Many Catholics today are desperate to hear words of encouragement and direction from the bishops, the successors to the apostles. But what if I told you that we have such words from an actual apostle? The Epistle of St. Jude is written by the most obscure of the New Testament writers. The letter itself is…
Epistle: Philippians 3.17-21;4. 1-3 Gospel: Matthew 9.18-26 Absolve, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the sins of Thy people; that we may be delivered by Thy goodness from the bonds of sins, which by our frailty we have committed. – From the Collect for the Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost Sunday’s readings reflect on the relationship between…
Epistle: Philippians 1:6-11 Gospel: Matthew 22:15-21 O God, our refuge and our strength, give ear to the holy prayers of Thy Church, and grant, that what we ask with faith, we may effectually obtain. – From the Collect for the Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost Sunday’s Gospel takes place during Holy Week and shows Christ’s enemies…
Epistle: Ephesians 6:10-17 Gospel: Matthew 18:23-35 O Lord, we beseech Thee, to keep Thy household in continual godliness that, through Thy protection, it may be free from all adversities, and devotedly given to serve Thee in good works to the glory of Thy Name. – From the Collect for the Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost Today…
It’s hard to imagine the Catholic Church being in worse shape than it currently is. We have a colossal and ongoing sex abuse scandal among the clergy and hierarchy that continues endlessly like some demonic global Chinese water torture. Due primarily to this scandal, the Church has lost all its moral authority in the world.…
Epistle: Colossians 1:12-20 Gospel: John 18:33-37 Almighty everlasting God, Who in Thy beloved Son, King of the whole world, hast willed to restore all things anew; grant in Thy mercy that all the families of nations, rent asunder by the wound of sin, may be subjected to His most gentle rule. – From the Collect…
Epistle: Ephesians 4:23–28 Gospel: Matthew 22:1–14 Almighty and merciful God, in Thy goodness keep us, we beseech Thee, from all things hurtful; that we, being ready both in body and soul, may accomplish those things which belong to Thy service. —From the Collect for the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost Sunday’s Gospel presents one of Our…
Epistle: 1 Corinthians 1:4-8 Gospel: Matthew 9:1-8 Let the exercise of Thy compassion, we beseech Thee, O Lord, direct out hearts: for without Thee we are not able to please Thee. – From the Collect for the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost Sunday’s readings demonstrate what the Church Fathers called “divine condescension”—the fact that God will…
Epistle: Ephesians 4:1-6 Gospel: Matthew 22:34-46 Grant, we beseech You, O Lord, that Your people may avoid the temptations of the devil, and with pure minds follow You, the only God. – From the Collect for the Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost (Note: some parishes may be celebrating the External Solemnity of Our Lady of the…
Epistle: Apocalypse 1:1-15 Gospel: Matthew 18:1-10 O God, Who assign according to a wondrous order the duties of Angels and men, mercifully grant that our life on earth be guarded by those who continually stand in Your presence and minister to You in heaven. – From the Collect for the Dedication of St. Michael the…
Imagine the following three scenes from history: Scene 1: You are an English peasant living in 1187. Your life revolves around the Church calendar. You participate in her feasts and fasts. Holidays are the Holy Days, in which you can escape from the daily grind and celebrate the life of a saint or some event…
