During adoration, Anthony DeStefano picked up the Bible and read the parable about the grain of wheat that falls to the ground and must die before it grows. It is about letting go of fear and trusting God to do great things for our life. But first, we must surrender and give control to God. […]
32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: 2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14 Responsorial: Psalm 17:1, 5-6, 8, 15 2nd Reading: 2 Thessalonians 2:16-3:5 Gospel: Luke 20:27-38 Our Hope Comes from the Resurrection to New Life in Christ He is not God of the dead, but of […]
31st Sunday in Ordinary Time Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Wisdom 11:22–12:2 Responsorial: Psalm 145:1-2, 8-11, 13-14 2nd Reading: 2 Thessalonians 1:11–2:2 Gospel: Luke 19:1-10 Following Jesus Through All of Life’s Circumstances Today salvation has come to this house. (Luke 19:9) Today’s Gospel paints a vivid picture of […]
What are you doing this Friday? I’m asking about your penance, not that it’s my business, but the business of the Church is something I care about. And it seems that Friday penances largely disappeared along with the long lines outside Brown’s Fish and Chips every Friday. That was the fish restaurant in my neighborhood […]
30th Sunday in Ordinary Time Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18 2nd Reading: 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 Responsorial: Psalm 34:2-3, 17-19, 23 Gospel: Luke 18:9-14 Living a Life Grounded on God’s Love and Mercy, Not on Judging Others I thank you that I am not like […]
Taking small children to Mass is a penitential activity. Whether you’re trying to keep your child quiet and in the pew, or you’re speed walking down the aisle with a screaming toddler, rest assured, we’ve all been there. Here are five of the best funny stories of kids at church, taken from Be a Happier […]
28th Sunday in Ordinary Time Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: 2 Kings 5:14-17 Responsorial: Psalm 98:1-4 2nd Reading: 2 Timothy 2:8-13 Gospel: Luke 17: 11-19 Growing in Faith from Those with a Different Perspective Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God? (Luke 17:18) Today’s […]
“Don’t let the demons of yesterday ruin the blessings of today,” An exorcist once told me during an interview. Exorcists understand how the devil invades lives and steals away peace and holiness. They also know that the people they help have a past they would like to forget and a future that might loom large […]
27th Sunday in Ordinary Time Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4 Responsorial: Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9 2nd Reading: 2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14 Gospel: Luke 17:5-10 Waiting in Faith for the Lord to Act If it delays, wait for it. (Habakkuk 2:3) Nobody likes to wait. Whether we […]
St. Raymond Nonnatus is a saint from the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy or the Mercedarian Order and was born in 1204 in Barcelona, Spain. He is called Nonnatus or “not born” referring to his Caesarean section birth. Since his mother died while giving birth to him, Nonnatus is the patron saint […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Amos 6:1, 4-7 2nd Reading: 1 Timothy 6:11-16 Responsorial: Psalm 146:7-10 Gospel: Luke 16:19-31 Reaching Out to Those in Need, One by One, As Jesus Did Lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus. (Luke 16:20) How many times do you […]
Our three year old daughter Liz was in the backseat of the car while my wife was driving. Mom made a wrong turn. “Grrr,” my wife grumbled, “wrong turn!” From the backseat Liz’s voice chimed: “Recalculating!” That made my wife crack-up. But while Mom was laughing out loud, Liz didn’t see the humor. “That’s what […]
“MI-CA-EL,” or “Who is like to God?” Such was the cry of the great Archangel when he smote the rebel Lucifer in the conflict of the heavenly hosts, and from that hour he has been known as “Michael,” the captain of the armies of God, the type of divine fortitude, the champion of every faithful […]
24th Sunday in Ordinary Time Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14 Responsorial: Psalm 51:3-4, 12-13, 17, 19 2nd Reading: 1 Timothy 1:12-17 Gospel: Luke 15:1-32 The Parable of the Prodigal Son, A Reflection of the Extravagant Mercy of God He ran to his son, embraced him […]
Terrorism is nothing new. It’s probably as old as the human race. In fact the cradle of civilization, now Iraq, was the home of the most infamous terrorists of antiquity, the Assyrians. Their goal was to conquer their neighbors in a way that would minimize initial resistance and subsequent rebellion. To do this, they knew […]
Free Ebook on Salesian Spirituality Every Sunday evening a Visitation Sister gently guides online chatters about their vocational discernment and provides spiritual insights. The discussion is called the “Living Jesus Chat Room,” named after the Visitation Sisters’ motto “Live Jesus.” On this evening, a woman who teaches at an alternative public high school for discipline […]
23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Wisdom 9:13-18 Responsorial: Psalm 90:3-6, 12-17 2nd Reading: Philemon 9-10, 12-17 Gospel: Luke 14:25-33 He cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:26) Hate your parents? Hate your own life? Carry a cross? That seems awfully harsh! Luke tells us […]
This story happened in our family twenty years ago, but lives on today as a lasting sign of just how powerful our God is. “Dad, may I just peek inside?” ten-year-old Luke Armstrong asked holding a cardboard box. “Wait until we get home,” his dad, Mark, answered. “We’re almost there. I don’t want a bunch […]
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29 Responsorial: Psalm 68:4-7, 10-11 2nd Reading: Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24 Gospel: Luke 14:1, 7-14 Opening Our Doors to Others, Beyond Our Comfort Zone When you hold a banquet . . . (Luke 14:13) Doesn’t it […]
It would seem that being raised by devout Catholic parents who prayed the rosary daily would have pointed to a good and holy future for Bartolo Longo. And it did. Eventually. First, he strayed so far from God that he became a satanic priest. Yet, as far as Bartolo strayed—and it was extreme—he was not beyond […]
St. John the Baptist was called by God to be the forerunner of His divine Son. In order to preserve his innocence spotless, and to improve the extraordinary graces which he had received, he was directed by the Holy Ghost to lead an austere and contemplative life in the wilderness, in the continual exercises of […]
It’s been a roller-coaster kind of year so far, with thrilling highs, unexpected jolts and surprises. At the end of a roller-coaster ride after being yanked to and fro, it just seems to come to an abrupt stop and it’s time to get off. You are not quite sure if you want to ride again […]
Sunday Mass Readings for the Ministry of Parents and Godparents The Church professes Christian parents to be the “first” teachers of the faith and calls them to be the “best” teachers of the faith (The Rite of Infant Baptism). Godparents agree to assist in this ministry of parents. This resource from Catholic Lane is to […]
Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion Mass Readings: 1st Reading: Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10 2nd Reading: Hebrews 12:1-4 Responsorial: Psalm 40:2-4, 18 Gospel: Luke 12:49-53 Saying Yes to God’s Call to Be an Instrument of His Peace and Reconciliation Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? (Luke 12:51) […]
