by Greg Beben | Dec 10, 2022 | Meditations
The clergy may don rose-colored vestments at today’s Mass – one of only two times in the year that they do so. Rose represents joy (gaudium in Latin); hence the Third Sunday of Advent is also known as Gaudete Sunday. What does joy have to do with the season of Advent?...
by Greg Beben | Dec 7, 2022 | Meditations
The document that declared the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary as a “doctrine revealed by God” is aptly titled Ineffabilis Deus, that is, “ineffable God.” When something is “ineffable” it is too great or extreme to be expressed in words. Certainly God...
by Greg Beben | Dec 3, 2022 | Meditations
“Whatever was written previously was written for our instruction, that by endurance and by the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” When St. Paul wrote this to the Romans, he was referring to what we know as the Old Testament. We, however, apply his...
by Greg Beben | Nov 26, 2022 | Meditations
It may surprise some of us that the Scripture readings on this First Sunday of Advent do not refer at all to the birth of Jesus at Christmas – which is what most well-meaning Catholics look forward to in this season. These readings, especially the Gospel, have nothing...
by Greg Beben | Nov 19, 2022 | Meditations
The liturgical year draws to a close most fittingly with the celebration of Jesus Christ as King of the Universe. It is the Church’s way of acknowledging God’s “plan for the fullness of times, to sum up all things in Christ, in Heaven and on earth” (Eph 1:10). Today’s...
by Greg Beben | Nov 12, 2022 | Meditations
In the Spiritual Reflection for this week, Pope Francis says this about God: “It is He, the Lord, Who guides our existence and knows the ultimate purpose of things and events.” This is what we believe as Christians – that God has a plan for the world, and for each one...
