Browsing Archive: January, 2012

Saint of the Day for January 30, 2012

Posted by Site Webmaster on Tuesday, January 31, 2012, In : Saint of the Day

St. Hyacintha (1585-1640)
An Italian noblie, Hyacintha abandoned her lifestyle to be a Franciscan. When she was challenged by her confessor to live a more humble life, she simplified her food and dress, did the most menial work in the convent, and replaced her bed with a few bare boards. She later founded the Oblates of Mary.

Reflections from the Saints

Every day He humbles Himself just as He did when from from His heavenly throne into the Virgin's womb; every day He comes to us and lets us ...

My Daily Eucharist - Reflection for January 30, 2012

Posted by Site Webmaster on Tuesday, January 31, 2012, In : The Eucharist

One time, during the celebration of Holy Mass in the Church of St. Paul at the Three Fountains in Rome, St. Bernard saw an unending stairway which went up to Heaven. Very many angels went up and down on it, carrying from Purgatory to Paradise the souls freed by the Sacrifice of Jesus, renewed by priests on the altars all over the world.

Thus, at the death of one of our relatives, let us take much more care about having celebrated, and assisting at, Holy Masses for him, rather than about t...

One Bread, One Body - Reflection for January 30, 2012

Posted by Site Webmaster on Tuesday, January 31, 2012, In : Daily Meditations

"I'LL RUN YOU OUT OF TOWN"

Jesus "gave the word, and with it the unclean spirits came out." –Mark 5:13

Absalom ran his father, David, out of Jerusalem (2 Sm 15:14). Later, David's army defeated Absalom's troops and ran them out of Jerusalem.

Jesus ran a legion of demons out of Gerasene territory, but then the inhabitants of that land ran Jesus out of town (Mk 5:17).

The devil used the sin of Adam and Eve to drive them and all their descendants out of Paradise and thus become the princ...

Mandated Contraception, Sterilization: Caesar Demands Church Violate Conscience

Posted by Site Webmaster on Sunday, January 29, 2012, In : OLP Newsline

WASHINGTON,DC (Catholic Online) - The moment that President Obama nominated Governor Kathleen Sebelius to be the Secretary of Health and Human Services he sent the signal of where he would lead this nation. Sadly, many people did not see the signs, including some Catholics.

Of course, anyone who heard former Presidential candidate Obama utter his "that's above my pay grade" answer to Reverend Rick Warren's question as to "when a baby gets human rights" - either had their head in the sand - ...

Saint of the Day for January 29, 2012

Posted by Site Webmaster on Sunday, January 29, 2012, In : Saint of the Day

St. Gildas (516-570)
Gildas was an English noble who was taught by St. Illtyd. Later, as a teacher, he taught several saints himself. After he was ordained in Ireland, he returned to evangelize England, where he founded several churches and monasteries. He then became a hermit, living on the tiny island, where he wrote several works about holiness. He was one of Britain's earliest historians.

Reflections from the Saints

The rosary is said not with the lips alone, muttering Hail Marys one aft...

My Daily Eucharist - Reflection for January 29, 2012

Posted by Site Webmaster on Sunday, January 29, 2012, In : The Eucharist

A man who lived near the church wondered what the new Cure was doing in there so very early each morning. One morning, long before dawn, when the man saw a tiny candle making its way from the rectory through the darkness across the cemetery, he sneaked over to the church and peeked in to find out for himself. There was the pastor, pouring out his heart to Jesus hidden in the Blessed Sacrament! "Ah," said the man, "he is not like other men!" What did the Cure say to his blessed Jesus? Henri...

One Bread, One Body - Reflection for January 29, 2012

Posted by Site Webmaster on Sunday, January 29, 2012, In : Daily Meditations

PROPHET-ABLE

"If a prophet presumes to speak in My name an oracle that I have not commanded him to speak, or speaks in the name of other gods, he shall die." –Deuteronomy 18:20

If prophets prophesy something God did not tell them to say, they shall die. This makes prophets feel like being quiet. However, if prophets "do not speak out to dissuade the wicked man from his way, he [the wicked man] shall die for his guilt, but [God] will hold [them] responsible for his death" (Ez 33:8). If we ...

