May 10 – John of Ávila (not to be confused with John Avila or St John of the Cross) was a Spanish priest, preacher, scholastic author, and religious mystic, who has been declared a saint and Doctor of the Church by the Catholic Church. He is called the ‘Apostle of Andalusia’, for his extensive ministry in that region. From early 1551 Ávila was in constant ill-health. He spent the last years... Continue Reading →
7 March, Friday — What will you give up this Lent?
Friday after Ash Wednesday Is 58:1-9Mt 9:14-15 Is that the sort of fast that pleases me, a truly penitential day for men? Over the past few months, some of my friends reached major milestones – some got married, while others achieved financial and career success. Although I wanted to feel happy for them, the truth... Continue Reading →
20 December, Friday — God’s Grace in the Signs: Choosing Trust Over Control
20 December Isa 7:10-14Lk 1:26-38 “The Lord himself, therefore, will give you a sign.” Today’s first reading, which tells of the story of Ahaz and God’s invitation to ask for a sign, cuts to the heart of who God is — both a just judge and a deeply gracious Father. Even in the Old Testament,... Continue Reading →
11 December, Wednesday — Signs of Patience
Dec 11 – Memorial for St. Damasus I, pope St. Damasus (306-384) was raised in a pious family. His father was a priest in Rome, and Damasus served for a time as deacon in his father’s church, St. Laurence. He was ordained a priest and became assistant to Pope Liberius. He was elected the 37th... Continue Reading →
25 May, Saturday — Trust in God’s mercy and be afraid of nothing in His arms
May 25 – Memorial for St. Bede the Venerable, Priest and Worker; Memorial for St. Gregory VII, Pope; Memorial for St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi, Virgin St. Bede (672-735) was born around the time England was finally, completely Christianized. He was raised from age seven in the abbey of Sts. Peter and Paul at Wearmouth-Jarrow,... Continue Reading →
19 January, Friday — A blank cheque from God
Friday of Week 2 in Ordinary Time 1 Sam 24:3-21Mk 3:13-19 “I will deliver your enemy into your power, do what you like with him.” Whenever the topic of discernment pops up, the most common question I would hear is ‘How would you know what God wants you to do?’ For me, this is the... Continue Reading →
6 June, Tuesday – Rendering to God
Tuesday of Week 9 in Ordinary Time Tob 2:9-14Mark 12: 13-17 "Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar -- and to God what belongs to God." I certainly have heard this verse a lot when I was a young adult, especially in the context of being able to differentiate things that are of 'this... Continue Reading →
30 September, Friday — All Will Pass Away
Sep 30 – Memorial for St. Jerome, Priest and Doctor St. Jerome (347-419) led a misspent youth. He later converted in theory, being baptised in 365, and then had a true conversion when he studied theology. He was a monk, and revised the Latin text of the Bible. The result of his 30 years of... Continue Reading →
22 August, Monday — Mary, our role model
Aug 22 – Our Lady, Mother and Queen Whoever, therefore, reverences the Queen of heaven and earth – and let no one consider himself exempt from this tribute of a grateful and loving soul – let him invoke the most effective of Queens, the Mediatrix of Peace; let him respect and preserve peace, which is... Continue Reading →
15 August, Monday — Saved Through Christ
Aug 15 – Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mary is taken up body and soul into the glory of Heaven, and with God and in God she is Queen of Heaven and earth. And is she really so remote from us? The contrary is true. Precisely because she is with God... Continue Reading →
OXYGEN 