Today, March 19, is the solemnity of Saint Joseph, Husband of Mary. Principal Protector of the Carmelite Order. The liturgical feast of St. Joseph already appeared in the Carmelite Order in the second half of the 15th century. In 1680, the Carmelite General Chapter unanimously elected St. Joseph as the Principal Protector of the Carmelite …
Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary.Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ. Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,but before they lived together,she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.Joseph her husband, since he was a …
Today, March 18, is the memorial of Saint Cyril of Jerusalem. Doctor of the Church. Cyril’s early life is rather sketchy, but his birth year has been pegged at 315. He was known for his expertise in the topics of theology and philosophy. He was ordained deacon by St. Macarius of Jerusalem and priest by …
Jesus said to the Jews:“If I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is not true.But there is another who testifies on my behalf,and I know that the testimony he gives on my behalf is true.You sent emissaries to John, and he testified to the truth.I do not accept human testimony,but I say this so …
Today, March 17, is the memorial of Saint Patrick. Patrick lived in tumultuous times. He was kidnapped from the British mainland around age 16, and shipped to Ireland as a slave. There he was assigned to serve as shepherd. Even while guarding sheep, Patrick never neglected his prayer life. He dreamt that a mission was …
Jesus answered the Jews: “My Father is at work until now, so I am at work.”For this reason they tried all the more to kill him,because he not only broke the sabbathbut he also called God his own father, making himself equal to God. Jesus answered and said to them,“Amen, amen, I say to you, the …
Today, March 16, is the memorial of Saint Heribert of Cologne. Heribert was born in the year 970, Germany. It was his dream to become a Benedictine monk. His father disliked the idea—he did everything to stop Heribert from pursuing that dream. Heribert later became a church official and eventually was ordained priest. He became …
There was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.Now there is in Jerusalem at the Sheep Gatea pool called in Hebrew Bethesda, with five porticoes.In these lay a large number of ill, blind, lame, and crippled.One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years.When Jesus saw him lying thereand …
Today, March 15, is the memorial of Saint Clement Hofbauer. Born in 1751 in present-day Czech Republic, Clement felt called to become a priest early in life. However, his family could not afford such an education. After his father’s death, he then worked as a journeyman, apprentice baker, and househelp at the Norbertine Abbey. He …
At that time Jesus left [Samaria] for Galilee.For Jesus himself testifiedthat a prophet has no honor in his native place.When he came into Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him,since they had seen all he had done in Jerusalem at the feast;for they themselves had gone to the feast. Then he returned to Cana in Galilee,where he …