Saint of the Day for January 28, 2012

Posted by Site Webmaster on Saturday, January 28, 2012, In : Saint of the Day

St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)
A student of St. Albert the Great, Thomas was a priest who taught theology in Paris. There he wrote his great work, Summa Theologica. He once experienced a divine revelation which so enraptured him that he abandoned the Summa, saying that it was nothing compared to the true Glory of God. He died a few months later, and was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church.

Reflections from the Saints

Grant me, O Lord my God, a mind to know you, a heart to seek you, wisdom to f...

My Daily Eucharist - Reflection for January 28, 2012

Posted by Site Webmaster on Saturday, January 28, 2012, In : The Eucharist

When he was stationed at Paris, the other Doctors of the Sorbonne put before him a problem about the nature of the mystical change in the elements of the Blessed Sacrament, and he proceeded to write, in his customary manner, a very careful and elaborately lucid statement of his own solution. Needless to say, he felt with hearty simplicity the heavy responsibility and gravity of such a judicial decision; and not unnaturally seems to have worried about it more than he commonly did over his w...

One Bread, One Body - Reflection for January 28, 2012

Posted by Site Webmaster on Saturday, January 28, 2012, In : Daily Meditations

DEEP KNEE BENDS?

"Who can this be that the wind and the sea obey Him?" –Mark 4:41

The wind and sea obey Jesus. Demons and diseases obey Jesus (see Mk 5:13, 29). Even death obeys Jesus (Mk 5:41ff). Every knee must bend and acknowledge Jesus as Lord (Phil 2:10-11), and a number of knees have already bent – but many human beings have not yet bent their knees to Jesus.

We all realize that many people do not obey Jesus. Before we call these people to repentance, however, we must repent our...

Saint of the Day for January 27, 2012

Posted by Site Webmaster on Friday, January 27, 2012, In : Saint of the Day

St. Angela Merici (1474-1540)
At an early age, Angela was a Third-Order Franciscan. She founded two schools for the instruction of young girls in religion, and started the Ursuline Order.

Reflections from the Saints

Disorder in society is the result of disorder in the family.

– St. Angela Merici

My Daily Eucharist - Reflection for January 27, 2012

Posted by Site Webmaster on Friday, January 27, 2012, In : The Eucharist

The Holy Mass of Padre Pio in the little chapel was his life, his calvary, his crucifixion, his paradise. It lasted about three hours. I would follow him with great attention and emotion in the various phases of the celebration. At the Memento for the Living, his meditation was deep, lengthy, interminable, and interrupted only by some painful sighs. He proceeded slowly in the painful ascent of his mystical calvary, and he arrived exhausted to his crucifixion. The moment of Consecration was...

One Bread, One Body - Reflection for January 27, 2012

Posted by Site Webmaster on Friday, January 27, 2012, In : Daily Meditations

THINK BIG

The kingdom of God "is like mustard seed which, when planted in the soil, is the smallest of all the earth's seeds, yet once it is sown, springs up to become the largest of shrubs, with branches big enough for the birds of the sky to build nests in its shade." –Mark 4:31-32

For centuries, Christians have talked and heard about the parable of the mustard seed. However, the point of the parable in Mark's Gospel is not only the smallness of the mustard seed, but also the largeness ...

Saint of the Day for January 26, 2012

Posted by Site Webmaster on Friday, January 27, 2012, In : Saint of the Day

St. Timothy (1st century)
Timothy was an early Christian, and the recipient of two letters now found in the New Testament. The son of a Greek father and a Jewish mother, he was a companion of St. Paul. He was first bishop of Ephesus, where he was martyred for opposing the worship of Dionysius.

Reflections from the Saints

Let no one have contempt for your youth, but set an example for those who believe, in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.

– St. Paul the Apostle

My Daily Eucharist - Reflection for January 26, 2012

Posted by Site Webmaster on Friday, January 27, 2012, In : The Eucharist

The great evil of the times is that people do not go to Jesus Christ as their Savior and their God. The sole basis, law, and grace of salvation is set aside. The malaise of sterile piety is that it does not share or draw its vitality from Jesus Christ; it stops short along the way; it distracts itself with externals. But divine love has its life, its center uniquely in the sacrament of the Eucharist...

