Daily Reflections
“Christian, remember your dignity,” Pope St. Leo the Great wrote, contemplating that God emptied himself of His divine attributes to become truly man like us – yet remaining truly God, a Divine Person. Did Jesus lower Himself to become like us, or did He elevate us to become like Him?…
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We have just finished the Christmas season during which we celebrated the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior, Emmanuel, God among us. When we receive Jesus, we do not stay the same. His coming transforms us and gives us a new impulse of life, a new way of…
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Today the Church celebrates the Baptism of Our Lord, the first of the Luminous Mysteries in the life of Christ. Let us take a few moments today to reflect both on this particular scene, as well as the gift of baptism for each of us. St. Mark’s telling is spare…
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“The LORD takes delight in His people. The Lord loves His people. Let the faithful exult in glory and let them sing for joy“ (Ps 149:4-5). Today’s responsorial psalm calls us to rejoice at the epiphany of the newborn King, the Beloved Son at His baptism, and the Bridegroom who…
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I once had to apply for a position for which I needed a recommendation letter. I thought of how elevating it would be to be recommended by the Dean of Studies of my Faculty. But then I was aware of his usual tight schedule and how, irrespective of his goodwill…
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Two friends offered a lift to a young lady while driving to their home city. On their way, they talked about the city, their professions, their hopes and aspirations. The one driving the car was so entertained by the depth of the lady’s ideas, but her physical beauty attracted his…
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Today is the feast of epiphany. The word epiphany comes from the Greek word epiphanea (manifestation). The feast commemorates the manifestation of the newly born King of Israel to the gentiles represented by the magi (three wise men from the East). The word gentile was the expression used by the…
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The first week of the year is a glorious time for North America, in that we celebrate three feast days in a row. Yesterday we feted St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first U.S.-born person to be canonized. Tomorrow we remember St. Andre Bessett, the great Canadian Holy Cross brother. Today…
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Happy New Year to all of the Gratia Vobis Ministries reflection readers, and Grace to You. When I was growing up, we took yearly trips from our family home to my grandparents’ homes in the Cleveland, Ohio, USA area. Depending on where we lived at the time, the trip would…
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On this feast of Epiphany, I reflect on the kind of people to whom God is made manifest. Epiphany is about the revelation of Christ beyond the shores of Bethlehem and Jerusalem to the whole world. The Church in the east call it the feast of theophany (manifestation of God).…
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