After having listened on recent Sundays to different accounts of portentous deeds by Jesus, culminating on the most-impressive revival of Jairus’ daughter, in the Gospel reading on the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time we find Jesus back in Nazareth, unable to perform a single miracle due to the lack of faith of those of his own home [Mk 6:1-6]. As a rabbi, he preaches in the synagogue on sabbath. The crowd who listens to his words, is astonished, even offended.... Read more
In the Gospel reading on the 13th Sunday in ordinary time, we listen to Mark’s pericope of the resurrection of Jairus’ daughter (Mk 5:21-43). Jairus was one of the synagogue officials. He approached Jesus, fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly, “My daughter is at the point of death. Please, come lay your hands on her that she may get well and live.” Jesus took with him Peter, James and his brother, John. They followed Jairus to his house. Some... Read more
Every 25 years, the Catholic Church celebrates a Jubilee. 2025 will be special for several reasons and Pope Francis wants all Catholics to prepare ourselves for this special Holy Year of grace by living 2024 as a Year of Prayer. The celebration of Holy Years has its roots in the ancient Hebrew tradition of the jubilee (yobel), which was a special time devoted to forgiveness and reconciliation. For Catholics, since year 1300, the Holy Year is a special occasion... Read more
Two days ago, one of my sons graduated from his Catholic boys-only high school. With great joy, we gathered in the cathedral for the celebration of the Holy Mass and in the evening, in the auditorium for the baccalaureate commencement ceremony where each student would receive his diploma. Being the end of spring, we have had an unusually cold weather, almost similar to that of winter. Upon arriving at the cathedral, a torrential freezing rain fell inclemently on all the... Read more
The Time of Easter concluded after the Second Vespers of Pentecost Sunday. We are back into the Ordinary Time. It always helps to understand the richness of this liturgical time, and how its liturgical celebrations are set in the calendar. Christmas Time and Easter Time highlight the central mysteries of the Paschal Mystery, namely, the incarnation, death on the cross, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ, and the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The Sundays and weeks of... Read more
We conclude this special series, reflecting on the Christology expressed by each of the Easter prefaces. On this occasion, Preface V, which has the title, “Christ, Priest and Victim”. As always, we will focus only on the preface embolism. The explanation of the structure of the prefaces and the introduction and conclusion of the Easter prefaces are developed in the first article of this series. The embolism It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, at all... Read more
We continue this special series, reflecting on the Christology expressed by each of the Easter prefaces. This time, Preface IV, which has the title, “The Restoration of the universe through the Paschal Mystery”. This preface helps us to contemplate Easter as a new creation. Once again, we will consider only at the preface embolism, which is the shortest in the five Easter prefaces. The explanation of the structure of the prefaces and the introduction and conclusion of the Easter prefaces... Read more
In a letter addressed to the priests who participated in the meeting “Parish Priests for the Synod”, Francis points out three paths to follow: recognizing the gifts of the Spirit in the faithful, resorting to community discernment and maintaining communion between priests and bishops. The Pope emphasizes that a Church committed to the Synod needs parish priests and affirms: “We must listen to them to move forward.” It is the letter of a father who understands the difficulties of his... Read more
We continue this special series in which we consider the Christology expressed by each of the five prefaces of Easter Time. It’s now time to focus on Preface III, which is entitled “De Christo vivente et semper interpellante pro nobis”, “Christ living and always interceding for us”. This title comes from the Letter to the Hebrews, “He is always able to save those who approach God through him, since he lives forever to make intercession for them” (7:25). In Mass,... Read more
We continue learning about our faith through the euchological texts of Easter Time. In this third installment of this special series focused on the Christology expressed by the Prefaces of Easter Time in the Holy Mass, we focus on Preface II, which is entitled The New Life in Christ. Lex orandi, lex credendi. What we pray is what we believe. And certainly, we can draw important catechetical reflections from the Eucharistic Prayer prefaces of this liturgical season. We have already... Read more
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