What must be done? Return to the source of life: not merely to Jesus of history in Jude...

One Bread, One Body - Reflection for January 26, 2012

Posted by Site Webmaster on Friday, January 27, 2012, In : Daily Meditations

THE HEART OF A PASTOR

"My purpose in leaving you in Crete was that you might accomplish what had been left undone." –Titus 1:5

Paul and Titus had apparently been on a missionary journey to Crete, a large island south of Greece. Paul decided to leave Titus in Crete to accomplish "what had been left undone" (Ti 1:5), which apparently was quite a lot. The people of Crete, as one of their own prophets testified, "have ever been liars, beasts, and lazy gluttons" (Ti 1:12). With a reputation li...

Saint of the Day for January 25, 2012

Posted by Site Webmaster on Thursday, January 26, 2012, In : Saint of the Day

St. Paul the Apostle (1st century)
Saul was a Jew who hated and persecuted the first Christians. Once, while travelling, he was thrown from his horse, blinded by a light, and given a message from Christ Himself. Profoundly affected by the experience, he converted to Christianity. He was baptized, changed his name to Paul, and began travelling and preaching. He wrote several letters now found in Sacred Scripture. After being imprisoned several times, he was beheaded in Rome.

Reflections from...

My Daily Eucharist - Reflection for January 25, 2012

Posted by Site Webmaster on Thursday, January 26, 2012, In : The Eucharist

When I was vested, the name of Jesus impressed itself upon me more and more; I felt fortified against all attacks. I wept and sobbed afresh... When I had begun the Holy Sacrifice, I received many graces and pious emotions and gentle tears, which lasted long. As the Mass continued, many inspirations confirmed what I had resolved; and when I raised the Sacred Host, I felt as it were an inward suggestion, and a powerful impulse never to abandon Our Lord, in spite of all obstacles; and this wa...

One Bread, One Body - Reflection for January 25, 2012

Posted by Site Webmaster on Thursday, January 26, 2012, In : Daily Meditations

MEET YOUR ENEMY

"Lord, I have heard from many sources about this man." –Acts 9:13

David encountered his enemy, King Saul, in a cave while Saul was going to the "bathroom." Saul was hunting down David to kill him. David found his enemy in a vulnerable position, and refused to harm him (1 Sm 24:4ff). "For if a man meets his enemy, does he send him away unharmed?" (1 Sm 24:20) The implied answer is "No."

Ananias encountered his enemy, Saul of Tarsus. Saul was hunting down Ananias and all C...

Saint of the Day for January 24, 2012

Posted by Site Webmaster on Wednesday, January 25, 2012, In : Saint of the Day

St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Francis was a Doctor of Law before becoming a priest. He later became a bishop. Famous for his sermons and writings, especially The Introduction to the Devout Life, his gentle ways won the hearts of many. He is a Doctor of the Church.

Reflections from the Saints

All of us can attain to Christian virtue and holiness, no matter in what condition of life we live and no matter what our life work may be.

– St. Francis de Sales

My Daily Eucharist - Reflection for January 24, 2012

Posted by Site Webmaster on Wednesday, January 25, 2012, In : The Eucharist

When the bee has gathered the dew of heaven and the earth's sweetest nectar from the flowers, it turns it into honey, then hastens to its hive. In the same way, the priest, having taken from the altar the Son of God (who is as the dew from heaven, and true son of Mary, flower of our humanity), gives him to you as delicious food. When you have received him, stir up your heart to do him homage; speak to him about your spiritual life, gazing upon him in your soul where he is present for your ...

One Bread, One Body - Reflection for January 24, 2012

Posted by Site Webmaster on Wednesday, January 25, 2012, In : Daily Meditations

LET THEM TALK

"David, girt with a linen apron, came dancing before the Lord with abandon." –2 Samuel 6:14

A characteristic of David's life is that he gave himself to "the Lord with abandon" (2 Sm 6:14). David didn't hold back on giving to God, no matter what others said about him.

David was upset that Goliath was insulting God (1 Sm 17:26) and was determined to defend God's honor by fighting the giant. David's brothers "grew angry with David," insulting and belittling him (1 Sm 17:28). ...

