2026

Matthew 20:20-22

Drinking Christ’s Chalice

The mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something. He said to her, “What do you wish?” She answered him, “Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your Kingdom.” Jesus said in reply, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?” They said to him, “We can.”

Reflection:

Among the Twelve Apostles, two were named James: James the Greater, son of Zebedee, and James the Lesser, son of Alpheus. James the Greater, whom we honor today, was likely called “greater” due to his prominence in the Gospel narrative. He was the brother of John the Evangelist, and tradition holds that their mother was Salome, possibly the sister of the Blessed Virgin Mary—making James and John cousins of Jesus.

In today’s Gospel, the mother of James and John expresses her natural affection and ambition for her sons by approaching Jesus with a bold request: that they might sit, one at His right and the other at His left, in His Kingdom. While her petition reveals faith in Jesus and love for her sons, it also highlights a misunderstanding of the nature of Christ’s kingship. Earthly rulers may reign with power, honor, and prestige, but the Kingdom of God is not built on worldly glory; it is built on humble, self-giving love.

Jesus responds with a gentle yet penetrating question: “Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?” The “chalice” refers to His suffering—His Passion and Death. It is filled not with comfort or honor, but with humiliation and sacrifice. James and John respond with confident simplicity: “We can.” Their answer, though likely offered without full understanding, reveals a spark of heroic love and loyalty that would, in time, be tested and fulfilled.

Jesus affirms, “My chalice you will indeed drink.” Saint James would become the first of the Apostles to suffer martyrdom, as recorded in Acts 12:2, when he was beheaded by the sword under Herod Agrippa. Herod sought to strike at the newly developing Church and to appease the Jews who opposed Jesus and His followers.

James truly shared in the Passion of Christ, offering his life in union with his Master. His martyrdom was followed by the arrest of Peter, likewise intended to please those persecuting the Church. Yet while Peter was miraculously freed by an angel, James was not. Why?

Like James and Peter, each of us has a unique mission in life. Some, like Peter, are raised to prominence and leadership. Others, like James, are called to a more hidden and radical sacrifice. Both vocations are precious in the eyes of God. James’ early martyrdom was not a failure but a fulfillment—a witness to the glory of drinking deeply from the chalice of Christ.

As we honor Saint James, reflect today on his zeal, faith, and desire to be an active member of Christ’s Kingdom. Though he misunderstood what that entailed at first, he remained faithful until the end. Reflect on your own desire for status or recognition. Do you seek honor among others, whether in the Church or society? If so, turn to Saint James, who ultimately embraced the true mission of discipleship. We, too, must drink Christ’s chalice of selfless and sacrificial love, willingly laying down our lives in countless ways. Resolve to embrace whatever mission God entrusts to you. If He opens the door to leadership and prominence, walk through it humbly. If He leads you through the door of sacrifice and holy suffering, do not hesitate. God has a unique and glorious mission for each of us—different from one another, yet equally glorious when accepted with love and fidelity.

Source: https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/2026/07/24/drinking-christs-chalice/

Matthew 20:20-22 Read More »

Saint Sharbel (Charbel) Makhlūf, Priest, Hermit

Daily Saints

Jousef Antoun Makhlouf was born in the village of Bekaa Kafra, North Lebanon. The youngest of five children, he was baptized into the Maronite Rite of the Catholic Church. The Makhlouf family lived in the highest mountain village in Lebanon and were peasant farmers. His father, who died when Jousef was only three, was a mule driver. After his father’s death, his mother remarried; his stepfather later was ordained a priest where he ministered at the local parish. It is the long-standing custom within the Maronite Catholic Church that married men may become priests.

From a young age, Jousef lived a holy and devout life. Two of his uncles were hermits, and Jousef was inspired by their example. As a youth, he tended the cattle and often spent long periods of prayer in the wilderness while his cattle grazed. He was especially devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary and set up a shrine to her in a nearby cave. From an early age, he knew God was calling him to the priesthood and the monastic life, especially as a hermit.

In 1851, at the age of twenty-three, Jousef left his family, never to return, and entered the Monastery of Our Lady in Mayfouq, of the Maronite Catholic Church. His mother later wrote to him saying, “If you weren’t to be a good religious, I would say to you: Come back home. But I know now that the Lord wants you in His service. And in my pain at being separated from you, I say to him, resigned: May He bless you, my child.” As a newly professed monk, Jousef took the name Sharbel, after Saint Charbel the Martyr, a second-century military officer who was martyred in Antioch during a persecution by the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius.

As a monk, Brother Sharbel longed to be a hermit and made the request to his superiors many times. For the first twenty-four years of his religious life, his superiors required that he live in community with the other monks. He was first transferred to the Monastery of Saint Maroun in Annaya where he professed his vows, was then sent to the Monastery of Saints Cyprian and Justina where he studied theology and philosophy, was ordained a priest in 1859 at the age of thirty-one, and returned to the Monastery of Saint Maroun where he remained for the next sixteen years.

Though some monks lived as hermits, that vocation was reserved for those who proved themselves capable of such solitude and asceticism. In 1875, at the age of forty-seven, Father Sharbel was given permission to enter the Hermitage of Saints Peter and Paul to live as a hermit after a miraculous event took place. Some of his fellow monks decided to play a prank on him, filling his oil lamp with water. When he returned to his cell, he took his water-filled lamp, lit it, and it burned. When the superiors heard about this, they inspected the lamp and found it to be filled with water. Unable to explain the miracle, the superiors saw it as a sign of his sanctity and agreed to permit him to become a hermit, according to his desire. He was sent to the Hermitage of Saints Peter and Paul where he spent the next twenty-three years in solitude, embracing a strict regime of daily prayer, manual work, and severe asceticism. In 1898, at the age of seventy, Brother Sharbel suffered a stroke while offering Mass and died eight days later on Christmas Eve. He was buried in the ground without a coffin, according to the custom of his order.

