BLOG: Fr. Raphael Ma, CR
Pope Francis’ homily: The Mother of God is starting point for New Year: The year opens in the name of the Mother of God. Mother of God is the most important title of Our Lady. But we might ask why we say Mother of God, and not Mother of Jesus. In the past some wanted ...read more
The Infancy Narratives in the gospels of Mathew and Luke are filled with rich symbolism. The Evangelists were Christians of the first century whose lives were dramatically changed after the death and resurrection of Jesus. It was their deep faith in Jesus and their concrete experience of the Christian community that informed the theology that ...read more
Oh, it’s new year again! How are there only 365 days in a year? If only we could double or triple the length of a year, then I should be able to complete my New Year’s Resolutions. Wait a second! I haven’t changed my resolutions for a few years now. Every end of December and ...read more
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family. As we reflect on the year that has been and the year that will be, through the lens of the family, let me offer this wonderful reflection from Bl. Pope Paul VI from an address while in Nazareth in January 5, 1964 and taken from the ...read more
The Infancy Narratives in the gospels of Mathew and Luke are filled with rich symbolism. The Evangelists were Christians of the first century whose lives were dramatically changed after the death and resurrection of Jesus. It was their deep faith in Jesus and their concrete experience of the Christian community that informed the theology that ...read more
For many people, and perhaps even for us, Christmas seems to end on December 26th. With the shopping frenzy of Boxing week, the plans for the New Year’s Eve party and the new Valentine’s Day themed decorations in the malls, the true Christmas season and its meaning quickly dissipates into memory. For many, all that ...read more
With Christmas fast approaching, and malls becoming busier with shoppers looking for the “perfect” gift to give their loved ones, the most precious gifts are not material things you can purchase. True giving comes from the heart through expressions of love. I offer these three gifts as suggestions. Gift of Time John 15:12 This is ...read more
Christmas urges us to reflect on the Mystery of the Incarnation. In a short video series, Fr. Eric Nicolai, an Opus Dei priest and art expert, helps us reflect on this mystery through religious art from the early Christians to roughly around the 18th century. Despite all the changes in the artistic depictions of the ...read more
At 12 o’clock noon today, Solemnity of the Lord’s Birth, from the Central Loggia of the Vatican Basilica, the Holy Father Francis, before imparting the “Urbi et Orbi” Blessing, addresses the traditional Christmas message to the faithful present in St. Peter’s Square and to those who listen to him through radio and television. This is ...read more
? The Infancy Narratives in the gospels of Mathew and Luke are filled with rich symbolism. The Evangelists were Christians of the first century whose lives were dramatically changed after the death and resurrection of Jesus. It was their deep faith in Jesus and their concrete experience of the Christian community that informed the theology ...read more