Saint of the Day for January 23, 2012

Posted by Site Webmaster on Monday, January 23, 2012, In : Saint of the Day

St. John the Almsgiver (550-616)
The son of the governor of Cyprus, John entered the religious life upon the death of his wife and child from disease. During his patriarchate at Alexandria, he became widely known for his generosity to the poor. He also helped refugees from the wars in the Holy Land.

Reflections from the Saints

If we are able to enter the church day and night and implore God to hear our prayers, how careful we should be to hear and grant the petitions of our neighbor in need....

My Daily Eucharist - Reflection for January 23, 2012

Posted by Site Webmaster on Monday, January 23, 2012, In : The Eucharist

One of the earliest reports of a mystical reception of the Eucharist is that of St. Clement, Bishop of Ancyra, who suffered a long imprisonment and torture for the Faith during the fourth-century persecution of Diocletian. After being persecuted elsewhere, he was imprisoned in Rome, where he so impressed his fellow prisoners with his patience, his inspired words and his compliance with the will of God, that many asked for Baptism at his hands. Instructions in the Faith and Baptisms took pl...

One Bread, One Body - Reflection for January 23, 2012

Posted by Site Webmaster on Monday, January 23, 2012, In : Daily Meditations

CAN'T CANT

"David was told, 'You cannot enter here.' " –2 Samuel 5:6

Yesterday was the 39th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision legalizing abortion. This precipitated the development in the USA of what Pope John Paul II called the "culture of death." We are so entrenched in this culture of death, violence, and the degradation of the human person that it seems impossible to change the situation. We have been told we cannot stop Planned Parenthood, cannot change the "politicall...

Saint of the Day for January 22, 2012

Posted by Site Webmaster on Sunday, January 22, 2012, In : Saint of the Day

St. Vincent Pallotti (1798-1850)
An Italian noble, Vincent was the founder of the Pious Society of Missions (Pallottines). He devoted his life to the poor and penitents, and started the special observance at Rome of the Octave of the Epiphany.

Reflections from the Saints

Not the goods of the world, but God. Not riches, but God. Not honors, but God. Not distinction, but God. Not dignities, but God. Not advancement, but God. God always and in everything.

– St. Vincent Pallotti

My Daily Eucharist - Reflection for January 22, 2012

Posted by Site Webmaster on Sunday, January 22, 2012, In : The Eucharist

Her meditation over, Mother joined her clear, melodious voice with those of the sisters who were reciting the Office. When she thus recited the Office with them all the sisters felt exhilarated in their devotion. The penetrating accentuation with which she recited the psalms manifested audibly how deeply she felt the meaning of these inspired hymns. Who of her daughters does not remember, as they heard it exemplified, the special emphasis with which she used to pronounce the words: "Si ini...

One Bread, One Body - Reflection for January 22, 2012

Posted by Site Webmaster on Sunday, January 22, 2012, In : Daily Meditations

A NEW BEGINNING

"This is the time of fulfillment. The reign of God is at hand! Reform your lives and believe in the gospel!" –Mark 1:15

The Lord doesn't want us to go on with this new year without repenting, that is, reforming our lives. When we hear the Lord's call to repentance, we agree that many people need to hear that call. However, the Lord is saying that each of us needs to repent – to remove the plank from our eyes before trying to remove the splinters from the eyes of others (...

Saint of the Day for January 21, 2012

Posted by Site Webmaster on Sunday, January 22, 2012, In : Saint of the Day

St. Agnes of Rome (3rd century)
Agnes was twelve when she was dragged to a Roman Temple, tortured, and threatened with rape. When she refused to deny Christ, she was burned and beheaded. Her name is mentioned in the Eucharistic Prayers of Mass.

Reflections from the Saints

Christ made my soul beautiful with the jewels of grace and virtue. I belong to Him whom the angels serve.

– St. Agnes of Rome

My Daily Eucharist - Reflection for January 21, 2012

Posted by Site Webmaster on Sunday, January 22, 2012, In : The Eucharist

On the Feast of St. Augustine, as God showed Gertrude the merits of many saints, she desired to know something of the merits of St. Agnes, whom she had loved from her very infancy with the greatest tenderness and devotion. Our Lord yielded to her desire and prayer and showed her that great Saint, so united to His Heart as to indicate her extraordinary innocence and to manifest the truth of what has been said by the Wise Man, that "Incorruption bringeth near to God" (Wis 6: 20). She seemed ...