Though Saint Sharbel lived a life of extraordinary holiness, it wasn’t until after his death that his holiness became well known beyond the walls of the monasteries. After his burial, light was seen shining forth from his grave. This phenomenon drew the attention of many villagers who braved the cold and snow to see this mysterious light. After four months, permission was granted by the Church authorities to exhume his body. To the wonderment of all, his body was found to be completely incorrupt. His skin and joints were like one who was sleeping, soft and flexible. He was cleaned of the dirt and mud from his gravesite and placed in a coffin in the monastery chapel. Then something else began to happen. Blood and sweat appeared to be coming forth from his pores, soaking his habit. It was so pronounced that his clothing needed to be changed twice a week. Finally, in 1927, his body was carefully examined by two physicians from Beiurut, placed in another coffin, and sealed in a tomb inside the monastery wall.

A little more than two decades later, a blood-like liquid was seen coming from the corner of the wall behind which Sharbel was buried. In the 1950’s, his tomb was opened three times. One of those times was broadcast on television and attended by high-ranking state officials, religious officials, medical doctors and scientists. In 1965 his body was found, once again, to be incorrupt and exuding the same blood and sweat. Finally, in 1976, the year before his canonization, his body was found to have finally decayed, only the bones remaining. Interestingly, the decay of Sharbel’s body coincided with the early days of the devastating civil war that broke out in Lebanon in 1975. In 1976, the Damour massacre took place. Palestinians attacked the Maronite Christian town. Many of Damour’s residents were killed in battle, massacred, or forced to flee.

Ever since Sharbel’s burial, those who have visited his grave have attributed many miracles to his intercession. This was especially the case in the 1950’s when he was found incorrupt after fifty years. At that time, the monks started to keep track of miraculous cures that were attributed to Father Sharbel’s intercession. Within two years, they had a list of more than twelve thousand reported cures. Devotion to him and his incorrupt body spread rapidly. The devotion, coupled with reports of numerous miracles, led to a new evangelization across Lebanon.

God uses us all in varied ways. Saint Sharbel was used after his death to evangelize Lebanon and beyond. In life, he was deeply united to God. He responded to his vocation as a hermit, living a life of daily penance, sacrifice, deep prayer, and humble service as a priest. As a result, he became one of the most influential saints of the past century. Saint Sharbel did great things for the simple reason that he prayed and followed the will of God. Each of us is capable of doing the same. Ponder God’s will for your life today and resolve to fulfill that mission without any hesitation. Doing so will enable our divine Lord to do great things through you in ways that you might not ever even know until Heaven.

Source: https://mycatholic.life/saints/saints-of-the-liturgical-year/july-24—saint-sharbel-makhluf-hermit/

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Matthew 13:18-20

Daily Reflections, Verse

Receptive to the Gospel

Jesus said to his disciples: “Hear the parable of the sower. The seed sown on the path is the one who hears the word of the Kingdom without understanding it, and the Evil One comes and steals away what was sown in his heart. The seed sown on rocky ground…”

Reflection:

After preaching the Parable of the Sower to the crowds and then explaining to His close disciples (likely the Twelve) the purpose of parables, Jesus, in today’s Gospel, offers them an interpretation of the parable. He speaks clearly and personally to them because they are open—their hearts are properly disposed to receive the truth.

The parable reveals four kinds of hearts: hardened, shallow, distracted, and receptive. By presenting these four interior dispositions, with only one being ideal, Jesus shows that becoming receptive to the Word of God takes effort, humility, and grace. The first three types reflect a progression of deepening receptivity, but each falls short. The final type, the good soil, represents the goal to which all hearts are called.

The first—represented by seed sown on the path—refers to those whose hearts are so hardened that God’s Word cannot enter. Their ears hear the Word of God—as symbolized by the sower sowing seed on the path—but the soil of their hearts has been trampled by many sins and self-centered habits, so the seed cannot penetrate. As a result, they do not understand the Gospel, nor do they seek to understand. This might even refer to some who attend church, hearing the readings and the homily, yet remain unmoved by the Gospel.

The second—represented by seed sown on rocky ground—refers to those whose hearts are shallow. They receive the Word of God with initial joy and enthusiasm, perhaps even with emotion and spiritual fervor. But that joy is not rooted in deep conviction or sustained by persevering faith. When trials come—when faith demands sacrifice, endurance, or courage—they quickly fall away, disillusioned. The root of divine truth never penetrates the deeper layers of the soul. These are those who like the idea of the Gospel but not the cost that comes with living it fully.

The third—represented by seed sown among thorns—refers to those whose hearts are distracted. They welcome the Word of God and allow it to take root, but they simultaneously cling to worldly anxieties, attachments, and desires. The thorns—symbolizing wealth, comfort, ambition, and the cares of daily life—choke the Word so that it becomes fruitless. These are the souls who try to live both for God and for the world. They desire Heaven, but they also crave control, pleasure, or security on their own terms. In such soil, the Word struggles to grow and cannot bear lasting fruit.

