June 6, 2024
“The virtues of Our Lord are not acquired all at once—their practice costs. Devote yourselves to them without fear, with courage and perseverance. They must be your adornment on the day on which he will present you to His Father…” (Saint Peter Julian Eymard) Fortitude is “the moral virtue that ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy […]
June 5, 2024
In today’s reading, Paul encourages Timothy to stir up among his flock “the grace of God that is within you.” What is this grace? In the prayers that follow my reflections, I often pray that God would grant us an “abundance of grace.” I don’t use that phrase lightly. I always pray that God would […]
June 4, 2024
The last sentence from our first reading, the second letter of Peter, reminds us to “grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” How do we grow in grace? This reading recalls the trials, the stability, and the opportunity to look to the signs of the times and to be principled. […]
June 3, 2024
The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. In today’s gospel, Jesus tells a parable with a violent twist. Of course, we now know what the Israelites would soon witness — Jesus is the cornerstone that was rejected and ultimately killed. Unlike the landowner’s son, Jesus’ death was not rendered without opportunity for […]
June 2, 2024
Solemnity of The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ The annual celebration of the solemnity of The Body and Blood of Christ, known for generations by the Latin words Corpus Christi, is unquestionably for our Eymardian family and, indeed, for the entire Church, one of the liturgical highlights of the year. This feast day […]
June 1, 2024
Memorial of Saint Justin, Martyr From the Acts of the Martyrdom of Saint Justin and his companion saints: The saints were seized and brought before the prefect of Rome… (He) said: “…Gather around then and with one accord offer sacrifice to the gods.” Justin said: “No one who is right thinking stoops from true worship […]
May 31, 2024
Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Among you is the great and Holy One…the feast of the Visitation gives us a unique opportunity to ponder the Holy One being among us. How privileged we are to see Mary and Elizabeth embracing each other and the Divine presence in their midst. Elizabeth’s child […]
May 30, 2024
We don’t know if Bartimaeus was born blind or suffered an illness or accident that resulted in his blindness. The details are not included in Mark’s Gospel reading for today. We do know that upon hearing Jesus, Bartimaeus cried out, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.” Others in the crowd tried to silence […]
May 29, 2024
“You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the chalice that I drink…?” I wonder if James and John were dragging behind the group and conversing as Jesus had taken the twelve aside to explain what was ahead for him in Jerusalem. He certainly didn’t have their attention as he described being […]
May 28, 2024
THE EUCHARIST OUR HIGHEST RECOMPENSE As we journey towards celebrating the solemnity of Corpus Christi, we are confronted with this beautiful text of Mark about our recompense. After the rich young man goes away sad, Jesus declares that detachment from what we love is the way to the eternal reward. Celebrating the Body and Blood […]