In the tradition of the Church, the feast day of a saint is usually celebrated on the date of their death when he or she enters into eternal life. It is rare — only twice each year — that we celebrate the birth of a saint.
Few things were more repugnant in Jesus’ day than leprosy.
A mother gives us roots; a father gives us wings.
“What will people think?” This is a very common question, because many people want to look good in front of others, to put on a good appearance. More
How does one dare to speak of the Eucharist? It is hard to grasp the immensity of this rich, profound and generous gift of God to his children. More
In this Sunday's Gospel, Jesus commanded his Apostles to “make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” (Mt 28:19). More
Many years ago, in the “Golden Age of Television,” there was a program sponsored by the Prudential Life Insurance Company (represented by the Rock of Gibraltar) and hosted by newscaster Walter Cronkite called “You Are There.” More
Did the disciples of Jesus really think it would be better for them if Jesus left them? More
What really makes the world go around? Money, power, electricity or gravity? Actually, the answer is love.More
The state of Virginia has more than 200 wineries, so it’s likely you have seen one with rows and rows of grapevines growing on trellises that cover the landscape. More
In our high-tech society, the Gospel for this fourth Sunday of Easter gives us an agricultural focus in the image of the Good Shepherd. More
The “two disciples” who begin our passage today have just made their eager trek back into Jerusalem to recount the “goings on” of their trek out of Jerusalem on Emmaus Road (a good album name?). As we know (from the verses preceding today’s passage), Jesus joined them and spoke with them for a long part of their journey, all the while either preventing them from recognizing him or deciding not to interrupt their kilometers-long blindness — a blindness resistant to the heart-inflaming truths He expressed about himself in Scripture. Could there possibly be a better Scripture class than this one was? More
By Jesus’ humble, loving surrender of His life to the Father while hanging on a tree and by His glorious springing to life three days later, Our Lord conquered mankind’s greatest enemies: sin, Satan and death. Jesus crushed the competition. It was a monstrous defeat. It was a glorious victory. More
The Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus is the defining event in our history. In that moment, humanity shared in Christ’s victory over death. The empty tomb on the first Easter allows us to faithfully proclaim that we believe in the “resurrection of the body and life everlasting” each Sunday, a certain truth that fills us with hope as we prepare for sanctification in this life for the next. It is this event that allows us to proclaim confidently with St. Paul, “O death, where is your sting!” (1 Cor 15:55). More
Eight major gates give entry into the holy and ancient city of Jerusalem. The largest is the Eastern Gate, sometimes called the "Beautiful Gate" or the "Golden Gate." It is unique among the historic gates because it is the only one that is completely sealed up, preventing entry. More