Turning to Saint Dymphna
Several times a week I receive requests to pray for persons suffering from depression, anxiety, or various forms of mental illness. Again this evening I...
Emerging from the shadows
José de Ribera (1591-1652) here depicts Saint Irene of Rome (+288 A.D.) ministering to Saint Sebastian (+288 A.D.) Left for Dead There are mortal sufferings...
Praying with Christ and His Church
Father, Would You Pray for Me? Every day, without exception, people ask me to pray for them, sometimes with a quiet word, sometimes by ringing...
And in the mouth a honey zest
Of all the English translations of Jesu, Dulcis Memoria that I have read and prayed, the one done by Gerard Manley Hopkins remains my favourite....
Radiant Beams from Thy Holy Face
This painting by Bernardino Luini (1480–1532) shows Saint Katherine of Alexandria and Saint Barbara, Virgin Martyrs, in the company of the Infant Christ and His...
Josefa Menendez: Confidence and Hope
December 29, 1923 Josefa Menéndez died at 33 years of age on December 29th, 1923 at the Convent of Les Feuillants, Poitiers, France. At that...
The Mystery of Suffering Innocence
The Child in Egypt The name Egypt occurs three times in today’s Gospel. “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt” (Mt...
The grace of God our Saviour hath appeared
The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ Mass During the Night The Nocturnal Journey It is true. “The people who walked in darkness have seen...
He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness
Fourth Sunday of Advent A Priest Under Scrutiny Saint Paul presents himself in today’s Epistle as any priest would — or should — he is...
Blessed Ildefonso Schuster
We often read from Blessed Ildefonso Cardinal Schuster’s magnificent work, The Sacramentary. Here is an excerpt from his presentation of the Advent Ember Days. Prayer...
18 December, O ADONAI
Moses Before the Burning Bush This is the central panel of a triptych painted by Nicolas Froment in 1476. It depicts Moses awestruck before the...
The unsearchable mysteries of God
At Matins this morning: The Lesson from the Holy Gospel according to Luke. At that time: God sent the angel Gabriel to a city of...
17 December, O SAPIENTIA
The Saints John How delightful to see in this painting both little Johns, the Baptist and the Theologian, together with the Incarnate Word, Holy Wisdom....
The Fellowship of the Angels
Yesterday at Matins: II NOCTURN From a Sermon by St Aelred, Abbot Let us take a look at ourselves and our city. Our way of...
John: Elias in Spirit
Yesterday at Matins: III NOCTURN The Lesson from the Holy Gospel according to John This was the testimony which John bore, when the Jews sent...
Let us attack the Lord on the way
This morning at Matins: From a Sermon by St Maximus of Turin, Bishop If women who have the care of a home will on certain...
Act of Reparation in Advent
Laudetur sacrosanctum et augustissimum Sacramentum in aeternum. My God and my Saviour, Jesus, true God and true Man, worthy Victim of the Most High, Living...
S. Ioannis Didaci Cuahtlatoatzin
Yes, that would be the much loved Saint Juan Diego of Guadalupe as he is designated in the new Solesmes Antiphonale Monasticum for December 9th....
Let Not Your Heart Be Disturbed
Let nothing frighten or grieve you, let not your heart be disturbed, do not fear any sickness or anguish. Am I not here, who am...
Pope on Patriarch
Hail, O rich and shady Mountain of God, whereon pastured the True Lamb, Who hath taken away our sins and infirmities, Hab. iii. 3; Isa....