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The Second Sunday of Advent [A]
Today’s readings I’ve had the feeling, lately, that things just aren’t right. I think we all get that in our lives from time to time, and it leads us to take stock of what’s going on in us and around us. For me, of course, it’s this impending move, just ten days from now. I’m…
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St. Francis Xavier, priest
Today’s readings: 1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-23; Mark 16:15-20 We celebrate the memorial of St. Francis Xavier as a feast today, because he is the patron saint of the Diocese of Joliet. Francis Xavier was a sixteenth century man who had a promising career in academics. He was encouraged in the faith by his good friend, St.…
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Wednesday of the First Week of Advent
Today’s readings We are a people who are always in a rush, and so way too often we pick up a bite to eat on the run. We stop at fast food places so often that they are a thriving industry, all of this to the detriment of our health. We offer this same mentality,…
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Saint Andrew the Apostle
Today’s readings There are two presentations of Andrew’s discipleship in Scripture. In the Gospel story we have today, Andrew is called at the same time as his brother Peter. They are both fishermen, and are casting their nets into the sea. Jesus, of course, has plans for them to cast nets for bigger fish, for…
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Monday of the First Week of Advent
Today’s readings Could you do that? You have someone close to you at home, and you know Jesus is near and one visit could heal her or him. Yet, you realize the unworthiness that you have, that we all have, for him to come under your roof. Would you have faith enough to tell him…
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The First Sunday of Advent [A]
Today’s readings I don’t know about you, but I always find this weekend after Thanksgiving to be a little strange. And I love Thanksgiving: what a great holiday when we don’t have to worry about shopping for gifts, but instead can concentrate on a nice meal with family or friends, or whatever our traditions may…
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Friday of the Thirty-fourth Week of Ordinary Time
Today’s readings Jesus says to us today, “this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place.” This includes all of us, past, present and future. We will all live, in some way, to see the end of days, either here on earth, or from the joy of heaven. So what will…
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Saint Andrew Dũng-Lac, priest and martyr, and his companions, martyrs
Today’s readings St. Andrew Dung-Lac was a priest in Vietnam in the early nineteenth century. He and his 116 companions, including Spanish Dominicans, members of the Society of Foreign Missions of Paris, and 96 Vietnamese, including 36 other priests, were all martyred around the year 1839. It is estimated that between 100,000 and 300,000 Catholics…
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Saint Cecilia, virgin and martyr
Today’s readings According to legend, Saint Cecilia was a young Christian of high rank betrothed to a Roman named Valerian. Through her influence Valerian was converted, and was martyred along with his brother. A legend about Cecilia’s own death says that after being struck three times on the neck with a sword, she lived for…
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Our Lord Jesus Christ the King
Today’s readings I wonder if this solemnity of Christ the King is one to which many people can relate. In our American society, so many people don’t recognize or accept any authority outside of their own personal opinion of what is okay, let alone grasp the concept of a monarchical, top-down method of government. And…
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