7 minute podcast in which Dr. Italy describes the two major basilicas of Assisi which he visits on his Italy pilgrimage - San Francesco (St. Francis) and Santa Chiara (St. Clare). Image of the Basilica of San Francesco and the town of Assisi by Roberto Ferrari....
Saul of Tarsus the Pharisee to Paul, the apostle - both life and fruit were transformed. The story tells us where the bitter fruit of egoism and violence comes from, and how can it be changed into the fruit of the Spirit....
Gregory the Great here reflects on Jesus words in John 10 that he is the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep....
APOSTOLIC LETTER DIES DOMINI OF THE HOLY FATHER JOHN PAUL II TO THE BISHOPS, CLERGY AND FAITHFUL OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ON KEEPING THE LORD'S DAY HOLY My esteemed Brothers in the Episcopate and the Priesthood, Dear Brothers and Sisters! [dropcaps type='normal' font_size='65' color='' background_color='' border_color='']T[/dropcaps]he Lord's Day — as Sunday was called from Apostolic...
Divine Mercy Sunday or the Octave of Easter presents us with one of the most famous of gospel stories -- the story of Doubting Thomas. But it shows us how and when the sacrament of penance and reconciliation (aka "Confession") was instituted by the Lord...
Eight days after Easter, Thomas the Doubter has an encounter with the Risen Christ that makes him a believer and even more, an apostle or ambassador who will bring the gospel to an unbelieving world. That should give us hope that he will do...
This excerpt on the Easter Alleluia from St. Augustine is a wonderful explanation of the joy of the Easter Season. Just as Lent was a season of penance, so the fifty days of Easter is a season of praise, an anticipation for the age to...
The Regina Caeli, Latin for "Queen of Heaven," is a hymn and prayer dating back to around the 12th century, by an unknown author. In this jubilant Eastertide hymn of praise, we celebrate with the Blessed Mother the joy of Christ's Resurrection, and ask her...
Here Cyril, bishop of Jerusalem in the mid-4th century, urges catechumens to prepare themselves to receive the Holy Spirit at the Easter Vigil. He speaks of the sacrament of baptism in nuptial terms, describing it as a wedding feast at which the bridegroom will...
St. Patrick's Day has been celebrated on March 17 for fifteen hundred years since it is the day that Patrick, the missionary bishop who evangelized Ireland, passed from this world to eternity. This excerpt from his autobiographical work called the Confession makes clear that...