When we think about the Pope, we often think of the Vatican. But the roots of the Papacy are in the Old Testament as well as in the Gospel story of Jesus changing Simon's name to Peter and giving him the keys of the...
The Assumption of the Virgin Mary (called the Dormition in the Christian East) has been celebrated as a solemn feast on August 15 since ancient times. What is the meaning and basis of the dogma and the Solemnity?...
Reflections on the life and work of St. Dominic, founder of the Friars Preachers or Dominicans, by some of his contemporaries and also Marcellino D'Ambrosio (Dr. Italy) for the feast of St. Dominic August 8th....
St. John Vianney, the humble and simple Cure of Ars, on the glorious duty of man to pray. He sees prayer, as intimate union with God in love, as producing serenity and sweetness. And such experience is available to all, including simple lay people. [dropcaps type='normal'...
Bernard of Clairvaux on the Solemnity of All Saints and how remembrance of the saints strengthen our hope for glory and rouse us to pursue holiness. The history of the Solemnity of All Saints, November 1....
John Chrysostom on James and John, the Sons of Zebedee, and their mother's famous request that her sons sit at Jesus' right and left in the kingdom. St. James was born at Bethsaida and was martyred by Herod around the year 42. He is...
In this 14 minute podcast, the host of the SonRise Morning show interviews Dr. Italy on Sts. Joachim and Anne, whose feast is July 26, to find out what they can teach us about Jesus as well as the role of grandparents in passing on...
Ambrose here provides a fascinating glimpse into the rites preceding baptism in 4th century Milan as well as into the adult catechesis (RCIA) of the early Church in which direct discussion of the sacraments, mystagogia, was given only after people had already received the sacraments...
In 2016, Pope Francis elevated the annual memorial of Mary Magdalene on July 22 to that of a Feast, the same status as celebrations of the apostles and evangelists. In light of the fact that she announced the good news of the resurrection to the...
On October 24,1964, in his Apostolic Letter, Pacius Nuntius, Pope Paul VI proclaimed Saint Benedict of Nursia, patriarch of western monasticism, the Principal Patron of Europe at Monte Cassino Abbey. Here is an excerpt. [dropcaps type='normal' font_size='65' color='' background_color='' border_color='']W[/dropcaps]hen the man of God was keeping watch...