O Adonai 3

O Adonai, and leader of the House of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai: Come and redeem us with an outstretched arm.

When the Lord appeared to Moses in the burning bush, he revealed himself as “I AM,” in Hebrew, YHWH. Then he added: More…

O Antiphons During the Christmas Novena 3

God Is With Us

God Is With Us

During the last 9 days before Christmas, the Christmas Novena, the Church invites us to meditate on the Incarnation of the Son of God and his coming to us as a child born of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The Church has special prayers during these days called the O Antiphons, which are prayed each night along with the Magnificat during Evening Prayer for the Liturgy of the Hours. More…

O Wisdom, O Sapientia, Today’s O Antiphon Reply

Sede Sapientiae, ora pro nobis

Sede Sapientiae, ora pro nobis

“The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord” (Isaiah 11:2-3)

Today, the Church contemplates the Incarnation of Divine Wisdom, who is the Word of God. More…

Sweet Music Sets the Rejoicing Tone for Gaudete Sunday Reply

Rejoice in the Lord!

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, Rejoice! Let your forbearance be known to all, for the Lord is near at hand; have no anxiety about anything, but in all things, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God. — Lord, you have blessed your land; you have turned away the captivity of Jacob” — Philippians 4:4–6; Psalm 85:1

The Introit of today’s Mass invites us to Rejoice in the Lord.

Thanks. What’s an introit? More…

The Advent of Joy 5

Desert Rose, a Sign of Contradiction, expresses the meaning and color of Gaudete Sunday

Desert Rose, a Sign of Contradiction, expresses the meaning and color of Gaudete Sunday

As I’m going over tomorrow’s readings for Gaudete Sunday, I find myself asking with John the Baptist, am I looking for the right thing?

The first words of the first reading: the desert and the parched land

Second reading, first words: Be Patient…

In the first line of the Gospel reading we learn: John the Baptist is in prison…. More…

The 4 Stages of Spiritual Maturity 5

“If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23)

Reflections on the Kingdom for Advent by Fr Martin Connor, LC

Contained in Christ’s invitation to his followers (but often missed) is actually a four-stage process to check your realism in the daily following of the Lord through sacrifice.

We can break this invitation up into four parts: (1) “if anyone wishes, (2) he must deny himself, (3) take up his cross, and (4) follow me.” More…

The Virtue of Hope in Christian Life Reply

“May God our Father, enlighten the eyes of our hearts, so that we may see the great hope to which we are called in Christ Jesus”(Ephesians 1:18).

Hope is the first characteristic in constructing this new creation born in Christ through baptism, how could it be otherwise?

From the very beginning of human existence, the battle for the human heart was at stake: More…

Establishing Christ’s Kingdom Requires the Freedom to Love 1

Reflection for the Second Week of Advent, by Fr Martin Connor

To establish the Kingdom is to teach Christ by giving Christ.

To give Christ is to teach that love is a choice, the choice of making yourself a gift to the other rather than use another as a means for some pleasure or end, which is so very common in our world.

Ultimately, love is a choice for Good over evil. More…

Reflections on the Kingdom for Advent 3

cross silloetteIn the Gospel reading for the Second Sunday of Advent, John the Baptist proclaims:

“The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!”

Over the next few days, we will offer some reflections on the Kingdom by Fr Martin Connor to help us to “Prepare the way of the Lord.”

What does Kingdom mean?

More…

Do You Know the Immaculate Conception? 6

Exhibit A

Exhibit A

In honor of the Immaculate Conception

For today’s solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, I decided to issue a challenge. Two challenges, actually. The first challenge is…

Can you identify which one of these depictions of the Immaculate Conception was painted by Murillo?  More…