Sunday's Readings: Deuteronomy 18:15-20 Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9 1 Corinthians 7:32-35 Mark 1:21-28

Here are several commentaries on these readings:

• St. Charles Borromeo Lectionary Site (PDF)


• The King's Authority (Also available to be heard as an MP3) from St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology


• Authority over Demons from The Crossroads Initiative

The Acton Institute says of itself, "The Mission of the Acton Institute is to promote a free and virtuous society characterized by individual liberty and sustained by religious principles."

This site offers a wonderfully wide-range wealth of resources on applying Catholic and Christian concerns and heritage to practical problems and issues, with an emphasis on liberty and free enterprise. It provides a desperately needed antidote to the many liberal political sites that promote themselves as Catholic and involving "social justice."

From Catholic Culture

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It is right and fitting to worship the Holy Eucharist because the Eucharist is Christ as is explained in this excerpt from the Catechism. Note, the last section was penned by St. Thomas Aquinas, a doctor of the Church. We celebrate his feast day on January 28th.

1378   In the liturgy of the Mass we express our faith in the real presence of Christ under the species of bread and wine by, among other ways, genuflecting or bowing deeply as a sign of adoration of the Lord. "The Catholic Church has always offered and still offers to the sacrament of the Eucharist the cult of adoration, not only during Mass, but also outside of it, reserving the consecrated hosts with the utmost care, exposing them to the solemn veneration of the faithful, and carrying them in procession."

1379   The tabernacle was first intended for the reservation of the Eucharist in a worthy place so that it could be brought to the sick and those absent outside of Mass. As faith in the real presence of Christ in his Eucharist deepened, the Church became conscious of the meaning of silent adoration of the Lord present under the Eucharistic species. It is for this reason that the tabernacle should be located in an especially worthy place in the church and should be constructed in such a way that it emphasizes and manifests the truth of the real presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament.

1380   It is highly fitting that Christ should have wanted to remain present to his Church in this unique way. Since Christ was about to take his departure from his own in his visible form, he wanted to give us his sacramental presence; since he was about to offer himself on the cross to save us, he wanted us to have the memorial of the love with which he loved us "to the end," even to the giving of his life. In his Eucharistic presence he remains mysteriously in our midst as the one who loved us and gave himself up for us, and he remains under signs that express and communicate this love:

The Church and the world have a great need for Eucharistic worship. Jesus awaits us in this sacrament of love. Let us not refuse the time to go to meet him in adoration, in contemplation full of faith, and open to making amends for the serious offenses and crimes of the world. Let our adoration never cease.

1381   "That in this sacrament are the true Body of Christ and his true Blood is something that 'cannot be apprehended by the senses,' says St. Thomas, 'but only by faith, which relies on divine authority.' For this reason, in a commentary on Luke 22:19 ('This is my body which is given for you.'), St. Cyril says: 'Do not doubt whether this is true, but rather receive the words of the Savior in faith, for since he is the truth, he cannot lie.'"

Godhead here in hiding, whom I do adore
Masked by these bare shadows, shape and nothing more,
See, Lord, at thy service low lies here a heart
Lost, all lost in wonder at the God thou art.
Seeing, touching, tasting are in thee deceived;
How says trusty hearing? that shall be believed;
What God's Son has told me, take for truth I do;
Truth himself speaks truly or there's nothing true.

Catechism of the Catholic Church

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In her efforts to reach all with the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Church makes use of all avenues of communication. Today, the Internet is a major part of how many in the world communicate with one another. In recent years, YouTube has proven to be a popular way of providing communication.

Recently, the Vatican launched a YouTube Channel which features videos on the Holy Father's activities and other features of interest from the Vatican. As might be expected, it is proving to be a popular site.

The URL for the Vatican YouTube Channel is http://www.youtube.com/vatican.

Sunday's Readings: Jonah 3:1-5,10 Psalm 25:4-9 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 Mark 1:14-20

Here are a couple of commentaries on these readings:

• St. Charles Borromeo Lectionary Site (PDF)


• Following Him (Also available to be heard as an MP3) from St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology


• Detachment from the World from The Crossroads Initiative

National Catholic Bioethics Center

The National Catholic Bioethics Center engages in research and reflection, within the Catholic tradition, on moral issues arising in health care and the life sciences. It makes the results of this research available through this website and various offline educational and publishing activities, workshops and seminars. The site itself provides general information on the Center and its work, a topical index and selected articles from Ethics and Medics, the Center's journal, and an opportunity for an online consultation.

