Today we begin the liturgical season of Advent, starting a new Church Year. Advent is the season of patient waiting for the coming of our redeemer. According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, “Advent has a twofold character, for it is a time of preparation for the Solemnities of Christmas, in which the […]
Happy New Year! – Advent Is The Season Of Patient Waiting Read More »
Today marks the end of Ordinary time in our liturgical calendar. Tomorrow, we begin Advent, the beginning of our new liturgical year. In my Daily Reflection when Ordinary time began, way back on January 8th, I told you that Ordinary Time is anything but ordinary. The purpose and benefits of this liturgical season are extraordinary,
Last Words On Ordinary Time – Live Here, Live Now. Focus On What You Are Doing. Read More »
Today marks the end of Ordinary time in our liturgical calendar. Tomorrow, we begin Advent, the beginning of our new liturgical year. In my Daily Reflection when Ordinary time began, way back on January 8th, I told you that Ordinary Time is anything but ordinary. The purpose and benefits of this liturgical season are extraordinary,
Last Words On Ordinary Time – Let Your Heart Be Open, Firm In The Faith Read More »
Today we have a reading about judgement and the New Jerusalem (Revelation 20:1‑4,11‑21:2). It is a powerful vision of the end time described in highly symbolic language, which is not to be taken literally. Here we need to be very careful to go to the central meaning of what is being said and not get carried
The End Times – The Book Of Life Here Lists The Elect Read More »
Today we celebrate a peculiarly American holiday. Thanksgiving is replete with images of Pilgrims, Plymouth Rock and celebrating the first fruits of the harvest. While a meal of Thanksgiving had long been celebrated in America, it did not become a national holiday until Abraham Lincoln’s declaration amid our great Civil War. On October 3, 1863, Lincoln
Thanksgiving – Celebrate The Work Of God In Others Read More »
We don’t have to be afraid. Today’s readings may send chills down our spines, but the invitation to us is not to fear. In this final handful of days in the liturgical year, we are given a “great and awe-inspiring” vision from Revelation (Revelation 15:1-4), complete with plagues, God’s fury, and a “sea of
Be Not Afraid – It Will Not Go Easy For Us Read More »
The meaning of today’s passage from Revelation (Revelation 14:14‑19), at first glance seems puzzling. It is a vision of gathering the righteous and the good, followed by judgement on the wicked. The actual destruction of the wicked pagans will be treated more fully later (Revelation 19:11‑21), but it is not part of our liturgical readings.
The Final Harvest – It Is A Time For Reflection Read More »
(1920-2005) Introduction “Everyone knows John Paul II: his face, his characteristic way of moving and speaking; his immersion in prayer and his spontaneous cheerfulness. Many of his words have become indelibly engraved in our memories, starting with the passionate cry with which he introduced himself to the people at the beginning of his pontificate: ‘Open
St. John Paul II – A Brief Biography Of Our Patron Read More »
The story begins in the village of Fatima, Portugal, on May 13, 1917. On that fateful day near that tiny village, The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, appeared to three young peasant children: Francisco, Jacinta, and Lucia; ages 10, 9 and 7. As was the custom, these youngsters were tending their family’s sheep when
Miracle Of The Sun – More Brilliant Than The Sun … Indescribably Beautiful Read More »
By Ed Masters Cristoforo Columbo was the given name of the man known to the English-speaking world as ‘Christopher Columbus’ and to the Spanish world as ‘Cristobal Colon.’ His descendants living in Spain still carry this surname. He was born in the Republic of Genoa in 1451, a scant two years before the fall of
Columbus The Catholic – Named After St. Christopher, (“Christ Bearer”) Read More »