Holy Week
Isaiah 42:1-7 | Psalm 27:1-3, 13-14 | John 12:1-11

"Mary brought a pound of costly perfume made from genuine aromatic nard, with which she anointed Jesus' feet. Then she dried His feet with her hair, and the house was filled with the ointment's fragrance." —John 12:3

Mary of Bethany anointed Jesus with very expensive perfume, worth a year's salary. Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve apostles, objected to Mary's extravagance (Jn 12:4ff). Several other apostles "were infuriated at her" (Mk 14:5). Others were ... More

Going to confession one day was the turning point of Catherine’s life.

When Catherine was born, many Italian nobles were supporting Renaissance artists and writers. The needs of the poor and the sick were often overshadowed by a hunger for luxury and self-indulgence.

Catherine’s parents were members of the nobility in Genoa. ...

Passion (Palm) Sunday
Luke 19:28-40 | (Entrance Processional) | Isaiah 50:4-7 | Philippians 2:6-11 | Psalm 22:8-9, 17-20, 23-24 | Luke 22:14—23:56

"On His approach to the descent from Mount Olivet, the entire crowd of disciples began to rejoice and praise God loudly." —Luke 19:37

The palms of Palm Sunday will either continue to be used as palms to praise the Lord or they will be burned to become the ashes of Ash Wednesday. They symbolize the best and worst possibilities for Holy Week.

Our palms turn to ashes when: ... More

Together with Rose of Lima, Turibius is the first known saint of the New World, serving the Lord in Peru, South America, for 26 years.

Born in Spain and educated for the law, he became so brilliant a scholar that he was made professor of law at the University of Salamanca ...

St. Toribio de Mogrovejo
Ezekiel 37:21-28 | Jeremiah 31:10-13 | John 11:45-56

"From that day onward there was a plan afoot to kill Him." —John 11:53

The Book of Signs, which is the first half of John's Gospel, is coming to a conclusion. Jesus has just performed His seventh and final sign, the raising of Lazarus from the dead. In giving new life to Lazarus, Jesus will pay with His own life. ... More

Nicholas, familiarly known as "Little John," was small in stature but big in the esteem of his fellow Jesuits.

Born at Oxford, this humble artisan saved the lives of many priests and laypersons in England during the penal times (1559-1829), when a series of statutes punished Catholics for the practice of their ...

Jeremiah 20:10-13 | Psalm 18:2-7 | John 10:31-42

"In that place, many came to believe in Him." —John 10:42

It's a glorious sunny day, and I'm inside. I'm sitting in adoration before my Lord Jesus, Who is exposed in eucharistic splendor. The weather is balmy outside, but inside the atmosphere is heavenly. In this place of intimacy before the real ... More

The seventh general minister of the Franciscan Order, John was known for his attempts to bring back the earlier spirit of the Order after the death of St. Francis of Assisi.

He was born in Parma, Italy, in 1209. It was when he was a young philosophy professor known for his ...

Genesis 17:3-9 | Psalm 105:4-9 | John 8:51-59

"Jesus answered them: 'I solemnly declare it: before Abraham came to be, I AM.' " —John 8:58

Jesus said He was I AM (see also Jn 8:28). I AM is the name for God (Ex 3:14). Therefore, Jesus called Himself "God." Those who believed Him worshipped Him and gave their lives to Him. Those who did not believe Jesus had no choice but to try to ... More

A reputation for holiness does have some drawbacks. Public recognition can be a nuisance at times—as the confreres of Salvator found out.

Salvator was born during Spain’s Golden Age. Art, politics and wealth were flourishing. So was religion. Ignatius of Loyola founded the Society of Jesus in 1540.

Salvator’s parents were poor. At ...

Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95 | Daniel 3:52-56 | John 8:31-42

"We are no illegitimate breed!" —John 8:41

In John's gospel, the technique of relating a misunderstanding is often used to lead to a point of decision. For example, a group of Jews misunderstood Jesus' words and decided to reject Him (Jn 8:59). On other occasions, people misunderstood ... More

The Bible pays Joseph the highest compliment: he was a “just” man. The quality meant a lot more than faithfulness in paying debts.

When the Bible speaks of God “justifying” someone, it means that God, the all-holy or “righteous” One, so transforms a person that the individual shares somehow in God’s ...

St. Joseph
2 Samuel 7:4-5, 12-14, 16 | Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22 | Psalm 89:2-5, 27, 29 | Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24 | or Luke 2:41-51

"Forever I will maintain My kindness toward him, and My covenant with him stands firm." —Psalm 89:29

Holy Mother Church has recognized the holiness and trustworthiness of St. Joseph over the years (see Ps 89:29). Blessed Pope Pius IX named St. Joseph as patron saint of the universal church. The month of March is commonly known as the month of ... More

The crises that the Church faces today may seem minor when compared with the threat posed by the Arian heresy, which denied the divinity of Christ and almost overcame Christinity in the fourth century. Cyril was to be caught up in the controversy, accused (later) of Arianism by St. Jerome (September 30), and ...

St. Cyril of Jerusalem
Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62 | Psalm 23:1-6 | John 8:12-20

"She decided to bathe." —Daniel 13:15

Today's first reading is more than a story of good triumphing over evil. It's an Old Testament preview of Baptism. When Susanna enters her bath (Dn 13:17-18), she is surrounded by the powers of evil, as represented by the two corrupt elders. ... More

Legends about Patrick abound; but truth is best served by our seeing two solid qualities in him: He was humble and he was courageous. The determination to accept suffering and success with equal indifference guided the life of God’s instrument for winning most of Ireland for Christ.

Details of his life ...

Fifth Sunday of Lent
Isaiah 43:16-21 | Philippians 3:8-14 | Psalm 126:1-6 | John 8:1-11

"I have come to rate all as loss in the light of the surpassing knowledge of my Lord Jesus Christ." —Philippians 3:8

Because of Paul's "surpassing knowledge" of Jesus, he came to rate all as loss. Paul's personal relationship with Jesus changed the "ratings" in his life. Things he used to rate high were reassessed as worthless and empty.

All of us have a ... More

Clement might be called the second founder of the Redemptorists, as it was he who carried the congregation of St. Alphonsus Liguori to the people north of the Alps.

John, the name given him at Baptism, was born in Moravia into a poor family, the ninth of 12 children. Although he longed ...

Jeremiah 11:18-20 | Psalm 7:2-3, 9-12 | John 7:40-53

"I knew it because the Lord informed me; at that time You, O Lord, showed me their doings." —Jeremiah 11:18

The temple guards were so impressed by Jesus' words that they disobeyed their orders to arrest Him (Jn 7:45). They said: "No man ever spoke like that before" (Jn 7:46). The religious leaders pressured the guards to not accept Jesus and to follow ... More

Louise, born near Meux, France, lost her mother when she was still a child, her beloved father when she was but 15. Her desire to become a nun was discouraged by her confessor, and a marriage was arranged. One son was born of this union. But she soon found herself nursing ...