Jun 13 – Memorial for St. Anthony of Padua, priest, religious, doctor St. Anthony's (1195-1231) wealthy family wanted him to be a great nobleman, but for the sake of Christ he became a poor Franciscan. When the remains of St. Berard and his companions, the first Franciscan martyrs, were brought to be buried in his... Continue Reading →
11 March, Tuesday — How to pray
Tuesday of the 1st Week of Lent Isa 55:10-11Mt 6:7-15 “…do not babble as the pagans do…” On the back of yesterday’s Gospel focusing on almsgiving, one of the three pillars of Lent, today’s Gospel touches on prayer. It is safe to assume that many know the importance of prayer in the life of a... Continue Reading →
9 March, Sunday — Pray, fast, give more? You choose
1st Sunday of Lent Deu 26:4-10Rm 10:8-13Lk 4:1-13 My God in whom I trust. Lent is upon us. For this first Sunday of Lent, the following themes resonate with me: Giving Alms, Faith and Confession, Temptation and Resistance and Trust in God’s help. Today’s first reading from Deuteronomy offers a good lesson on giving alms.... Continue Reading →
24 February, Monday — Even at the Bottom of the Bottom He is There
Monday of Week 7 in Ordinary Time Ecc 1:1-10Mk 9:14-29 ...the boy lay there so like a corpse that most of them said, ‘He is dead.’ But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him up, and he was able to stand. How desperate does desperation look or sound like? How far down the... Continue Reading →
2 January, Thursday — A Generous Heart
2 Jan – Memorial for Sts. Basil the Great & Gregory Nazianzen, bishops St. Basil the Great (329-379) was a noble by birth. His parents and four of his nine siblings were canonized, including St. Gregory of Nyssa. He was the grandson of St. Marcina the Elder. As a youth, he was noted for organizing... Continue Reading →
22 October, Tuesday — Always prepared
Oct 22 – Memorial for St. John Paul II Karol Józef Wojtyla was born in 1920 in Wadowice, Poland. After his ordination to the priesthood and theological studies in Rome, he returned to his homeland and resumed various pastoral and academic tasks. He became first auxiliary bishop and, in 1964, Archbishop of Kraków and took... Continue Reading →
9 October, Wednesday — A Simple Prayer
Oct 9 – Memorial for Sts. Denis, Bishop, and Companions, Martyrs; Memorial for St. John Leonardi, Priest St. Denis (d. 258) was a missionary to Paris, and its first bishop. His success roused the ire of local pagans, and he was imprisoned by the Roman governor. He was martyred in the persecutions of Valerius with... Continue Reading →
19 August, Monday — A Richer Exchange
Aug 19 – Memorial for St. John Eudes, priest, religious founder John Eudes (1601-1680) established seminaries, and founded the Congregation of Jesus and Mary Eudists to promote virtuous secular parochial clergy not bound by vows, but dedicated to improving the clergy through seminaries and missions. He also founded the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity... Continue Reading →
6 August, Tuesday — Light, Glorious and Forgiving Light
Aug 6 – Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord Today we celebrate the occasion on which Christ revealed Himself in shining splendour to Peter, James, and John. Moses and Elijah were present, and are taken to signify the Law and the Prophets. They testify to Jesus as the promised Messiah. God the Father also... Continue Reading →
28 June, Friday — The Glory of God is Man fully alive
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 →
OXYGEN 