01 Sep We all have something to offer One day a little mouse was caught by a lion. The lion was ready to swallow the tiny creature, when it cried out, “Spare me, great beast! Please don’t eat me. Someday I may be able to repay your kindness.” The lion, taken aback, let out a [...]
31 Aug Love You are all familiar with the “Love is…” cartoons or drawings. We have many, many posters of nice “sugary” definitions of love. St. Augustine answered the question: “What does love look like?” His answer is simple: “Love has hands to help others. It has feet to hasten to the poor and needy. [...]
30 Aug Saved by prayer Irmgard Wood was a young girl living in Germany during World War II, and she tells the following story. One morning her mother and sisters saw an American plane receive a hit, and fall in flames from the sky. Irmgard’s mother instinctively whispered a prayer for the pilot, even though [...]
29 Aug – The Martyrdom of John the Baptist Faith in oneself A Peanuts cartoon shows Charlie Brown standing all alone. Peppermint Patty passes by, and as she does, Charlie calls out to her, “Believe in me.” But she keeps on going. Next Snoopy passes by, and Charlie calls out, “Believe in me.” But Snoopy [...]
28 Aug – Memorial for St. Augustine, bishop, doctor of the Church St. Augustine (354-430) had a pagan father who converted on his death bed; his mother was St. Monica, a devout Christian. Though he was trained in Christianity, he lost his faith in youth and led a wild life. He lived with a Carthaginian [...]
27 Aug – Memorial for St. Monica St. Monica (322-387) was the mother of St. Augustine of Hippo, whose writings about her are our primary source of information. A Christian from birth, she was given in marriage to a bad-tempered, adulterous pagan named Patricius. She prayed constantly for the conversion of her husband (who converted [...]
26 Aug – Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time The Lord Gathers A People To Himself Today, as sons and daughters of God, we submit ourselves to his loving discipline, remembering that it was not just the Jews, nor will it be just Christians, whom the Lord will gather to himself. Many more worthy than us [...]
25 Aug – Memorial for St. Louis of France; Memorial for St. Joseph Calazanz, priest St. Louis of France (1214-1270) was the son of King Louis VIII and Blanche of Castille. He became King of France at the age of 11; his mother ruled as regent until he reached 22, and he reigned for 44 [...]
24 Aug – Feast of St. Bartholomew, apostle Isn’t it strange, that today is the feast day of St. Bartholomew, but the readings do not mention him at all? Instead, they mention Nathanael. Well, that’s easily cleared up when we realise that the apostle’s name is Nathanael bar Tolomai, that is, Nathanael son of Tolomai. [...]
23 Aug – Memorial for St. Rose of Lima, virgin Apart from the cross, there is no other ladder by which we may get to heaven. – St. Rose of Lima St. Rose (1586-1617) was born Isabel to Spanish immigrants to the New World. She was a beautiful girl and a devoted daughter. She was [...]
