Spectacle for Angels and Men
Spectacle for Angels and Men- St. Nicholas of Flüe Father of a family, military man and influential judge, this singular saint had his eyes continually turned towards Heaven, without ever neglecting the fulfilment of his concrete duties. The Swiss Alps: a superbly enchanting, joyous and peaceful landscape. On one of the slopes of the beautiful […]
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 Savior 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 […]
To Love Is to Serve… Always Smiling!- Blessed Humbeline of Jully
For this exemplary girl of spirited temperament and abundant natural qualities, the matrimonial path seemed to be the one by which she would reach sainthood. However, God had loftier designs for Humbeline… In the long-ago 12th century, in Burgundy, France, there lived a noble family made up of Tescelin, lord of Fontaines, his wife, the […]
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 […]
Blessed the Day that Saw Her Birth!
The birth of Our Lady brought to humanity something hitherto unknown: a creature free of any stain, a lily of incomparable beauty that was to gladden the angelic choirs and the whole earth. In the midst of the exile of the corrupt human race, an immaculate being appeared, conceived without original sin. She brought with […]
Unrivalled Maternal Love
With two thousand years of Christianity behind us, we have little idea of the innovation that Our Lord Jesus Christ’s teaching represented in His time. Considering man in his innermost being—that is, his relationship with the Creator—we see that the pagan gods of Antiquity were often portrayed as implacable judges and tormentors of humanity. Such […]
The Soft Twilight of a Long and Beautiful Life
Dona Lucilia cast a glance filled with sweetness, serenity and kindness over her long past. She had lived, suffered, and struggled with all of life’s adversities, without holding grudges, and without bitterness. Her death marked the end and the summit of a peaceful and unwavering ascension. Providence reserved the harshest trial of Dona Lucilia’s existence […]
The Church is in Constant Combat
Having begun with the life of Our Most Holy Redeemer, the combat under the standard of the Cross will only cease at the end of time. Today, more than ever, the strength of the wicked depends on the cowardice of the good, and the power of satan’s reign lies in the weakness of Christians.