THERE’S NONE LIKE HIM. Jesus is truly one of a kind. He is the only man, the only founder of a religion, who could claim that people had been talking about his coming centuries before he was born.
Year: 2022
SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS, DOCTOR ANGELICUS: Study enlightened by prayer
Of the mystical signs evident in the life of St Thomas Aquinas, Friar Kennedy records that on one occasion, at Naples in 1273, after he had completed his treatise on the Eucharist, three of the brethren saw him lifted in ecstasy, and they heard a voice proceeding from the crucifix on the altar, saying “Thou hast written well of me, Thomas; what reward wilt thou have?” Thomas replied, “None other than Thyself, Lord.”
Into the New Year with courage and hope
What a dark turn of events! In the sequel of last Sunday’s gospel, Jesus’ countrymen were “speaking highly” of Jesus and “amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.” However, after a better understanding of His message, they arrived at the point of “being filled with fury” and “drove Him to the brow of the hill to hurl him down headlong” (Luke 4:21-30). What caused such a drastic change of attitude?
Getting a Papal audience
An audience with Pope Francis is not as difficult as one might imagine. Indeed, there is no charge for visitors. That is for the Vatican weekly general audiences, not one to one or small of groups invited to meet the Pope personally.
HEROES OF THE CATHOLIC FAITH IN THE EAST (3): The “failed” Patriarch
Born in Porto, Nunes Barreto completed his studies in Salamanca and served as parish priest in the archdiocese of Braga. In 1545 he entered the Society of Jesus in Coimbra.
The Classics of Christian Spirituality
The classics of Christian spirituality are very important texts for spiritual reading, which is an aid to spiritual growth. Any person interested in spirituality and wishing to grow in his/her interior life, has read or will read the classics.
Catholic Afghan refugees’ scary wait
“If the Taliban found them, they’d probably kill them,” Mark Pfeifle, head of Off The Record Strategies told CNS. “They’re just in purgatory, waiting,” he said.
What we lose when music is not real prayer
Music is the way we speak to God and the way He speaks to us. We should not waste this privileged way of getting in touch with Him. Sacred music becomes incessant prayer that borders, in the most fortunate cases, with mysticism, with the deepest form of elevation to God. It may happen that while listening to a motet by Victoria you feel plunged into something in which you seem to get lost. This is because, going back to Augustine again, to fill ourselves with what we are empty of, we must empty ourselves of what we are full of.
Parents and catechesis
The Lord does not force us to follow him and so we too must proclaim His Word, without expecting everyone to respond to it, but on our part to fulfill our duty as much as possible.
Parishes pitch in to support Afghan refugees and children
Parishes of Macau arranged a second collection during the Sunday Mass on 16 January 2022. The donation was transferred to Caritas Macau to support Afghan refugees and children at the brink of humanitarian disaster. A total of MOP 400,000 was raised.