Today, August 3, is the memorial of Saint Nicodemus. Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin, who, according to the Gospel of John, showed favor to Jesus. He appears three times in John. Nicodemus visits Jesus one night to discuss his teachings with him. The second time Nicodemus is mentioned, is when …
At that time Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out,“Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David!My daughter is tormented by a demon.”But he did not say a word in answer to her.His disciples came and asked him,“Send her away, for she …
“Carmel is the mountain of shrubbery and flowers. With full hands the children of Carmel strew those flowers over the earth. Such a picture of St. Therese is widely spread. The Saint scatters widely the flowers which she receives from the hand of Our Lady, the Mediatrix of All Graces. And this is the second …
Today, August 2, is the memorial of Saint Peter Julian Eymard. Founder of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament and the Servants of the Blessed Sacrament. Born in 1811, Peter grew up in a poor family during the anti-Catholic aftermath of the French Revolution. His family opposed his entrance to the priesthood and then illness …
Jesus made the disciples get into a boatand precede him to the other side of the sea,while he dismissed the crowds.After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.When it was evening he was there alone.Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore,was being tossed about by the waves, for the …
“St. Therese of Lisieux has said that after death she would strew roses on earth. And of what else is a rose the symbol, if not of love of God, for Whom she wanted to be a rose, a rose shedding its petals on the road of God through the world?” St. Titus Brandsma What …
Today, August 1, is the memorial of Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori. Doctor of the Church. Founder of the Redemptorists. Alphonsus was born in 1696 in Marianella, Italy, to Giuseppe, a naval officer, and Anna Maria. In life he became a lawyer, but a case he lost proved pivotal in his decision to leave the …
When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist,he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself.The crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns.When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd,his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick.When it was evening, the …
“History describes how St. Louis, King of France, while on his Crusade, was overtaken by a gale at the foot of Carmel and heard its bells ringing, calling the monks for the night hours; how he went on shore and joined the fathers in their prayers. At his departure he took six monks with him …
Someone in the crowd said to Jesus,“Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.”He replied to him,“Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?”Then he said to the crowd,“Take care to guard against all greed,for though one may be rich,one’s life does not consist of possessions.” Then he told them a parable.“There …