Saint John Neumann and the Quarant’Ore
An Adorer of the Blessed Sacrament Saint John Nepomucene Neumann (1811–1860), Bishop of Philadelphia from 1852–1860, was graced with an intense devotion to Our Lord...
Sed quid invenientibus?
Among the Cistercians A tender and burning love for the Holy Name of Jesus found expression in the lyrical preaching of Saint Bernard and the...
Pope Benedict XVI on Saint Basil the Great
For this feast of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen: Part I of the Holy Father’s teaching on Saint Basil, given on 4 July...
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...
Nunc dimittis servum tuum, Domine
The Fifth Day in the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord 1 John 2:3-11 Luke 2:22-35 The Child Jesus, Priest and Victim The very...
Urbi et Orbi
Christmas Message ‘Urbi et Orbi’ of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI “A holy day has dawned upon us. Come you nations and adore the Lord....
In principio erat Verbum
Last night, in his Christmas homily, Pope Benedict XVI said, “In the stable of Bethlehem, the very town where it had all begun, the Davidic...
The Last Collect of Advent
December 24 Collect at the Hours and at the Mass in the Morning Come quickly, we beseech you, Lord Jesus, and do not delay, so...
Et vocabit nomen eius Iesum
Fourth Sunday of Advent A Isaiah 7:10-14 Psalm 23:1-6. R. cf. vv. 7. 10 Romans 1:1-7 Matthew 1:18-24 Mary and Joseph Today’s Gospel presents the...
Fra Leone and Nuestra Señora de la Expectación
Monsignor Patrick Brankin was kind enough to remind me that the Basilica of Nuestra Señora de Zapopan in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico is dedicated to the...
Heart of Jesus, Formed by the Holy Spirit in the Womb of the Virgin Mary
I pray thee, O Most Holy Virgin Mary, that I might hear the Heartbeat of redeeming Love, and that with Thee I might adore the...
Feast of the Expectation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Yes, today, December 18th, is one of the liturgy’s loveliest old Advent festivals of the Blessed Virgin Mary, that of the Expectatio Partus. It was...
Bravissimo, Maestro Bocelli!
I just had to translate this interview with Andrea Bocelli for the readers of Vultus Christi: Maestro, we are in Advent, a Marian time par...
The Santo Bambino of the Aracoeli
One of my favourite little pilgrimages in the Eternal City is to the Santo Bambino Gesù in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Aracoeli. Aracoeli...
The Great O Antiphons
How delightful to see in this painting both little Johns, the Baptist and the Theologian, together with the Incarnate Word, Holy Wisdom. Note that the...
Venerable Mother Maria Pierina De Micheli
“I desire that my Face, which reflects the intimate afflictions of my Soul, the sorrow and the love of my Heart, should be honoured more....
A Mother Ever-Virgin
O SAPIENTIA Genesis 49:2, 8-10 Psalm 71: 1-2, 3-4ab, 7-8, 17 Matthew 1:1-17 The Wondrous Exchange O God, Creator and Redeemer of human nature, who...
Rosy Reminder
Did you get pink (or rose) flowers for Gaudete Sunday? Rose–coloured roses may be your first choice, but I like carnations — one single huge...
Qui sequitur te, Domine, habebit lumen vitae
December 14 Memorial of Saint John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church Isaiah 48:17-19 Psalm 1 (R. Jn 8:12) Matthew 11: 16-19...
Mary Rose Up in Haste in Those Days
Our Lady in Advent The presence of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the liturgy of Advent is like the fragrance of roses in December. Our...