* * *** The Immaculate Heart of our Blessed Mother… model of purity and perfect love for God.

— “In all perils and needs, the faithful have fled prayerfully to her protection. As Virgin and Mother, Mary remains for the Church a ‘permanent model.’ .. Hence, as Christians raise their eyes with faith to Mary in the course of their earthly pilgrimage, they ‘strive to increase in holiness.’ Mary, the exalted Daughter of […]

* * *** “His most Sacred Heart never ceased, and never will cease, to beat with calm and imperturbable pulsations. Likewise, it will never cease to symbolize the threefold love with which He is bound to His heavenly Father and the entire human race…” (HAURIETIS AQUAS, Pope Pius XII)

— The Solemnity of The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus is celebrated today, a reminder of God’s perfect love for us.

* * *** “…the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.” (Screwtape to Wormwood, Letter no.12)

– (the road to perdition is not always met with a lightning bolt)

* * *** Born in Nisibis, St. Ephrem (306– 373) was a deacon, poet, teacher, and defender of the faith. He is remembered for his hymns and biblical commentaries, many of which are still in existence. His works not only give praise and worship to God, but also teach about the Christian faith. Confronting the heresy of his time, St. Ephrem helped to spread Christianity in Syria, and is considered one of the most significant Church Fathers in the Syriac tradition.

— from St. Ephrem’s ‘Hymn to the Light’: “The Light of the just and joy of the upright is Christ Jesus our Lord. Begotten of the Father, He manifested himself to us. He came to rescue us from darkness and to fill us with the radiance of His light.”

* * *** The Holy Eucharist is “the source and summit of the Christian life” (CCC 1324).

— “And he took bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ And likewise the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in […]

* * *** the bandits hoped to find gold and riches, instead… what they left on the ground, was the Ragyndrudis Codex.

— Known as the Apostle of Germany, St. Boniface (d. 754), was a Benedictine monk. Greatly esteemed by his brethren for his virtue and intellect, Boniface gave up the occasion to be abbot and instead went to preach the Gospel to the Germanic pagan tribes and organize the Church. He was appointed missionary bishop for […]

* * *** courageous young men gave witness to Christ…

— As master page in the royal court of King Mwanga, St. Charles (d. 1886) led a group of young men to uphold their Christian faith in opposition to King Mwanga’s immoral actions. St. Charles was martyred along with many of his fellow pages, including St. Kizito, who was only fourteen. Some of the men […]

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— The month of June is devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus; the Heart of divine and perfect love… the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart is celebrated on June 11 (Friday after Corpus Christi).

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~ A Christian convert, St. Justin (d. 165) was a philosopher in the Greek tradition and one of the earliest Christian apologists. He passionately sought after the truth, which he found in Christ, and his defense of the faith is evidenced in his “Apologies” and “Dialogue with Trypho,” the only of his writings to have […]

* * *** Today we commemorate the Blessed Virgin Mary’s joyful visit to her cousin Elizabeth. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth speaks the prophetic words…

— “And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord […]

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