The final—represented by seed sown on rich soil—refers to those whose hearts are truly receptive. They not only hear the Word of God but understand it, welcome it, meditate on it, and allow it to transform their lives. This heart is open, humble, prayerful, and detached from worldly distractions. The Word penetrates deeply and becomes a source of abundant spiritual fruit—thirty, sixty, or a hundredfold. These are the saints-in-the-making: souls who, though not perfect, cooperate with grace and allow God’s truth to sanctify them day by day.

Reflect today on the progression revealed in this parable. How open is your heart to the Word of God? As a spiritual seed, God’s Word is powerful. When received into a mind filled with faith, and a heart filled with hope and charity, the seed is nurtured and grows. As it grows, authentic transformation takes place. Good fruit becomes evident, and God does great things in and through this holy soul. See yourself on this journey, till the soil, and await God’s Word as it is sown. Receive it with joy, and resolve to nourish that seed so that an abundance of good fruit may be borne from your life—thirty, sixty, or a hundredfold.

Source: https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/2026/07/23/receptive-to-the-gospel/

Matthew 13:18-20 Read More »

Saint Bridget of Sweden, Religious

Daily Saints

1303–1373; Patron Saint of Europe, Sweden, and widows; Canonized by Pope Boniface IX on October 7, 1391

Saint Bridget was born in Sweden into very comfortable circumstances. Her father was one of the wealthiest landowners in Sweden, and her mother came from a family of rulers, including kings of Sweden. Both were devout Catholics. After the death of her mother when Bridget was an infant, Bridget’s aunt played a central role in raising her. Bridget’s father greatly influenced her with his Friday devotions, by which he fasted and did penance, meditated on the Passion of Christ, received Holy Communion, and confessed his sins of the previous week. Her father’s devotion and her aunt’s faith had a profound impact upon Bridget, and she grew strong in faith from an early age.

It is said that Bridget never spoke a word until she was three years old. Once she began to speak, her words were directed to the praise of God, and never toward sinful conversation. When she was seven, she had a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary who presented her with a crown. From that time on, Bridget’s seriousness about her spiritual life continued to deepen. At the age of ten, she heard a powerful sermon on the Passion of Christ; the next day she had a vision of Jesus crucified. When she saw Him, Jesus said to her, “Look at me, my daughter.” Bridget responded, “Oh, who has treated You this way?” Jesus responded, “Those who despise Me, and are insensible to My love for them.” As a result of this vision, Bridget became even more devoted to meditating on Christ’s Passion.

As was the custom of that time, when she was a young teenager, Bridget was given in marriage to a young man a few years older than her. Ulf Gudmarsson was a noble lord of Nericia, Sweden and a faith-filled Catholic. The couple’s first year of marriage was lived in prayerful abstinence, and they both might have even become lay Franciscans, making their home like a domestic monastery. Later, they had eight children together, two of whom died as infants. One of their children, Catherine, became a nun and was ultimately canonized a saint. Another one of their children, Charles, turned away from God, remaining indifferent to the faith. After the birth of their eight children, the couple once again lived in abstinence, opened their home to the care of the poor, and built a hospital. Around the year 1341, the holy couple and their children made a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. During the return home, Ulf fell ill. He recovered well enough to return home but died in 1344 while convalescing in a Cistercian monastery.

After her husband’s death, Bridget devoted herself to a life of prayer and penance, and her visions of Jesus and Mary increased. These visions, often referred to as revelations, directed her life, instructed her to found a monastery, and revealed to her various mysteries and prophecies. She renounced her fine clothing, choosing instead a hairshirt and a religious’ outer garment of rough material. She distributed her wealth among her children and built a large monastery. The monastery was different from other monasteries in that it was for both men and women. Being a married woman, now widowed, she well understood the complementarity of men and women. Though the men and women lived in separate buildings, they came together for prayer. After it was built, the monastery had some sixty nuns, thirteen priests, four deacons, and eight lay brothers. They followed the Rule of Saint Augustine and embraced a mission of asceticism, devotion, and scholarship. The order began in 1346 and received final papal approval in 1370, just three years before Bridget died. It was at first called the Order of the Most Holy Savior, and later became known as the Bridgettines.

Shortly after founding the monastery, Bridget traveled to Rome for a pilgrimage and ended up staying there for the rest of her life. In Rome, she worked hard for the reform of the Church and offered counsel to popes and other clergy and nobility. She tirelessly urged the pope to return from Avignon, France, to Rome. Eventually, her influence, along with that of others—such as Saint Catherine of Siena—won out, and the pope returned to Rome in 1377, just a few years after Bridget’s death.

During her time in Rome, Bridget received numerous visions and began recording them. In the end, she filled eight volumes and hundreds of pages with descriptions of these visions and her conversations with Jesus. These writings have become known as “Celestial Revelations” or “Prophecies and Revelations.” They include details about the lives of Christ, the Blessed Mother, and the saints; an understanding of Heaven and hell; the mission of the Church; the Passion of Jesus; moral guidance; and prophecies about future events in both the world and the Church. For example, she foresaw the end of the Papal States and the creation of Vatican City in 1929. Her numerous visions and prophecies were widely disseminated in the Middle Ages in Europe, making Saint Bridget one of the most influential persons at that time. This is one of the reasons that she is one of the six patron saints of Europe.

