Today, June 11, as our Church celebrates the Memorial of Barnabas, Apostle, our Church invites us to reflect on a Scripture passage from the first letter of the apostle Paul to the Corinthians (4:1-16). Our treasure, which follows, is from a treatise on the Gospel of Saint Matthew by Saint Chromatius. Catholics celebrate the memory of St. Barnabas …

On Monday of the Tenth week in Ordinary Time our Church invites us to reflect on a Scripture passage from the beginning of the book of Joshua (1:1–18), entitled “Joshua, called by God, encourages the tribes to unity”. Our treasure for today, which follows, is from a letter to the Romans by Saint Ignatius of Antioch, bishop and martyr. The Book of J…

Today, as our Church celebrates the dedication of our parish Church, Saint Clement of Rome, in Des Peres, Missouri, we are invited to reflect on a passage from the letter of Peter Paul entitled “We are built of Living Stone” (2:1-17). Our treasure, which follows, is from a homily on Joshua, son of Nun, by Origen, priest. The annual observance of th…

Today, as our Church celebrates the Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, we are invited to reflect on a passage from the book of the prophet Isaiah entitled “Emmanual, the King of Peace”. Our treasure, which follows, is from a sermon by Saint Lawerence Justinian, bishop. The Immaculate Heart of Mary is a Catholic devotion which refers to the v…

Today, as our Church celebrates the Solemnity of The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, we are invited to reflect on a passage from the apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans (8:28-39) entitled “The love of God is revealed in Christ”. Our treasure, which follows, is from a work by Saint Bonaventure, bishop. The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus is one of the most w…

On Thursday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary time, our Church invites us to reflect on a Scripture passage from the book of Job (38:1-30) entitled “God confounds Job”. Our treasure for today which follows is from the Moral Reflections on Job by Saint Gregory the Great, pope. The Book of Job addresses theodicy (why God permits evil in the world) throug…

Today, June 1, as our Church celebrates the Memorial of Boniface, Bishop and Martyr, our treasure is from a letter by Saint Boniface. Saint Boniface was born in England about the year 673. He was first professed in the monastic life at Exeter, but in 719 went to Germany to preach the Gospel. He made many converts there and was consecrated bishop, r…

On Tuesday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary time, our Church invites us to reflect on a Scripture passage from the book of Job (31:1-8. 13-23, 35-37) entitled “Job’s appeal to the goodness of his life”. Our treasure for today which follows is from the teachings of Saint Dorotheus, abbot. The Book of Job addresses theodicy (why God permits evil in the …

Today, June 3, as our Church celebrates the Memorial of Charles Lwanga and Companions, Martyrs, our treasure is from the homily at the canonization of the martyrs of Uganda by Pope Paul VI. Owing to religious hatred, many faithful Christians were killed in Uganda by king Mwanga during the year 1885–87. Some of them had enjoyed the good graces of th…

Today, as our Church celebrates the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, we are invited to reflect on a passage from the book of Exodus entitled “They saw God, and the ate and drank”. Our treasure is from a work by St. Thomas, Aquinas, priest. Corpus Christi (Latin for "body of Christ") may refer to: Feast of Corpus …

Today, June 1, as our Church celebrates the Memorial of Justin, Martyr, our treasure is from the Acts of the martyrdom of Saint Justin and his companions. Saint Justin, philosopher and martyr, was born of pagan parents at Flavia Neapolis in Samaria, at the beginning of the second century. Following his conversion to the faith, he wrote many works i…

Today, May 31, as our Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Visitation, we are invited to reflect on a passage from the Song of Songs entitled “The coming of the beloved”. Our treasure is from a homily by Saint Bede the Venerable, priest. The Song of Songs (or Canticle of Canticles) is an exquisite collection of love lyrics, arranged to tell a dra…

On Thursday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary time, our Church invites us to reflect on a Scripture passage from the book of Job (11:1-20) entitled “Zophar explains conventional point of view”. Our treasure for today is from the Moral Reflections on Job by Saint Gregory the Great, pope. The Moral Reflections on Job is a commentary on the Book of Job b…

On Wednesday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary time, our Church invites us to reflect on a Scripture passage from the book of Job (7:1-21) entitled "In despair, Job calls on God". Our treasure for today is from the Confessions of Saint Augustine. The Confessions of Saint Augustine is a spiritual classic and one of the most read books by a saint. In th…

On Tuesday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary time, our Church invites us to reflect on a Scripture passage from the book of Job (2:1-13) entitled Job’s lament. Our treasure for today is from the Confessions of Saint Augustine. The Confessions of Saint Augustine is a spiritual classic and one of the most read books by a saint. In the Confessions, Saint…

Today in the breviary , on Monday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time, our church invites us to reflect on a Scripture passage from the book of Job (2: 1-13) entitled “Job in his afflictions is visited by friends”. The Book of Job addresses theodicy (why God permits evil in the world) through the experiences of a protagonist. Job is a wealthy and G…

Today in the breviary , on the Solemnity of Trinity Sunday, our church invites us to reflect on the first letter of the apostle Pasul to the Corinthians (2:1-16) entitled “The great mystery of God’s will”. In his first letter to the Corinthians Paul warns against divisions within the Church and emphasizes the importance of unity among Church member…

