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Divine Office | The two lives

In today's Office of Readings we encounter a reading from a homily by St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430 A.D.). He wrote an enormous amount and left a permanent mark on both philosophy and theology. His Confessions, as dazzling in style as they are deep in content, are a landmark of world literature. The Second Readings in the Office of Readings contain extracts from many of his sermons and commentaries and also from the Confessions. For a reflection, "The two lives," please click on the image. Peace be with you!

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Saints Alive! | St. Dymphna

According to tradition, St. Dymphna lived in the 7th century. After losing his wife and becoming mentally ill, Dymphna was murdered by her father in a mad rage. Her story was first recorded in the 13th century by a canon of the Church of St. Aubert at Cambrai, France. It was commissioned by Guiard of Laon (1238–1248), the Bishop of Cambrai. The author expressly stated that his work was based upon a long-standing oral tradition as well as a persuasive history of miraculous healings of the mentally ill. She is the patroness of mental illness, anxiety, and depression. She is a saint for our day and age. Saint Dymphna, pray for us, pray for our children and all those who suffer anxiety and mental illness. For more about this saint please click on the image. Peace be with you!

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Articles of Faith | The Rosary: Joyful Mysteries

The Rosary is one of the most beautiful prayers in the Catholic tradition. It's also one of the most commonly misunderstood, which is often the case for many of our Protestant brothers and sisters. Yet, it doesn't have to be. Put simply, the Rosary is a prayerful meditation on the life of Jesus Christ through the eyes of his mother. I invite you, whether you are Catholic, Protestant, or other, to watch this beautiful video by our friends at Word on Fire.  Today we pray the Joyful Mysteries.  We meditate on five key events in the life of Jesus Christ through the eyes of his mother, the Virgin Mary. For more, please click on the image. Peace be with you!

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Saints Alive! | St. Matthias the Apostle

St. Matthias the Apostle (1st c.) followed Jesus during his entire earthly ministry and was one of his 72 disciples. Matthias was chosen by the 11 Apostles to replace Judas Iscariot after his betrayal of Christ and subsequent suicide. After Christ's Ascension into heaven, St. Matthias devoted himself to preaching Christianity among the pagans over Judea, Cappadocia, and Ethiopia for over 30 years. St. Matthias also preached the need for mortification of the flesh as an aid to growth in holiness. Eventually, he was martyred.

For more about this saint please click on the image.

Peace be with you!

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Divine Office | No one has ever ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven

In today's Office of Readings we encounter a reading from a sermon by St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430 A.D.).

He wrote an enormous amount and left a permanent mark on both philosophy and theology. His Confessions, as dazzling in style as they are deep in content, are a landmark of world literature. The Second Readings in the Office of Readings contain extracts from many of his sermons and commentaries and also from the Confessions.

For a reflection, "No one has ever ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven," please click on the image.

Peace be with you!

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Saints Alive! | St. Julian of Norwich

She was a spiritual mother to many, and an important medieval mystic whose response to the problem of evil is cited in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. After recovering from an illness St. Julian wrote her down visions she experienced in a book called "Revelations of Divine Love," the earliest surviving book in the English language known to have been written by a woman.

For more about this saint please click on the image.

Peace be with you!

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Saints Alive! | St. Pancras of Rome

We have no reliable historical information about this martyr.  Legend tells us he was born at the end of the third century and brought up by an uncle in Rome after the death of his parents.  Both he and his uncle became Christians.  He died a martyr, beheaded, for his Christian faith at the young age of fourteen.

For more about this saint please click on the image.

Peace be with you!

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Articles of Faith | On Being Catholic & the Bride of Christ

It's been a challenge for faithful Catholics in these last decades, maybe longer.  The sexual abuse that has occurred is such an abhorrent episode in the Church's history that has brought such pain to the victims and their families, and has deeply wounded the Catholic faithful.

Yet, as Catholics, we don't turn our back to Jesus because of Judas.

Brothers and Sisters, be not afraid!

A purely human institution would have fallen because, in our sinful humanity, no human institution could survive for these 2,000 years.

All power in heaven and earth has been given to Him, and Jesus will be with his Church, always, through the end of the age (Mt 28:19-20) - thanks be to God!

For more about what it means to be Catholic in this time in history, and for wit and wisdom from Fr. Donald H. Calloway, MIC, on the Bride of Christ, please click on the image.

May you have a blessed Holy Week.

Peace be with you!

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Catholics Come Home | Fallen Away Catholics

The story of the Prodigal Son, as we encounter in the Gospel of Luke (15:11-32), is one of the most poignant in all of literature. Sadly, there are many Catholics today who have fallen away from their baptismal faith. Each has a story of his own. Yet, by the sacramental power of one's baptism there remains a call unanswered - the yearning of a Father desiring the return of his child to the home of his baptismal birth. For more about this post, and for a 2 min video expressing the tender mercy that awaits at home in love's embrace, click on the image. Our father in heaven wants us home. He wants you home. If you’ve been away from the Church for one day, or for a lifetime, come home. Your family misses you.

For more, please click on the image.

Peace be with you!