St. Boniface (672/5-754), an English Benedictine monk, is considered one of the greatest missionaries of the early Middle Ages. He spread the gospel particularly in Germany, where he is also buried in Fulda. He was slain by the Frisians. Opening Prayer Lord our God, your holy bishop Boniface proclaimed your name with great zeal and […]
Our text is a profession of faith and a liturgical hymn. The profession of faith is made because Gnosticism was creeping in. As there were so many rules of the Law to observe, it is easy to understand the desire of scribes to ask which was the key commandment. Twice a day, pious Jews professed
In 1886, barely a few years after Christianity had been introduced in Uganda, King Mwanga, fearing that Christianity would put an end to his lucrative slave trade, started a persecution; his first victims were the pages of his court, even some of his relatives, among them, who had refused to submit to his perverse solicitations.
2 Peter deals with the problem of the delay of the coming of Christ. The old world has to give way to a new heaven and a new earth. But the concept of time does not exist for God, and the patient God gives us time for conversion. Sometimes the Church is accused of meddling
Probably written by someone belonging to the group of Peter’s disciples in the 2nd century, the author of 2 Peter warns against false teachers and against fear of the coming of Christ in the Parousia. The parable of the wicked farmers or tenants who rent and cultivate the vineyard describes first of all, in moving
St. Justin, a philosopher living in the second century, was an honest seeker of the truth. Disappointed at pagan philosophies, he came to recognise the way of Christ as the true philosophy and the full truth. After his conversion he served the Church as an apologist (defender of the faith) and founded in Rome the
Greeting I greet you with the greeting of the second reading: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. R/ And also with you. Introduction by the Celebrant An Inexhaustible Great God With joy and gratitude, we celebrate today the solemnity
The letter of Jude is close to apocalyptic literature and is rather severe toward those who are worldly, unspiritual, and cause divisions. Yet at the same time, he asks that mercy be shown to those who are wavering. The Gospel shows us the Jewish leaders challenging Jesus’ authority over what he teaches and does because
Christians have received God’s saving grace. As good stewards, they must pass it on through mutual love and hospitality. If they endure in trials, they are sharing in Christ’s suffering and should rejoice. There was a feast of Dedication of the Temple, which was in fact a rededication or cleansing of it after its Gentile
Reborn in baptism, we have become living stones of Christ as God’s temple and his holy people, who make God’s name known and offer God a sacrifice acceptable to God. Jesus cures a blind man. Not only is his eyesight restored, but he also begins to see, by faith, who Jesus is. Note that the