From Catholic Culture

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St. Vincent Pallotti

The feast day of St. Vincent is January 22nd. He is credited with having said, "Remember that the Christian life is one of action; not of speech and daydreams. Let there be few words and many deeds, and them be done well."

A contemporary of Cardinal Newman's and the Cure of Ars', St. Vincent Pallotti was a very modern saint who organized so many remarkable pastoral programs that he is considered the forerunner of Catholic Action. He was a man of great ideas and great vision and was able to inspire others to tackle great things. He is the founder of the Pallottine Fathers and the Pallottine Missionary Sisters; however, this was but the tip of the iceberg of his accomplishments. He left behind schools, guilds, and institutes that carried the Catholic mission into the very heart of contemporary society.

He was born in Rome in 1795 and began studies for the priesthood very early. Although he was very bright, he was not attracted by studies, even though he was ordained a priest at twenty-three and earned a doctorate in theology soon afterward. He was given an assistant professorship at the Sapienza University but resigned it soon after to devote himself to pastoral work.

Before long, his zeal was known all over Rome. He organized schools for shoemakers, tailors, coachmen, carpenters, and gardeners so that they could better work at their trade, as well as evening classes for young farmers and unskilled workers. He soon became known as a "second St. Philip Neri." He gave away his books, his possessions, and even his clothes to the poor, and once dressed up as an old woman to hear the confession of a man who threatened "to kill the first priest who came through the door."

In 1835, he founded his two congregations and was instrumental in the founding of a missionary order in England and several colleges for the training of missionaries.

He died at the age of fifty-five and his body lies incorrupt in the church of San Salvatore in Rome. He was canonized by Pope John XXIII in 1963.

From EWTN's Saints and Other Holy People

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Our Lord prayed for the unity of His Church. Through the Holy Spirit, we continue to work toward the unity of all Christians. In this excerpt from the Catechism, the Church presents her teaching on the steps toward unity.

820   "Christ bestowed unity on his Church from the beginning. This unity, we believe, subsists in the Catholic Church as something she can never lose, and we hope that it will continue to increase until the end of time." Christ always gives his Church the gift of unity, but the Church must always pray and work to maintain, reinforce, and perfect the unity that Christ wills for her. This is why Jesus himself prayed at the hour of his Passion, and does not cease praying to his Father, for the unity of his disciples: "That they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be one in us, . . . so that the world may know that you have sent me." The desire to recover the unity of all Christians is a gift of Christ and a call of the Holy Spirit.

821   Certain things are required in order to respond adequately to this call:

- a permanent renewal of the Church in greater fidelity to her vocation; such renewal is the driving-force of the movement toward unity;

- conversion of heart as the faithful "try to live holier lives according to the Gospel"; for it is the unfaithfulness of the members to Christ's gift which causes divisions;

- prayer in common, because "change of heart and holiness of life, along with public and private prayer for the unity of Christians, should be regarded as the soul of the whole ecumenical movement, and merits the name 'spiritual ecumenism;"'

- fraternal knowledge of each other;

- ecumenical formation of the faithful and especially of priests;

- dialogue among theologians and meetings among Christians of the different churches and communities;

- collaboration among Christians in various areas of service to mankind. "Human service" is the idiomatic phrase.

822   Concern for achieving unity "involves the whole Church, faithful and clergy alike." But we must realize "that this holy objective - the reconciliation of all Christians in the unity of the one and only Church of Christ - transcends human powers and gifts." That is why we place all our hope "in the prayer of Christ for the Church, in the love of the Father for us, and in the power of the Holy Spirit."

Catechism of the Catholic Church

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Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is celebrated from January 18-25. See the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity for more information.

