01 Jan – Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God; World Day of Prayer for Peace Mary, Through Whom The World Would Be Blessed We too bless God for Mary, who bore for us the Child she named Jesus the Saviour. – the Sunday Missal The title “Mother of God” for Our Lady was first used [...]
31 Dec – Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas; Memorial for St. Sylvester I, pope Sylvester (d. 335) was pope in the reign of Emperor Constantine I, who built the Lateran and other churches. He sent legates to the First Council of Nicaea, and was involved in the controversy over Arianism. The spurious Donation [...]
30 Dec – Feast of the Holy Family The Holy Family We celebrate that Holy Family of Nazareth which is the model for all who fear the Lord and walk in his ways. – the Sunday Missal ____________________ Letters To A Hospital This is an extremely honest, off-the-cuff letter to the staff of a hospital. [...]
29 Dec – Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas The Cardinal’s Sin Here is a true story as told by Don Morales, as reported by a visiting priest from Canada who vouches that it came straight from the lips of Cardinal Jaime Sin of the Philippines. There was a woman who claimed to have [...]
28 Dec – Feast of the Holy Innocents, martyrs; Fourth Day in the Octave of Christmas The feast of the Holy Innocents is held in memorial for the children slaughtered by Herod when he tried to kill the infant Christ. – Patron Saint Index ___________________ 1 John 1:5 – 2:2 This is what we have [...]
27 Dec – Feast of St. John, apostle, evangelist St. John, also known as the “beloved disciple” of Jesus’ was the son of Zebedee and Salome, brother of St. James the Great, and was called one of the Sons of Thunder. Before becoming Jesus’ disciple, he was already a disciple of St. John the Baptist, [...]
26 Dec – Feast of St. Stephen, First Martyr St. Stephen was the first Christian martyr. A deacon and a preacher, all we know of him is related in the Acts of the Apostles. While preaching the gospel in the streets, angry Jews who believed his message to be blasphemy dragged him outside the city, [...]
25 Dec – Mass During The Day The Word Made Flesh For us the Word of God is no longer the message spoken by prophets, but the messenger of God in person, the eternal Word begotten of the Father before time began. – the Sunday Missal ____________________ Offering One’s Hand The homilist at a Mass [...]
24 Dec – Mass in the Morning Stretching The Soul R. Lee Sharpe reveals an inspiring incident that happened when he was a boy. On a fine spring day, his father asked Lee to accompany him to the blacksmith’s, where he had left a rake and a hoe to be repaired. When they arrived at [...]
23 Dec – Fourth Sunday Of Advent Mary’s Child: The Emmanuel God’s choice rested on the House of David which was to bring forth the Emmanuel, the God with us. But Mary’s Child was to belong to all the nations. We are one of those nations who, by God’s call, belong to Jesus Christ. – [...]
