O ANTIPHONS
Have you ever wondered about the O Antiphons? These chants and prayers show up during the week before Christmas. They are part of the Acclamation prayers in the weekday masses. What might be most familiar to us about the O…
LIGHT AND VISION: AN ADVENT REFLECTION ON ST. LUCY’S FEAST DAY
I recently suffered from a nasty eye infection. I couldn’t see properly and suffered from acute photo sensitivity. This experience led me to a deeper appreciation of healthy vision. St Lucy, patron saint of eyesight, became a welcome prayer companion.…
WELCOME ADVENT
The time of waiting for a child to be born is full of excitement and wonder. What will he/she be like? How much will the baby weigh? Will the baby’s eyes be blue or brown? My grandson was born on December 24…
WORLD DAY OF THE POOR
Who are the poor?The one who is without shelter through no fault of their own.The one who is dependent on alcohol or pain medication.The one who visits food banks in order to provide nourishment for their children.The one who fears…
READ, REFLECT, REPEAT: NOVALIS BOOK(LET) RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ADVENT
Advent has a way of sneaking up on us. Just when we’re feeling like the fall routines are in place and we’re adjusting to the time change and the cooler weather, the liturgical calendar shifts into a new season. We’re…
REMEMBRANCE DAY: A DAY TO HONOUR SACRIFICE AND EMBRACE PEACE
Every year on November 11, we pause in silence. The world remembers the men and women who gave their lives in wars past and present. Their sacrifice is not an abstract idea; it is the reason we are free to…
ALL SOULS
Last weekend, I happened to be driving in the country at sunrise. It was the first frost of the year and the fields were stunning. I had to stop the car and just gaze for a few moments. The green…
OH, TO BE A SAINT!
What does it mean to be a saint? An appropriate question, don’t you think, for the solemnity of All Saints, celebrated by the Catholic Church this year on Nov. 1. If asked, most people would refer to the official saints,…
EDITOR Q&A: FIFTY IRISH LIVES IN CANADA, 1661 TO 2017
This fall, Novalis published Fifty Irish Lives in Canada, 1661 to 2017, edited by Eamonn McKee and Mark G. McGowan. This rich and inspiring collection by a range of highly respected authors offers a wonderful panorama of the story of…
WORLD MISSION SUNDAY
“Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation” (Mark 16:15). With similar words, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John each offer this same invitation. This sacred task is placed before us. No borders, no boundaries,…