Tag Archives: Virtue

Come, Holy Spirit! 5th Night: What are the gifts of the Holy Spirit?

Photo by Kasuma on Pexels.com

Come, Holy Spirit! is a six week series of presentations on the Holy Spirit. This fifth talk discusses the seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit and shows how they cooperate with other virtues to form us for holiness as Sons and Daughters of God. This fifth presentation was given by Fr. Andrew at the Cathedral of Christ the King in Superior, WI on March 23, 2023.

***************

Catholic Inspiration Archives


1st Sunday of Advent: Getting ready for both the Lord’s birth and return in glory. Catholic Inspiration

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

The season of Advent urges us to prepare not only for the Lord’s birth, but also for his return in glory. May these coming weeks help us to meet the Lord on Christmas day and make us ready for the hour when we are called from this life to the next.

Mass Readings – 1st Sunday of Advent

***************

Catholic Inspiration Archives


Study, Pray, Serve: 16th Sunday of the Year

Photo by Mayu on Pexels.com

Here are some of the key themes that surface in the readings for the 16th Sunday of the Year.

1st Reading – Genesis 18:1-10a

  • Abraham offers hospitality to three strangers with food that Sarah prepares.
  • The strangers foretell that she will have a child within a year.

Psalm – 15:2-5

  • “He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.”
  • The fear of the Lord guides us to act in a holy and virtuous manner.

2nd Reading – Colossians 1:24-28

  • Our suffering allows us to participate in the afflictions of Christ.
  • When we unite our lives to the Lord, we draw strength from him.

Gospel – Luke 10:38-42

  • Martha, burdened with much suffering, complains to Jesus about her sister, Mary.
  • Jesus addresses Martha’s worries and tells her that Mary has chosen the better part.

Mass Readings – 16th Sunday of the Year

***************

Catholic Inspiration Archives


Daily Mass: What is growing in our hearts? Catholic Inspiration

Photo by Greta Hoffman on Pexels.com

The Lord offers us (once again!) practical spiritual wisdom to guide our interactions with one another. But to use this wisdom we have to ask ourselves one question: What’s growing in our hearts?

Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 12th Week of the Year

***************

Catholic Inspiration Archives

Saints Paulinus, Thomas More and John Fisher, pray for us!


Daily Mass: The spiritual power of fasting. Catholic Inspiration

Photo by Jeswin Thomas on Pexels.com

Both Isaiah and Matthew’s Gospel reference the power of fasting in the life of faith, inviting us to consider how we may incorporate this powerful spiritual practice into our lives today.

Mass Readings – Friday after Ash Wednesday

***************

Catholic Inspiration Archives

St. Casimir, pray for us!


Study, Pray, Serve: 1st Sunday of Advent

Photo by George Becker on Pexels.com

Here are some of the themes for the readings for the 1st Sunday of Advent.

1st Reading – Jeremiah 33:14-16

  • The days are coming when the Lord will fulfill the promise to the house of Israel
  • The Lord will bring justice through the shoot of David.

Psalm – 25:4-5,8-9,10,14

  • “To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.”
  • The psalmist invites the people to seek the Lord, who offers kindness and goodness.

2nd Reading – 1st Thessalonians 3:12-4:2

  • Paul blesses the people with an increase in love for one another.
  • He then exhorts the people to conduct themselves in a manner pleasing to God.

Gospel – Luke 21:25-28,34-35

  • Jesus tells his disciples about the end times and encourages them to be vigilant at all times.
  • The Lord further reminds the disciples to pray that they have strength to face their tribulations.

Mass Readings – 1st Sunday of Advent

***************

Catholic Inspiration Archives


Daily Mass: A parable explained. Catholic Inspiration

Photo by Binyamin Mellish on Pexels.com

The parable of the sower is one of the few that Jesus explains. As we listen today, may we cultivate good soil in our hearts to receive the Lord’s words and tend a fruitful harvest.

Mass Readings – Saturday of the 24th Week of the Year

***************


22nd Sunday of the Year: Working in the garden of our hearts. Catholic Inspiration

What’s growing in the spiritual garden of our hearts? The Letter of James urges us to welcome the Word of God that was planted in us and become doers, not just hearers.

Mass Readings – 22nd Sunday of the Year

***************


Study, Pray, Serve: 22nd Sunday of the Year

Photo by Sarwer e Kainat Welfare on Pexels.com

Here are some of the key themes in the readings for the 22nd Sunday of the Year.

1st Reading – Deuteronomy 4:1-2,6-8

  • The Commandments of the Lord are sacred; take care not to add or subtract from them.
  • These commandments are to be carefully observed.

Psalm – 15:2-5

  • “The one who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.”
  • These stanzas exhort the people to live in a virtuous and upright manner.

2nd Reading – James 1:17-18,21b-22,27

  • God’s “word of truth” is planted in our hearts and must be welcomed and strengthened.
  • We are reminded to “be doers of the word and not hearers only” as we care for those less fortunate.

Gospel – Mark 7:1-8,14-15,21-23

  • Jesus responds to comments from the Pharisees and scribes about specific traditions.
  • The Lord offers a practical insight about what makes us unclean: “Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.”

Mass Readings – 22nd Sunday of the Year

***************


19th Sunday of the Year: You are what you eat. Catholic Inspiration

As we continue to hear the “Bread of Life” discourse from the sixth chapter of the Gospel of John, we reflect on how our spiritual health is renewed by the frequent and worthy reception of Holy Communion. We are what we eat!

Mass Readings – 19th Sunday of the Year

***************


%d bloggers like this: