Posts by Fr. Marcelo Javier Navarro Muñoz, IVE
Martyrdom
Martyrdom is not popular, much less nowadays. Martyrdom is nonetheless, in a sense, the essence or heart of Christianity, even though only “a few” have endured it. The Church continues its path amidst martyrdom and celebrates it as we do today on the solemnity of St John the Baptist who gave his life as a…
Read MoreContrasts
During the past two or three weeks the gospels of the Mass have shown us contrasts. There are contrasts between Christ and the leaders of Israel, contrasts between those who are willing to follow him and those who close their hearts to the Gospel message, contrasts between the healing power of God and human illness,…
Read MoreJune, the Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary
The traditional devotions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to the Immaculate Heart of Mary have not been forgotten. Many people nowadays feel attracted to these devotions and make them part of their daily prayers. Needless to say, how worthy it is to explore, for instance, the revelation of the Sacred Heart to Saint…
Read MoreIs Christ’s Ascension Our “Ascension” Into Heaven…?
Easter: A Time to Strengthen Our Faith Easter Season is a time for the strengthening of our faith. During Easter, Christ appeared and disappeared from his disciples’ sight multiple times. Forty days have been about enough for them to strengthen their faith in the Resurrection of the Lord. At this point, the words of Christ…
Read MoreA Risen Savior
He must rise again from the dead (Jo 20: 9) Beginning with this simple statement, that Christ must rise again from the dead, Aquinas, pouring out all his affection for the mystery of the Risen Lord says, that there are five things to be noted:2 1. The infinite goodness of our Lord Jesus Christ 2.…
Read MoreA Forgotten Devotion…?
“Devotion to St. Joseph was a hallmark of St. Teresa of Avila. Teresa attributed her miraculous cure to Saint Joseph. When she was living in the Incarnation Convent in Avila, she was struck with an ailment that left her half-dead. She was paralyzed and was presumed dead at one point. She prayed and prayed to…
Read MoreCreated in the “Image and Likeness” of God
In recent weeks the readings from Mass have provided extensive passages from the book of Genesis. The one that caught my attention again, and obviously (perhaps) more than the rest, was the story of the creation of human beings in the image and likeness of God. My memory took me to the Catechism which tells…
Read MoreI believe in One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church
On his first catechesis on the Church, Pope John Paul II recalls that “the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed says: “I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.” This creed, like its antecedent, the Apostles’ Creed, straightaway connects the truth about the Church with the Holy Spirit: “I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church.”…
Read MoreAdvent- Christmas and the Presence of Mary1
It is difficult, if not impossible, to prepare for the coming of Christ during Advent and to celebrate Christmas without a true devotion to Mary. The Liturgy of the Catholic Church offers two opportunities during December to honor our Blessed Mother, that is, the Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Guadalupe. And the first day…
Read MoreJesus Christ King of the Universe1
When all the elders of Israel came to David in Hebron, King David made an agreement with them there before the LORD, and they anointed him king of Israel. (2 Sam 5: 3) Writing about the saints of the Old Testament, Archbishop Fulton Sheen says that “David was the forerunner of Our Lord’s Kingship.” After…
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