Could one imagine a daughter of the Heavenly Father more enchanting than you, beloved Virgin Mary?
A daughter who so enraptures her Father that He entrusts to her the most precious thing: His beloved Son.
No, there can be no equal to you. Read More
Saint Jane of Chantal and the martyrdom of love
Mk 3:31-35
Reading for the memorial of St. Jane of Chantal
At that time his mother and his brothers arrived and, standing outside, sent in a message asking for him. A crowd was sitting round him at the time the message was passed to him, ‘Look, your mother and brothers and sisters are outside asking for you.’ He replied, ‘Who are my mother and my brothers?’ Read More
The importance of the call
Mt 19:27-29
Reading corresponding to the memorial of St. Clare
At that time Peter, taking the word, said to Jesus: ‘Look, we have left everything and followed you. What are we to have, then?’ Jesus said to them, ‘In truth I tell you, when everything is made new again and the Son of man is seated on his throne of glory, you yourselves will sit on twelve thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel. Read More
To hate one’s own life in this world
Jn 12:24-26
Reading for the Feast of St. Lawrence
At that time Jesus said to his disciples: “In all truth I tell you, unless a wheat grain falls into the earth and dies, it remains only a single grain; but if it dies it yields a rich harvest. Anyone who loves his life loses it; anyone who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me, must follow me, and my servant will be with me wherever I am. If anyone serves me, my Father will honour him.” Read More
Come, we’re going for our people
Est 4:17 k-m, r-t
Reading for the memorial of St Edith Stein
In those days Queen Esther took refuge with the Lord in the mortal peril which had overtaken her. She took off her sumptuous robes and put on sorrowful mourning. Instead of expensive perfumes, she covered her head with ashes and dung. She mortified her body severely, and the former scenes of her happiness and elegance were now littered with tressestorn from her hair. Read More
True freedom
Mt 17:22-27
When the disciples were together with Jesus in Galilee, Jesus said to them, ‘The Son of man is going to be delivered into the power of men; they will put him to death, and on the third day he will be raised up again.’ And a great sadness came over them. When they reached Capernaum, the collectors of the half-shekel came to Peter and said, ‘Does your master not pay the half-shekel?’ ‘Yes,’ he replied, and went into the house. Read More
FEAST OF GOD THE FATHER: The Father of all mankind
Through the meditations of the last days, we have been able to encounter God the Father more closely. Sometimes the negative experiences we have had in our lives prevent us from recognising the true image of God, for example, if the relationship with our biological father has been rather problematic. However, we should not let these experiences bring us down, but then it is all the more necessary for us to discover God as our loving Father, who can heal our wounds and fill any inner emptiness with Himself. Read More
NOVENA TO GOD THE FATHER – Day 9: A gift for You, Father!
We are already on the doorstep of the date You proposed for the liturgical Feast in Your honour: the 7th of August or the first Sunday of the same month.
Father, we are always abundantly blessed by You… At some point, we, Your children – in all our weakness – want to give something back to You. We know that the most beautiful thing we can give You is our heart! It must belong to You totally and unreservedly! Read More
NOVENA TO GOD THE FATHER – Day 8: “Whom Shall You Send?”
As You give us to understand, Beloved Father, You are not far away, but very close to us, and You will come even closer, to the extent that we allow You and open our hearts to You.
Since this is so and You call us to infinite trust, knowing that You are watching over all that happens to Your children, we come to You also at this hour of history, to ask You what is currently happening on earth. Read More
NOVENA TO GOD THE FATHER – Day 7: The Anticipation of Heavenly Joy
Dear Father, it is true that only in eternity, as we contemplate You from face to face, will we experience the fullness of happiness, towards which we are heading. There is no doubt about it!
However, it is not that You want us to experience only tribulation until then, even if this sometimes helps us not to enjoy a false happiness. If this were so, Beloved Father, You would not have told us through our friend St. Paul that we should always rejoice (Phil 4:4). Read More