Among her writings is a particular revelation and devotion that many continue to use today. Bridget prayed for a long time to learn from Jesus more about His Passion. Among her prayers was a request that Jesus reveal to her how many blows He suffered on His Body. Eventually, Jesus told her, saying, “I received 5,480 blows upon My Body. If you wish to honor them in some way, recite fifteen Our Fathers and fifteen Hail Marys with the following prayers, which I Myself shall teach you, for an entire year. When the year is finished, you will have honored each of My Wounds.” These prayers, which are commonly referred to as the “Fifteen Prayers of Saint Bridget,” have remained a popular daily devotion since the Middle Ages.

As we honor this girl of noble descent, this wife, mother, widow, religious, visionary, mystic, and saint, seek to imitate her by spending time pondering the Passion of our Lord. Our love for Jesus consoles His suffering Heart and wins us countless graces. Ponder Jesus’ Passion with Saint Bridget, especially by praying her fifteen prayers, and consider doing so for an entire year, so that you, too, will honor every blow Jesus’ body endured during His Passion.

Source: https://mycatholic.life/saints/saints-of-the-liturgical-year/july-23—saint-birgitta-religious/

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Matthew 13:10-13

Daily Reflections, Verse

Lifting the Sacred Veil

The disciples approached Jesus and said, “Why do you speak to the crowd in parables?” He said to them in reply, “Because knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted. To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand.”

Reflection:

Have you ever looked but failed to truly see? Or heard something without really listening or understanding? Jesus’ words teach us that seeing is more than the use of our eyes, and listening is more than the mere act of hearing. The mysteries of the Kingdom are not grasped through sensory perception; they require a deeper interior awareness. Seeing, listening, and understanding demand a receptive heart—a heart attuned to grace.

When the heart is attuned to grace, the mind becomes capable of perceiving life from God’s perspective. This is the gift of Wisdom. Wisdom is the pinnacle of the intellectual gifts, perfecting knowledge, understanding, and counsel by ordering them toward divine truth. Thus, a person who truly sees and listens perceives, not just information, but God’s Eternal Truth. The veil is lifted, and the mysteries of faith come into focus. This interior illumination produces peace, amazement, and a profound sense of gratitude.

Parables are like sacred veils, at once concealing and revealing divine mysteries. For those who are humble, docile to the Holy Spirit, and eager for truth, parables become radiant windows into the heart of God. They are like floodgates, pouring divine light into the soul and drawing it to the very threshold of eternal mysteries. Does the floodgate of divine light pour truth into your mind and grace into your will?

For the proud or indifferent, however, the veil remains drawn—but not without purpose. Jesus does not arbitrarily withhold the divine mysteries from those whose hearts are hardened. Rather, the parable, in veiling the truth, invites the soul to seek more deeply. It stirs a holy curiosity and awakens spiritual desire. It is as if Jesus presents a sacred gift, wrapped in a beautiful veil. He sets it down, says, “This is for you, but don’t peek,” and then smiles and walks away. The hiddenness of the truth is not a rejection; it is an invitation.

Even before this moment, Jesus had already begun to lift the veil. In the Parable of the Sower, just preceding today’s Gospel, He cast seed upon the hearts of His listeners. Some received it attentively, understood it, and were filled with interior consolation as divine light shone within them. Others might have enjoyed the story and found it interesting, but failed to grasp its deeper meaning. Of these, Jesus quotes the prophet Isaiah, saying, in part: “Gross is the heart of this people, they will hardly hear with their ears, they have closed their eyes…” (Matthew 13:15).

“Gross is the heart of this people…”—what a powerful statement. The Greek word translated here as “gross” is not condescending but descriptive. More literally, it means that the heart of the people “has become dull,” “has thickened,” or “has grown insensitive.” Jesus is not condemning; He is lamenting. And even in His lament, He does not give up hope. He continues to teach. He offers the Parable of the Sower, and then, after today’s Gospel, teaches several more parables. Why? Because He is determined to sow the seed of His Word into every heart—no matter how hard the soil may be.

Reflect today on the disposition of your own heart. Are you truly open to the deeper truths of God? Do you seek to understand, or are you content merely to hear? Ask the Lord to lift the sacred veil from your eyes and ears so that you may behold the mysteries of His Kingdom with clarity and awe. Let His Word penetrate your soul like seed falling on rich soil. And if you discover areas of dullness or resistance within, do not be discouraged. Christ continues to sow generously. All He asks is that you receive His Word with humility and allow it to take root.

Source: https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/2026/07/22/lifting-the-sacred-veil/

Matthew 13:10-13 Read More »

Saint Mary Magdalene

Daily Saints

First Century; Patron Saint of pharmacists, contemplatives, converts, glovemakers, hairdressers, penitent sinners, people ridiculed for their piety, perfumers, reformed prostitutes, tanners, women; Invoked against sexual temptations; Pre-Congregation canonization

Saint Mary Magdalene, also known as Magdalene or Mary of Magdala, is most likely named after the bustling fishing village of Magdala on the western edge of the Sea of Galilee. All information about Mary comes from the Gospels. Luke 8:1–3 introduces her as one of the many women who accompanied Jesus and the Twelve, providing for them out of their own resources. These women are said to have been “cured of evil spirits and infirmities,” and Mary is specifically noted to have been delivered from “seven demons.”

Being delivered from seven demons carries significant implications. It could mean that Mary was genuinely possessed, obsessed, or oppressed by seven distinct demons. The number seven also symbolizes perfection, implying she may have been completely possessed or that her deliverance from these demons, and from a life of sin and evil, was a perfect deliverance. In other words, she never returned to the sins from which Jesus delivered her. Some suggest that the seven demons represent the seven capital sins, implying that Mary had committed grave violations of all seven capital sins and was delivered from each of these sinful habits.

