COLLECTION OF CATHOLIC PRAYERS ETC.
The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.” Let’s picture ourselves in the scene. There we are, sound asleep, kiddos tucked in…
Read More “The Dreams of St. Joseph: Feast of the Holy Innocents” »
Martyr of Greece. She was a wealthy woman of Salonika, in Thessaly, who used her personal funds to aid the poor. A soldier accosted her in the street and tried to drag her to a pagan sacrifice. Anysia resisted and was killed when the soldier attacked her with his sword.
Life of St. Thomas Becket: St. Thomas Becket was born in London in 1118 and served as a trusted advisor to King Henry II of England. Initially, Thomas was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury in 1162, despite his earlier reluctance. Once in this role, Becket underwent a dramatic transformation from a loyal servant of the king…
Reading I Sir 3:2-6, 12-14 God sets a father in honor over his children; a mother’s authority he confirms over her sons. Whoever honors his father atones for sins, and preserves himself from them. When he prays, he is heard; he stores up riches who reveres his mother. Whoever honors his father…
Read More “Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph” »
Monk, biographer, and scholar-also called Sapiens the Wise. Aileran was one of the most distinguished professors at the school of Clonard in Ireland. St. Finian welcomed Aileran to Clonard. In 650, Aileran became rector of Clonard, and was recognized as a classical scholar and a master of Latin and Greek. He wrote The Fourth Life…
Read More “St. Aileran: Saint of the Day for Sunday, December 29, 2024” »
Reading 1 1 Jn 1:5—2:2 Beloved:This is the message that we have heard from Jesus Christand proclaim to you:God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all.If we say, “We have fellowship with him,” while we continue to walk in darkness,we lie and do not act in truth.But if we walk in…
The Holy Innocents: Martyrs of the Faith Story of the Holy Innocents: The Feast of the Holy Innocents, celebrated on December 28th, honors the children who were tragically killed by King Herod in an attempt to eliminate the newborn Jesus. When the Magi visited Herod, seeking the “King of the Jews,” Herod, feeling threatened, ordered…
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In late November, during a brief audience with people involved in the sport of motorcycle racing, Pope Francis asked for prayers, joking that “my work is very accelerated, and my bike has aged and doesn’t work properly!” A few days after his 88th birthday, Pope Francis gets some help blowing out…
Read More “Pope Francis’ 2024: Turning 88, presiding over synod, opening Holy Year” »
Anthony was born about circa 468 at Valeria in Lower Pannonia. When he was eight years old, his father died and he was first entrusted to the care of St. Severinus. After the death of Severinus, an uncle, Bishop Constantius of Lorsch in Bavaria took charge of his upbringing. While in Bavaria, Anthony became a…
Read More “St. Anthony the Hermit: Saint of the Day for Saturday, December 28, 2024” »
A controversial teaching of the Church is that the ministerial priesthood, the sacrament of Holy Orders, is reserved to males alone. The Church does not have the ability to ordain a woman. Most contemporary people do not understand this teaching and find it unjust, sexist, and old-fashioned. St. Bonaventure helps us understand this teaching in…
Read More “Understanding the Mass and the Male-Only Priesthood with St. Bonaventure” »