Sharing the Word for May 9, 2020
Jesus is leading his followers into the deepest truths about God. Step by step he is making them aware of the intimate life of God, and inviting them to share it.
Jesus’ Extraordinary Treatment of Women
At the Temple in Jerusalem, women were restricted to an outer court. In synagogues they were separated from the men and not permitted to read aloud. They were not allowed to bear witness in a religious court. But Jesus defies these expectations in at least four ways, which have implications for us.
St. Christopher: Fact or Fiction?
St. Christopher—patron of travelers, protector against toothaches, hailstorms, and sudden death—is one of the most endearing for Catholics. His life and story, bordering somewhere between legend and legitimacy, is a faith-affirming exercise in service, grace, and love.
Elizabeth Ann Seton: A Profoundly Human Saint
Now that the word “saint ” has been attached to Elizabeth Seton, some Catholics might be conjuring up a gauzy image of an ethereal woman. But this country’s first native-born saint shatters that stereotype. Elizabeth was nothing if not intensely human, her holiness rooted in her wholeness.
Saint John of Avila
Saint John of Avila had some pretty impressive friends—Francis Borgia, Ignatius of Loyola, John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila—to name just a few. These saints, along with John, were all part of a reform of the Church in Spain. Little did they know at the time the holiness of their group.
How Do the Saints Help Us?
Do you think that saints can help us out? Can you be sure that they are there and that sometimes they talk to you?