Imago Dei Invisibilis
Twenty-Second Friday of the Year I Colossians 1:15-20 Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For in Him...
Iesu, Iesu, Iesu, Esto Mihi Iesus
Luke 5:1–11 The Fisherman’s Boat Today’s Gospel opens with the people “pressing upon” Jesus to hear the Word of God. Eagerness to hear the Word...
Gratia agentes Deo Patri
Thursday of the Twenty-Second Week of the Year I Colossians 1:9-14 Psalm 97:2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6 (R. 2a) Luke 5:1-11 Toward Mariazell On this eve of...
Mercy Above Every Misery
Twenty-Second Wednesday of the Year I Luke 4:38–44 Jesus in the House of Simon Jesus has just left the synagogue of Capernaum. He was teaching...
What God Expects of You in Christ Jesus
At the Monastery of the Glorious Cross, O.S.B., September 4, 5, and 6 will be marked by a triduum of Votive Masses in honour of...
The Wisest Investment of All
The Holy Father is on pilgrimage today to Loreto. My heart is on pilgrimage with him. Twenty-First Saturday of the Year I Matthew 25:14-30 The...
Father Weller’s Roman Ritual in Three Volumes
When I was a lad in New Haven, Connecticut, I had the privilege of knowing Father Philip T. Weller. He spent a year or two...
Twentieth Century Martyrs
One of the books on my summer reading list was The Catholic Martyrs of the Twentieth Century, A Comprehensive World History, by Robert Royal. George...
Weary With Holding In
I offered the Sunday Vigil Mass in a suburban parish last Saturday in order to help out a friend and brother priest. Father is very...
Saint Monica, Mother of Saint Augustine
Sirach 26:1-4, 13-16 Psalm 130: 1bcde, 2, 3 Luke 7: 11-17 Walking in the Light of His Face Today we see Jesus on his way...
Et Deus tuus Deus meus
Saturday of the Twentieth Week of the Year I Ruth 2:1-3, 8-11; 4:13-17 Psalm 127: 1-5 Matthew 23:1-12 A Virtuous Woman The book of Ruth...
Saint Rose of Lima
Roses Saint Rose of Lima is nearly always depicted in conversation with the Infant Christ. Sometimes she appears to be playing with him. The picture...
Ecce venio, Domine
Giovanni Antonio Pellegrini’s painting from the early 1700s shows anguish and distress on the face of Jephte, the victorious warrior come home from battle. His...
The Ignatius Press RSV Lectionary
The critique of the NAB Lectionary by Father Neuhaus reminded me that for some time I have wanted to recommend the two volume RSV Lectionary...
The Church Forever Young
Here are the novices (wearing the white scapular) of the Cistercian Abbey of Heiligenkreuz in Austria. Pope Benedict XVI will be visiting the abbey next...
In conspectu Domini
Friday of the Nineteenth Week of the Year I Joshua 24:1-13 Psalm 135:1-3, 16-18, 21-22 and 24 Matthew 19:3-12 In Ranks Before God In today’s...
Kings in the Calendar
Collect Grant unto your Church, we beseech you, Almighty God; that as she had a zealous champion in blessed Stephen while he reigned upon earth,...
The Things That Are Above
A Commentary on the Mass of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary There is no better way to enter into the mystery of any...
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Luke 1:39-56 1 Corinthians 15:20-26 Psalm 44:10-12.16 Apocalypse 11:19; 12:1-6.10 The Pascha of Summer Today’s festival, the Pascha of summer, signals the beginning of the...
One Good Priest
Today is the dies natalis of Father Michael J. McGivney, founder of the Knights of Columbus. Father McGivney died 117 years ago today, at 38...