Today in the breviary, on Saturday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time, our church invites us to reflect on a Scripture passage from the book of Ecclesiastes (11:7-12:14) entitled “Thoughts on old age”. Our treasure, found in the second reading, is from a commentary on Ecclesiastes by Saint Gregory of Agrigentum, bishop. The book of Ecclesiastes c…

Today in the breviary , on Friday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time, our church invites us to reflect on a Scripture passage from the book of Ecclesiastes (6:12-7:28) entitled “The consolation of the wise man”. Our treasure, found in the second reading, is from a commentary on Ecclesiastes by Saint Gregory of Agrigentum, bishop. The book of Eccl…

Today in the breviary , on Thursday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary time, our Church invites us to reflect on a Scripture passage from the book of Ecclesiastes (6:12-7:28) entitled "Be not overwise". Our treasure, from the second reading, is from an instruction by Saint Columban, abbot. The Book of Ecclesiastes comprises an extended reflective essa…

On Wednesday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time, a reading from a commentary on Ecclesiastes by Saint Jerome, priest. The Hebrew name of this book and of its author, Qoheleth, is actually a title, and it perhaps means “assembler” (of students, listeners) or “collector” (of wisdom sayings). The book’s more common name, Ecclesiastes, is an approxim…

On Tuesday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time, a reading from a homily on Ecclesiastes by Saint Gregory of Nyssa, bishop. The Hebrew name of this book and of its author, Qoheleth, is actually a title, and it perhaps means “assembler” (of students, listeners) or “collector” (of wisdom sayings). The book’s more common name, Ecclesiastes, is an appr…

Today, May 20, as our Church celebrates the memorial of Mary, the Mother of the Church, a reading from a sermon by Saint Aelred, abbot. The theological roots of this title (Mary, Mother of the Church) go back to the early Church. The fathers of the church, holy and studious bishops of the first centuries, often spoke of Mary as the new Eve. Just as…

Today, as our Church celebrates the Solemnity of Pentecost, a reading from the treatise Against Heresies by Saint Irenaeus, bishop. The Solemnity of Pentecost is a Christian celebration which takes place on the 50th day (when inclusive counting is used) after Easter Sunday. It commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Mary, Mother of Jesus a…

On Saturday of the Seventh Week of Easter, a reading from a sermon by a sixth century African author (name unknown).

On Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter, a reading from the treatise On the Trinity by Saint Hilary, bishop. Saint Hilary was a fourth century bishop of Poitiers, France and a Doctor of the Church. His name comes from the Latin word for happy or cheerful. Saint Hilary is best known as the leading opponent of Arianism during his time. Arianism was n…

On Thursday of the Seventh Week of Easter, a reading from a commentary on the gospel of John by Saint Cyril of Alexandria, bishop. The Gospel according to John is quite different in character from the three synoptic gospels. It is highly literary and symbolic. It does not follow the same order or reproduce the same stories as the synoptic gospels. …

On Wednesday of the Seventh Week of Easter, a reading from the dogmatic constitution on the Church of the Second Vatican Council. Lumen Gentium, or Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, is a document written by Pope Paul VI that was first published in 1965. The document's purpose is to clarify the church's nature and mission, and to help the human r…

Today, May 14, as our church celebrates the Feast of Matthias, Apostle, a reading from a homily on the Acts of the Apostles by Saint John Chrysostom, bishop. Matthias was, according to the Acts of the Apostles, chosen by God through the apostles to replace Judas Iscariot following the latter's betrayal of Jesus and his subsequent death. His calling…

Today, May 13, as our Church celebrates the Memorial of Our Lady of Fatima, a reading from the dogmatic constitution on the Church of the Second Vatican Council. Our Lady of Fátima is a Catholic title of Mary, Mother of Jesus, based on the Marian apparitions reported in 1917 by three shepherd children at the Cova da Iria in Fátima, Portugal. The th…

On the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, a reading from a sermon by Saint Augustine, bishop. Saint Augustine was a late fourth century, theologian and philosopher, and Bishop of Hippo, Roman North Africa. He is also a preeminent Catholic Doctor of the Church. His writings influenced the development of western philosophy and western Christiani…

On Saturday of the Sixth Week of Easter, a reading from a homily on the Song of Songs by Saint Gregory of Nyssa, bishop. The Song of Songs is a poem—or, rather, a collection of poems—attributed to Solomon, but probably actually dating from some time after the end of the Babylonian exile (538 BC). It is a dramatic poem, in which different voices are…

On Friday of the Sixth Week of Easter, from a sermon by Saint Augustine, bishop. Saint Augustine was a late fourth century, theologian and philosopher, and Bishop of Hippo, Roman North Africa. He is also a preeminent Catholic Doctor of the Church. His writings influenced the development of western philosophy and western Christianity, and he is view…

On Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter, a reading from a sermon by Saint Leo the Great, pope. Saint Leo became pope in the year 440. Saint Leo was a Roman aristocrat, and was the first pope to have been called “the Great”. Saint Leo is known as one of the best administrative popes of the ancient Church . His work branched into many areas of the ch…

