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St. Catherine of Siena was born in Siena, Italy in the 1347. From an early age Catherine’s love of God was apparent. She once cut her hair short and fasted in order to avoid marriage as she was in love with Jesus the Christ. Instead of joining the convent, she joined the Third Order ofContinue reading “St. Catherine of Siena”

Mercy is one of those words that holds a certain esteem for the definitions according to Merriam Webster resembles a sacred complexity. One of the definitions is that mercy is “a blessing that is an act of divine favor or compassion.” Let us reflect on the definition and sacred aspect of Mercy as Christians thisContinue reading “Divine Mercy Sunday”

As we continue this Eastertide until Pentecost we are reminded that the celebration continues. We have the joy of His resurrection alive in our hearts. We are reminded from the Gospel of Matthew that the disciples ran to tell others the good news: Then they went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, andContinue reading “Let the Easter Celebration Continue: Run & Tell The Good News that Christ Jesus is Alive”

The Greek Orthodox greet one another during the Easter season with the phrase Christos Anesti! (Christ is risen). The response is Alithos Anesti (truly He is risen). During this Easter season we recall the defeat of sin and death and the glorious resurrection of Christ Jesus our Lord. Just as the penitent thief on theContinue reading “Christos Anesti, Alithos Anesti!”

This week begins Holy Week. With the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem and the crowd waving palm branches proclaiming Hosanna in the Highest! How quickly does this narrative change with the words of Jesus, Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani from Psalm 22:1 meaning my God, my God why have you forsaken me? David’s prophecy from psalmContinue reading “Holy Week, A Reflection”

Today marks what used to be known as Passion Sunday in the pre 1969 church calendar reminding of Jesus’s upcoming suffering & his hiding from those that wished to stone him. The gospel account recalling the death and raising of Lazarus from John 11:1-45 reminds us of the need to put to death those earthlyContinue reading “The Raising of Lazarus: 5th Sunday of Lent & Passiontide Reflection”

Like many Catholic Christians, most have a crucifix hanging in their homes to remind them of that great sacrifice that Jesus the Christ, God’s only begotten son, made for us on Calvary. My mom always used to teach us to “offer it up” in dealing with our struggles and sacrifices. Life is far from perfectContinue reading “Offer It Up”

In the Gospel of Matthew we read where Jesus enters the desert to be tempted by the devil after 40 days and nights of fasting. Jesus’s first temptation is to turn the stones into loaves of bread. Jesus rebukes Satan by saying, “one does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comesContinue reading “The Temptation of Christ: 1st Sunday of Lent”

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As we prepare for another Lenten journey, we may be pondering about what it is we will give up in order to walk alongside our Lord during these next 40 days. While we may fast and abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and on Fridays with one meal and two light meals, the church doesn’tContinue reading “What Will You Gain This Lenten Season?”

Matthew’s gospel of Jesus asking us to love our enemies is a difficult task for many. To love our enemies and pray for those that persecute us (Mt. 5:44) is something we don’t typically consider when we have been hurt or been served an injustice. It’s a lot easier to resort to the old lawContinue reading “Love thy Enemy”

St. Thomas Aquinas’s contribution to philosophy and theology in the 13th century church laid the foundation for medieval Scholasticism to flourish. The writings of old ideas from those philosophers such as Aristotle were not necessarily incompatible with the universal truth of our holy and one God who is the author of all truth. Labeled theContinue reading “St. Thomas Aquinas”

John Chrysostom: On the Birthday of our Savior Jesus Christ, a Sermon [Translated by Bryson Sewell]             I see a strange and novel mystery: shepherds sound all around my ears, not piping a barren tune, but singing a heavenly hymn. Angels are singing, archangels are dancing, the cherubim are hymning, the seraphim are glorifying, allContinue reading “The Nativity of Christ”

This Guadete or Joyful 3rd Sunday of Advent we are left pondering the etymology of the word Joy! Merriam-Webster defines joy with both a noun and verb. N. the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires. V. to experience great pleasure or delight. (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/joy). OneContinue reading “Gaudete Sunday”

As many Christians prepare to think about shopping for Christmas gifts, decorating with lights and the secular push to conform with society, it’s good to ponder the seasons of life. Let us await with gentle patience the coming of Jesus, the Christ child. Making room within the inn of our hearts during the penitential timeContinue reading “Advent – Making Room Within The Inn of Our Hearts for the Christ child Jesus”

It’s that time of year again where many in the United States will prepare to gather around table with family & loved ones commemorating different traditions of displaying a day of thanksgiving. Those in Canada and elsewhere already celebrated. Such a day recalls the thankfulness from those early pilgrim people settlers for being blessed withContinue reading “An Attitude of Gratitude In The Christian Life”

From a sermon by Saint Augustine By faith she believed; by faith, conceived Stretching out his hand over his disciples, the Lord Christ declared: Here are my mother and my brothers; anyone who does the will of my Father who sent me is my brother and sister and my mother. I would urge you toContinue reading “The Presentation of The Theotokos, the Blessed Virgin Mary to the Temple”

As the church prepares to celebrate the current liturgical commemoration of Hallowtide, we are reminded of our own eschatological end goal. Those saintly men and women that have gone before us are “witnesses who have preceded us into the kingdom” according to the Catholic Catechism of the Catholic Church 2683 and Hebrews 12:1. As St.Continue reading “All Saints & All Souls Day”

As we approach the changing seasons of the year and head into the upcoming liturgical commemorations of All Saints & All Souls Day, how do we approach viral contagions in light of our celebration of the Divine Liturgy? The Covid pandemic and fear from such a viral contagion separated us from the traditions of theContinue reading “Ending The Fear And Liturgical Practice of Mask Wearing & Hand Sanitizers”

