At this Christmas when Christ comes, will He find a warm heart? Mark the season of Advent by loving and serving the others with God’s own love and concern. (Saint Teresa of Calcutta)
Year: 2019
The Baptist and the Second Sunday of Advent
Angelus, Second Sunday of Advent, 7 December 2003 1. “Prepare the way of the Lord, clear him a straight path” (Lk 3: 4). This invitation of St John the Baptist resounds strongly on this Second Sunday of Advent. It is a prophetic cry that continues to resound through the centuries. We consider this cry also[…]
Our own evil inclinations are far more dangerous than any external enemies. (Saint Ambrose of Milan, +397)
Bibiana and All the Single Ladies
Saint Bibiana, who is commemorated today, a virgin martyred during the reign of Julian the Apostate, is the patroness of single laywomen, amongst her other heavenly duties (she is also invoked, for reasons I cannot discern, for hangovers, whether as a cure or as a prevention, but probably both). Single ladies could use a lot[…]
Sheen Delayed
As readers may have now read elsewhere, there has been an indefinite postponement of the proposed beatification of Bishop Fulton Sheen which, as prompted Paula Adamick’s recent piece on the great man, was scheduled for this December 21st. From what we know, some American bishops – the number also not provided – requested the delay,[…]
God love you, Fulton J. Sheen
Da per matrem me venire Grant that I may come to Thee through Mary. (Motto of Venerable Fulton J. Sheen) The good people of Peoria Illinois are deeply disappointed. The beatification of one of their favourite sons — set for December 21 in this city’s Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception on December[…]
Lead me to pastures, Lord, and graze there with me. Do not let my heart lean either to the right or to the left, but let your good Spirit guide me along the straight path. Whatever I do, let it be in accordance with your will, now until the end. (Saint John of Damascus, +749)
Many, many people hereabouts are not becoming Christians for one reason only: there is nobody to make them Christians.” (Saint Francis Xavier)
A Liturgical Primer for Advent
For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem (Lk. 21: 36). The first Sunday of Advent marks the beginning of a new liturgical year. In the cycle of the sacred liturgy, this is Year A, during which the Sunday Gospel readings will be taken from the Gospel[…]
The first thing we have to accept is, ever and again, the reality of an enduring Advent. If we do that, we shall begin to realize that the borderline between “before Christ” and “after Christ” does not run through historical time, in an outward sense, and cannot be drawn on any map; it runs through[…]