One Bread, One Body - Reflection for January 21, 2012

Posted by Site Webmaster on Sunday, January 22, 2012, In : Daily Meditations

MIND GAMES

"He is out of His mind." –Mark 3:21

When Jesus' family and friends said He was "out of His mind," this was a Jewish way of saying that Jesus was possessed by the devil. Some religious leaders concurred with this judgment when they "asserted, 'He is possessed by Beelzebul' " (Mk 3:22).

Have you ever been accused of being possessed by the devil? If so, you may understand how Jesus felt. Jesus' Passion did not begin on Calvary. Even at the early part of His public ministry, Jesu...

Saint of the Day for January 20, 2012

Posted by Site Webmaster on Friday, January 20, 2012, In : Saint of the Day

St. Sebastian (3rd century)
An officer of the Roman army, Sebastian visited persecuted Christians in prison, bringing supplies and comfort. Soon he was converting his fellow soldiers. Furious, the Emporor had him tied to a tree and shot with arrows. He survived and later returned to preach to him. He was then beaten to death.

Reflections from the Saints

The Church is the only one, the Roman Catholic! And if there were left upon earth but one Catholic, he would be the one, universal Church, t...

My Daily Eucharist - Reflection for January 20, 2012

Posted by Site Webmaster on Friday, January 20, 2012, In : The Eucharist

At last the most wonderful of all days arrived. Every little detail of those heavenly hours is with me still. I remember how joyfully we woke at dawn, the grave and tender kisses of the nuns, the dressing room where we were all clothed, and, above all, our entering the chapel and singing the morning hymn: "O blessed altar, ringed with angels."

Oh, how sweet the first kiss of Jesus was! It was a kiss of love. I knew that I was loved and I declared: "I love You and I give myself to You for ...

One Bread, One Body - Reflection for January 20, 2012

Posted by Site Webmaster on Friday, January 20, 2012, In : Daily Meditations

ARE YOU PRO-CHOICE?

David said: "I decided, 'I will not raise a hand against my lord, for he is the Lord's anointed.' " –1 Samuel 24:11

David spared Saul's life when he had a perfect chance to kill his tormentor. David was a seasoned warrior who had killed many opponents (e.g. see 1 Sm 23:5; 30:17ff). The only reason he held back his hand was because Saul carried the anointing of leadership from God. Saul had been chosen by God (1 Sm 10:1).

Jesus "summoned the men He Himself had decided...

Saint of the Day for January 19. 2012

Posted by Site Webmaster on Friday, January 20, 2012, In : Saint of the Day

Saint of the Day

St. Joseph Pelczar (1842-1924)
Joseph, a doctor of theology and a canon lawyer, was a Dean of Theology at the University of Krakow. He started hundreds of libraries and wrote over a thousand books. Later, as a bishop, he built churches, nurseries, kitchens, homeless shelters, and schools.

Reflections from the Saints

Earthly ideals are fading away. I see the ideal of life in sacrifice, and the ideal of sacrifice in priesthood.

– St. Joseph Pelczar

My Daily Eucharist - Reflection for January 19, 2012

Posted by Site Webmaster on Friday, January 20, 2012, In : The Eucharist

After Communion today, Jesus told me how much He desires to come to human hearts. "I desire to unite Myself with human souls; My great delight is to unite Myself with souls. Know, My daughter, that when I come to a human heart in Holy Communion, My hands are full of all kinds of graces which I want to give to the soul. But souls do not even pay any attention to Me; they leave Me to Myself and busy themselves with other things. Oh, how sad I am that souls do not recognize Love! They treat M...

One Bread, One Body - Reflection for January 19, 2012

Posted by Site Webmaster on Friday, January 20, 2012, In : Daily Meditations

TRUE HUMILITY IS GLADNESS

"Saul was very angry and resentful of the song, for he thought: 'They give David ten thousands, but only thousands to me.' " –1 Samuel 18:8

King Saul won a great victory in battle through the catalyst of young David's courageous defeat of the fierce Goliath. When the cheerleaders greeted the victors with the fight song, Saul was given opening honors and credit for thousands (1 Sm 18:7). Because of his pride, however, all Saul could focus on was that David receive...

