Ghislaine Howard, “Give Drink to the Thirsty” (photo: Ghislaine Howard) Since my daughter was young, whenever she would get upset I would say, “I think you are thirsty”. This may seem silly but my goodness does it work. She readily accepts a glass of water and calms down. “My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God” The responsorial Psalm reminds me of these constant interactions with my daughter. When my daughter gets upset it is often just needing a redirection to something that is more...

Rembrandt van Rijn, Christ and St Mary Magdalen at the Tomb. 1638, Royal Collection. It is not often that we see Jesus represented as a gardener. Actually, one of the only times we see it painted is in certain images of the Resurrection. Many of these images can even strike a weird chord in our hearts, as some artists portray Jesus as a literal gardener - hat over his head and a shovel in his hand. I think I have always taken Mary Magdalen mistaking Jesus for the gardener more that she was so...

The Apparition of Mary to Alphonse Ratisbonne, Domenico Bartolini, 1870. Chapel of the Madonna of the Miracle, Basilica of Sant'Andrea delle Fratte, Rome, Italy. “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David.” “Lord, help me.” These two sentences in which the Canaanite woman reveals her great faith in who Jesus is and that He can help her. She knew her neediness and did not hesitate to exclaim this to the Lord when she encountered Him. The two feasts that precede today celebrate St. Maximilian...