Category Archives: Liturgical Feast Days & Saints Reflections

From an excerpt from Introduction to The Devout Life by Saint Francis de Sales When God the Creator made all things, he commanded the plants to bring forth fruit each according to its own kind; he has likewise commanded Christians, who are the living plants of his Church, to bring forth the fruits of devotion,Continue reading “Saint Francis de Sales, pray for us”

From a letter from Saint Ambrose found in the Roman Breviary Office of Readings: You have entered upon the office of bishop. Sitting at the helm of the Church, you pilot the ship against the waves. Take firm hold of the rudder of faith so that the severe storms of this world cannot disturb you.Continue reading “St. Ambrose, Pray for Us”

The church recalls in the liturgy today the life of Clare of Assisi. Clare lived during the same time as St. Francis of Assisi. Together with St. Francis, she was inspired to found the Poor Clares, a contemplative order of nuns who take solemn vows to live according to the charism of the Franciscan wayContinue reading “Saint Clare of Assisi, Virgin”

From a homily on Matthew by Saint John Chrysostom, bishop (Hom. 65, 2-4: PG 58, 619-622), Roman Breviary The sons of Zebedee press Christ: Promise that one may sit at your right side and the other at your left. What does he do? He wants to show them that it is not a spiritual giftContinue reading “Memorial of St. James the Greater, Apostle”

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”

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”

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.”