The Forgotten Days
This week, the third of September, the traditional Roman calendar has us celebrate what are known as the “Ember Days”. These are essentially days of prayer and fasting, recurring four times a year (whence their Latin name of “Quattuor Temporum”), and destined to sanctify the four seasons of the year. These celebrations are among the […]
The Joy Of Suffering
It’s a paradox, one that has to be experienced to understand: suffering leads to joy. Our Lord Himself gives us the example in embracing His passion and death. It all started in the Garden of Eden when our first parents sinned. They chose to be fooled by the Enemy into putting themselves before God, lifting […]
One Day Better Than A Thousand
One day in Thy vestibules is better than a thousand elsewhere. (Ps 83) Such are the words Holy Mother Church puts on our lips at the beginning of today’s Mass. Better one single day in the Lord’s house, even at its threshold, than a thousand in the tents of the worldly rich. A gaze of […]
Saint Regina, A Virgin Conquers Caesar…
Today, 7 September, is the feast of St Regina, a young virgin martyr from Alise-Sainte Reine, France, just a few miles from Flavigny-sur-Ozerain where I spent 32 years of my life. St Regina is dearly loved by the monks of Flavigny, the main reason being that her relics were kept and guarded by the monks […]
The Good Samaritan And The Longing For Eternal Life
Today the traditional Roman liturgy has us read the well-known parable of the Good Samaritan. It also happens to be the Sunday on which, here in Tasmania, our Archbishop has asked his priests to preach on the Catholic doctrine of marriage, in view of the upcoming plebiscite vote on what is wrongly called “same-sex marriage”. […]
What Our Conscience Fears
Today’s oration, 11th Sunday after Pentecost, petitions God to “dismiss what our conscience fears and to add what our prayer dares not ask”. What does our conscience fear if not sin? When we take a look back, we can sometimes feel fear at the thought of the evil we have done, the people we have […]
The Triumph Of Our Mother
The Assumption is, historically and liturgically, the greatest feast of Our Lady, for in this mystery we celebrate and honour her definitive glorification, body and soul, in Heaven. It is a feast dear to all Catholic hearts, for the honour of the Mother redounds upon her children. It gives us great joy to know that […]
St Maximilian And The Immaculata
It was no accident that St Maximilian Kolbe achieved his long martyrdom on the vigil of the Assumption. He was one Our Lady’s greatest devotees, had served to promote her honour like few saints have done, and deserved finally to be admitted to enter Heaven for the greatest of her feasts. To help us enter […]
Refuge Of Sinners
Today in some places Our Lady is honoured as the “refuge of sinners”. And it so happens that today’s gospel (10th Sunday after Pentecost) presents us with the perfect attitude of those who wish to find refuge in her Immaculate Heart. The pharisee of our gospel is the epitome of the person who thinks he […]