Oct 11 – Memorial for St John XXIII, Pope Pope John XXIII born Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 28 October 1958 until his death in 1963. Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli was one of thirteen children born to Marianna Mazzola and Giovanni Battista Roncalli in a family of sharecroppers who lived in Sotto il... Continue Reading →
10 September, Wednesday — Heaven and Earth
Wednesday of Week 23 in Ordinary Time Col 3:1-11Lk 6:20-26 Let your thoughts be on heavenly things, not on the things that are on the earth… The verse above is taken from Colossians. It is a good reminder to us all and ties in very nicely to the Gospel of today. In the First Reading,... Continue Reading →
7 September, Sunday — “The eye of the needle…”
23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Wis 9:13-18Phi 9-10, 12-17Lk 14:25-33 “So in the same way, none of you can be my disciple unless he gives up all his possessions…” I believe that all of us are hoarders, even though you may claim that you are not, or that you do a ‘Marie Kondo’ once every... Continue Reading →
31 August, Sunday — Pride goes before a fall
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Ecc 3:19-21,30-31Heb 12:18-19,22-24Lk 14:1,7-14 The greater you are, the more you should behave humbly… So if humility is so important, why is it so that people in high positions are so arrogant? Is it because in rising to their lofty positions, they feel self-important that they forget where they came... Continue Reading →
15 July, Tuesday — Love and Pride
Jul 15 – Memorial for St. Bonaventure, bishop, religious, doctor St. Bonaventure (1221-1274) entered the Franciscan Order when he was 22. At the age of 35 he was chosen General of his Order and restored a perfect calm where peace had been disturbed by internal dissensions. He did much for his Order and composed The... Continue Reading →
29 October, Tuesday — Pride and Prejudice
Tuesday of Week 30 in Ordinary Time Eph 5:21-33Lk 13:18-21 Give way to one another in obedience to Christ. I am a sinner. And one of my root sins is the mortal sin of Pride. I do not like it when people look down on me, and I really don’t like it when people don’t... Continue Reading →
13 August, Tuesday — Adding to the One Hundred
Aug 13 – Memorial for St. Pontian, pope, martyr, and St. Hippolytus, priest, martyr 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 →
29 September, Friday — Pride always comes before a great fall
Sep 29 – Feast of the Holy Archangels, Michael, Gabriel, Raphael You should be aware that the word ‘angel’ denotes a function rather than a nature. Those holy spirits of heaven have indeed always been spirits. They can only be called angels when they deliver some message. Moreover, those who deliver messages of lesser importance... Continue Reading →
30 July, Sunday — “Smarty Pants”
17th Sunday in Ordinary Time 1 Kgs 3:5,7-12 Rm 8:28-30 Mt 13:44-52 “Give your servant a heart to understand how to discern between good and evil…” Ever since I was a little boy, I have been fascinated by King Solomon. The legendary figure that chose wisdom rather than riches or a long life. I remember telling... Continue Reading →
13 February, Monday — Faith, Unsullied by Pride
Monday of Week 6 in Ordinary Time Gen 4:1-15,25Mk 8:11-13 "God has granted me other offspring... in place of Abel, since Cain has killed him." There are certain seasons in life when we desperately yearn for sweetness and sense-making. In the midst of great disappointments, grave losses and sorrows, we may try our best to... Continue Reading →
OXYGEN 