Virtual Pilgrimage Site Dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God

Posted by Site Webmaster on Thursday, January 19, 2012, In : OLP Newsline

CHESAPEAKE, VA (Catholic Online) - Let me begin with a quotation from a Christian leader who is often not associated with honoring Mary: "Men have crowded all her glory into a single phrase: The Mother of God. No one can say anything greater of her, though he had as many tongues as there are leaves on the trees." It was Martin Luther, one of the Protestant Reformers, in his commentary on the "Magnificat".

From antiquity, Mary has been called "Theotokos", or "God-Bearer" (Mother of God). The...

Saint of the Day for January 18, 2012

Posted by Site Webmaster on Thursday, January 19, 2012, In : Saint of the Day

Bl. Christina Ciccarelli (1481-1543)
Christina was an abbess, a prophet, a healer, and a mystic. Once, on Good Friday, she endured the invisible stigmata and the pains of Crucifixion until the next day. She was sought after as a spiritual director due to her piety, humility, and ecstasies.

Reflections from the Saints

God does not command us to live in hair shirts and chains, or to chastise our flesh with scourges, but to love Him above all things and our neighbor as ourselves.

– St. Char...

My Daily Eucharist - Reflection for January 18, 2012

Posted by Site Webmaster on Thursday, January 19, 2012, In : The Eucharist

Noah, a good man (Gen 6:9), is said to have worked a hundred years to build the ark, so that he and a few others might be saved (I Pet 3:20.). How, then, can I in one short hour prepare myself to receive with reverence the Creator of the world? Moses, Your great servant and especial friend, constructed an Ark of imperishable wood (Exod 25:10), and covered it with purest gold, in order to house the Tablets of the Law:and how shall I, a corruptible creature, dare so lightly to receive You, t...

One Bread, One Body - Reflection for January 18, 2012

Posted by Site Webmaster on Thursday, January 19, 2012, In : Daily Meditations

"THE SWORD IN THE STONE"

"Blessed be the Lord, my Rock, Who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for war." –Psalm 144:1

David killed the giant Goliath with a stone and a sword (1 Sm 17:49, 51). Jesus is "the Stone Which the builders rejected" and "the Keystone of the structure" (Mt 21:42; Ps 118:22). The Holy Spirit, working through the Word of God and prayer (Eph 6:17-18), is the Sword. We will be victorious over giants – such as Planned Parenthood, secular humanism, materialism, rac...

Saint of the Day for January 17, 2012

Posted by Site Webmaster on Wednesday, January 18, 2012, In : Saint of the Day

St. Anthony the Abbott (3rd century)
At the age of twenty, Anthony gave his inheritance to the poor and retired to a cell in the mountains, where he lived in solitude for 35 years. He emerged to organize monastic life for the crowds who followed him. He then retired to the desert for 45 more years, leaving only for a short time to fight Arianism and to comfort victims of the persecutions. He is known as the founder of Christian monasticism.

Reflections from the Saints

By dying for others, He...

My Daily Eucharist - Reflection for January 17, 2012

Posted by Site Webmaster on Wednesday, January 18, 2012, In : The Eucharist

Saint Maximilian was deeply touched by the real presence of Jesus, the God-Man, under the eucharistic species. Before the Blessed Sacrament altar, he acted as though he saw the Savior. "God dwells in our midst", he exclaimed, "in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar". "He remains among us until the end of the world. He dwells on so many altars, though so often offended and profaned". But even more, the founder of the MI was fascinated by the fact that Jesus in the sacrament gives Himself to ...

One Bread, One Body - Reflection for January 17, 2012

Posted by Site Webmaster on Wednesday, January 18, 2012, In : Daily Meditations

"A LIVING SACRIFICE" (Rm 12:1)

"I have come to sacrifice to the Lord." –1 Samuel 16:5

Sacrifice is defined as "a giving up of something for the sake of something or someone else." We Catholics are used to making sacrifices, but do we make our whole life "a living sacrifice," as Jesus would have us do? (Rm 12:1) We can do so by:

participating frequently in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, fully aware that we are sacrificially giving our all to Jesus,
attending Mass to give back to the...

