The Human Face of Divine Mercy
The painting (1488) is by Bartolomeo di Giovanni and was commissioned for the Hospital of the Innocents in Florence. The six-sided altar at the centre...
2 February, The Presentation of the Lord
Malachy 3:1-4 Psalm 23: 7, 8, 9, 10 Hebrews 2: 14-18 Luke 2: 22-40 Susception Day “We receive, O God, your mercy, in the midst...
Adoro Te Devote, Latens Deitas
Caesar van Everdingen painted this magnificent Holy Family in 1660. Saint Joseph, with the open book of the Scriptures on his lap, appears absorbed by...
Anna of the Face of God
December 30 Sixth Day of the Octave of Christmas 1 John 2:12-17 Luke 2:36-40 Holy Anna The sacred liturgy treats the holy prophetess Anna, daughter...
Deus noster in terris visus est
December 29 The Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas 1 John 2:3-11 Luke 2:22-35 Victim, Priest, and Temple The very first sentence of today’s...
To Treasure the Infant Christ
December 28 Feast of the Holy Innocents 1 John 1:5-2:2 Matthew 2:13-18 The Child in Egypt The name Egypt occurs three times in today’s gospel....
The Gospel of the Father
I like this painting by the Dominican Fra Bartolomeo (1473–1517), a disciple of Savonarola, because it shows our Holy Father Saint Bernard together with Saint...
A Night As Bright As the Day
The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ Mass During the Night Isaiah 9:2-4, 6-7 Psalm 95: 1-2, 2-3, 11-12, 13 Titus 2: 11-14 Luke 2:10-11...
Christmas: The Encounter of Two Desires
Cistercians and Franciscans — and yes, Carmelites too! — have this in common: a tender love for the mystery of the Word made flesh and...
Ave, Maria — Our Lady’s Sunday in Advent
Today is Our Lady’s Sunday in Advent. Pope Paul VI, influenced, no doubt, by the ancient practice of the venerable Church of Milan, desired that...
The Heart of God Beating in the Breast of a Little Child
Almighty and ever-living God, seeing that the birth of Thy Son according to the flesh is drawing near, we beseech Thee that Thy Word may...
23 December, O EMMANUEL
Murillo’s painting of the Infant Christ distributing bread to pilgrims is an invitation to consider the mystery of the Eucharist, God–With–Us, the Child of Bethlehem,...
Ave, gratia plena
Deus, aeterna maestas. cuius ineffabile Verbum, Angelo nuntiante, Virgo immaculata suscepit, et, domus divinitatis effecta, Sanctus Spiritus luce repletur, quaesumus, ut nos, eius exemplo, voluntati...
Quid ergo faciemus?
Third Sunday of Advent C Luke 3:10-18 Philippians 4:4-7 Isaiah 12:2-6 (Responsorial Psalm) Zephaniah 3:14-18 A Prophet All Ablaze Today’s gospel begins rather abruptly. John...
Et justificata est sapientia a filiis suis
Not a Caravaggio, although it could be taken for one! This painting of Saint John the Baptist is by the Spaniard Bartolomé González y Serrano...
On the Collect of Wednesday of the Second Week of Advent
Almighty God who command us to prepare the way for Christ the Lord, mercifully grant that we may not grow weary in our infirmities as...
Gaudens gaudebo in Domino
December 8 The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Genesis 3:9-15, 20 Psalm 97: 1, 2-3ab, 3cdd-4 Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12 Luke 1:26-38 A Song...
On Saint Nicholas Day
Wednesday of the First Week of Advent December 6 Commemoration of Saint Nicholas, Bishop Isaiah 25:6–10a Psalm 22:1–2, 3–4, 5, 6 (R. 6cd) Matthew 15:29–37...
And A Little Child Shall Lead Them
Tuesday of the First Week of Advent Isaiah 11:1–10 Psalm 71:1–2, 7–8, 12–13, 17 (R. 7) Luke 10:21–24 Grace Upon Grace Saint John, in his...
Qui non est consolatus, nescit consolare
First Tuesday of Advent Isaiah 11:1-10 Psalm 71: 1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17 Luke 10:21-24 The photograph is of the Blessed Sacrament exposed on the altar...