Beloved Son

This July 11 (Friday), the Catholic Church celebrates the universal memorial of Saint Benedict of Nursia—the Writer of Monastic Rules!

There is only one source that describes the life of Saint Benedict, resulting in a lack of details about his upbringing. According to this biography, he was born to a noble family in the town of Nursia. At the age of 20, Benedict left home to pursue academic studies in Rome. However, he did not like the quality of the lessons and instead became an aimless wanderer in the countryside. One day, he met a monk who invited him to visit his monastery. Benedict accepted the invitation and became a hermit for the next three years. During this period of silence and isolation, he matured in character and gained popularity among the other monks. When the abbot died, they begged Benedict to take his place.

The monks soon came to regret their decision after Benedict imposed disciplinary rules in the monastery that conflicted with their own lifestyles and sensibilities. Their hatred of Benedict reached a point where they tried to poison him. This attempted murder forced Benedict to resign his position and establish his own monastery called Monte Cassino on a nearby hill. He died of a fever sometime later and was buried alongside his sister, Scholastica.

Ironically, the rules that Benedict established—rules that caused so much distress to his fellow monks—became regarded as his greatest achievement. These rules, composed of 73 chapters, outline how to run a successful monastery. They address not only spiritual matters for the benefit of the members but also practical administrative decisions necessary for the smooth functioning of the community. Benedict avoided extremes and ensured that his rules were centered on moderation—he recognized that Christ was somewhere in between the balance of strictness and leniency. The Rule of Saint Benedict is now widely used in modern monasteries. It is also the origin of the famous phrase "ora et labora" (pray and work), which emphasizes the two main goals of monastic life.

People who knew Benedict did not appreciate his genius. He was like many individuals who were ahead of their time. It was only after much contemplation that successive generations recognized that his ideas were correct.

The same thing happened to Jesus, so we shouldn't be surprised that His servants are reviled for their ways, only to be proven right later on.

Saint Benedict of Nursia, pray for us!


|Painting used: Benedetto Portinari Triptych c. 1487 by Hans Memling

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Beloved Son

This June 27 (Friday), the Catholic Church celebrates the universal solemnity of The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus—God’s love for us!

As humans, our capacity to love, a fundamental part of our existence, was perfected when God took on human form. Jesus, in His mission for our salvation, demonstrated its pinnacle. The solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart is a testament to the Christian world’s recognition of our Lord and Savior’s profound mercy for each of us. This celebration invites us to reflect on how we can strive to emulate His example.

The devotion to the Sacred Heart, which has its roots in the 12th century, gained widespread acceptance when two religious sisters, Margaret Mary Alacoque and Mary of the Divine Heart, played a pivotal role in popularizing it. Margaret, who received apparitions from Jesus, was guided in various practices to become a devotee of the Sacred Heart, such as partaking in communion on the first Friday of each month and engaging in an hour of Eucharistic adoration every Thursday. Mary, too, had visions of Jesus and petitioned Pope Leo XIII to consecrate the entire world to the Sacred Heart.

Because Christ’s divinity is present in every part of His body, worshiping His heart is not strange. Throughout history, including the present day, the heart is the organ most closely associated with love. In images portraying Jesus’ heart, it is often depicted as encased in flames, shining in light, pierced by a lance, bearing a crown of thorns, surmounted by a cross, and bleeding profusely. All these are hallmarks of His passion.

There can be no love without sacrifice. The greater the sacrifice, the greater the love. And judging by what Christ had to endure, His love for us was beyond understanding, a love that should fill us with gratitude and humility.

May we return a fraction of God’s love for us today.


|Painting used: Holy card depicting the Sacred Heart of Jesus c. 1880 by Auguste Martin collection, University of Dayton Libraries

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Beloved Son

This June 21 (Saturday), the Catholic Church celebrates the universal memorial of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga—the Hidden Martyr!

Aloysius was born to a noble and wealthy Italian family in the mid-16th century. He was the eldest among eight siblings and next in line to inherit his family’s estate. His father wanted him to be a soldier and even gifted him a set of guns when he was four. Aloysius followed his father’s wishes and served in a military training camp to practice the art of war. The environment in the camp caused him to become quite rowdy and coarse, which displeased his mother.