In the previous chapter of Luke’s Gospel, Luke 7:35–50, we are given the story of an anonymous “sinful woman” who interrupts a dinner that Jesus was attending at the house of Simon the Pharisee. This woman’s sin is not named, but her repentance is clear. She brings with her an “alabaster flask of ointment,” and stands “behind him at his feet,” weeping, washing Jesus’ feet with her tears, wiping them with her hair, and anointing them with the ointment. After a discourse with the Pharisee who was judging her and Jesus in his heart, Jesus tells Simon, “her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love.” He then turns to her, forgives her, and sends her forth in peace.

Throughout the centuries, many have presumed that this sinful woman was Mary Magdalene. Though this is possible, and some say probable, there is no definitive way to know. This sinful woman might have been Mary of Bethany, the sister of Lazarus and Martha. It could have been a different woman not mentioned elsewhere in the Bible, or one of the other women who accompanied Jesus and provided for Him and the Twelve.

The second time that Mary Magdalene is explicitly mentioned in the Bible is at Jesus’ crucifixion. Matthew, Mark, and Luke state that she and other women were present and were looking on from a distance. John’s Gospel, however, states that she was standing close to the Cross next to Jesus’ mother and aunt: “Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala” (John 19:25).

The third time Mary Magdalene is mentioned is after the Resurrection. Matthew, Mark, and Luke state that Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early on Sunday morning to anoint Jesus’ body and that she was accompanied by one or more other women. However, John’s Gospel states that she went alone, found the stone rolled away, and Jesus’ body missing. She then ran to tell Peter and John, who went to investigate and found the tomb empty, just as she had said. Peter and John left, but Mary sat by the tomb crying. Two angels appeared in the tomb and conversed with her. She then turned around and saw someone whom she mistook for the gardener and asked if he had taken Jesus’ body, but it was Jesus Himself. When Jesus said her name, “Mary!”, she recognized Him. Jesus told her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God’” (John 20:17). Mary quickly went and informed the disciples that she had seen the Lord.

Because it was Mary who was first sent to announce the Resurrection of Christ to the other disciples, Saint Thomas Aquinas referred to her as the “Apostle to the Apostles.” Though it could be inferred from the Bible that Mary Magdalene was the first to see the risen Lord, others hold that Jesus appeared first to His own Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, even though this is not explicitly stated in the Gospels. Pope Saint John Paul II addressed this, saying, “Indeed, it is legitimate to think that the Mother was probably the first person to whom the risen Jesus appeared. Could not Mary’s absence from the group of women who went to the tomb at dawn (cf. Mark 16:1; Matthew 28:1) indicate that she had already met Jesus?” (General Audience, 3 April 1996). Nothing else is known about Mary Magdalene after this biblical account of Jesus’ Resurrection. One ancient tradition holds that she accompanied John and the Blessed Mother to Ephesus, where she spent the remainder of her days.

As we honor Saint Mary Magdalene, we especially celebrate God’s unlimited mercy. The encounter with Jesus changed Mary’s life forever. Jesus did not hesitate to associate Himself with this woman who was delivered from seven demons. Similarly, Jesus never hesitates to unite Himself with anyone who sincerely repents of their sins, regardless of their past actions. Mary’s life also tells us that there is hope for everyone. Before her transformation, many who knew her might have easily dismissed her as hopeless. Jesus didn’t do that with her, and He doesn’t do so with anyone. In 2016, Pope Francis elevated the memorial of Saint Mary Magdalene to the status of a Feast on the liturgical calendar. He did so during the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy as a way of highlighting the important role that Saint Mary Magdalene played in the Gospels, the depth of her love for Christ, and to highlight the Divine Mercy of God.

Reflect upon your own sins and the manifest sinfulness of others. For yourself, if you struggle with some habitual sin, know that freedom is possible. For others, if you have written anyone off, try to regain hope. Pray for that person and know that with Christ Jesus, all things are possible. Your prayers for and witness to those who are sinful can open the doors of Jesus’ mercy for them, giving them the chance they need to repent and to be bathed in the mercy of God.

Source: https://mycatholic.life/saints/saints-of-the-liturgical-year/july-22—saint-mary-magdalene/

Saint Mary Magdalene Read More »

John 20:1-2

Daily Reflections, Verse

A Model of Holy Love and Desire

On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.”

Reflection:

When Jesus first encountered Mary Magdalene, she was afflicted by seven demons. Many Church Fathers interpret this number as symbolizing a complete domination by evil spirits. Though later traditions identified Mary Magdalene with the repentant prostitute or the woman caught in adultery, the Gospels themselves do not explicitly make that identification. What is certain is that she had been grievously afflicted by demons (cf. Luke 8:2).

To fall into such spiritual bondage suggests a life marked by serious sin. However, diabolical possession is not always the direct result of mortal sin; at times, God may permit such affliction for reasons known only to His providence, allowing a greater good to emerge from it. Whatever the cause of Mary Magdalene’s prior affliction, it is clear that God, in His infinite mercy, transformed her into a radiant model of holy love and desire. From her profound healing flowed a singular devotion to Christ.

