ST BERNARD, ABB. D. (Memorial) White Bernard joined the monastic community of Citeaux at the age of 20 and was followed by his five brothers, two uncles and some other 30 young friends. He became the abbot of the monastery of Clairvaux. He attended the second Lateran Council and fought the heresy of Albigensianism. He … [Read more…]
First Reading: Ezk 37:1-14; Psalm: 107. R. v. 1; Gospel: Mt 22:34-40 HOPING ON GOD WHOSE LOVE NEVER FAILS BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP The prophet Ezekiel prophesied on the dry bones in the wilderness as commanded by the Lord. The bones all came together and were covered by sinews and flesh. He made … [Read more…]
First Reading: Ezk 36:23-28; Psalm: 51. R. v. Ezk 36:25; Gospel: Mt 22:1-14 THE DIVINE INVITATION BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP A lot of us have made several costly mistakes in life. One of them could be the pain of losing something more important or valuable to us while pursuing shadows. There are couples … [Read more…]
First Reading: Ezk 34:1-11; Psalm: 23. R. v. 1; Gospel: Mt 20:1-16a MERITED BY GRACE BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP The gospel reading of today reminds us that we do not merit anything. All that we got from God is out of his grace. The first set of labourers employed at the early hours … [Read more…]
First Reading: Ezk 28:1-10; Psalm: Dt 32. R. v. 18b; Gospel: Mt 19:23-30 THE DANGER OF RICHES BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP “Truly I say to you, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 19:23). These words of Jesus was a follow up to the refusal … [Read more…]
First Reading: Ezk 24:15-24; Psalm: Deut 32. R. v. 18b; Gospel: Mt 19: 16-22 RISING ABOVE POSSESSION TO GENEROSITY BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP The rich man in the gospel of today went away sad when Jesus asked him to sell all he had and then come and follow him. This was because he … [Read more…]
First Reading: Ezk 18:1-10b. 13b. 30-32;Psalm: 51. R. v. 12a; Gospel: Mt 19:13-15 PROTECT THE CHILD BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP The children who came to Jesus for blessings were apparently brought by their parents. The resistance of the disciples to this move may be interpreted as harsh by the parents of these children … [Read more…]
First Reading: Ezk 16:1-15. 60. 63; Psalm: Is 12. R. v. 1d; Gospel: Mt 19:3-12 THE DIGNITY OF MARRIAGE BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP “Whoever divorces his wife, except for unchastity, and marries another, commits adultery; and he who marries a divorced woman, commits adultery.” (Mat 19:9) A young man once asked me: “Father, … [Read more…]
ST CLARE, V. (Memorial) White Clare was from a wealthy and royal family. From her earliest years she was devoted to prayer and practiced mortification. At the age of 18 she was inspired by the preaching of St Francis of Assisi in the Church of San Giorgio. Through the spiritual guide of St Francis, Clare … [Read more…]
ST LAWRENCE, DEAC, M. (Feast) Red Lawrence was one of the seven deacons of the Church in Rome and was martyred under the Emperor Valerian. While he was in prison awaiting execution, he saw that as an opportunity to disperse the Church’s wealth to the poor before the Roman authorities could lay hands on them. … [Read more…]
