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 Anthony of Egypt or, as he is simply known in the history of monasticism, Anthony the Great, was born in Coma in Lower Egypt, Anthony heard the call to leave everything behind to give himself to God. The words of Jesus Matthew 19:21, namely: If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess[…]
Saint Bernard of Corleone (1605 – 1667) could be the patron saint of the Mafia, and not just because he hails from the same region as the fictional crime family of Mario Puzo’s 1969 novel, and Francis Coppola’s subsequent film series. What I mean by that is that, like the Mafioso, Bernard – whose original[…]
BENEDICT XVI GENERAL AUDIENCE Paul VI Audience Hall Wednesday, 9 August 2006 John, the theologian Dear Brothers and Sisters, Before the holidays I had begun sketching small portraits of the Twelve Apostles. The Apostles were Jesus’ travelling companions, Jesus’ friends. Their journey with Jesus was not only a physical journey from Galilee to Jerusalem, but[…]
BENEDICT XVI GENERAL AUDIENCE Wednesday, 5 July 2006 John, son of Zebedee Dear Brothers and Sisters, Let us dedicate our meeting today to remembering another very important member of the Apostolic College: John, son of Zebedee and brother of James. His typically Jewish name means: “the Lord has worked grace”. He was mending his nets[…]
Today is the feast of Saint John the Evangelist, also called the ‘Beloved’, as the one closest to the heart of Our Lord, likely the youngest Apostle, who lived to ripe old age, writing his Apocalypse (Revelation) towards the end of the first century. He is the only Apostle not celebrated as a martyr, witnessing[…]
Every year on December 17 the church intones the ‘O antiphons’ the joyous canticles in anticipation of the coming of Christ. But on the same day, the Church also commemorates the memorial of a seemingly forgotten friar, John de Matha, father of the Trinitarians (Order of the Most Holy Trinity and of the Captives) and[…]
(In Advent, our devotion is focused on Saint John the Baptist, as the precursor of the Christ, but then we shift in the latter days to the Holy Family – Our Lady, Saint Joseph, and the soon-to-be born Christ child. Here is a speculative reflection by Joshua Filipetto, on the confirmation of Saint Joseph in[…]
Was there ever a golden age of Catholic and Islamic relations? The evidence for such is slim, with the two religions seemingly incompatible and irreconcilable – after all, they both want to convert everyone to their respective religion, and one believes that Christ is Lord, Redeemer and Saviour, God from God and Light from Light,[…]
November 21st is normally the feast of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary at the temple (this year superseded by Christ the King, but a few thoughts may well be in order). This feast has its origins in the Eastern Church, introduced by Emperor Justinian himself, who erected a magnificent Church dedicated to Mary within[…]
November 18th is also the optional memorial of Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne (1769 – 1852), a native of France, but who spent much of her life as a missionary in the American midwest, back when it was wild and wooly territory. She was from a noble family, whose fortunes somehow survived the persecutions of the[…]
