, and lived that way for over 90 years. As a lawyer, he had his own practice by age 21, and was a leading lawyer in Naples. He never attended... Continue Reading →
28 June, Tuesday — Staying Faithful
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 →
16 June, Thursday – Figuring out how to pray
Thursday of Week 11 in Ordinary Time Ecc 48:1-15Mt 6:7-15 "In your prayers, do not babble as the pagans do, for they think that by using many words they will make themselves heard." I have a constant struggle with prayer, because I have always found it difficult to maintain the balance between praying in a... Continue Reading →
9 May, Monday – Trust in God
Monday of the 4th Week of Eastertide Acts 11:1-18Jn 10:1-10 I have come so that they may have life and have it to the full I have seen how pet owners take good care of their pets. This is especially so when they are very young and the owner has seen the pet grow up.... Continue Reading →
4 May, Wednesday — Authentic Faith and Love
Wednesday of the 3rd Week of Eastertide Acts 8:1-8Jn 6:35-40 Those who had escaped went from place to place preaching the Good News. I am sure many of us have faced adversity in our lives, some certainly more than others. I, for one, have thought I had the bad luck to always draw the short... Continue Reading →
30 April, Saturday – Too Good to be True
30 Apr – Memorial for St. Pius V, pope Antonio Ghislieri (1504-1572) was born to impoverished Italian nobility, the son of Paolo Ghislieri and Domenica Augeria. He worked as a shepherd as a boy, and received an excellent education in piety and holiness, including a scholastic education from a Dominican friar. He joined the Order... Continue Reading →
OXYGEN 