Only God Can Thank God for God Worthily
Thanksgiving originates in the heart of the Son who, from all eternity is begotten of the Father and who, receiving Himself from the Father, in...
Since You Asked
A Reader’s Question Some time ago a reader of Vultus Christi asked, “How does one kindle (in oneself) a devotion to Mary?” I would answer...
Towards Advent
Late November Saints The saints of these last days of the liturgical year incite us to look beyond the conditions of this present life and...
The Heartless and Pitiless Celibate
The title of this entry comes not from me, but from Saint John Chrysostom’s homily at Matins. He is preaching on the parable of the...
Into the House of the Lord
Our Lady in the Temple The solemn dedication of the Church of the Mother of God near the Temple in Jerusalem took place on November...
Ballasts in Peter’s storm–tossed bark
Maria Fortunata Viti: A Nearly–Forgotten Benedictine Blessed Today is the feast of a now nearly–forgotten Benedictine Blessed: Maria Fortunata Viti. Back in October 1967, at...
Do what you can, and ask for what you cannot
A Pastoral Query Answered There was in the October 22, 2014 Responsum of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to a French priest’s...
And the city is placed in a square
Saturday at Matins: From the Commentary on the Apocalypse by St Victorinus, Bishop & Martyr “And the city,” says Saint John, “is placed in a...
More about the Venerable John Sullivan, S.J. (1861–1933)
The Healing Priest Father John Sullivan, S.J. died in 1933. For countless Irish families his name was synonymous with a prodigious gift of healing and...
And his dwelling-place will be peace
This is the magnificent Christ of the Duomo of Cefalù in Sicily. It was artist Adé de Béthune who introduced me to the Christ of...
The stature of the fullness of the Body of Christ
At Matins on Thursday: From the Commentary on the Gospel of John by Origen, Priest Both of these two things, the temple and the body...
Venerable Father John Sullivan, S.J.
Ordained together with Father Willie Doyle, S.J. The Venerable John Sullivan, S.J. went from being a successful Protestant barrister — and the best–dressed man in...
More About Lectio Divina
I realized, after I spoke to the fine priests of the Archdiocese of Armagh on Monday evening last, that there was much more that I...
The angels, our fellow citizens
Wednesday at Matins: From the Commentary on Psalm 125 by St Augustine, Bishop & Doctor The Jerusalem above is eternal; the one upon earth is...
Convertisti planctum meum in gaudium mihi
I was privileged last evening to give a conference on lectio divina to a group of priests of the Archdiocese of Armagh. Here is the...
A light kindled by the eternal light
Tuesday at Matins: From a Letter by St Augustine, Bishop & Doctor I exhort you not to be too much troubled by those offenses which...
Haec est domus Domini
The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica Cross the threshold of the Lateran Basilica, enter the nave, stand in the midst of it and, with eyes...
Unto God the things that are God’s
XXII SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST The Lesson from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew At that time: The Pharisees withdrew, and plotted together, to make him...
Jerusalem and Babylon
From the Exposition of Psalm 63 by St Augustine, Bishop & Doctor The Israelites were taken captive and transported from the city of Jerusalem to...
He opened their minds
We had on Monday last this magnificent text from Pope Saint Gregory: From the Exposition of the Prophet Ezekiel by St Gregory the Great, Pope...