BLESSED ARE THE AFFLICTED
September 23 is the feast day of Italian Capuchin Franciscan St. Pius of Pietrelcina (1887-1968). Canonized by St. John Paul II on June 16, 2002, he is popularly known as Padre Pio. St. Padre Pio is reported to have had…
Novalis Seeds of Faith
TERRY FOX, ST. PEREGRINE AND FINDING HOPE
September 14 is a day to celebrate the 45th anniversary of Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope. Growing up millennial and Canadian, I was part of the first generation to participate in fundraiser run and walk each September. I can recall…
PRAYER FOR SCHOOL DAY
Loving God, Bless this day! Bless our school community and our families. Give us your Spirit of wisdom so that we may grow in faith and knowledge. Strengthen us to have hearts of kindness, helping others so that everyone feels…
WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE CARE OF CREATION
Ten years ago today, Pope Francis established the first World Day of Prayer for the Care for Creation. It coincided with the publication of his great encyclical Laudato Si.’ September 1, the World Day of Prayer for the Care for…
ST. MONICA AND ST. AUGUSTINE
How often do we give up on friends or family members who are obstinate or dismissive when it comes to our faith? This can be painful and it feels like a personal attack. St. Monica (c. 332 – 387) faced these situations…
NOVALIS BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR
Who doesn’t love summer? It’s the perfect time to go with the flow, relax and enjoy the outdoors. But I have to admit that as the days grow shorter and the nights cooler, I look forward to the return to…
ST. MAXIMILIAN KOLBE
In a world increasingly fractured by conflict and unrest, we yearn for role models to point us beyond the chaos and toward lasting hope. Some people have in fact revealed to us the potential of the human spirit, what it’s…
IT IS GOOD FOR US TO BE HERE
All three synoptic Gospels tell us of the Transfiguration of Jesus (Matthew 17:1–8, Mark 9:2–13, Luke 9:28–36). Jesus is on the Mount of Olives with his friends. They witness him start to glow with beams of light. Moses (the giver of the Law)…
VANITY AND THE FOOLISHNESS OF ACQUISITION
I once read that Liberace died with five furnished residences and warehouses full of expensive items for which he had no room in any of these residences! It is usually this sort of image that comes to mind when we…
MARY, MARTHA AND LAZARUS: THE OTHER HOLY FAMILY
Besides Mary, Joseph and Jesus, there is another exemplary family that played an important role in the life of Jesus. That is the family of his dear friends – Mary, Martha and Lazarus. John’s glimpse into their lives is both…