– Anastasios

We talked before of Saint Apollinaris [bishop of Hierapolis], a Christian apologist of the second century. Now we talk of another Apollinaris, whom some call “the younger” (310-390). He was a fighter of the Arian doctrine and was very well versed and knowledgeable. Nevertheless he was not exempt from big mistakes, especially for some Christological thesis. These theses were condemned by the Second Ecumenical Council of Constantinople.  His error (you may call it heresy) was thus called “Apollinarianism.”

Isaiah 62:1-5; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; John 2:1-12

– Shiu Lan

This Sunday’s Gospel reading tells us about Jesus’ first miracle of turning water into wine in Cana of Galilee. When we pray the Second Luminous Mystery of the Rosary, we also reflect on this miracle that happened at a wedding feast that Jesus and his mother attended. This miracle relates us to our heavenly mother Mary’s sensitivity not only to our spiritual wellbeing but also to our earthly needs. She intercedes for us before our asking.

Margaret, the daughter of King Bela IV of Hungary, was offered to God before her birth, in petition that the country would be delivered from the terrible scourge of the Tartars. The prayer having been answered, the king and queen made good their promise by placing the little girl in the Dominican convent at Vesprim. Margaret was three years old. Here, in company with other children of the nobility, she was trained in the arts thought fitting for royalty.

– Enrico Finotti

I would like to understand the widespread habit of filling churches with billboards and posters. Is not it rather unseemly, at least in some very beautiful churches?

The many posters that invade our churches are now a rampant custom and it is not easy to resist this trend. On the one hand, the national and diocesan pastoral offices offer an exorbitant material with an almost weekly publication of posters relating to the now continuous theme days; on the other the catechesis and the various parish groups want to show their activity with posters, drawings, photographs of various kinds and of different compositional quality.

– Aurelio Porfiri

Many years ago, during one of my first stays in Macau, I was asked to direct a choir for the feast of Saint Anthony in June. I said that I was happy to be able to celebrate St Anthony of Padua with them; then my Portuguese interlocutor said: “You wanted to say Saint Anthony from Lisbon.” We talked about the same saint, but nationalities played an important role.

– FAUSTO GOMEZ OP

Mary is the Mother of God – and our Mother. She is God’s servant and does God’s will.

MARY, MOTHER OF GOD – Mary is the Mother of Jesus, the Son of God (cf. Lk 1:26-38). In the Immaculate Conception Shrine in Washington DC, there is a lovely statue of Mother and Child, presiding a side altar, with the inscription: “More Mother than Queen.” I love it! Queen also, of course; but above all, Mother of Jesus, the Son of God and the Son of Mary.

– Maria Kwak

First, a bit about myself. I am a native of Seoul, South Korea and now pursuing a master’s degree in History and Heritage Studies at University of Saint Joseph since September, 2018. My family had been Catholic since the 18th century, surviving a number of persecutions. I spent my formative years in New Zealand and Canada. My first pilgrimage to Lourdes, France in 2008 was a life-altering experience, which led me to take another spiritual journey to Seville, Spain. There I wrote Fell in Love With Andalusia (2014) dedicated to the UNESCO World Heritage sites and cultural heritage in Andalusia. An encounter with sisters at 13th century monastery Real Monasterio de San Clemente established by the Order of Cistercians made a profound influence on my spiritual awakening.