On Wednesday of the Sixth Week of Easter, a reading from a sermon by Saint Leo the Great, pope. Saint Leo became pope in the year 440. Saint Leo was a Roman aristocrat, and was the first pope to have been called “the Great”. Saint Leo is known as one of the best administrative popes of the ancient Church .His work branched into many areas of the ch…

On Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Easter, a reading from a commentary on the gospel of John by Saint Cyril of Alexandria, bishop. The Gospel according to John is quite different in character from the three synoptic gospels. It is highly literary and symbolic. It does not follow the same order or reproduce the same stories as the synoptic gospels. To …

On Monday of the Sixth week of Easter, a reading from a treatise On the Trinity by Didymus of Alexandria. On the Trinity is a Latin book written by St. Augustine of Hippo to discuss the Trinity in the context of the Logos (the Word Of God). Didymus the Blind was a fourth century Christian theologian in the church of Alexandria where he taught for a…

On Sunday of the Sixth Week of Easter, a reading from the commentary on the second letter to the Corinthians by Saint Cyril of Alexandria, bishop. The Second Letter to the Corithians is the most personal of all of Paul's extant writings, and it reveals much about his character. in it he deals with one or more crisis that have arisen in the Corinthi…

On Saturday of the Fifth Week of Easter, a reading on the psalms by Saint Augustine, bishop. Saint Augustine was a late fourth century, theologian and philosopher, and Bishop of Hippo, Roman North Africa. He is also a preeminent Catholic Doctor of the Church. His writings influenced the development of western philosophy and western Christianity, an…

Philip was born in Bethsaida in Galilee and was one of the 12 Apostles that Jesus called. Immediately, Philip began to convert others, finding his friend Nathaniel and telling him that Jesus was the one whom Moses and the other prophets had foretold. James the Lesser is called “Lesser” because he was younger than the other Apostle by the same name,…

On May 2 as our Church celebrates the Memorial of Saint Athanasius, a reading from a discourse by Saint Athanasius, bishop. Saint Athanasius was born at Alexandria in 295. He accompanied Alexander to the Council of Nicaea and succeeded him as Bishop of Alexandria. He fought courageously against the Arian heresy. The Arian heresy taught that Jesus w…

Today, May 1, as our Chrch celebrates the Memorial of Joseph the Worker, a reading from the pastoral constitution on the Church in the modern world of the Second Vatican Council. Today's Memorial of St. Joseph the Worker was added to our Church's liturgical calendar in 1955 in response to the rising threat of Communism with its false vision of huma…

On Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter, a reading from the commentary on the gospel of John by Saint Cyril of Alexandria, bishop. Saint Cyril was the Patriarch of Alexandria from 412 to 444. He was enthroned when the city was at the height of its influence and power within the Roman Empire. Saint Cyril wrote extensively and was a major player in th…

On Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter, a reading from a sermon by Saint Gregory of Nyssa, bishop. Saint Gregory of Nyssa was a fourth century archbishop of Constantinople and theologian. He is numbered among the Doctors of the Church . He was a contemporary and close friend of Saint Basil the Great. Saint Gregory is widely considered the most accom…

On the Fifth Sunday of Easter, a reading from a sermon by Saint Maximus of Turin, bishop. Saint Maximus was a fifth century bishop of Turin, a city in northwest Italy famous for the shroud of Turin being kept in the cathedral there. Saint Maximus was a theological writer “who made a great contribution to the spread and consolidation of Christianity…

On Saturday of the Third Week of Easter, a reading from the commentary on the letter to the Romans by Saint Cyril of Alexandria, bishop. Saint Cyril was the Patriarch of Alexandria from 412 to 444. He was enthroned when the city was at the height of its influence and power within the Roman Empire. Saint Cyril wrote extensively and was a major playe…

On Friday of the Fourth week of Easter, a reading from a letter to the Corinthians by Saint Clement, pope. Saint Clement was Bishop of Rome, holding the office from 88 AD until his death in 99 AD. He is considered to be the first Apostolic Father of the Church, one of the three chief ones together with Polycarp and Ignatius of Antioch. Few details …

On April 25, as our church celebrates the Feast of Mark, Evangelist, a reading from the treaties Against Heresies by Saint Irenaeus, bishop. Saint Mark, a cousin of Barnabas, accompanied Saint Paul on his first missionary, journey and later went with him to Rome. He was a disciple of Saint Peter whose teaching was the basis for Mark‘s gospel. Mark …

On Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Easter, a reading from the treatise On the Trinity by Saint Hilary, bishop. Saint Hilary was a fourth century bishop of Poitiers, France and a Doctor of the Church. His name comes from the Latin word for happy or cheerful. Saint Hilary is best known as the leading opponent of Arianism during his time. Arianism was…

On Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Easter, a reading by Saint Peter Chrysologus, bishop. Saint Peter was a fourth century Bishop of Ravenna, Italy. He was a Doctor of the Church, which means “of golden words “. He is known as the “Doctor of Homilies” for the concise but theologically rich reflections he delivered during his time.…