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. …
Maria Vincit: The Holy and Victorious Name of Mary
Maria Vincit! The name of a person expresses the “essence and identity and the meaning of [their] life.” That is why the Holy name of Mary so powerful. It is the name of the most perfect, all holy, pure and Immaculate mother of God. It is a most lovable name. It is the name of …
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 …
The very very first witness of the Resurrected Lord
The first person recorded to have seen Christ risen from the dead is Mary Magdalene. Jesus’ appearance to Mary Magdalene is intended to strengthen faith in the Risen Lord, first in the Magdalene’s heart, then in the hearts of those to whom she announced the Resurrection, and finally in the hearts of all those who …
To give Jesus the very best, after the example of Mary of Bethany
Today, holy Monday, we see Jesus in the house of his friends, Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. These three siblings from the town of Bethany on the outskirts of Jerusalem gave a dinner party for Jesus. This is after he made the triumphant entrance into the city which we celebrated yesterday on Palm Sunday. No doubt …
“Why was he born blind?” A reflection on suffering, sight, and blindness
“Why was he born blind?” The disciples of Jesus wonder about the cause of blindness in the man born blind, whom we read about in today’s gospel reading for the fourth Sunday of Lent. “Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” These kinds of questions are not uncommon; they are …
On forgiveness and being perfect with Our Lady – a reflection on the readings for the first Saturday of Lent (year a).
Our Lady readily observed the statues, commandments, and decrees of the Lord. He was her God, and she was his beloved daughter. She always walked in his ways and hearkened to his voice. Because of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s obedience, God raised her high in praise and renown and glory so that all generations will …
We need a doctor: reflection on the Saturday after Ash Wednesday (year A)
Today’s Readings. Jesus saw Matthew sitting there at the customs post. He noticed him and took and interest in him. Jesus sees us. He notices us. He takes interest in us. He looks at us and beckons us: “Follow me.” Jesus is the good physician, the best of all healers. To all those acknowledge their …
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 …
Siblings united in love, prayer and the pursuit of holiness: on the feast day of St. Scholastica
My sister claims that she “mooched” off of my conversion experience; she says that she benefited from the graces that I received as if they were her own. This is true: she did gain from my experience and I thank God for it. But at the same time I also believe to have gained from …
The Conversion of St. Paul: the power of God’s transforming grace.
The all-consuming power of God’s grace to transform a person and give them a totally new vision is exemplified in the ilfe of St. Paul. He went from being a zealous persecutor who breathed out murderous threats against Christians and delivered on them, to a zealous apostle of Christ who practically evangelized the entire Mediterranean …