Saint of the Day for January 16, 2012

Posted by Site Webmaster on Tuesday, January 17, 2012, In : Saint of the Day

Saint of the Day

St. Berard (13th century)
Berard joined the Franciscans in 1213. Proficient in Arabic and an eloquent preacher, he was sent by St. Francis, along with four companions, to preach in Morocco. They were the first Franciscans to be imprisoned and martyred.

Reflections from the Saints

Sanctify yourself and you will sanctify society.

– St. Francis of Assisi

My Daily Eucharist - Reflection for January 16, 2012

Posted by Site Webmaster on Tuesday, January 17, 2012, In : The Eucharist

Dearest daughter, contemplate the marvelous state of the soul who receives this bread of life, this food of angels, as she ought. When she receives this sacrament she lives in me and I in her. Just as the fish is in the sea and the sea in the fish, so am I in the soul and the soul in me, the sea of peace. Grace lives in such a soul because, having received this bread of life in grace, she lives in grace. When this appearance of bread has been consumed, I leave behind the imprint of my grac...

One Bread, One Body - Reflection for January 16, 2012

Posted by Site Webmaster on Tuesday, January 17, 2012, In : Daily Meditations

RUNNING A RED LIGHT

"Samuel said to Saul: 'Stop!' " –1 Samuel 15:16

As we begin a new year, the Lord may be saying to us what He said to Saul. He may be saying: "Stop!" The Lord told Saul to stop disobeying Him, stop deceiving himself, and stop hating himself (1 Sm 15:17ff). However, Saul went right through the stop sign. He attempted murder, became involved in the occult, and finally crashed by committing suicide.

Will we go through a stop sign as Saul did? Will we run a red light tell...

Saint of the Day for January 15, 2012

Posted by Site Webmaster on Monday, January 16, 2012, In : Saint of the Day

St. Paul the Hermit (230-342)
A well-educated member of the upper class, Paul escaped the persecution of Decius by taking refuge in a mountain desert, where he lived in a cave for ninety years, in mortification and prayer. He is known as the first hermit.

Reflections from the Saints

People who change their way of life and begin to think about spiritual progress also begin to suffer from the tongues of detractors. Whoever has not yet suffered this trial has not yet made progress, and whoever ...

My Daily Eucharist - Reflection for January 15, 2012

Posted by Site Webmaster on Monday, January 16, 2012, In : The Eucharist

A young priest phoned me, very anxious and afraid. He had just found out he had cancer of the vocal chords and he had to have his voice box removed in three weeks. He was telling me he was desperate. He had been ordained only about six years.

As I prayed with him, I felt the Lord wanted me to tell him about the Eucharist. I said, "Father, I can pray with you now on the phone, and I will, but this morning, didn't you meet Jesus? Don't you meet him every day?"

What I didn't know was that t...

One Bread, One Body - Reflection for January 15, 2012

Posted by Site Webmaster on Monday, January 16, 2012, In : Daily Meditations

THE SLEEPING GIANT

"Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the Lord where the ark of God was." –1 Samuel 3:3

When Samuel was a child, God's people were spiritually asleep. Their leaders were weak, fat (1 Sm 4:18), lustful (1 Sm 2:22), greedy (1 Sm 2:14ff), and almost blind (1 Sm 3:2). "A revelation of the Lord was uncommon and vision infrequent" (1 Sm 3:1). When God would move and someone occasionally woke up, they were told to go back to sleep (1 Sm 3:6).

The Church, God's people in our ...

Saint of the Day for January 14, 2012

Posted by Site Webmaster on Sunday, January 15, 2012, In : Saint of the Day

St. Felix of Nola (3rd century)
Ordained by St. Maximus, Felix was imprisoned during the persecution of Decius, but was set free by an angel. Refusing the episcopacy of Nola, he continued his duties as auxiliary. He devoted himself to the poor, giving them all of his inheritance. His sufferings have merited the title of martyr.

Reflections from the Saints

Humility is the only thing that no devil can imitate. If pride made demons out of angels, there is no doubt that humility could make angel...