CHRIST THE KING
The feast of Christ the King, instituted by Pope Pius XI in 1925, is of great spiritual significance because it is on this day that we recognize, proclaim and celebrate the sovereignty of Jesus Christ over the entire universe. Is…
ADVENT READING TO LIGHT YOUR WAY
A popular Catholic tradition involves designating each of the four weeks of Advent with a particular theme: love, hope, joy, peace. As we light the candles on the Advent wreath or pray together each day, these themes can help to…
THE WORK OF ALL SOULS DAY
For those of us living in the Northern Hemisphere, the leaves have fallen and begun their decay. There is little left in our gardens but the most tenacious blooms and produce. The longer nights have begun to impinge on daylight…
ALL SAINTS
When one hears the words All Saints, images of painted plaster statues placed on pedestals or icons of beautiful representations in gold may come to mind. We can be distracted by ideas of perfect virtue or supernatural holiness. It is…
Q&A WITH EUGENE AUCOIN, AUTHOR OF THE BEATITUDES: EIGHT STEPS TO INNER PEACE AND HAPPINESS
The Beatitudes are a familiar Gospel passage (Matthew 5:3-12) and a teaching of Jesus that still resonates with many people today. In The Beatitudes: Eight Steps to Inner Peace and Happiness, author Eugene Aucoin guides us with kindness and compassion…
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
How often do you think about food? I never before reflected on this question but I realize that I think about food every day. I am not a professional chef or a foodie. I am no longer responsible for feeding…
ST. TERESA OF AVILA
I like to think of Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) as a diamond, many faceted and beautiful. It is said that when she was a young girl, both she and her brother ran away to become martyrs in the conflict with…
GIVING THANKS
A few days ago, I had a very interesting discussion with an elderly man, a hospital patient who was deeply saddened at being bedridden for many weeks. To cheer him up, I asked him what might be some positive things…
HOLY GUARDIAN ANGELS
For this reflection, I could go into the theology of angels and how they fit into Catholic doctrine. Instead, I want to suggest that we reflect on the security and comfort that this heavenly gift gives to each of us. I was…
MARIAN APPROACHES TO SYNODALITY, BY DR. JOSEPHINE LOMBARDI
With so much discussion about the role of women in the Church, especially in today’s synodal considerations, how could Mary be missing? Mary listened to the Holy Spirit and pondered the meaning of her incredibly significant role in that crucial…