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THE THIRD SORROW OF MARY: The Loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple Each year [Jesus’] parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when he was 12 years old, they went up according to festival custom. After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind … Continue reading →

THE SIXTH STATION: Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you; go in peace.” —Luke 8:48 It’s tempting for us to remove the humanity from this station, to view it in terms of great marble statues and stained glass. But what Veronica did was hardly clean or … Continue reading →

CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING: Sacredness and Dignity of the Human Person “This teaching rests on one basic principle: individual human beings are the foundation, the cause and the end of every social institution. That is necessarily so, for men are by nature social beings.” —St. John XXIII, Mater et Magistra, # 219 (Mother and Teacher, on … Continue reading →

REFLECTING ON TODAY’S READINGS Isaiah beautifully describes the invitation of grace God extends to each of us. We are reminded that our inherent dignity means that God lives in us and desires that we stay close to him. How does this invitation from God guide us in our relationships with one another? Jesus’ parable of … Continue reading →

LIVING LAUDATO SI’ THIS LENT “Saint Francis, faithful to Scripture, invites us to see nature as a magnificent book in which God speaks to us and grants us a glimpse of his infinite beauty and goodness. ‘Through the greatness and the beauty of creatures one comes to know by analogy their maker’ (Wisdom 13:5); indeed, … Continue reading →

LIVES OF THE SAINTS: St. Francis Xavier, SJ In the first chapter of the Book of Acts, we find this line: “But you will receive power when the holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” For many of … Continue reading →

THE FIFTH STATION: Simon Helps Jesus Carry the Cross They pressed into service a passer-by, Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country … to carry his cross. —Mark 15:21 Even Jesus needed help, and he wasn’t too proud to accept it. Human beings are social beings: We are called to live in … Continue reading →

THE SECOND SORROW OF MARY: The Flight Into Egypt When they had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him. … Continue reading →

THE FOURTH STATION: Jesus Encounters His Mother And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary …“You yourself a sword will pierce so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” —Luke 2:34–35 What must Mary have been thinking, standing there in the midst of suffering, looking at her son? What pain must have been … Continue reading →

CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING: Rights and Responsibilities  “To claim one’s rights and ignore one’s duties, or only half fulfill them, is like building a house with one hand and tearing it down with the other.” —St. John XXIII, Pacem in Terris, #30 (Peace on Earth) What comes to mind when “rights” are mentioned? Perhaps we think … Continue reading →