At the age of 11, Aloysius was sent to the municipality of Mantua to further his education. The local lifestyle was so hedonistic and violent that even the freewheeling Aloysius recoiled from it. He contemplated a different path and began reading about the lives of the saints. One of these books described Jesuit missionaries and inspired Aloysius to join the religious order. His father resisted his decision because the Jesuit vow of poverty would prevent Aloysius from managing his assets. He even tried to compromise and begged Aloysius to become a diocesan priest instead due to their relaxed rules. Still, Aloysius could not be deterred from entering the Society of Jesus.

One year before his ordination, Aloysius had a vision from the Archangel Gabriel telling him that he would soon die on the octave of the feast of Corpus Christi. A pandemic later broke out, and Aloysius volunteered to work in the Jesuit hospitals by bathing, feeding, and preparing the sick to receive the sacraments. Even though he was a model Christian on the outside, Aloysius confessed to his spiritual director that he was disgusted by the sight and smell of the plague victims. Nevertheless, he did not let his revulsion prevent him from doing his job.

Unfortunately, close contact with the patients led to Aloysius contracting the infection. His health quickly declined, and he died after receiving the last rites just before midnight on the prophesied date. He was only 23 years old.

Aloysius is considered a “hidden martyr” because of the intense internal struggle he faced while caring for the diseased, something that he did not enjoy doing. While there were other volunteers in the hospital, Aloysius stood out from the rest because he was battling against himself. Coming from a noble background and not accustomed to performing acts of charity, Aloysius used his trial to declare war on his passions and temptations to run away. In a way, he fulfilled his father’s dream by becoming a spiritual soldier.

Aloysius best exemplifies the parable of the two sons. Jesus talks of a man who told his first son to work in the field. The boy was upset and refused the task but later forced himself to do it anyway. The man asked the same thing of his second son, who cheerfully accepted the order but later changed his mind and abandoned his duty.

God always loves the reluctant martyrs.

Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, pray for us!


|Painting used: Aloysius Gonzaga as a Child c. ~16th century by Anonymous

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Beloved Son

This June 19 or June 22 (Thursday or Sunday), the Catholic Church celebrates the universal solemnity of Corpus Christi—The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ!

Including Corpus Christi in the liturgical calendar was not a direct result of any biblical passage or event but a product of the faithful’s deep devotion. Maundy Thursday is the day Christ gave the disciples His Real Presence in the consecrated bread and wine. However, many people desired a separate day dedicated solely to the adoration of the Eucharist, leading to the creation of Corpus Christi.

Juliana of Liège, a medieval mystic deeply devoted to the Blessed Sacrament, played a pivotal role in the establishment of the solemnity of Corpus Christi. She began receiving visions from Jesus, instructing her to establish a feast in honor of His body and blood. After 20 years of silence, she finally confided with her spiritual director, who then shared the news with the bishop. This led to the creation of the solemnity of Corpus Christi, initially on a local level.

As the feast gained popularity among the faithful, it attracted notable followers, including the renowned Thomas Aquinas. He, in turn, recommended to Pope Urban IV that it be elevated to a universal celebration for the entire Church. Eucharistic miracles, such as a bleeding consecrated host in Bolsena, further bolstered the reputation of Corpus Christi. These miracles, which were seen as divine confirmations of the Real Presence, played a significant role in the pope’s decision to officially introduce Corpus Christi into the Roman calendar on the Thursday (or Sunday in some dioceses) after Trinity Sunday.

One of the most striking moments of this solemnity is that, after the Mass, the Blessed Sacrament is displayed in a monstrance and paraded around the streets for the people’s benefit. Many Catholics hang flowers on their doors to welcome Christ’s passing in their midst.

The Church has always considered the Eucharist the source and summit of the Christian life. Heaven is constantly filled with God’s glory and presence, and the closest thing to mimic this reality here on earth is the consecrated bread and wine, which hides Jesus’ divinity in a superficial shroud.

Sceptics often challenge God to appear before them so they can believe in Him. They don’t know that God is constantly available to them in every tabernacle in the world.

