The Trial of Our Lord Jesus Christ- The Encounter Between Two Pontiffs
In one of the most momentous scenes in history, the transient pontiff meets the Eternal Pontiff; the high priest of the Old Law meets the High Priest of the New Covenant; a christ meets the Christ; the prefigure meets its fulfillment. Turning the pages of the Gospels, we are moved when we contemplate the marvels […]
The Importance of a Good Examination of Conscience
Just like a garden, the spiritual life requires continual care, for defects can spring up in the most hidden recesses and in the most unexpected ways, choking the flowers and fruits of virtue that God wants to cultivate within us.
“Father, Glorify Your Name” – Fifth Sunday of Lent – Preparation for the Passion
Upon receiving a sign of His approaching Passion, Jesus saw that the hour of His glorification had come. The Liturgy selects this Sunday’s Gospel as a preparation for the Passion of Our Saviour. As the Death of Jesus ap proaches, the first rays of His subsequent glorificationbegin to shine forth. “Per crucem ad lucem!” — […]
Dust, Ashes and Nothing
Three simple words, engraved on a Roman tombstone, invite us to seriously and humbly consider our life in this world and to place our hope in future glory. A stroll through the winding alleys of Rome can sometimes feel like a visit to a necropolis. In the ancient Campus Martius, for example, the imposing mausoleum […]
Fasting and Abstinence
The Church, commissioned by the Saviour to lead men to Heaven, has wise rules for the fasting prescribed by Our Lord Jesus Christ. What are they? When asked why His followers did not fast as did those of John the Baptist and the Pharisees, Our Lord Jesus Christ said, “Can the wedding guests mourn as […]
Holy… Miseries!
God does not remove miseries, but sanctifies the miserable. In this way, the work of grace shines more brightly than if it were to fall on someone free from defects. “Will God never answer me?” It is a question which from time to time surges up impetuously within us, especially at those times when we […]
The Origins of Ash Wednesday
At the beginning of Lent, the procession of sinners would enter from the back of the church, reciting the “Miserere”. Inwardly crushed by their guilt, at the same time they felt the solace of the Judge’s own promise. To fully understand the Church’s intention in instituting the Ash Wednesday ceremony, it is necessary to consider […]
