Category Archives: Liturgical Feast Days & Saints Reflections

John: 20:19-23 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. TheContinue reading “Pentecost: Veni Sancte Spiritus”

Ancient legend and folklore states that Joseph may have died on March 19th. Various traditions and devotions recalling the life of St. Joseph go back to as early as the 4th century. It wasn’t until 1480 in which Pope Sixtus IV elevated March 19 to an official liturgical feast in the church (https://www.vaticannews.va/en/liturgical-holidays/solemnity-of-saint-joseph–the-spouse-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary.html). As aContinue reading “St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary – March 19 Reflection”

For many Catholics in my generation that grew up with our beloved pope, John Paul II is a beloved servant of God and saint that many will not forget as we reflect upon the many achievements from this great holy man of God. Pope John Paul II was the most traveled pope, having paved theContinue reading “St. John Paul II, Pray For Us”

Today the church commemorates the memorial of St. Luke, the gospel writer and author of the Gospel and book of Acts. He was most likely trained as a physician and healer and was a Greek gentile being associated with St. Paul & Barnabas per the Acts of the Apostles account. St. Luke is the patronContinue reading “Memorial of St. Luke the Evangelist”

Mt. 9:9-13 As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples. The Pharisees saw thisContinue reading “St. Matthew, Apostle, & Gospel Writer”

In his encyclical Ad Caeli Reginam, Pope Pius XII proclaimed the memorial of the Queenship of Mary following the 8th day after the feast of the Assumption (https://www.vatican.va/content/pius-xii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_11101954_ad-caeli-reginam.html). Hail, holy Queen Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. ToContinue reading “Memorial of the Queenship of Mary, mother of God…Maria, Regina pacis, ora pro nobis!”

Our hope in Jesus Christ our Lord has come to fulfillment for He has conquered death & vanquished our sin & rose from the grave. While we may at times lose hope, and fall into sin, we have the promise that we too may have life eternal if we turn to our Lord. As PopeContinue reading “Jesus Christ is Risen Today, Alleluia!”

“He was pierced for our sins, crushed for our iniquity. He bore the punishment that makes us whole, by his wounds we were healed” (Is. 53:5). We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Today marks the beginning of the Triduum (the 3 liturgical days of our church year) and God’s eschatological plan of salvation for us. His unconditional agape love for us from the washing of the feet of His disciples to the institution of the Eucharist marks that great moment where He gives us Himself in theContinue reading “Maundy Thursday”

Are we like Judas in our life by valuing money, or our selfish inclinations above our love for God & our neighbor? Today during Holy Week is Spy Wednesday for it recalls the scripture account in which Judas secretly betrayed Jesus by collecting 30 pieces of silver from the Jewish high priests.

As we process with our Lord Jesus upon His entry to Jerusalem, how do we view our spiritual journey during this Passion week? Perhaps, we are like the colt that is “tethered upon which no one has sat” per the gospel of Luke. Such an animal doesn’t know what is going on & knows onlyContinue reading “Our Procession into Holy Week”

Ancient legend and folklore states that Joseph may have died on March 19th. Various traditions and devotions recalling the life of St. Joseph go back to as early as the 4th century. It wasn’t until 1480 in which Pope Sixtus IV elevated March 19 to an official liturgical feast in the church (https://www.vaticannews.va/en/liturgical-holidays/solemnity-of-saint-joseph–the-spouse-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary.html). My sisterContinue reading “St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary – March 19 Reflection”

Miracles occur each & every day. Four years ago, my wife & I closed on a house that was a closer commute to our church we were married in. Our house faces east in the same direction of the location of the church in which the congregation faces toward Jerusalem & the holy sacrifice ofContinue reading “Third Sunday of Advent & Our Lady of Guadalupe Reflection”

What is a grandparent and what role do they play in the faith of their children and grandchildren? Not all are blessed to have known their grandparents, however yesterday was the church’s newly minted World Day of prayer for Grandparents and the elderly (https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2021-07/world-day-for-grandparents-and-the-elderly-is-the-ultimate-gift.html). Such a day of prayer and remembrance also coincides with theContinue reading “St. Joachim & Anne, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary”

Today the Roman Church remembers the life of St. Mary Magdalene, formerly a person whose title was associated with the “penitent.” It is reported that St. Thomas Aquinas gave Mary the title of “Apostle of the Apostles” (https://www.vaticannews.va/en/saints/07/22/st–mary-magdalene–disciple-of-the-lord-.html). On July 22 of 2016, Pope Francis elevated the day to a Feast to “stress the importanceContinue reading “St. Mary Magdalen: A Reflection”

The popular praise and worship Gospel Song, Lord I Lift Your Name on High by songwriter Rick Founds encompasses the totality of God’s plan for salvation history in a great song that one can teach their young children, especially as we explore the mystery of Jesus’s Ascension into Heaven. Our end goal is of courseContinue reading “7th Sunday of Easter or Feast Day of Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ Reflection”

The reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah chapter 7 verses 10-12 has an interesting conversation between the King of Judah Ahaz and the Lord in which Ahaz decides to not follow through on his hearing of the Lord’s voice to ask for a sign for his people in which he remarks “I willContinue reading “The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary”

fyi – my almost 7 year old daughter Abigail (Hebrew – my father’s joy) was holding the Ipad for this video blog (hence the reason I am leaving as is). Happy Feast of St. Joseph, spouse of the Virgin Mary. Grant, we pray, almight God, that by Saint Joseph’s intercession, your Church (and domestic church)Continue reading “St. Joseph, pray for us.”