It requires the eyes of faith to see Him. But He is there.


|Painting used: The Last Supper c. 1510-79 by Vicente Juan Macip

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Beloved Son

This June 15 (Sunday), the Catholic Church celebrates the universal solemnity of The Most Holy Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!

The Trinity is a central dogma of Christianity. It states that God is three persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit, who are equal to each other in power, exist from the beginning, and share the same substance. Yet, at the same time, these divine persons are distinct. Moreover, since this dogma concerns the nature of God, it is revealed to us in sacred scripture rather than being discovered through human reason alone. Because the nature of God is ultimately incomprehensible to man, then the dogma of the Trinity is likewise so mysterious that it is impossible to explain directly but can only be indirectly shown through analogy.

One of the best analogies concerning the Trinity is the human family. Because God made human beings in His image and likeness, then it stands to reason that we can witness the Trinity in action in our own lives. The first epistle of Saint John describes God as “Love.” When we fall in love, it always involves three persons: the first person is the lover, the second is the beloved, and the third is the love shared between them. Therefore, a husband, wife, and child are a community of love, a trinity of distinct persons who form a single family.

It is the same with the Trinity of God. Suppose God is indeed Love, as Saint John tells us. In that case, He must be a Trinity by necessity—it is impossible to manifest love with just one person because love has to be expressed outward (the expression “loving oneself” is a misnomer since it’s not referring to love but rather self-esteem). So God the Father is the lover, who looks at His Son the Beloved, and the two of them breathe out their love for each other, who is the Holy Spirit.

Is this a perfect explanation of the Trinity? Hardly. The Trinity itself is far beyond human understanding. Still, the next time we witness a couple walking side-by-side with their child in between them, it’s hard not to feel a sense that somehow, this familiar sight that we see every day is pointing us toward a higher reality: that God is a family, and that one day, we get to have the pleasure of being embraced by Him in His furnace of love.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.


|Painting used: The Holy Trinity c. 1553 by Lucas Cranach the Elder

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Beloved Son

This June 13 (Friday), the Catholic Church celebrates the universal memorial of Saint Anthony of Padua—The Evangelical Doctor!

Anthony was born Fernando Martins de Bulhões in Portugal in the late 12th century. As a teenager, his wealthy parents sent him to study theology and Latin, and Fernando quickly developed an interest in religion. He was also an introverted boy and even requested to be transferred to a more secluded area to avoid frequent visits from his family and friends. The Catholic Church eventually ordained Fernando as a priest.

A group of Franciscans later settled near his area. Despite the order being only nine years old, Francisco was inspired by their simple lifestyle and inspiring witness, and he decided to join them. He also changed his name to Anthony in honor of the desert monk Anthony the Great.

Anthony was excited to go on several trips to fulfill his missionary vocation, but his poor health was a constant problem. His companions eventually told him to permanently relocate to a hermitage, avoid traveling, and settle for a private life of prayer and study. He acknowledged his physical liability and accepted their advice.

Anthony’s fame soon spread because of a simple misunderstanding: there was an ordination, and no one had prepared a sermon for some reason. Anthony gave an impromptu homily, and his rich voice, eloquent language, and profound knowledge of theology were so inspiring that his audience shared the experience with everyone. The order’s founder, Francis of Assisi, also heard about Anthony. Francis was a holy man, but he was very suspicious of education, as he thought that excessive study would distract people from acts of charity. When he met Anthony, he was delighted to be proven wrong since Anthony perfectly balanced knowledge and works of mercy. Francis then placed him in charge of all the theological curriculum of the Franciscans. The pope also recognized Anthony’s marvelous speaking skills and requested that he write down his sermons for future generations.

Unfortunately, Anthony didn’t live long. He contracted ergot poisoning after eating grains contaminated by a fungus and died at the age of 35.

Anthony is one of the most popular Catholic saints. He was so popular that he was canonized less than a year after his death. The Church also calls him the Evangelical Doctor because he clearly describes the richness of the Gospel in his book Sermons for Feast Days. Anthony is also the saint people pray to when seeking lost items.

