In the medieval image kept in Santa Maria in Trastevere, the Madonna is the queen of mercy, indeed she is merciful as a queen. Basically, it summarizes what will be sung a few centuries after the making of this icon in one of the Marian antiphons still best known today: Salve Regina, mater misericordiae. Mary is queen and mother of mercy and the two are not in contradiction.
Afonso Mendes was born in Santo Aleixo, a village in the Portuguese municipality of Moura, in 1579. Raised on the border, Afonso was still young when he joined the Society of Jesus.
Jesuits lead the way in the spirit of Laudato Si’
This four-hour New Year vigil was totally focused on a meeting of praise, prayer and Adoration of the Eucharistic Christ, the Lord of life – of past, present and future.
Let us go to Bethlehem to meet the Lord, this is what Adeste Fideles wants to tell us, hoping that we are listening.
Christmas lights and markets: what a contrast to a liturgical Advent! What we say in catechesis loses all meaning in the streets decorated for ‘feasts’. Should we resign ourselves or rejoice, adapt or resist?
It has just been several days after typhoon Odette (international name: Rai) battered the southern islands in the Philippines. The typhoon brought widespread devastation to the country’s southern regions and has left the people spending their Christmas in the dark.