Memorial of Saint Benedict Today the Church celebrates the memorial of Saint Benedict, Abbot (ca.480-ca.550), Father of Western Monasticism and founder of the Benedictine monastic orders of monks, nuns, and lay persons. Unlike earlier strict observance monastic orders, Benedict believed in a rule that balanced work and prayer in moderation and community life that stressed […]

Memorial of Saint Anthony of Padua, Priest, and Doctor of the Church At one time or another, most of us have invoked Saint Anthony to help us find a lost or misplaced item. However, you may be unaware that Anthony’s life was multi-dimensional. His desire to follow the crucified Christ inspired him to leave a […]

The opening prayer of today’s Mass invites us to live a devout way of living faithfully as we prepare for the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. We learn from today’s readings that the disciples, who had been initiated into the faith by John with a profession of repentance, are now being initiated as […]

I came so that they may have life and have it more abundantly. (John 10:10) These words of Jesus summarize his role as a “good shepherd” …as the one who encourages us to stay close and who leads us to a place of freedom and safety away from the ever-present danger of temptation and evil…as […]

Today we begin the holiest and most solemn week of our Church year. The gospel of today’s liturgy serves as a prelude to the events that unfold over the next six days before Passover. Though Jesus is keeping a low profile, we read that he is sharing a meal with friends: Martha served … while […]

The first reading, an excerpt from the book of the prophet Daniel (Daniel 9:4b-10), is a confession and plea on behalf of the people for forgiveness and mercy for all their transgressions of the law. “O Lord, we are shamefaced, like our kings, our princes, and our fathers, for having sinned against you. But yours, […]

Saint Valentine and Saints Cyril, Monk, and Methodius, Bishop We acknowledge Saint Valentine’s tradition today with friendly greetings to one another, a poignant reminder of our call to love one another as God loves us. I gave you a new commandment. Love one another as I have loved you. (John 13:34) Today the liturgy celebrates […]

The Gospel proclamation today (Mark 5:1-20) relates the visit of Jesus and his disciples to the Gerasenes, a non-Jewish pagan community. He encounters and heals a man who realizes he is possessed and under the self-destructive influence of multiple evil spirits. The man, freed by the power of Jesus from the forces of evil and […]

Today the readings for our liturgical year shift from relating the events of Christmas Time to the first day of Ordinary Time. Daily excerpts from the Gospel of Mark begin. We learn of the arrest of John the Baptist and read about the invitation Jesus extends to the first Apostles to follow him…The time is […]

Saint Lucy, Memorial Today marks a midpoint in Advent preparation for the birth of Jesus. The gospel story finds Jesus in the temple where the…chief priests and elders of the people challenged him as he was teaching and said, “By what authority are you doing these things and who gave you this authority.” (Matthew 21:25) […]