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...

And Again He Began to Teach

Week of Sexagesima Third Wednesday of the Year II Mark 4:1-20 Behold, the Sower Went Out to Sow Our Lord presents four situations to those...

Girded by Angels

“If Saint Thomas had not been victorious when his chastity was in peril, it is very probable that the Church would never have had her...

Christ Made Me His Own

In the fall of 2006 the Holy Father gave five General Audiences on Saint Paul the Apostle. These five teachings are a marvelous preparation for...

Conversi ad Dominum

In the context of yesterday’s General Audience, the Holy Father spoke not only of the Vultus Christi, the Face of Christ, but also of turning...

Thank you, Holy Father!

“One cannot contemplate Mary without being attracted by Christ and one cannot look at Christ without immediately perceiving the presence of Mary.” I am profoundly...

Saint Agnes, Virgin and Martyr

1 Corinthians 1:26-31 Psalm 22: 1b-3a, 4, 5, 6 Matthew 13:44-46 A Winter Constellation The wintertime liturgy sparkles with a constellation of virgin martyrs and...

Our Lady of Sion

“I cannot explain it. All I know is, that I entered the church knowing nothing, and I left it seeing clearly.” (Marie–Alphonse Ratisbonne) Today, January...

Mais, priez, mes enfants!

January 17th is the feast of Our Lady of Pontmain, also called Our Mother of Hope. During my retreat last October at the Benedictine Monastery...

The Votive Mass of Saint Joseph

On this first Wednesday after the Octave of the Epiphany, I will celebrate a Votive Mass of Saint Joseph. (Votive Masses are celebrations in honour...

Hastening to the Cross

Wednesday of the 1st Week of the Year II 1 Samuel 3: 1-10, 19-20 Psalm 39: 2 and 5, 7-8a, 8b-9, 10 (R. 8a and...

Banneux: Seventy-Five Years

The Other Marian Jubilee in 2008 2008 is the Jubilee Year of Lourdes: 150 years since the apparitions to Saint Bernadette. 2008 also marks the...

The Communion of the Saints

For bedtime reading over the weekend in New Hampshire, I chose Maurice and Thérèse, The Story of a Love, by Bishop Patrick Ahern. The following...