The Epiphany of the Lord

The first reading for today’s Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord gives us these striking lines: “Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you. See, darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds cover the peoples; but upon...

Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of God

We can begin our reflection today by pondering the first lines of the Psalm: “May God bless us in his mercy. May God have pity on us and bless us; may he let his face shine upon us.” These words, which were written hundreds of years before Christ’s birth, continue...

Holy Family

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. It is fitting to celebrate this feast during the Octave of Christmas, for Jesus was truly born into a human family, founded on the marriage of Mary and Joseph. The Gospel today presents St....

Christmas

Jesus Christ is born! With the birth of the Savior, God has burst into the darkness of our human condition as a light, to lead all people home to him. He has entered physically, in bodily form, into his creation. God has come as a helpless newborn baby to be seen,...

Seasonal Introduction to Christmas

The Christmas Season takes its direction from the splendor of the light of Christ, which breaks into our Advent darkness with the three liturgical celebrations on Christmas Day. We then proceed into the Octave, which contains numerous feasts. There is an intensity of...