Today’s Gospel beautifully portrays the emotion, desire, sorrow, and love flowing from Mary’s heart. She was one of the few faithful disciples who remained with Jesus during His Passion and death. She stood by the Cross alongside Jesus’ mother, the Apostle John, and a few other holy women. Her strength and devotion likely sprang from her heartfelt gratitude toward Jesus for delivering her from diabolical affliction. The freedom she experienced through Him enkindled in her an unwavering faith, recognizing Him as the Messiah and the Son of God.

On Easter Sunday morning, before the sun had even risen, Mary made her way to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body. Since Jesus had died shortly before the Sabbath began—sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday—Mary and the other women had been unable to properly anoint His sacred Body. We can imagine that from the moment the Sabbath began, her heart was fixed on one desire: to return to the tomb and perform this final act of love. Her devotion could not wait. Love compelled her to act as soon as it was permitted, and in doing so, she became the first to behold the empty tomb—and soon after, the Risen Lord.

We see Mary’s holy love and desire also in her determination to remain at the empty tomb. After seeing the stone rolled away, she ran to tell the Apostles, and then returned with Peter and John. But after they departed, Mary remained. She stayed, weeping, loving, and longing. She was so consumed with desire for her Lord that, when she saw two angels seated in the tomb, she was neither startled nor impressed—not even when they spoke to her: “Woman, why are you weeping?” Her only thought was for Jesus: “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him.”

Even when Jesus appeared, His identity veiled from her eyes, she still sought only His body. Yet it was His voice—tender, familiar, unmistakable—that pierced the veil and opened her eyes of faith: “Mary!” She responded with that beautiful, personal cry of recognition, “Rabbouni!”

Reflect today on the transformed soul of Saint Mary Magdalene. She went from diabolical affliction to a heart overflowing with holy love and desire for our Lord. She is a model for each of us. We must allow ourselves to be filled with the same gratitude for His grace and reconciliation, cultivate the same unwavering devotion, and burn with the same longing to find Him. When our hearts mirror Mary’s, we too will hear the Lord call us by name. Be grateful. Desire Him. Listen for Him. And like Mary, you will find that He is already standing before you.

Source: https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/2026/07/21/a-model-of-holy-love-and-desire/

John 20:1-2 Read More »

Saint Lawrence of Brindisi, Priest and Doctor

Daily Saints

1559–1619; Patron Saint of Brindisi, Italy; Canonized by Pope Leo XIII in 1881; Proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Pope John XXIII in 1959

Julius Caesar Russo was born in Brindisi, in the Kingdom of Naples, modern-day Italy, to a family of merchants. As a child, he studied under the Conventual Franciscans in Brindisi, impressing the friars with his oratory skills, which were often showcased during special events, such as Christmas. His father passed away when Julius was around seven years old. Later, he relocated to Venice, where he continued his education under the Capuchin Franciscans. It remains unclear whether he moved with his mother or if she had also died after entrusting his care to an uncle who was a priest.

In Venice, the Capuchins, a new branch of the Franciscans, aimed to adhere more strictly to the original Rule of Saint Francis, particularly in regard to poverty and simplicity. Under both the Conventuals and Capuchins, Julius demonstrated exceptional learning. In 1575, at the age of sixteen, he joined the Capuchins in Venice, adopting the name Brother Lawrence. He soon became recognized as an exceptional linguist, mastering Biblical languages such as Greek, Hebrew, Latin, and Syriac, along with fluency in Italian, German, Spanish, French, and Czech. One legend states that he memorized the entire Bible in its original languages. After seven years with the Capuchins, Brother Lawrence was ordained a priest in 1582.

After his ordination, Father Lawrence’s linguistic gifts were put to extensive use. He had not only mastered the Bible in its original languages but was also well versed in ancient Jewish Rabbinic literature and prominent Catholic theology, such as the Summa Theologica of Saint Thomas Aquinas and the works of the Fathers of the Church. His deep knowledge, coupled with his prayerful life and manifest virtues, turned him into an eloquent and persuasive preacher, earning the respect of many, including several Jewish rabbis.

Father Lawrence was entrusted with a multitude of responsibilities after his ordination. He served as the superior of the Capuchins in the province of Tuscany, a general counselor to the Capuchins in Rome, and later as the Minister General of the entire order. His profound knowledge of Hebrew and Rabbinic literature led the Pope to appoint him to minister to the Jews of Rome. In 1601, at the behest of the Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II, he became a chaplain to the army defending the empire against the Ottoman Turks in Hungary. Not only did Father Lawrence inspire the troops, but he also led them into the Battle of Székesfehérvár, carrying a crucifix while on horseback. His leadership resulted in a victory for the Holy Roman Empire.

In 1605, the Pope sent Father Lawrence to Germany to assist in countering the Protestant Reformation. He collaborated with princes and kings to establish the Catholic League, aimed at defending the rights of Catholics and later resisting the Turkish invasion. A devout Franciscan, his ultimate goal was always to achieve peace, a task at which he excelled. He also worked in Vienna, Prague, and Graz, Austria. During these years, he clearly articulated the Church’s stance on papal primacy and its origin in Saint Peter, the role of bishops, the Catholic view on justification, and the necessity of good works for salvation. His defense of the Church was always rooted in his profound understanding of Sacred Scripture and the deposit of faith, tracing its development from the early Church Fathers up to his own time.

