Saints
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Monday, January 7th, 2008Today is the feast of St. Raymond of Penyafort. As readers will recall, I have an adopted son named Raymond, and having this great Dominican canonist as a patron saint played into our name selection. What I didn’t realize at the time was that I (or should I say, my son) was getting a Dominican [...]
A Man on Omission
Wednesday, January 2nd, 2008Today is the feast of St. Basil the Great, a fourth-century bishop and doctor of the Church. A priest friend just sent me this remarkable quote from St. Basil’s writings: “The bread which you do not use is the bread of the hungry; the garment hanging in your wardrobe is the garment of him who [...]
The Beloved Disciple
Thursday, December 27th, 2007The Church has always identified the Apostle John as the author of the fourth Gospel and the beloved disciple described in that Gospel. This common belief is richly reflected in the Church’s liturgy. The universal Church today celebrates the Feast of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist. The readings, prayers, and antiphons unmistakably reflect the belief of [...]
A Bishop’s Bishop
Friday, December 7th, 2007Today is the feast of St. Ambrose, a remarkable fourth-century bishop and saint, who is considered a “doctor of the Church” because of his excellence as a teacher of timeless Catholic truth. Many saints have their feast day on or at least near the day of their death, which is understood as the day they [...]
The Real St. Nick
Wednesday, December 5th, 2007As we prepare for the sublime feast of the Nativity of Our Lord during these weeks of Advent, we can’t help but notice the trappings of our secular culture that continually impose themselves on the “holiday season.” Meanwhile, more overtly religious expressions, such as créches or Nativity scenes, are systematically excluded from the public square. [...]
The Last Father
Tuesday, December 4th, 2007Today the Church celebrates the feast of St. John Damascene. For many years I have considered him the patron saint of my computer. Of course, I’m the same guy who thinks Blessed Kateri Takeitwithya is the patroness of fast food restaurants! Actually, St. John Damascene (died c. 750 A.D.), priest and monk, is considered the last [...]
Distinguishing “Dark” from “Dark”
Monday, November 5th, 2007TIME‘s David Van Biema called Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light a “book of hasty, troubled notes” that had the potential to “ease the spiritual road of thousands of fellow believers” by reassuring them that doubt is a natural part of life. “Everything she’s experiencing,” Van Biema wrote, quoting America editor Fr. James Martin, “is [...]
According to Luke
Thursday, October 18th, 2007“Saints week” continues today with the feast of St. Luke, author of the third Gospel and companion of St. Paul. I don’t know about you, but I grow weary of study Bibles and Bible studies that go to great lengths to explain to us that so and so didn’t actually write the book of the [...]
Iggy’s Top Ten
Wednesday, October 17th, 2007I’m especially partial to today’s saint, Ignatius of Antioch. I’m sure part of it is because it’s my birthday, so I’ve always claimed him as one of “my” saints. But even more, St. Ignatius, who is recalled in the Roman Canon (Eucharistic Prayer 1), is a vitally important witness to the faith of the Apostles, [...]
“Saints Week” Continues
Tuesday, October 16th, 2007Today the universal Church celebrates not one but two feast days, namely the feast of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and the feast of St. Hedwig. Both of these saints are fairly obscure, though between the two St. Margaret Mary is the better known because of her connection to devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. But [...]
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