January 1, 2025
Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. This feast day needs to be clarified since it has undergone several […]
December 31, 2024
The Church’s way of thinking is so different than our culture. While the church has us prepare for a season by giving us ample time and preparation with Advent or Lent, it then gives us octaves to continue celebrating for days. While most have removed their Christmas decorations, the church continues to celebrate. Why do […]
December 30, 2024
Saint John says in the first reading: “I am writing to you…children…young men…fathers…” Where are the mothers and the young women? I suppose they are hidden in the reading of the gospel of Luke and, more specifically, in the reference to Anna, the prophetess, wife, and widow. Generally speaking, the Christian Church has grown with […]
December 29, 2024
Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to the festival of Passover. This Gospel is a beautiful portrayal of a young Jewish boy, much like any of our own […]
December 28, 2024
The Holy Innocents Today is the Feast of the Holy Innocents, where we honor the memory of the infants whom King Herod slaughtered following the birth of Jesus. As I am writing this, I just went to confession less than a week ago as a couple of sins were weighing heavy on my heart. The […]
December 27, 2024
Feast of Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist . . . he saw and believed. Early in his priesthood, Father Peter Julian Eymard had an experience that shaped his life as a priest, a preacher, a religious, and then as the founder of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament. While on a visit with his pastor […]
December 26, 2024
Feast of Saint Stephen, first martyr I have always wondered why the liturgy follows the great joyful feast of Christmas with the sad story of Saint Stephen’s martyrdom. Thank God for the commentaries!! I learned that by celebrating St. Stephen, the first martyr, on the day after Christmas, the Church leads us into the heart of […]
December 25, 2024
Nativity of the Lord Rejoice and be glad! Christ our Savior is born! Taking refuge with her husband in a stable, Mary, our Blessed Mother, endured the pain, exhaustion, and anxiety of labor before giving birth to a sweet baby. Joseph was there for it all, bringing his deep love and protection. They named the […]
December 24, 2024
On the eve of the celebration of the nativity of our Lord, we are confronted with this experience of David. He takes his time to consolidate himself. He tries to build a powerful army. He neutralizes his enemies and constructs a villa for himself. He then thinks about God. And his mind is ‘building a […]
December 23, 2024
Memorial of Saint John Kanty Today, we celebrate Saint John of Kanty (1390-1473), a priest-theologian at Krakow University whose simplicity and love for the poor earned him canonization and the title Patron of Poland. Today is also the last day of the “O Antiphons,” ancient prayers addressed to the Lord, just before the Magnificat at […]