Ignatius and the Companions of Jesus
When we read the life of Saint Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556) he at first glance seems to belong more to the early days of...
Saint Peter Chrysologous, Ravenna’s Doctor
Saint Peter Chrysologous (+450) was, as the traditional account has it, chosen bishop of Ravenna in 433 after the then-reigning pontiff, Pope, Sixtus III,...
Martha, Mary and Lazarus: What Makes a Household?
This memorial of Saint Martha, in accord with a decree from the Congregation of Divine Worship, now also includes her brother Lazarus, the one...
James the Greater, Matamoros and Humanae Vitae: Signs of Contradiction
Today we celebrate the great feast of Saint James 'the Greater', not because of any intrinsic superior quality to the other apostle James, 'the...
All Roads Lead to Rome
On this feast of Saint Bridget of Sweden, one of the four co-patrons of Europe (along with Saint Benedict, Saint Catherine of Siena and...
Saint Bridget, Sweden’s Charitable Bibliophile
Long before Sweden was known for ABBA and IKEA – two exports not to everyone’s taste, even if billion-dollar brands – along with a...
Mary Magdalene’s Metanoia
A blessed feast of Mary Magdalene, which - or who - was raised from memorial status in the liturgical revisions of 1969 to a...
Saint Lawrence of Brindisi: Bible and Cappucino
Guilio Cesare Russo was born to a family of Venetian merchants, but not in Venice, but rather far to the south, in the village...
Saint Arsenius the Great, and the Silent
Saint Arsenius, called ‘the Great’, (350 – 445), whom we recall on this 19th of July, was one of the early monks of the...
The Profound Peace of Assisi
I wasn’t quite prepared for Assisi, even if it was just what I needed. I suppose God works like that. When I got off...
