BLOG: Fr. Raphael Ma, CR
When you were little, what did you dream of being when you grew up? Me… I wanted to be a library book. Things didn’t work out for me. Thankfully, they worked out better… I started paying more attention to the question, “Where is God calling me?” than to “What do I want to be when ...read more
Here’s a press release from the folks at the Eucharistic Congress that I’d thought I’d share with you — be sure to keep them in your prayers! – 1000 km on foot to Quebec City for the International Eucharistic Congress Quebec City, March 20, 2008 – The 2008 International Eucharistic Congress invites all media, as ...read more
The word “triduum” comes from a Latin root which means “in the space of three days”, and the Church’s observance of the Easter Triduum is one single celebration that lasts for three days. The Old Testament records several occasions of three-day prayer or ritual ceremonies, and Jesus picks up on this concept when he refers ...read more
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test ...read more
This is my tenth Palm Sunday. I remember having to squint as I walked to Church, ten years ago this morning, as the sun reflected off the remaining snow. Winter, like Lent, was nearly over and the air was filled with an organic odour that may have been repellant, were it not for the new ...read more
Could the Church’s new environmental emphasis be a myth? Some commentators tried to argue as much. It’s true that the Pope’s statements on the subject are given a disproportionate share of the headlines lately. That said, surely the Holy Father now knows that every green comment he makes will appear in the mainstream media. Yet ...read more
The Church has traditionally grounded Lenten spirituality in almsgiving, fasting and prayer as taught by Jesus in his Evangelical Discourse (Matt. Chap. 6). At the mention of “prayer,” our thoughts may turn first just in the direction of vocal prayer, – “saying” prayers. But we should never restrict the concept of prayer just to “words.” ...read more
Lent is a special time to prepare for the passion, death, and Resurrection of our Lord.  We have a full line-up of programming for Holy Week beginning this weekend on Palm Sunday to help enter into this great mystery. Prior to that, this Thursday, we will be broadcasting a special Sacrament of Penance service presided ...read more
We’re just over half way through Lent. It’s a time when we may be wavering in our resolutions, or perhaps regretting that we haven’t done anything to enter more fully into the passion of our Lord. This weekend on Salt + Light, we offer viewers an opportunity of encouragement, or depending where you are at, ...read more
In a dark period between a hail of shrapnel in 1994 and a papal decree in 2002, not one priest remained in Afghanistan. This statistic may not surprise you, given that the country was ruled by the fanatical Taliban for the majority of those years. But considering Jesus’ great commission to “make disciples of all ...read more