Inspired by Truth, Enlightening Minds for the Church in Canada and Throughout the World
Inspired by Truth, Enlightening Minds for the Church in Canada and Throughout the World
In light of today’s Saint Charbel – a hermit and contemplative – and last Sunday’s Gospel on the roles of of ‘Martha’ and ‘Mary’, I thought I’d share this intriguing essay by Thomas Merton, on the respective active and contemplative lives. This distinction goes back to the earliest days of the Church, and is discussed[…]
Ask and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you (Lk. 11: 9). ⧾ The Scripture lessons of the Mass today speak to us of prayer – specifically of intercessory prayer in our first reading, and of the prayer which is expressive of all[…]
A man who prays lives out the mystery of existence, and a man who does not pray scarcely exists. (Saint Charbel Maklouf, +1898)
God often works through hidden ways, and those who live a hidden life. Amare nesciri, Saint Philip Neri was wont to say, ‘love to be unknown‘. Behind the noise of the world, the saints are sowing the seeds of the kingdom, and one of the most ‘invisible’ of them all was the priest-hermit Saint Charbel[…]
My Lord Jesus Christ, Your blessed, royal, and magnificent heart could never, by torments or terrors or blandishments, be swayed, from the defense of Your kingdom of truth and justice. (Saint Bridget of Sweden, +1373)
POPE JOHN PAUL II APOSTOLIC LETTER ISSUED MOTU PROPRIO PROCLAIMING SAINT BRIDGET OF SWEDEN SAINT CATHERINE OF SIENA AND SAINT TERESA BENEDICTA OF THE CROSS CO-PATRONESSES OF EUROPEHIS HOLINESS POPE JOHN PAUL II FOR PERPETUAL REMEMBRANCE 1. The hope of building a more just world, a world more worthy of the human person, stirred by[…]
On this feast of Saint Bridget of Sweden, one of the four co-patrons of Europe (along with Saint Benedict, Saint Catherine of Siena and Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross), it’s fitting to post this final reflection on my pilgrimage, on those last few days in Rome. Rome, the Eternal City, the Centre of Christendom[…]
In response to Catholic Insight’s post of Carl Sundell’s list of 39 essential questions Catholics should be prepared to answer about our faith, I have been responding to them one-by-one to equip you with clear, concise and (hopefully) well-reasoned answers to help you grow and share your Faith. None of these answers can be conclusive.[…]
BENEDICT XVI GENERAL AUDIENCE Saint Peter’s Square Wednesday, 27 October 2010 Saint Bridget of Sweden Dear Brothers and Sisters, On the eve of the Great Jubilee in anticipation of the Year 2000 the Venerable Servant of God John Paul II proclaimed St Bridget of Sweden Co-Patroness of the whole of Europe. This morning I[…]
Long before Sweden was known for ABBA and IKEA – two exports not to everyone’s taste, even if billion-dollar brands – along with a soft version of socialism and moribund demographics, the northern nation was was a land of saints, of a people devoted to the Faith, after the conversion of the Baltic regions between[…]
