Today, February 15, is the memorial of Blessed Michael Sopocko. Spiritual director of Saint Faustina Kowalska. Michael was born in 1888 in what is now Belarus. After obtaining his doctorate in theology, he became the spiritual director at a seminary and a professor of pastoral theology at Stefan Batory University in Vilnius. Now, St. Faustina …
The disciples had forgotten to bring bread,and they had only one loaf with them in the boat.Jesus enjoined them, “Watch out,guard against the leaven of the Phariseesand the leaven of Herod.”They concluded among themselves thatit was because they had no bread.When he became aware of this he said to them,“Why do you conclude that it …
“According to the travel story of the Greek monk, Phocas, St. Berthold, ‘a monk white with age and invested with priestly dignity, came to Carmel in 1155, built a small chapel and collected ten brothers.’ He did not, however, give them a Rule, being unwilling to interfere with the customs of the hermits which among …
Today, February 14, is the memorial of Saint Cyril and Saint Methodius. They were two Byzantine Greek brothers born in Thessaloniki in the 9th century. They became missionaries of Christianity among the Slavic peoples of Bulgaria, Great Moravia and Pannonia. Through their work they influenced the cultural development of all Slavs, for which they received …
The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with Jesus,seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him.He sighed from the depth of his spirit and said,“Why does this generation seek a sign?Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.”Then he left them, got into the boat again,and went …
“In conclusion, we should like to see the great Prophet Elias in Carmel’s garden like a red rose, and not only the great Prophet but also those who follow him, climbing (symbol of the exercise of virtue) along the mountain, through the caves and grottos of Carmel, interlacing it with a girdle of fire. These …
Jesus came down with the Twelveand stood on a stretch of level groundwith a great crowd of his disciplesand a large number of the peoplefrom all Judea and Jerusalemand the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon.And raising his eyes toward his disciples he said:“Blessed are you who are poor,for the kingdom of God is yours.Blessed …
“We should like to speak also about the apostolic character of the life of the great prophet, but his position in the Old Testament is clear enough to illustrate the zealous apostolic spirit by which he was led. Following this spirit also, Carmelite life has always been apostolic. We will see in the next lecture, …
Today, February 12, is the memorial of Saint Eulalia of Barcelona. During Eulalia’s time, Spain was under the rule of Roman emperor Diocletian, who hated Christians. Eulalia’s mother wanted her daughter, a staunch Christian, to hide. However, Eulalia spoke out against the atrocities of her time. The authorities arrested her immediately. The arresting officers dragged …
In those days when there again was a great crowd without anything to eat,Jesus summoned the disciples and said,“My heart is moved with pity for the crowd,because they have been with me now for three daysand have nothing to eat.If I send them away hungry to their homes,they will collapse on the way,and some of …