People usually think of Christmas as a traditional and sentimental festival, but not as a celebration of the Jesus vision it commemorates: a philosophy of profound reform. The child lying in the manger would become perhaps the most radical of all spiritual visionaries, showing how to live more joyfully and communally. Many people today feel an […]

Image: House of Loreto | J L Buchner | photo by unknown Blessed Anthony Grassi Saint of the Day for December 18 (November 13, 1592 – December 13, 1671) https://wp.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODDec18.mp3  Blessed Anthony Grassi’s Story Anthony’s father died when his son was only 10 years old, but the young lad inherited his father’s devotion to Our Lady of Loreto. As a schoolboy, he frequented the local church of the Oratorian Fathers, joining the religious order when he was 17. Already a fine student, Anthony soon gained a reputation in his religious community as a “walking dictionary,” who quickly grasped Scripture and theology. For some time he was tormented by scruples, but they reportedly left him at the very hour he celebrated his first Mass. From that day, serenity penetrated his very being. In 1621, at age 29, Anthony was struck by lightning while praying in the church of the Holy House at Loreto. He was carried […]

Reading 1 Jer 23:5-8 Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD,when I will raise up a righteous shoot to David;As king he shall reign and govern wisely,he shall do what is just and right in the land.In his days Judah shall be saved,Israel shall dwell in security.This is the name they give […]

Old TestamentEzra 2:68-70, Ezra 3, Ezra 4:1-5New TestamentRevelation 9:13-21, Revelation 10Psalms & ProverbsProverbs 30:24-33 […]