ST ANDREW DUNG LAC, P. & COMPANIONS, M. (MEMORIAL) Red He was a Vietnam diocesan priest who suffered martyrdom together with the Vietnamese Christians during the 17th through 19th centuries. They were 117 martyrs. 96 Vietnamese; 11 Spanish and 10 French missionaries. They were canonised along with 8 bishops; 50 priests and 59 lay people … [Read more…]
First Reading: 1 Mac 2:15-29; Psalm: 50. R. v. 23; Gospel: Lk 19:41-44 GOD SHOULD NOT WEEP ON OUR ACCOUNT BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP “As Jesus drew near to Jerusalem, he saw the city and wept over it” (Lk 19:41). Aside the death of Lazarus, this will be the only time that Jesus … [Read more…]
ST CECILIA, V.M. (MEMORIAL) Red Cecilia was a young patrician woman who vowed her virginity to God. However, her parents married her to Valerian of Trastevere. Through her prayers and persuasion, her husband was baptized. Valerian also wished that his own brother be baptised and asked this favour from an angel. The two brothers developed … [Read more…]
THE PRESENTATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY (MEMORIAL) White The scripture tells us nothing about the hidden life of Mary or her presentation in the temple. But the seventh chapter of the Apocryphal gospel of James gives a detailed account of how Joachim and Ann, the parents of Mary brought her to the temple at … [Read more…]
First Reading: 1 Mac 1:10-15.41-43.54-57.62-64; Psalm: 119. R. v. 88; Gospel: Lk 18:35-43 FAITH AMIDST DOUBT BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP “And he cried, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, “Son of … [Read more…]
First Reading: Pr 31:10-13. 19-20. 30-31; Psalm: 128. R. v. 1a; Second Reading: 1Thes 5:1-6; Gospel: Mt 25:14-30. THE EARMARKS OF A RESPONSIBLE CHRISTIAN BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP To a contemporary reader, the parable of today’s gospel would come across as a mere a story told by Jesus to drive home a point. … [Read more…]
First Reading: Ws 18:14-16; 19:6-8; Psalm: 105. R. v. 5a ; Gospel: Lk 18:1-8 THE GOD OF JUSTICE AND LOVE BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP According to the belief of the Jews, there are three groups of people that God has a soft spot for: The widow, the orphan and the stranger. The Jews … [Read more…]
ST ELIZABETH OF HUNGARY (Memorial) White Elizabeth was the daughter of King Andrew of Hungary. She married Prince Louis at age 13. Elizabeth built a hospital at the foot of the mountain on which her castle stood, and tended to the sick herself. Her family and courtiers opposed this, but she insisted she was only … [Read more…]
First Reading: Ws 7:22-8:1; Psalm: 119. R. v. 89a ; Gospel: Lk 17:20-25 LIVING THE KINGDOM OF GOD BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP When the Pharisees wondered on when the coming of the kingdom of God would take place; Jesus said to them that the kingdom of God is in their midst. By these … [Read more…]
First Reading: Ws 6:1-11; Psalm: 82. R. v. 8a; Gospel: Lk 17:11-19 GRATITUDE BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP When we are going through some challenges in life, there is often that natural inclination to seek help from other people apart from us. At this point, our attention is mostly turned towards people who could … [Read more…]