We have all heard the adage that “time is money” which is often attributed to Benjamin Franklin in his writings of Advice to a Young Tradesman. Such an idiom of course means that our time lost can’t be regained. The book of Proverbs has a similar connotation relating to agricultural labor in which “He whoContinue reading “The Practice of Frugality & Stewardship”

For the Lord himself, with a word of command, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God, will come down from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 1 Thes. 4:16 Today the church recalls the archangels Raphael, Gabriel and Michael. These mighty messengers from God have a veryContinue reading “Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels; watch over us we pray”

Be united with one another, and God will blessyou. But let it be by the charity of Jesus Christ,for any union which is not sealed by the bloodof Our Savior cannot perdure. It is therefore inJesus Christ, by Jesus Christ, and for JesusChrist that you ought to be united with oneanother. The Spirit of JesusContinue reading “Intentional Christian Communities & a Reflection on the Life of St. Vincent de Paul”

About Padre Pio: https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20020616_padre-pio_photo.html Letter from Padre Pio To Raffaelina Cerase, May 19, 1914 Stones of the eternal dwelling With unceasing blows of healing chisel and careful stripping away, the divine Artificer seeks to prepare stones to build an eternal dwelling – as our mother, the holy Catholic Church, full of tenderness, sings in the hymnContinue reading “St. Pio of Pietrelcina O.F.M. Cap., Pray for Us”

Lk. 14:27 “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” 1 Pet. 2:24 “He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross, so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” Gal. 6:14 “But may I never boastContinue reading “The Exaltation of the Holy Cross”

In the United States of America, Labor Day is acknowledged as a national holiday in which President Grover Cleveland signed the act into law in 1894 (https://www.dol.gov/general/laborday/history). From scripture, we are reminded of God’s plan and work in the creation narratives with the role that man plays toward this goal. Gen. 2:3 “God blessed theContinue reading “The Dignity of Labor”

The ‘Our Father’ prayer is a common prayer we say all the time when we gather in communal worship and with each other. The Our Father is our Christian calling card and is the great ecumenical prayer uniting many Christians despite differences in theological interpretations. Such a prayer reminds us of our need to followContinue reading “The Lord’s Prayer Reflection”

O Peter, who were named by Christ  The guardian-shepherd of his flock,  Protect the Church he built on you  To stand unyielding, firm on rock. Apostle of the gentiles, Paul,  The greatest witness of them all,  You turned to Christ, the risen Lord,  When out of light you heard him call. Unseen, eternal Trinity,  WeContinue reading “Solemnity of St. Peter & Paul”

On this day of the solemnity of the sacred heart of Jesus, we are reminiscent of the love the Son of Man has for all of creation. The filial love of the persons of the Father & Son bring forth the life giving Holy Spirit that is bestowed upon all of God’s creation. From whatContinue reading “The Sacred Heart of Jesus & A Heart for Life”

In a world that is longing for more and that is seeking real nourishment, our spiritual food is found with the reception of holy Eucharist. Jesus reminds us of such a gift in the bread of life discourse in John’s gospel chapter 6. Jesus reminds us that anyone who partakes of His flesh and bloodContinue reading “Corpus Christi…the Body of Christ”

The unique renaissance fresco painting of Jerónimo Cósida’s The Holy Trinity capturing the face of Jesus with three faces symbolizes the mystery of this occasion. The Latin message for ‘non est’ or ‘it is not’ followed by the unique centering of ‘est’ for ‘it is’ in the above image portrays such a mystery of ourContinue reading “O Most Holy Trinity, Undivided Unity”

Pentecost is Greek which means the “50th day” after Easter in the church calendar. Such a festive occasion recalls the “birth” of the Church. Holy scripture in Acts chapter 2 in the New Testament recalls the coming of the Holy Spirit enabling those disciples that were gifted with tongues of fire to proclaim a languageContinue reading “Pentecost: A reflection on the Holy Spirit”

There was another mass shooting that took place today here in the States that appeared to be a racial hate crime with 10 souls having perished and left this earthly life. May God bless them & keep them, and bring comfort to their families as they mourn their tragic loss. Catholic churches have also beenContinue reading “God’s Mercy Endures Forever”

“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst” (Jn. 6:35).

Today in the Catholic church’s calendar, St. Mark the Evangelist is recalled in prayer today. History indicates that his gospel may have been one of the earliest writings completed sometime around 70 ad (https://www.britannica.com/topic/Gospel-According-to-Mark). When I was to be confirmed and had to choose a saint name, it was Mark that I chose. Some attributeContinue reading “St Mark the Evangelist”

We’ve all been in that place where trying times may test our very soul & shake our faith & belief in all that is good and of God. I myself have encountered those difficult moments that make me question God’s existence in a crazy & messed up world. Faith and fortitude are difficult virtues toContinue reading “Undergoing the Test as Christian Believers”

The story of the Transfiguration moment for this Sunday’s gospel in which Jesus takes Peter, John and James up to the mountain to pray is reminiscent of another account in Luke’s narrative in Luke chapter 22 of the Agony in the Garden narrative. In both accounts, the disciples fall asleep while praying. How often doContinue reading “This Is My Chosen Son, Listen to Him (Lk. 9:35)”

Have you ever viewed an image of Jesus on the crucifix or seen a work of religious art and wondered why Jesus, or one of the many saintly figures have their eyes fixed in an upward direction? There is an ancient practice of suspending one’s judgement that we should re-examine this Lenten season. Eyes andContinue reading “Lifting One’s Mind to God & Suspending Judgement”