May 20 – Memorial for St. Bernadine of Siena, Priest St. Bernadine (1381-1444) was a Friar Minor, a priest, an itinerant preacher, and a theological writer. His preaching skills were so great and the conversions so numerous, that he has become associated with all areas of speaking, advertising, public relations, etc. Bernadine’s charismatic preaching filled the... Continue Reading →
9 March, Tuesday — Forgiveness
Tuesday of the 3rd Week of Lent Deu 3:25, 34-43Mt 18:21-35 “Lord if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him?” These days, I find parenting my two children such a challenge. I am being pulled in all directions and, often – unjustly – my older child suffers for it. He... Continue Reading →
27 February, Saturday — Standing Out, Standing Up
Saturday of the 1st Week of Lent Dt 26:16-19Mt 5:43-48 “You must therefore be perfect just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Today’s gospel readings are an extension of yesterday’s, particularly in its call for us to love our enemies. Indeed, both readings are asking us to forgive our enemies and to love everyone. To illustrate what He... Continue Reading →
27 January, Wednesday – Seeds for All
Jan 27 – Memorial for St. Angela Merici, virgin St. Angela Merici (1474-1540) became a Franciscan tertiary at the age of 15. She received a vision telling her that she would inspire devout women in their vocation. In Crete, during a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, she was struck blind. Her friends wanted to return home,... Continue Reading →
22 January, Friday — A New Covenant
Jan 22 – Memorial for St. Vincent, deacon and martyr St. Vincent of Saragossa (d. 304) was a friend of St. Valerius of Saragossa in Spain, and served as his deacon. He was imprisoned and tortured in Valencia, some of it by burning on a gridiron, for his faith. He converted the jailor and was finally... Continue Reading →
17 September, Thursday — Measures of Love
Sep 17 – Memorial for St. Robert Bellarmine, Bishop and Doctor St. Robert (1542-1621) wrote the most complete work of his day to defend Catholicism against Protestant attack. He also wrote a children’s catechism and a catechism for teachers. As cardinal-priest, he gave most of his money to the poor. At one point he used the... Continue Reading →
13 September, Sunday — The End of the Road
24th Sunday in Ordinary Time Ecc 27:33-28:9Rm 14:7-9 Mt 18:21-35 Remember the commandments... As I reflected on today’s readings, I couldn’t help but realise how God was drumming home to me the need to constantly stop and check myself, especially in the area of dealing with my staff. Having had to deal with three resignations... Continue Reading →
13 August, Thursday — Cancel the Debt
Aug 13 – Memorial for St. Pontian, pope, martyr, and St. Hippolytus, priest, martyr St. Pontian was among the first victims of an anti-Christian new emperor. Rounded up with the antipope Hippolytus, Pontian was deported to the labour mines. While imprisoned, Hippolytus reconciled his differences with Pontian and even ordered his followers to bring themselves back... Continue Reading →
9 July, Thursday — Unlimited Mercy
Jul 9 – Memorial for St. Augustine Zhao Rong, priest, & companions Christianity arrived in China by way of Syria in the 600s. Depending on China’s relations with the outside world, Christianity over the centuries was free to grow or was forced to operate secretly. The 120 martyrs in this group died between 1648 and... Continue Reading →
7 July, Tuesday — The compassion of Jesus
Tuesday of Week 14 in Ordinary Time Hos 8:4-7,11-13Mt 9:32-37 ...he felt sorry for them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. I am so comforted knowing how compassionate Jesus is. This means he will never leave us to suffer alone or be left “without a shepherd”. He is our eternal shepherd... Continue Reading →
