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...
Saint Joseph, Advocate and Defender
A Priest’s Prayer to Saint Joseph Saint Joseph, I take you this day as my advocate and defender, my counselor and my friend. Open your...
Ite ad Joseph
Some years ago I received the inspiration for these prayers to Saint Joseph. It was at a time of darkness and discouragement for many priests....
The Last Day of 2006
It is customary in many places to devote the last day of the year to adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament. Tomorrow, at the Monastery...
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...
He Who Has an Ear, Let Him Hear
New York Again Yesterday I returned to the Italian Consulate in New York City to pick up my visa. The magnificent Church of Saint Jean–Baptiste...
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....
O Bambino mio Divino
Tu scendi dalle stelle O Re del Cielo E vieni in una grotta Al freddo al gelo O Bambino mio Divino Io ti vedo qui...
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...
27 December, Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist
ENTRANCE ANTIPHON This is John who reclined on the breast of the Lord at supper: Blessed the Apostle unto whom were made known the secret...
Drink to the Love of Saint John!
BLESSING OF WINE ON THE FEAST OF SAINT JOHN, APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST On the Feast of Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist, at the end of...
Quod vidimus et audivimus, annuntiamus vobis
This Saint John the Evangelist was painted by Francesco Furini sometime in the 1630s. Today it hangs in the Musée des Beaux–Arts of Lyon. December...
Merry Christmas to All, and to All a Good Night!
Before I go to bed, I want to say, Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night! After Mass at the Glorious Cross,...
In principio erat Verbum
This is an extraordinary painting of the Nativity, principally because of the crucifix on the rustic shelf inside the stable. It is the work of...
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...
24 December, Fourth Sunday of Advent C
ENTRANCE ANTIPHON MR Drop down dew, you heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain down the Just One: let the earth be opened and...
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...