The appearance of the Virgin Mother of Jesus at Guadalupe, near Mexico City, is the event that serves as the foundation for this feast. It is one of many events over the centuries in which Mary appears to the poor and ...

The call of Saul by God to lead the Israelites, is a surprise – and presumably unlikely – because he comes from the least and smallest tribe of the Israelites.  The call of Levi in the Gospel passage from Mark's Gospel ...

There are many comments in Christian history about how challenging it is to live with, or to live in close friendship with, a saint. Recognized saints – those who have been officially canonized by the Church or, in earlier ...

Today's Feast dates from the 15th Century in the Western Church but was celebrated throughout the Catholic East from the 3rd Century on. It came into the Western calendar following the Crusades and was celebrated as a way ...

This feast is one of the older celebrations of Mary, built on a biblical text in Luke's gospel.  The story is familiar – the young Mary has been visited by a messenger of God and not only invited to bear God's child to the ...

Throughout the early autumn season here in the northern hemisphere, the Church's Ordinary Time is winding down and the imperative of authentically and fully following Christ, even to difficulty or death is a constant theme.  ...

Modern Scripture scholarship has exposed a remarkably false tradition about Mary of Magdala.  For many centuries Mary has been confused with the unnamed "sinful woman" who anointed Jesus' feet in the home of the Pharisee ...

The overall focus of Ordinary Time Liturgy is the work of Christ in accomplishing the Father's mission.  We spend this lengthy period each year trying to understand and put into practice the pattern of God's work in God's ...

The opening prayer of today's Mass asks God to conform the Church to the paschal mystery of Christ.  What does it mean for us who make up the Church to be conformed to the mission, death, and resurrection of Christ?  How ...

Today's readings give us a clear message that the Lord is not happy with us if we are driven by fear rooted in lack of trust in God.  In fact, we are told, God rewards behavior that is bold and confident in His compassion. |In ...