Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist

“What will this child be?” Today, six months before the birth of Jesus, we celebrate the birthday of the man who was sent ahead of him to prepare the way, St. John the Baptist. Like every birthday, it is a celebration of the gift of life. As we ponder the birth and...

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our Gospel today is one of three “boat scenes” that can be found in the first half of Mark (cf. 6:45-52 and 8:13-21). The evangelist uses the experience of being in a boat to teach us something about the journey of faith and Christian discipleship. A small boat on a...

Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

In the Garden of Eden, when the snake tempted Eve, he told her that, if she and the man ate the forbidden fruit, they would be “like gods” (Gn 3:5). This must have sounded very desirable to her, because we know that she then did take the fruit and eat it, as did the...

The Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Yesterday we honored the Sacred Heart of Jesus with a joyful celebration. Today we celebrate a “companion feast” – really a continuation of yesterday’s feast. We continue to love, honor, and praise the Heart of Jesus, but we do so with a greater awareness that we are...

Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

On this great Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, we are given an opportunity to ponder with greater appreciation and devotion the wondrous gift of the Holy Eucharist. This is all the more important today, because in some parts of the world, the very...

Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

Last Sunday we welcomed the coming of the Holy Spirit as we celebrated the great feast of Pentecost. A question that may come to our minds is, “Who is this Holy Spirit, and where does he come from?” We know the answer: the Holy Spirit is God, and he comes from God. He...