Father Lawrence’s influence wasn’t limited to academic circles. His deep prayer life, prolonged and reverent celebration of the Mass, and his ability to engage with the laity in a convincing and transformative manner, endeared him to countless people. His prayer was one of continuous contemplation, and miracles accompanied his ministry. Despite his numerous duties, his personal prayer life was the catalyst for his transformation into a great saint. In addition to his devout celebration of the Mass, during which he often fell into ecstasy, he had a profound devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, often saying of her, “May the Virgin Mary bless us with her pious offspring.”

Besides his administrative, consultative, military, and preaching roles, Father Lawrence was a prolific writer. Most notably, he left behind significant works on Mariology, sermons, commentaries on Sacred Scripture, defenses against heresies, and commentaries on Catholic theology, particularly on the teachings of Saint Thomas Aquinas.

Father Lawrence died in Portugal on his sixtieth birthday. His intellect and influence were so profound that during his canonization process, it was stated, “He can truly be numbered among the holy doctors of the Church.” Indeed, in 1959, Pope John XXIII recognized him as one of the Doctors of the Church, making him one of eight Franciscan saints to receive this honor.

Saint Lawrence is inspirational not only because of his intelligence but also because of his holiness. His brilliance, intertwined with his humble life of prayer, transformed him into a remarkable preacher, administrator, peacemaker, theologian, and defender of the faith. As we venerate this great Franciscan saint, reflect on the fact that Saint Lawrence was precisely what the Church needed during his era. He addressed wars, theological errors, mass departures from the Church, and confusion among the laity. Saint Lawrence was the right man for the task.

Just as God positioned Saint Lawrence in a unique historical period that needed him the most, God has also placed you in this moment in history. While you may not be called to fulfill the same duties as Saint Lawrence, you are called by God to use your unique gifts for His glory and the salvation of souls. Do not hesitate to respond generously to God’s will so that He can use you in ways beyond your imagination.

Source: https://mycatholic.life/saints/saints-of-the-liturgical-year/july-21—saint-lawrence-of-brindisi-priest-and-doctor/

Saint Lawrence of Brindisi, Priest and Doctor Read More »

Matthew 12:47-50

Daily Reflections, Verse

Familial Kinship in the Kingdom

Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak with you.” But he said in reply to the one who told him,“Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.”

Reflection:

Those unfamiliar with Catholic teaching and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary might misinterpret this passage as diminishing Jesus’ love for His mother or the singular role she holds in salvation history. Such an interpretation is gravely mistaken.

The purpose of Jesus’ words is to highlight the eternal reality of spiritual kinship in the Kingdom of Heaven that begins here on earth. In God’s Kingdom, our communion is not based on earthly bloodlines. While biological relationships—between parents, children, and siblings—may retain a unique bond in Heaven, the deepest and most enduring union is forged through shared obedience to the will of the Father.

This spiritual kinship does not begin in Heaven; it begins now. Through the grace of Baptism, we become sons and daughters of the Father and members of Christ’s Body. From that moment, we are united not by flesh, but by adoption—through faith and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The Church, as God’s family on earth, is already a foretaste of the eternal communion we hope to enjoy in glory.

This truth is clearly expressed in the Lord’s Prayer. When Jesus taught us to address God as “Our Father,” the “our” does not refer to earthly relatives, but to all who live as God’s children, united by grace and fidelity to His will. On earth and in Heaven, it is filial obedience that binds us to the Eternal Son and forms the Mystical Body of Christ. In that union, we cry out together, “Father!”

Among those who have conformed themselves well to the will of God, none has equaled the perfection of the Blessed Virgin Mary. From the moment of her Immaculate Conception, she listened attentively to the Father’s voice and responded with unwavering fidelity. Her cooperation with grace was complete, so that the Angel Gabriel rightly called her “full of grace.” To be full is to lack nothing—to be wholly receptive to God’s will.

Therefore, when Jesus said, “Whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother,” His words applied supremely to His own mother. Far from diminishing her, they reveal the depth of her sanctity. She was not only His mother according to the flesh, but also His most perfect spiritual kin. In her, the ideal of divine sonship and discipleship is fulfilled to the highest degree.

Alongside the Blessed Mother—who is uniquely and perfectly united to her Son in spiritual kinship—we, too, are invited to share in God’s family. In Christ, we become kin to Jesus, to His mother, to the angels and saints, and to one another as children of the Father. Though we remain pilgrims on earth, we share in these bonds to the extent that we conform ourselves to the Father’s will. In Heaven, those bonds will be perfected, and we will forever rejoice in the reward of belonging to God’s household. Nothing could be greater.

Reflect today on your deep longing to belong. We often seek acceptance from family, friends, and those around us, but that longing is ultimately fulfilled only by grace, in the spiritual communion that flows from obedience to the Father’s will. Obeying God is a blessing, not a burden. It makes us who we are meant to be. The fruit of that obedience is the deepest peace and joy the heart can know: the joy of belonging to God’s eternal family.

Source: https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/2026/07/20/familial-kinship-in-the-kingdom/

Matthew 12:47-50 Read More »

Saint Apollinaris, Bishop and Martyr

Daily Saints

First Century–c. 79 (Or possibly died late Second Century); Patron Saint of Ravenna and Emilia-Romagna, Italy; Invoked against gout, venereal disease, and epilepsy; Pre-Congregation canonization

On May 9, 549, Bishop Maximian of Ravenna, located in modern-day Italy, dedicated a church to Saint Apollinaris. This church, one of the few Italian churches with a treasure of Byzantine art, still stands. Its greatest treasure, however, is the remains of the saint himself. Though little is certain about his life, he has been honored for centuries as the first bishop of Ravenna, and many have sought his intercession.

