Pope Saint Gregory to the Pastors of Souls
The Great Judgment Let us call to mind that dreadful day when the Judge shall come, and shall call to account His servants, to whom...
Benedict XVI on Pope Saint Gregory the Great
On Wednesday, May 28, 2008 Pope Benedict XVI dedicated his weekly audience to Pope Saint Gregory the Great. In honour of the saint’s feast, here...
Let not one be wanting at the last
The Forty Martyrs of Sebaste Well into the 40 days of the Lenten Fast we are given the feast of the 40 Soldier Martyrs of...
Judge not, condemn not, and forgive
Sin’s Slimy Trail This morning’s lesson from Saint Augustine invited us to look at sins committed against the brethren. The Doctor of Grace would have...
God seeketh thyself more than thy gift
Saint Augustine at Matins Today Let no man deem it a light thing when he trespasseth against his brother. For the Apostle Paul saith in...
Ut sanentur
XXX. De pueris minori aetate, qualiter corripiantur Omnis aetas vel intellectus proprias debet habere mensuras. Ideoque, quotiens pueri vel adulescentiores aetate, aut qui minus intellegere...
Saint Thomas Aquinas
Fond of Asking Questions Saint Thomas Aquinas was very fond of asking questions. And he laboured mightily at finding answers. The questions of Saint Thomas...
A Master of Prayer
Learning How to Pray from Blessed Marmion Blessed Abbot Marmion’s prayers are, at once, biblical, profoundly theological, deeply personal, and altogether shaped by the language...
An Intercessor for Priests
Blessed Marie de Jésus Deluil–Martiny Yesterday, 27 February, was the dies natalis and liturgical memorial of Blessed Marie de Jésus Deluil Martiny. Born to upper...
Dominus Illuminatio Mea
A Mass of the Transfiguration It is a curious fact of liturgical history that originally the Second Sunday of Lent had no Mass of its...
Dom Guéranger: A Prophet
In his commentary on the lessons for the Ember Saturday in Lent, Dom Guéranger (1805-1875) writes: Does one want to understand the solidity of a...
Saint Gabriel of the Addolorata
Saint Gabriel of the Addolorata died on February 27, 1862 at twenty-four years of age. Pope Benedict XV canonized him on May 13, 1920. The...
What has God got to do with fasting?
Just it is indeed and fitting, right and for our lasting good, that we should always and everywhere give thanks to thee, Lord, holy Father,...
In the Wilderness
Draw Me After Thee The First Sunday of Lent sets before us the mystery of Our Lord’s forty-day fast in the wilderness. But we are...
Cum gaudio Sancti Spiritus
Saint Benedict the Practical When it comes to the observance of Lent, Saint Benedict is very practical, very concrete. He doesn’t spend a lot of...
Audivit Dominus et misertus est mihi
Saturday After Ash Wednesday At the Introit: The Lord hath heard, and hath had mercy on me: the Lord became my Helper. V. I will...
With a Book and a Heavenly Companion
In the grey light of early morning on Ash Wednesday, between Lauds and Prime, we assembled in the Chapter Room to listen, once again, to...
The Desert of the Most Holy Sacrament
This painting of Christ in the wilderness is the work of Alessandro Bonvicino (1498–1554), know as the Moretto da Brescia. It is found in the...
The saints determine the dates that count
Every Lent I choose — or rather ask Our Lord to choose for me — a saint or saints to be my Lenten companions. From...
Look to Him and Be Radiant
I am fascinated by this 18th century tabernacle depicting the Holy Face of Christ. Looking closely, one sees that the tabernacle door frames Veronica’s Veil....