Jesus Sanctifies the Water of Baptism
At first glance, the scene makes little sense. John’s strident call to repentance provokes an overwhelming response. People of all shapes and sizes flock to him in the wilderness. They are baptized in...
View ArticleDaily Catholic Quote from St. John the Baptist
“No one can receive anything except what is given him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him. He who has the bride is the...
View ArticleWaiting for the Christmas Miracle during Advent
by Sister Regina Marie, O.C.D., Vicar General Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles “There is in every human heart, be it the heart of a man or a woman, an empty cradle, waiting for...
View ArticleAre Catholics “Born Again”?
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). My mother was Catholic and my father Baptist. My mother was firmly committed, as...
View ArticleEncountering the Word — Mark 1:3
“Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight—” (Mark 1:3) If you liked this...
View ArticleStraightening What is Bent
Advent is a time of joyful anticipation. For someone even bigger than Santa Claus is coming to town. The human race has been waiting a long time for his next and final visit. Actually, it waited a long...
View ArticleLessons from St. John the Baptist that will change your life…
As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths...
View ArticleThe Spiritual Joy of John the Baptist
On the third Sunday of Advent, penitential purple gives way to pink and we celebrate “Gaudete” or “Rejoice!” Sunday. “Rejoice heartily in the Lord, says Isaiah” (61:10). “My Spirit finds joy in God my...
View ArticleEncountering the Word — Luke 1:76
A Daily Quote From Sacred Scripture “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways…” (Luke 1:76) Print this entry
View ArticleMaking All Things New
The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord Have you ever felt that something you were doing was going so badly that you just wished you could start all over? Or maybe your life is not going that well and you...
View ArticleUnderstanding Christ’s Temptation
After John the Baptist baptized Jesus, the Christ was called into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit where He humbled Himself so profoundly that in the company of wild beasts and beleaguered by ravenous...
View ArticleEncountering the Word — Luke 7:22
A Daily Quote from Sacred Scripture And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead...
View ArticleJohn the Baptist Teaches us about Hope
On the third Sunday of Advent, the penitential purple of the season changes to rose and we celebrate “Gaudete” or “Rejoice!” Sunday. “Shout for joy, daughter of Sion” says Zephaniah. “Draw water...
View ArticleThe Baptism of the Lord
At first glance, the scene makes little sense. John’s strident call to repentance provokes an overwhelming response. People of all shapes and sizes flock to him in the wilderness. They are baptized...
View ArticleTo Begin Anew
The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord Have you ever felt that something you were doing was going so badly that you just wished you could start all over? Or maybe your life is not going that well and you...
View ArticleEncountering the Word — Luke 3:16-17
A Daily Quote from Sacred Scripture “John answered them all, ‘I baptize you with water; but he who is mightier than I is coming, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie; he will baptize you...
View ArticleArchbasilica of St. John Lateran: Testimony to a Faith that Endures
Since I made reference to it in last week’s post, and I have already dedicated a whole post to St. Mary Major down the street from it, I think it’s only fair to dedicate a post to the basilica of St....
View ArticleEncountering the Word — Luke 7:22
A Daily Quote from Sacred Scripture And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead...
View ArticleA New Beginning
The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord Have you ever felt that something you were doing was going so badly that you just wished you could start all over? Or maybe your life is not going that well and you...
View ArticleBehold the Lamb of God!
The Protestant Church is all about the Bible; the Catholic Church is all about the Sacraments. Right? Not exactly. When it comes to personal Bible reading, Protestants often put Catholics to shame....
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