Cloud of Witnesses Uncategorized Blazes

A Visit with Padre Pio

Presently it doesn’t seem very likely that I’ll ever be able to go visit San Giovanni Rotondo, the resting place of St. Padre Pio. My sister and close family members have been there to the Shrine of St. Padre Pio and shared stories about being there. So, when I heard that the relics of St. …

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Cloud of Witnesses

An Ode to St. Cecilia

In the book The Silmarillion by JRR Tolkien, the creation of Middle Earth is described as cosmic musical composition, a harmonious and melodious work of beauty and order. This is, how I think, St. Cecilia must have perceived the universe. She had an affinity for creating beautiful music which in turn must have led her …

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Uncategorized Blazes

St. Dominic: Preaching Fire

When St. Dominic’s mother, Juana, was carrying him in the womb, she had a very interesting dream. She dreamt that a black and white dog with a blazing torch in its mouth jumped right out of her womb! This dog appeared to set the whole world on fire with the firebrand it held in its …

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Uncategorized Blazes

The Cross: Opportunity for Love

“To run from the cross is to run from Jesus.” I once heard these words stressing the importance of the cross and our call to participate in it. Basically, this is a call to accept whatever difficulties, inconveniences, sicknesses, and setbacks that come our way. In today’s Gospel reading we read how Jesus calls Peter …

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