According to one tradition, Apollinaris was born in Antioch, in modern-day Turkey. Saints Paul and Barnabas preached in Antioch (Acts 11:26), and it was there that followers of Christ were first referred to as Christians. The Apostolic Constitutions, a document from the late fourth century, also notes that Saint Peter preached in Antioch and served as the town’s first bishop before becoming the first bishop of Rome. It’s possible that while in Antioch, Apollinaris was converted to the faith by Saint Peter, or even earlier by Jesus Himself, being one of the seventy-two sent out on mission by Jesus. Regardless, tradition states that Saint Peter ordained Apollinaris as a bishop and sent him to Ravenna to serve as that city’s first bishop.

In Ravenna, Bishop Apollinaris preached the Good News, attracting many converts. Like many early disciples, he was also a miracle worker. At that time, Ravenna was an important port city for the Roman Empire, replete with buildings, roads, aqueducts, bathhouses, and marketplaces. The predominant religion was that of the Roman Empire, honoring various pagan gods and goddesses with temples and rituals. Therefore, when Bishop Apollinaris arrived in Ravenna and began to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, many perceived Christianity as a direct threat to their way of life and beliefs. Citizens who opposed him beat him and drove him out of the city. Tradition holds that he was found close to death on the seashore, where fellow Christians rescued and hid him.

Despite this persecution and determined to complete his mission, Bishop Apollinaris returned to Ravenna. This time, he was captured, forced to walk on burning coals, and expelled from the city once again. He then traveled about sixty miles to the west to the town of modern-day Emilia-Romagna, where he continued his mission and won over many converts.

Undeterred from converting the people of Ravenna, Bishop Apollinaris returned for a third time, only to face great resistance again. This time, it is said that he was cut with knives and had scalding water poured on his wounds. After his persistent preaching of the Gospel, his abusers silenced him by beating his mouth with rocks. After several days chained in a dungeon, he was not only ejected from the city again but also placed on a ship to Greece, effectively ridding the citizens of Ravenna of him.

In Greece, Bishop Apollinaris continued his ministry of preaching and performing miracles. However, after winning over many converts, the local pagan priests complained that his presence was disrupting their communication with the gods and goddesses through their oracle. As a result, Bishop Apollinaris was placed on a ship and returned to Ravenna.

By the time Bishop Apollinaris returned to Ravenna, Vespasian was the Roman Emperor. While Emperor Vespasian did not engage in an empire-wide persecution of Christians, he was aware of the complaints against them. Legend has it that to address these new “pagans,” who were called Christians, Vespasian ordered the exile of certain Christians, including Bishop Apollinaris. After being dragged out of the city a fourth time, Apollinaris was beaten in Classis, just south of Ravenna, and again left for dead. Whether he died as a result of this final beating is unknown, but he is nonetheless honored as a martyr on the Church’s liturgical calendar. Saint Apollinaris is believed to have served as the first Bishop of Ravenna for twenty to twenty-six years. Other historical evidence from the seventh century suggests that he may have actually lived a century later, dying during the persecution of Emperor Septimius Severus in the late second century.

Though reliable data falls short in determining the historical accuracy of the legends attributed to Saint Apollinaris, the fact of his veneration has been well known at least since the sixth century, when the aforementioned Basilica in Ravenna was first dedicated. Popes in the sixth and seventh centuries encouraged his veneration. Other churches were built in his honor in Rome, Bologna, France, and Germany. Today, his intercession is still sought, and his relics are revered in the Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna.

As we honor this early bishop of the Church, consider the fact that his work of sharing the Gospel continues to have an effect upon many people. First, the converts he made helped spread the Gospel in the early Church, and the Church is what it is today because of such heroic saints. Second, his witness to the Gospel continues to inspire many who hear his story and become inspired by his life. As you seek his intercession today, commit to following his example. When you face opposition to the Gospel or hostility from the modern secular world towards your faith, stand strong and strive to remain strong in the faith, bearing witness in every way you are called.

Source: https://mycatholic.life/saints/saints-of-the-liturgical-year/july-20—saint-apollinaris-bishop-and-martyr/

Saint Apollinaris, Bishop and Martyr Read More »

Matthew 20:20-22

Drinking Christ’s Chalice

Saint Sharbel (Charbel) Makhlūf, Priest, Hermit

Matthew 13:18-20

Receptive to the Gospel

Saint Bridget of Sweden, Religious

1303–1373; Patron Saint of Europe, Sweden, and widows; Canonized by Pope Boniface IX on October 7, 1391

Matthew 13:10-13

Lifting the Sacred Veil

Saint Mary Magdalene

First Century; Patron Saint of pharmacists, contemplatives, converts, glovemakers, hairdressers, penitent sinners, people ridiculed for their piety, perfumers, reformed prostitutes, tanners, women; Invoked against sexual temptations; Pre-Congregation canonization

John 20:1-2

A Model of Holy Love and Desire

Saint Lawrence of Brindisi, Priest and Doctor

1559–1619; Patron Saint of Brindisi, Italy; Canonized by Pope Leo XIII in 1881; Proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Pope John XXIII in 1959

Matthew 12:47-50

Familial Kinship in the Kingdom

Saint Apollinaris, Bishop and Martyr

First Century–c. 79 (Or possibly died late Second Century); Patron Saint of Ravenna and Emilia-Romagna, Italy; Invoked against gout, venereal disease, and epilepsy; Pre-Congregation canonization

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