ST STEPHEN THE SAME DESTINY FOR THE MASTER AND THE DISCIPLE As we enter the church today, we perceive a different atmosphere from that of Christmas Day. The white garments, white like the angel’s robe that announced the great joy to the shepherds— “Today, in the city of David, a Savior has been born for […]
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY MARY – A SIGN OF VICTORY OVER THE SERPENT Download version There is a way to present the figure of Mary that discourages instead of animating. She is referred to as the absolutely exceptional woman, exempted from original sin and its tragic consequences—and that’s not because of her own merit,
DEDICATION OF THE LATERAN BASILICA NOVEMBER 9 Download version Introduction The Basilica of St. John Lateran is the cathedral of the Pope as Bishop of Rome. It was built by Constantine and was for centuries the habitual residence of the Popes.Although he lives in the Vatican, the Pope annually presides on Holy Thursday the Eucharist
FAITHFUL DEPARTED TEACH US, O LORD, TO COUNT OUR DAYS Download version Introduction We leave the maternal womb and enter this world; after childhood, we enter adolescence; we leave adolescence for youth; youth to mature age and old age. Finally, the time comes to leave this world to which we have grown fond of, perhaps
THE FEAST OF ALL SAINTS November 1 Download version Introduction The Saints have enjoyed tremendous popularity in the past: the churches were full of their statues, and recourse to them was perhaps more than to God. There was a saint for truck drivers, students, lost items, eye diseases, and even sore throat. They were considered
FEAST OF THE ARCHANGELS MICHAEL, GABRIEL, AND RAPHAEL ANGEL: ANYONE WHO IS A MEDIATOR OF GOD’S TENDERNESS Download version The angel has a well-defined character in the collective imagination, and those who paint him must adhere to certain pre-established canons. An angel with hippy traits, tail, tattoo on his arm and jeans would have little
THE TRIUMPH OF THE CROSS A SYMBOL OFTEN MISUNDERSTOOD Download version The cross is the symbol of which Christians show their faith. Yet, for three centuries, they intentionally did not use the cross as a symbol of their faith. They were recognized in other symbols—the anchor, the fish, the loaves, the dove, the shepherd—but they
ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY THE LORD OF LIFE HAS DONE GREAT THINGS FOR US Download version Mary is remembered for the last time in the New Testament at the beginning of the book of Acts: in prayer, surrounded by the apostles and the first Christian community (Acts 1:14). Then this sweet and reserved
TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD TO CONTEMPLATE HIS TRANSFIGURED FACE:AN EXPERIENCE THAT EVERY DISCIPLE MUST DO Download version Immediately after the story of the Transfiguration, the three Synoptic Gospels tell the story of the healing of an epileptic boy. Jesus comes down from the mountain with Peter, James, and John. They see a man break away
SAINTS PETER AND PAUL THROUGH DIFFERENT ROUTES, THEY ARRIVED AT THE SAME DESTINATION Download version With a phrase well known to us—“They were of one heart and soul”—Luke summarizes the full agreement existing in the primitive community (Acts 4:32). Yet, in the Church’s history, tensions and contrasts as strong as those in the early decades
