Short seasonal reflections.
"Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed" (John 20:8)
"Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me" (Matthew 26:21b)
“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you” (Luke 1:28b)
“Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit” (John 12:24)
“When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home” (Matthew 1:24)
“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him” (John 3:17)
To those who sold doves He said, “Take these out of here" (John 2:16)
"As they were coming down from the mountain, He charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone, except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead" (Mark 9:9)
"He remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan" (Mark 1:13)
“Then the Lord was stirred to concern for his land and took pity on his people” (Joel 2:18).
"They departed for their country by another way" (Matthew 2:12)
"The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger" (Luke 2:16)
"Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted —and you yourself a sword will pierce" (Luke 2:34-35a)
“And the Word became Flesh and made His dwelling among us” (John 1:14)
“For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord” (Luke 2:11)
“He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High” (Luke 1:32)
“He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him” (John 1:6)
“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you” (Luke 1:28)
“One mightier than I is coming after me” (Mark 1:7).
"Why do you let us wander, O LORD, from your ways, and harden our hearts so that we fear you not?" (Isaiah 63:17)
In Tudor England, when the Crown made Catholicism illegal, valiant Jesuit priests and their collaborators kept the Faith alive, even if it meant their deaths. This is the true story of heroic saint who helped to save priests, and thus helped to save souls.
“He will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth.” (John 14:16b-17a)
In this reading, a Dominican friar was stranded decades ago is rescued but brought back into a very different society, one overtaken by a totalitarian regime. Trying to keep his Faith and sanity, we hear his account of first returning to the Sacraments.
“I am the way and the truth and the life.” (John 14:6)
Inspirational stories, factual or fictional, of the Sacraments celebrated under trying circumstances. Today there is a Mass hastily celebrated after the Mexican Revolution, when priests were being hunted down and killed.
"The sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice." (John 10:4b)
Inspirational stories, factual or fictional, about practicing the Faith under difficult circumstances. This column was written by a priest convert whose historical mind, mastery of prose, and smart wit are practically without parallel in our modern day. He shares priestly wisdom for younger priests and for all.
“With that, their eyes were opened and they recognized Him in the breaking of the bread.” (Luke 24:31)
Inspirational stories, factual or fictional, of the Faith lived out under difficult circumstances. This selection is from an Austrian psychiatrist's account of his experience in the concentration camps.
“Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them.” (John 20:23a)
Inspirational stories, factual or fictional, of the Sacraments celebrated under trying circumstances. Today we hear about a young Bavarian conscripted into the army with his brother during WWII before they can pursue their seminary formation.
“For our Paschal Lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us celebrate the feast…” (1 Cor 5:7b-8a)
Inspirational stories, factual or fictional, of the Sacraments celebrated under trying circumstances. This is a homily from the middle of the 2nd century AD on the theme of the harrowing of hell.
"In the days when He was in the flesh, He offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to the One who was able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence" (Hebrews 5:7)
“He loved His own in the world and He loved them to the end” (John 13:1b)
Inspirational stories, factual or fictional, of the Sacraments celebrated under trying circumstances. Today we hear a description of the deep prayer of a priest interceding for a struggling world.
“Did I not tell you that if you believe you would see the glory of God?” (John 11:40)
Inspirational stories, factual or fictional, of the Sacraments celebrated under trying circumstances. Today we hear the testimony of a priest imprisoned in Russia under Communist rule.
"May it be done to me according to your word" (Luke 1:38).
“This is what is so amazing, that you do not know where He is from, yet He opened my eyes" (John 9:30).
Inspirational stories, factual or fictional, of the Sacraments celebrated under trying circumstances. Today we hear about a flood in a nameless Italian village.
"When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him" (Matthew 1:24).
"Whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst." (John 14:4)
"Lord, it is good that we are here" (Matthew 17:4).
Seasonal reflections on the fasts and feasts of the Church year. Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. "Behold, now is a very acceptable time. Behold, now is the day of salvation." (2 Cor. 6:2b)
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