Memorial of Saint Gertrude, The Great, nun and mystic

Wis 7:22-8:1; Ps 119:89-91,130,135,175; Lk 17:20-25 Saint Gertrude, a Benedictine Nun from Helfta, Germany, was deeply committed to her Divine Spouse, Christ the LORD.  Such an intimate and powerful union with the Lord Jesus and His Sacred Heart lead her into the center of the Most Holy Trinity.  Her nuptial mysticism was not isolationist; it […]

Memorial of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, Virgin

Wis 6:1-11; Ps 82:3-7; Lk 17:11-19 Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini heard the cries of the Italian immigrants to these United States and became one of them.  This compassionate Italian sister journeyed far to share the life of the lowly foreign speaking Catholics who were such a threat to some, and such an economic boon to […]

Student Show at Gristmill

The digital photography class taught by Brother Placid Sellers, O.S.B.,  will host an exhibit, which opens Friday, November 15, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Saint Vincent Gristmill. The art show features their best work from the fall 2019 semester. The show will continue through December 14 through regular Gristmill General Store hours, 9 […]

Memorial of Saint Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr

Wis 2:23-3:9; Ps 34:2-3,16-19; Lk 17:7-10 There was nowhere for Saint Josaphat to go from his enemies.  As he wrote, “You people of Vitebsk want to put me to death. You make ambushes for me everywhere, in the streets, on the bridges, on the highways, and in the marketplace. I am here among you as […]

Memorial of Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop

Wis 1:1-7; Ps 139:1-10; Lk 17:1-6 No one gives much attention to the lowly and the poor.  Indeed, that is the definition of what it means to be lowly and poor, you are invisible, unnoticed, hidden.  It is only the LORD who can be trusted to rescue the lowly and the poor.  The LORD sees, […]

Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome

Ez 47:1,2,8,9,12; Ps 46:2,3,5,6,8,9; 1Cor 3:9-11,16-17; Jn 2:13-22 The Church today needs a refuge and strength.  There may not be earthquakes or volcanoes in the city of Rome, but there is ever-present danger for the Church, the Body of Christ.  In celebrating the dedication of the Lateran Basilica, the mother church of the Latin Rite, […]

Friday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time

Rom 15:14-21; Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4; Lk 16:1-8 Knowledge of the LORD and his ways are deep and hidden in the hearts of many in our world that seek the good of others.  Indeed in the history of his chosen people the LORD has revealed himself in wondrous deeds, and his right hand has won […]

Thursday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time

Rom 14:7-12; Ps 27:1,4,13,14; Lk 15:1-10 We see it on bumper stickers.  We hear it from the pop culture, “No Fear”!  Yet, it’s not likely the same message as the Psalmist writes about when he asks, “…whom should I fear?…of whom should I be afraid?”  The confidence we have in ourselves and in our past […]

Wednesday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time

Rom 13:8-10; Ps 112:1-9; Lk 14:25-33 Those who delight in God’s law are called blessed, but how can anyone find blessing in contradiction?  In the first reading Saint Paul writes, “…whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this saying, namely, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  Then we hear in the […]

Tuesday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time

Rom 12:5-16; Ps 131:1-3; Lk 14:15-24 There is no other place to find peace.  Only in the LORD can we still and quiet our souls.  When our hearts are proud, our souls are loud with protest.  When our eyes are haughty, our souls are alert to find an offense.  Sometimes, we busy ourselves with grandiose […]

Memorial of Saint Charles Borromeo

Rom 11:29-36; Ps 69:30-36; Lk 14:12-14 Saint Charles Borromeo was a blessed churchman; he was born and raised in a powerful and wealthy family, but he was upright and just in all his ways.  During the plague and famine of 1576, he tried to feed 60,000 to 70,000 people daily.  In order to do this […]

All Souls Day

Wis 3:1-9; Ps 23:1-6; Rom 6:3-9; Jn 6:37-40 In the sight of our foes the LORD himself sets up a banquet table.  Who are these foes, mocked by our feasting?  Who are these foes, seeing only our death, affliction, and destruction?  Our true foes, life-long foes, are sin and death.  These are the foes of […]

Solemnity of All Saints

Rv 7:2-4,9-14; Ps 24:1-6; 1Jn 3:1-3; Mt 5:1-12 All who want to see God, all who long to see His Face, they have one requirement; they must be clean of heart.  Saint John, the beloved disciple, was pure of heart.  In his exile on the Island of Patmos, he had many magnificent visions. He saw an […]

Thursday of the Thirtieth Week of Ordinary Time

Rom 8:31b-39; Ps 109:21-22,26,27,30,31; Lk 13:31-35 If God deals kindly with us, we delight in His mercy.  Yet, how could we say “if” after the Paschal Mystery of Christ?  Now, we can only say “because” God deals kindly with us…  His generosity is great beyond measure.  Indeed, we are wretched and poor in the eyes […]

Wednesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time

Rom 8:26-30; Ps 13:4-6; Lk 13:22-30 We desperately need light for our eyes.  Without light our eyes are useless.  We ask for and are given just enough light to continue our journey of faith, day-by-day, step by step.  When God gives us light we can see aright; every other light is darkness.  The Psalm leads […]

Tuesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time

Rom 8:18-25; Ps 126:1-6; Lk 13:18-21 Our ancestors in the faith were like men dreaming.  They were walking around in a daze.  So stupefied were they at the marvelous things the LORD had done for them.  When the LORD brought them back from captivity in Babylon, their mouths were filled with laughter and their tongues […]

Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles

Eph 2:19-22; Ps 19:2-5; Lk 6:12-16 The heavens declare the glory of God because they display the beauty of God.  The bright blue sky on a crisp autumn day delights the eyes, and even the grey and cloudy days invite calm and meditation.  Indeed the voice of the heavens is the wind, the very breath […]

Saturday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time

Rom 8:1-11, Ps 24:1-6; Lk 13:1-9 So what is the blessing, the reward that we shall receive from the LORD God, our savior?  What do we expect from the LORD who made the earth and its fullness and all those who dwell upon it?  He founded the seas, and he established the rivers.  How can […]

Friday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time

Rom 7:18-25; Ps 119:66, 68, 76, 77, 93, 94; Lk 12:54-59 Obedience to the commands of the LORD teaches us wisdom and knowledge.  Surrender to his commands teaches us what we can never learn any other way.  The LORD who is good and bountiful teaches us his statutes.  Indeed, his kindness comforts us according to […]

Thursday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time

Rom 6:19-23; Ps 1:1-6; Lk 12:49-53 Thank God!  Thank God that the LORD watches over the way of the just!  Without the constant watchful eyes of the LORD upon us, we would vanish like the way of the wicked.  When the eyes of the LORD are upon the wicked, they feel violated and condemned.  When […]