The stigmatization of St. Francis of Assisi is one of the most profound and mysterious events in Christian mysticism—a moment where spiritual devotion, physical suffering, and divine intimacy collided in a way that still captivates believers and historians alike.
In September, 1224, while praying in solitude on Mount La Verna, St. Francis reportedly received the stigmata—the...
At first glance, we might miss the fact that compassion is the heartbeat of both the reading from the First Letter to Timothy and the story of the widow of Nain, compassion that is woven into the very fabric of Christ’s mission and the Christian call to prayer.
The Greek word for compassion used in the Gospel story from St. Luke is “splagchnizomai.” It describes a visceral...
Different religious cultures around the world have different symbols that connect earthly believers to the heavens. Jewish culture remembers the ladder of Jacob who saw angels ascending and descending as he dreamed. The Christian culture crowned their churches with elaborate spires that reach to the heavens above. North American Natives used their totem poles to connect them to the spirit...
Jesus uses two metaphors to describe his disciples in today’s Gospel text. First, he compares the good disciple to a good tree bearing good fruit. Next, he describes the prudent disciple as one who builds his house on rock rather than sand. At first, these two metaphors might seem as if they have no relationship. However, a good tree must have a good root structure in order to produce...
In the Gospel text for today, Jesus uses a parable to remind us of our need look at our brothers and sisters without judgement. When we are ready to criticize another, we should take a step back and look within ourselves. Often the reason we criticize another is because the same flaw, habit, or tendency lies within us. We are repulsed when we see the flaw in action, because it is like...