BLOG: Fr. Raphael Ma, CR
If you’re a hockey fan this is your time of year — the playoffs! You can camp out on your sofa in front of the television (or at your computer checking your online fantasy hockey pool) and watch hours of games, absorbing all the hockey action to get you through that hockey dry season between ...read more
“We know how to touch the moon or reach the stars, but we don’t find the best way to talk to one another. “ Don’t those words from author Jacques Shore ring true? We have all sorts of advances in science and technology, we have all sorts of gizmos in our personal lives to keep ...read more
On Saturday we celebrate the feast of St. Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort. This French priest is perhaps best known for writings on the Blessed Virgin Mary. In chapter two of his work “True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin,” Saint Louis writes about what consists of true devotion to Mary: 61. Jesus, our Saviour, true God ...read more
As mentioned on Zoom, over one thousand youth from across Canada and the US will participate in Montréal’s Taizé gathering this weekend April 27-29, 2007. The gathering is organized by the ecumenical community and the theme is “Leaving Discouragement Behind, Finding New Hope.” If you’re in the area, it’s not too late to register for ...read more
I have been fascinated by butterflies recently. My growing fascination with butterflies “metamorphosed” into an adventurous excursion to the Wings of Paradise Butterfly Conservatory in Cambridge, Ontario. There were over 40 species of butterflies, and thousands of them fluttered around me at the conservatory. One of my favourites is pictured above… … and the picture ...read more
Today is the feast day of the evangelist Mark, often symbolized by a winged lion. It’s certainly appropriate that we celebrate his feast day this time of year as we read about the early Church in the Liturgy of the Word. Assuming it is the same Mark, we read of many references to this great ...read more
[Stephen said:] You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are forever opposing the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do. Which of the prophets did you ancestors not persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, and now you have become his betrayers and murderers. You are ...read more
This past weekend Pope Benedict XVI traveled to northern Italy to visit the cities of Vigevano and Pavia. In Pavia, the Holy Father visited the tomb of one of his heroes, St. Augustine of Hippo. The Holy Father’s visit reminded me of my early days in Toronto some years ago. It was my first time ...read more
Pope Benedict XVI will be traveling to Pavia, Italy this weekend — and Salt + Light has you covered! On Saturday, April 21, we will present to you live Italian coverage. Our coverage begins approximately at 10am ET and runs through 4pm ET. This coverage will include the Holy Father’s arrival to Vigevano, a town ...read more
Discernment is one of those big words that is often only heard in Catholic circles – usually the ones speaking about vocations to the priesthood. While men discerning priesthood certainly do discern, they are far from the only people who do this. In short, discernment is decision-making, but it is also a bit more complicated ...read more