Today, December 11, is the memorial of Saint Maria Maravillas de Jesus. Carmelite nun. Maria de la Maravillas Pidal Chico de Guzman was born in Madrid in 1891. Her father was the Spanish ambassador to the Vatican. She grew up in a pious family, was known as “Mavi, ”an intelligent and religious child. When she …
As they were coming down from the mountain,the disciples asked Jesus,“Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”He said in reply, “Elijah will indeed come and restore all things;but I tell you that Elijah has already come,and they did not recognize him but did to him whatever they pleased.So also will the Son …
Today, December 10, is the memorial of Our Lady of Loreto. The title Our Lady of Loreto refers to the Holy House of Loreto, the house in which Mary was born, and where the Annunciation occurred, and to an ancient statue of Our Lady which is found there. Tradition says that a band of angels …
Jesus said to the crowds:“To what shall I compare this generation?It is like children who sit in marketplaces and call to one another,‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance,we sang a dirge but you did not mourn.’For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said,‘He is possessed by a demon.’The …
Today, December 9, is the memorial of Saint Juan Diego. Visionary of Our Lady of Guadalupe. He was born Juan Diego Cuāuhtlahtoātzin in 1474 to an impoverished free man in a strongly class-conscious society. He was a farm worker, field laborer, and mat maker. He was married to Maria Lucia and they had no children. …
Jesus said to the crowds:“Amen, I say to you,among those born of womenthere has been none greater than John the Baptist;yet the least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than he.From the days of John the Baptist until now,the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence,and the violent are taking it by force.All the prophets and …
Today, December 8, is the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. The Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, the solemn dogma defined by Blessed Pope Pius IX in 1854. Through the centuries the Church has become ever more aware that Mary, “full of grace” through God, was redeemed from the moment of her conception. …
The angel Gabriel was sent from Godto a town of Galilee called Nazareth,to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,of the house of David,and the virgin’s name was Mary.And coming to her, he said,“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”But she was greatly troubled at what was saidand pondered what sort of …
Today, December 7, is the memorial of Saint Ambrose. Doctor of the Church. Ambrose was born to the Roman nobility. He was the brother of Saint Marcellina and Saint Satyrus. He was educated in the classics, Greek, and philosophy at Rome, Italy. When the bishop of Milan died, a dispute over his replacement led to …
Jesus said to his disciples:“What is your opinion?If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray,will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hillsand go in search of the stray?And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over itthan over the ninety-nine that did not stray.In …