At every celebration of the Holy Eucharist, the Church prays for unity and peace(201), mindful of the Jesus' prayer. "May they all be one. Father, may they be one in us, as you are in me and I am in you, so that the world may believe it was you who sent me" (John 17, 21). The Missale Romanum contains three Masses -among those for various needs- "for Christian unity". The same intention is remembered in the intercessions of the Liturgy of the Hours".

In deference to the sensibilities of the "separated brethren", expressions of popular piety should take into account the principle of ecumenism. Effectively, "change of heart and holiness of life, along with public and private prayer for the unity of Christians, should be regarded as the soul of the whole ecumenical movement, and merits the name 'spiritual ecumenism'". The encounter of Catholics with Christians from other Churches or ecclesial communities affords a special occasion for common prayer for the grace of Christian unity, to offer to God their common anxieties, to give thanks to God and to implore his assistance. "Common prayer is particularly recommended during the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" or during the period between Ascension and Pentecost". Prayer for Christian unity also carries several indulgences.

From Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy (182)

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Sunday's Readings: 1 Samuel 3:3-10,19 Psalm 40:2,4,7-10 1 Corinthians 6:13-15,17-20 John 1:35-42

Here are a couple of commentaries on these readings:

• St. Charles Borromeo Lectionary Site (PDF)


• Hearing the Call (Also available to be heard as an MP3) from St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology


• Called to Holiness and Mission from The Crossroads Initiative

St. Anthony of Egypt

The Church celebrates the memorial of St. Anthony of Egypt on January 17th.

St. Anthony was born in 251 in a small village in Egypt. When he was twenty years old, his parents died. They left him a large estate and placed him in charge of the care of his younger sister. Anthony felt overwhelmed and turned to God in prayer. Gradually he became more and more aware of the power of God in his life. About six months later, he heard this quotation of Jesus from the Gospel: "Go, sell what you own and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven" (Mark 10:21). He took the words as a personal message in answer to his prayer for guidance. He sold most of his possessions keeping only enough to support his sister and himself. Then he gave the rest of the money to people who needed it.

Anthony's sister joined a group of women living a life of prayer and contemplation. Anthony decided to become a hermit. He begged an elderly hermit to teach him the spiritual life. Anthony also visited other hermits so he could learn each one's most outstanding virtue. Then he began his own life of prayer and penance alone with God.

When he was fifty-five, Anthony built a monastery to help others. Many people heard of him and sought his advice. He would give them practical advice such as: "The devil is afraid of us when we pray and make sacrifices. He is also afraid when we are humble and good. He is especially afraid when we love Jesus very much. He runs away when we make the Sign of the Cross."

St. Anthony visited Paul the hermit whose feast is celebrated on January 15. He felt enriched by the example of Paul's holy life. Anthony died after a long, prayerful life. He was 105. St. Athanasius wrote a well-known biography of St. Anthony of Egypt. St. Athanasius' feast day is May 2.

St. Anthony visited Paul the hermit whose feast is celebrated on January 15. He felt enriched by the example of Paul's holy life. Anthony died after a long, prayerful life. He was 105. St. Athanasius wrote a well-known biography of St. Anthony of Egypt. St. Athanasius' feast day is May 2.

From Saints for Young Readers for Everyday

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The Catholic-Hierarchy web site provides basic information about current and historical bishops which form the Catholic Hierarchy. The site currently covers North, Central and South America, Oceania, Africa, Asia, and Europe.

From Catholic Culture

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Novena in Honor of the Holy Name of Jesus

The month of January is devoted to the Holy Name of Jesus.

O Lord Jesus Christ, teach us to love Your holy name, to hold it in awe and pronounce it with reverence. Deliver us from the sin of blasphemy. May the holy name of Jesus be infinitely blessed!

Vouchsafe O Lord, for Your Name's sake, to reward with eternal life all those who do us good. Amen.

Prayer Source: All Day With God by Blanche Jennings Thompson

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The baptism of our Lord is another epiphany in which Jesus manifests Himself as the Son of God. Through submitting to His baptism, Jesus foreshadows His death and resurrection. Similarly, we are baptized into the Lord. We go into the water and rise again to a new life. In this excerpt from the Catechism, the Church presents her teaching on the significance of our Lord's baptism.

