“They Have Killed Our Shepherd”
At the end of Holy Mass today at the Monastery of the Glorious, we sang the antiphons In Paradisum and Chorus Angelorum for the repose...
And Healing to the Wounded Grant
Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent Numbers 21: 4–9 Psalm 101: 1–2, 5–17, 18–20 (R. 1) John 8: 21–30 The Serpent and the Cross...
When Priests Find A Bethany
I thank my friend Lisa for her wise and compassionate words to Sotto Voce, the Irish priest so many of us are carrying in prayer....
Singing the Mystery of the Cross
My doctoral dissertation — it seems so long ago — focused on the Proper Chants of the Paschal Triduum in the Graduale Romanum. The chants...
Lazare, veni foras!
Friday of the Fourth Week of Lent John 11:1-45 Caravaggio’s Resurrection of Lazarus depicts a dead man stunned by his sudden return to life. The...
An Hour of Companionship
When Fulton J. Sheen was ordained a priest, he promised Our Lord to make a Holy Hour daily before the Blessed Sacrament. He remained faithful...
Seeking Solace
The reflections of an Irish Catholic priest on his experience of loneliness moved me deeply, and confirmed me in own calling to adore and intercede...
Fulget Crucis Mysterium
Our Lady Saint Mary, Saint John the Beloved Disciple, and the Wounded Side of Christ With First Vespers of the Fifth Sunday of Lent we...
Cum Amore Ac Timore — With Love and Awe
This is the article by Auxiliary Bishop Athanasius Schneider of Karaganda in Kazakhstan that attracted considerable attention when it appeared in L’Osservatore Romano, 8 January...
Irish Catholic Kvetch
Saint Patrick’s Day Secularized I wanted to buy a few cards for Saint Patrick’s Day to send to family and friends both in Ireland and...
I Will Not Be Forgetful of Thee
Wednesday Within the Fourth Week of Lent Isaiah 49:8-15 John 5:17-30 An Inward Quickening In every single line of today’s prophecy from Isaiah, there is...
And Many Have Wondered at Him
February 27 is also the feast of the young Passionist Saint Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin, known in the world as Francesco Possenti. He is...
Close to the Heart of Jesus
Blessed Marie de Jésus Deluil Martiny was the “First Zelatrice”, or promoter, of the Guard of Honour of the Sacred Heart. The Work was founded...
In Spiritu Humilitatis
Tuesday Within the Third Week of Lent Daniel 3:25–43 Matthew 18:21–35 Azarias Found Utterance Look for a moment at the context of today’s First Reading:...
A Heart to Hear God’s Voice
In the 1927 biography of “Holy Ann” Preston of Thornhill, a poor Irish Methodist known for her intimacy with God the Father, I found this...
Our Lady’s Seven Dolours
Beginning Lent in Knock My pilgrimage the Shrine of Our Lady of Knock a fortnight ago renewed my longstanding devotion to the Rosary of the...
Yonder Scarlet Stain
Tuesday Within the Second Week of Lent Isaiah 1:10, 16–20 Matthew 23:1–12 Come back, says the Lord, and make trial of me. Crimson-dyed be your...
Bernadette
Her Feast Before the close of the day, I want to recall that February 18th is the feast of Saint Bernadette. Given that we are...
I Have Sought Thy Face
I arrived home from Ireland last evening and returned to my post this morning. The “mission” in Ireland was in every way blessed. Even the...
Saint Marcella of Rome
The Glory of the Ladies of Rome January 31st is not only the feast of Saint John Bosco, the gentle spiritual father of countless children...