The Knotty Entanglements of Sin
The two Collects given us by the liturgy this week — the first in the Extraordinary Form, and the second in the Ordinary Form —...
The Rosary: School of Contemplation and Silence
One of Barbara Pym’s characters — I don’t remember which one — sometimes exclaims, “Too much richness!” Exactly my sentiments concerning this past weekend! There...
Blessed Louis and Zélie Martin, pray for us!
Bienheureux Monsieur et Madame This morning, a married couple, the parents of a daughter who is a saint and a Doctor of the Church, were...
The Word Has A Face
Pope Benedict XVI preaches like a monk! By this I mean that his preaching, like that of Saint Gregory the Great and others of the...
Intent on what lies before me
I really do love praying Matins in the pre-dawn darkness while, in their own way, the crickets, and cicadas, and birds sing their Nocturns outside....
Compassionate Saint Callistus I, Pope
One of the things I most love about the prayers of the Roman Rite is their compassionate realism. Today’s succinct Collect (in the traditional liturgical...
O Hostie rayonnante!
On the feast of Corpus Christi, la Fête-Dieu, 1931, Mother Marie des Douleurs (1902-1983) wrote a meditation in the form of a dialogue with Jesus,...
Mary, the Virgin Who Leadeth the Lamb
Listening to Saint Bernard at Matins in the pre-dawn darkness, I was moved by his meditation on the obedience of the Son to the Virgin...
A Fruitful Love
Saint Daniel Comboni Today is the liturgical memorial of Saint Daniel Comboni, founder of two missionary institutes, tireless worker for the abolition of slavery, and...
Benedict XVI on Pius XII
I was in first grade when Pope Pius XII died. The news reached our parish school in the early afternoon. We were instructed to lower...
Saint Paul Advises Catholic Bloggers
Finally, bloggers, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence,...
La fornace d’Amore
Dom Eugène Vandeur, O.S.B. gives this prose in his meditations entitled, Les voies à la fournaise d’amour, and attributes it to the seraphic Saint Francis....
Ut gaudium meum in vobis sit
At Today’s Second Nocturn This is what I read at the Second Nocturn of Matins this morning. It is a good example of what gives...
Mass of Saint Vincent de Paul, Priest
I am especially mindful today of all who devote themselves to the service of the poor in the Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Tulsa,...
The Persecution Continues
AsiaNews is, without a doubt, the best source of information about the cruel sufferings of Christians being persecuted for their faith in the state of...
Our Lady of Mercy
Marian Orders and Institutes Our Blessed Lady is at the origin of any number of Orders, religious institutes, and monasteries. Very often she appeared, entrusting...
Holy Father to Priests, Seminarians, Deacons
The Holy Father’s homily at Vespers in the Cathedral of Notre Dame of Paris (12 September 2008) hasn’t received the attention it deserves. Here is...
Opportet autem Illum regnare
My new life here in Tulsa began one month ago on the feast of Our Lady of Knock, Thursday, August 21st. My days are full...
Collects: Memorial of Saint Gaetano Catanoso
Almighty and ever-living God, who gave to Saint Gaetano, your priest, the knowledge of your glory shining in the Face of Christ, mercifully grant that...
Evviva San Gennaro!
The miracle of Saint Januarius recurred at 9:45 this morning in the cathedral of Naples, filled with expectant devotees of the bishop of Benevento beheaded...