535   Jesus' public life begins with his baptism by John in the Jordan. John preaches "a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins". A crowd of sinners - tax collectors and soldiers, Pharisees and Sadducees, and prostitutes - come to be baptized by him. "Then Jesus appears." the Baptist hesitates, but Jesus insists and receives baptism. Then the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, comes upon Jesus and a voice from heaven proclaims, "This is my beloved Son." This is the manifestation ("Epiphany") of Jesus as Messiah of Israel and Son of God.

536   The baptism of Jesus is on his part the acceptance and inauguration of his mission as God's suffering Servant. He allows himself to be numbered among sinners; he is already "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world". Already he is anticipating the "baptism" of his bloody death. Already he is coming to "fulfill all righteousness", that is, he is submitting himself entirely to his Father's will: out of love he consents to this baptism of death for the remission of our sins. The Father's voice responds to the Son's acceptance, proclaiming his entire delight in his Son. The Spirit whom Jesus possessed in fullness from his conception comes to "rest on him". Jesus will be the source of the Spirit for all mankind. At his baptism "the heavens were opened" - the heavens that Adam's sin had closed - and the waters were sanctified by the descent of Jesus and the Spirit, a prelude to the new creation.

537   Through Baptism the Christian is sacramentally assimilated to Jesus, who in his own baptism anticipates his death and resurrection. the Christian must enter into this mystery of humble self-abasement and repentance, go down into the water with Jesus in order to rise with him, be reborn of water and the Spirit so as to become the Father's beloved son in the Son and "walk in newness of life":

Let us be buried with Christ by Baptism to rise with him; let us go down with him to be raised with him; and let us rise with him to be glorified with him.

Everything that happened to Christ lets us know that, after the bath of water, the Holy Spirit swoops down upon us from high heaven and that, adopted by the Father's voice, we become sons of God.

Catechism of the Catholic Church

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Sunday's Readings: Isaiah 42:1-4,6-7 (or Acts 10:34-38 or Is 40:1-5, 9-11 or Ti 2:11-14; 3:4-7) Psalm 29:1-4, 9-10 (or Ps 104:1-4, 24-25, 27-30) Acts 10:34-38 Mark 1:7-11

Here are a couple of commentaries on these readings:

• St. Charles Borromeo Lectionary Site (PDF)


• The Anointing (Also available to be heard as an MP3) from St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology


• Baptism of the Lord and the Sacrament of Confirmation from The Crossroads Initiative

The month of January is dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus.

The Confraternity of the Most Holy Names of God and Jesus (Holy Name Society) promotes "reverence for the Sacred Names of God and Jesus Christ, obedience and loyalty to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church, and the personal sanctification and holiness of its members." Members are called to contribute to the evangelization mission of the Church and to make perpetual acts of reverence and love for our Lord and Savior. The website serves as an introduction to the Society and provides membership information and obligations, news and events, and a small database of prayers and devotional information.

From Catholic Culture

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Much of the details of our Lord's formative years is unknown. We have several accounts from his early life including his first manifestation to the Gentiles represented by the magi. This brief excerpt from the Catechism describes the significance of the Epiphany of our Lord to the Gentiles.

528   The Epiphany is the manifestation of Jesus as Messiah of Israel, Son of God and Savior of the world. the great feast of Epiphany celebrates the adoration of Jesus by the wise men (magi) from the East, together with his baptism in the Jordan and the wedding feast at Cana in Galilee. In the magi, representatives of the neighboring pagan religions, the Gospel sees the first-fruits of the nations, who welcome the good news of salvation through the Incarnation. The magi's coming to Jerusalem in order to pay homage to the king of the Jews shows that they seek in Israel, in the messianic light of the star of David, the one who will be king of the nations. Their coming means that pagans can discover Jesus and worship him as Son of God and Savior of the world only by turning towards the Jews and receiving from them the messianic promise as contained in the Old Testament. The Epiphany shows that "the full number of the nations" now takes its "place in the family of the patriarchs", and acquires Israelitica dignitas (is made "worthy of the heritage of Israel").

Catechism of the Catholic Church

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Click here to check out the Holy Comforter Parish page on Facebook. Click the "Become a Fan" link on the page to become a fan of Holy Comforter Parish.

As time goes on, more events will be added. Also, fans should feel free to post on the Wall or upload photos.

