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
Saint Pantaleon (+305) was a very popular early martyr, even though little is known about his life. The martyrology has it that he was a Christian, but strayed from his faith, and studied medicine – or what passed for the healing arts in those days – and became the personal physician of the emperor, either[…]
On this day in 2009, at the end of his Angelus message, Pope Benedict had these brief words to say on Saints Joachim and Anne: A second point for reflection comes from today’s liturgical commemoration of Saints Joachim and Anne, parents of Our Lady, and therefore, grandparents of Jesus. This occasion makes us think of[…]
(From our archives:) Let us sing praises to Joachim and Anna, The couple honoured by God (as they are His kinsmen) They have borne for us the Maiden Who in a manner beyond understanding Gave birth to Him who though fleshless Became the incarnate to save the world With her they intercede for our souls[…]
Every best gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no change nor shadow of alteration.Every best gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no change nor shadow of alteration. (Epistle of[…]
Today we celebrate the great feast of Saint James ‘the Greater’, not because of any intrinsic superior quality to the other apostle James, ‘the Lesser’, traditionally held to be the author of the New Testament epistle, whom we venerate with Saint Philip on May 3rd, but likely because this James was older. Today’s James was[…]
BENEDICT XVI GENERAL AUDIENCE Wednesday, 21 June 2006 James, the Greater Dear Brothers and Sisters, We are continuing the series of portraits of the Apostles chosen directly by Jesus during his earthly life. We have spoken of St Peter and of his brother, Andrew. Today we meet the figure of James. The biblical lists of[…]
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[…]