Above all, Anthony is relatable because he steered clear of his weaknesses and leaned on his strengths. He quickly abandoned his idea of undergoing grueling missions since he knew his body was sickly. Despite initial reluctance, he accepted the duty of preaching and teaching because he realized he had a natural talent for these things.

God constructs our bodies, personalities, desires, and aversions for His purposes. People oftentimes do what is contrary to their nature, but the Lord is master over our whole selves and uses it accordingly.

We know we’re doing His will when everything fits together.

Saint Anthony of Padua, pray for us!


|Painting used: Saint Anthony of Padua c. 1650 by Francisco de Zurbarán.

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Beloved Son

This June 11 (Wednesday), the Catholic Church celebrates the universal memorial of Saint Barnabas—The Son of Encouragement!

Barnabas, initially named Joseph, was a devout Jew from Cyprus. A profound devotion to the Faith marked his early life. After Jesus ascended and the apostles began spreading the Gospel, Joseph was one of the early converts. In a selfless act, he sold his land and gave all the money to the Church, a gesture that led Christians to give him the name Barnabas, which means “son of encouragement.”

Around this time, the persecutor Saul also converted to Christianity after receiving a vision from God on the road to Damascus. Saul was renamed Paul and returned to Jerusalem, where he met Barnabas. It was Barnabas who introduced Paul to the other apostles.

Paul and Barnabas not only became best friends but also partners in the work of evangelization. They went to Antioch and established the Church there, a grueling task that took an entire year to accomplish. Bolstered by their success, they continued their mission, sailing to Cyprus and walking from city to city as traveling missionaries. Their resilience was tested when the Judaizers arrived, a group of Jewish Christians who insisted that Gentile Christians must follow the ceremonial laws established by Moses. Thankfully, Paul and Barnabas stood firm and successfully defended the Gentiles at the first apostolic council held in Jerusalem.

Unfortunately, Paul and Barnabas’ friendship fell apart. An argument occurred after Peter convinced Barnabas not to eat with Gentiles for fear of causing scandal to the Jews, something that Paul publicly rebuked as hypocrisy. A more severe matter happened after Paul and Barnabas were preparing to sail on their next missionary journey to Syria. Barnabas wanted to take his cousin Mark, but Paul refused because he found Mark unreliable. This caused a rift between them, and they went their separate ways.

Not much is known about Barnabas after his separation from Paul, but based on Paul’s last letters, it seems their friendship was restored, and Barnabas died a martyr before his friend. After achieving success on his own, Barnabas was either stoned or burned to death by a group of jealous Jews. Like Paul, the Church recognizes him as an apostle to the Gentiles.

The story of Barnabas highlights the difficulties of the missionary life, not only in terms of the physical toil involved but also the strain it exerts on friendships and souls. But as Barnabas’ name suggests, God gives His servants what they lack, repairs sundered relationships, and encourages them through the most challenging situations.

May we also strive hard in the vocations the Lord has chosen for us.

Saint Barnabas, pray for us!


|Painting used: Saint Barnabas c. 1640 by Juan Martín Cabezalero

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Beloved Son

This June 9 (Monday), the Catholic Church celebrates the universal memorial of Mary—the Mother of the Church!

“Mater Ecclesiae” (or “Mother of the Church”) is an ancient title attributed to Mary with roots dating back to the fourth century and confirmed by various popes throughout the ages. This title stems from the fact that the Blessed Virgin—as the New Eve—is the spiritual mother of all the living, just like the old Eve was the physical mother of the entire human race. Jesus expressed a more explicit and forceful restatement of this role as He hung dying on the cross. Turning to John the Apostle, He gave him Mary as his mother. Likewise, Jesus turned to Mary and gave her John as her son. Christians have always interpreted this verse not merely as a practical request for Mary to move in with John so that he could care for her daily needs but as a gift stemming from the Heart of Christ. It was not enough for Him to ransom us from captivity with His Body and Blood. He also wants us to be a part of His family, which means taking His Immaculate Mother as our own.

The Virgin Mary is a creature like everyone else. She is not God. She is, however, the Mother of God, and just as Jesus benefitted in His humanity for having her as His mother, so does the Church benefit from her continued guidance and loving intercession in heaven.

Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us, your children!


|Painting used: Madonna of the People c. 1579 by Federico Barocci

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Beloved Son

This June 8 (Sunday), the Catholic Church celebrates the universal solemnity of Pentecost—the Descent of the Holy Spirit!

“Pentecost” means “Fiftieth” in Greek, a number with special significance in salvation history. Specifically, the Jews of the Old Covenant used it for the Festival of Weeks, which occurred fifty days after the Passover in Egypt. In the New Covenant, Christians observe Pentecost, which memorializes the descent of the Holy Spirit fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus. Just like the Festival of Weeks marked the moment God revealed the Torah to Israel, so does the Christian Pentecost mark the moment God revealed the Holy Spirit to the New Israel. No longer will the commandments be burned on stone tablets. Today, they are burned directly in the human heart.

Being in the presence of the Holy Spirit converts a man weakened by evil into a man strengthened by love. One of the first things Peter and the Apostles did during Pentecost was to preach the Gospel boldly. Miraculously, the gathered pilgrims heard their speech in various languages. This phenomenon is a direct reversal of the pride that led to the collapse of the Tower of Babel, signifying that faith in God unites all people under one universal banner, regardless of race.

As we celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit on this sacred day, let us recall that the two best-known symbols of the Third Person of the Trinity are the dove and fire. The dove symbolizes the Lord’s desire to lift us out of the misery caused by sin and make our souls soar to new heights, while the fire represents the (painful) cleansing process that must take place if we want to burn off the dross of the vices we have become attached to.

Let the Holy Spirit do His job of fixing your life. It’s a difficult procedure, but He will accept nothing less than the complete surrender of your will.

Come, Holy Spirit!


|Painting used: Dove of the Holy Spirit c. 1660 by Gian Lorenzo Bernini

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Beloved Son

This June 5 (Thursday), the Catholic Church celebrates the universal memorial of Saint Boniface—the Apostle to the Central Europeans!

Boniface’s real name is Winfrid, and he grew up in a well-respected English family. He wanted to enter religious life ever since he was a boy. He soon received his education at a Benedictine monastery and was eventually ordained a priest at the age of thirty. Winfrid was asked to replace the abbot when he died, but he decided he was more suited for missionary work. However, his initial efforts to spread the Gospel were hindered by multiple political conflicts and wars. Finally, Pope Gregory II ordered him to go to Central Europe and evangelize the Germanic tribes. To prepare him for the mission, the Pope elevated him to the rank of “missionary bishop”—a strange title that meant he was a bishop who did not have his own diocese—and renamed him Boniface after the famous martyr Boniface of Tarsus.

Upon his arrival in Germania, Boniface swiftly earned a reputation as a destroyer of pagan idols. The locals, who held groves and plants in high regard, were particularly attached to Donar’s Oak, a tree they considered sacred. Boniface’s decisive action of chopping the tree, followed by his unscathed departure and avoidance of divine punishment, was seen as a positive omen. This event marked a turning point as the people began to embrace Christianity.

With the help of Christian Frankish leaders, Boniface managed to convert a considerable part of the region, ultimately establishing the groundwork for a permanent diocese. He later enacted reforms, safeguarding his new churches and ensuring they strictly adhered to moral standards. Unfortunately, Boniface’s insatiable desire for new members led to his martyrdom—he went into an area that remained largely pagan, expecting to baptize and confirm interested people. Instead, he was met by bandits, who slew him and stole his possessions.

Some of Boniface’s methods are inappropriate in many situations. For example, destroying objects that non-Christians consider holy is more likely to lead to violence rather than conversion. However, we should always emulate his zeal for the Faith. Boniface was simply someone who loved Jesus so much that he wanted Him to be worshipped and praised everywhere. Evangelization is always an act of charity because if Catholicism is indeed the true religion, it should be taught regardless of opposition.

May we have the same excitement Boniface showed in spreading the Good News, and may we never tire of proclaiming that God so loved the world He sent His only-begotten Son to liberate us from sin and grant us eternal life.

Saint Boniface, pray for us!


|Painting used: Saint Boniface c. 1630 by Cornelis Bloemaert

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