Sunday's Readings: Isaiah 60:1-6 Psalm 72:1-2,7-8, 10-13 Ephesians 3:2-3,5-6 Matthew 2:1-12

Here are a couple of commentaries on these readings:

• St. Charles Borromeo Lectionary Site (PDF)


• Newborn King from St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology

The Crossroads Initiative, a ministry of Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio, is a Catholic apostolate of renewal and evangelization. Dr. D'Ambrosio is an author for the weekly Our Sunday Visitor column "This Liturgy of Ours", and he has done a series for EWTN on the Early Church Fathers.

The site itself features a wide range of resources, including a library of documents, a section on the Eucharist, and a database of articles. The subjects covered are extensive, from the year of the Eucharist to the Theology of the Body, from prayer to how to deal with daily trials, from marriage and sexuality to parenting and Christian family life.

From Catholic Culture

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Mary, Mother of God

The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God is celebrated on January 1. It is a Holy Day of Obligation. Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m.

The origins of a feast celebrating Mary's divine maternity are obscure, but there is some evidence of ancient feasts commemorating Mary's role as Theotokos. Around 500 AD the Eastern Church celebrated a "Day of the Theotokos" either before or after Christmas. This celebration eventually evolved into a Marian feast on December 26th in the Byzantine calendar and January 16th in the Coptic calendar. In the West, Christmas has generally been celebrated with an octave, an eight day extension of the feast. The Gregorian and Roman calendars of the 7th century mark the Christmas octave day with a strong Marian emphasis. However, eventually in the West, the eighth day of the octave of Christmas was celebrated as the Feast of the Circumcision of Jesus. The push for an official feast day celebrating Mary's divine maternity started in Portugal, and in 1751 Pope Benedict XIV allowed Portugal's churches to celebrate Mary's divine maternity on the first Sunday in May. The feast was eventually extended to other countries, and by 1914 was being celebrated on October 11. The feast of Mary's divine maternity became a universal feast in 1931.

However, following Vatican II, Pope Paul VI decided to change the feast of Jesus' Circumcision to the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God to reclaim the ancient Western Marian emphasis at the end of the Octave of Christmas. Celebrating Mary's divine maternity during the Christmas octave makes complete sense in that the celebration is connected closely to Christ's birth. Pope Paul VI gave his reasoning for the change:

n the revised arrangement of the Christmas season, we should all turn with one mind to the restored solemnity of the Mother of God. This feast was entered into the calendar in the liturgy of the city of Rome for the first day of January. The purpose of the celebration is to honor the role of Mary in the mystery of salvation and at the same time to sing the praises of the unique dignity thus coming to "the Holy Mother...through whom we have been given the gift of the Author of life." This same solemnity also offers an excellent opportunity to renew the adoration rightfully to be shown to the newborn Prince of Peace, as we once again hear the good tidings of great joy and pray to God, through the intercession of the Queen of Peace, for the priceless gift of peace. Because of these considerations and the fact that the octave of Christmas coincides with a day of hope, New Year's Day, we have assigned to it the observance of the World Day of Peace (Paul VI, Marialis Cultus, Feb. 2, 1974, no.5).

Thus Pope Paul VI highlighted the feast's celebration of both Mary and Jesus. He also noted the connection to New Year's Day and Mary's role as Queen of Peace. January 1st, the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God is also the observed "World Day of Peace."

There are many Marian feasts in the Church Calendar. These include The Assumption of Mary, The Immaculate Conception, Our Lady of Sorrows, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Our Lady of Consolation, among many others. However, Mary Mother of God focuses on Mary's divine maternity.

From ChurchYear.Net

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For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy. - St. Thérèrse of Liseaux

The Holy Father's prayer intentions for January are:

General:   That the family may become more and more a place of training in charity, personal growth and transmission of the faith.

Mission:   That the different Christian confessions, aware of the need for a new evangelization in this period of profound transformations, may be committed to announcing the Good News and moving towards the full unity of all Christians in order to offer a more credible testimony of the Gospel.

Pro-Life Prayer Intention

That the faithful more deeply study the words and actions of Christ, to know how to care for the least of our brothers and sisters.