Author Archives: Steve Benner

Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/352rkh56 Your merciful love, O God,we have received in the midst of your temple.Your praise, O God, like your name,reaches the ends of the earth;your right hand is filled with saving justice. Psalm 48 Almighty God,to whom all hearts are open,all desires, known,and from whom no secrets are hid:Cleanse the thoughts of our heartsby the inspirationContinue reading “Oremus for Wednesday, February 15, 2023”

Cyril and MethodiusCyril and his older brother Methodius were born in Thessalonica, both developing in their youth the ability to speak several languages, including Slavonic, a language not yet written down, at least in an alphabet understood by others. Cyril created the Slavonic alphabet and set about translating the Scriptures and other liturgical texts intoContinue reading “Oremus for Tuesday, February 14, 2023”

Absalom Jones (1746-1818)Absalom Jones was born a house slave in 1746 in Delaware. After being sold to a store owner in Philadelphia at sixteen, he eventually bought his own freedom in 1784.At St. George’s Methodist Episcopal Church, he served as lay minister for its Black membership. The active evangelism of Jones and that of hisContinue reading “Oremus for Monday, February 13, 2022”

Antiphon 1 Ant. Come, let us worship God * and bow down before the Lord; let us shed tears before the Lord who made us, for he is the Lord our God.V. Come, let us ring out our joy to the Lord; *hail the rock who saves us.Let us come into his presence, giving thanks;Continue reading “Oremus for Sunday, February 12, 2023”

Brother LawrenceBrother Lawrence of the Resurrection (c. 1614 – 12 February 1691) served as a lay brother in a Carmelite monastery in Paris. Christians commonly remember him for the intimacy he expressed concerning his relationship to God as recorded in a book compiled after his death, the classic Christian text, The Practice of the Presence of God. The text attempts to explain Lawrence’s methodContinue reading “Oremus for Saturday, February 11, 2023”

ScholasticaMuch less is known about Scholastica than her famous brother, St Benedict. She too was born at Nursia, central Italy, around the year 480. At an early age she chose to consecrate herself to God, but probably continued to live at home. Only after Benedict moved to Monte Cassino did she settle at Plombariola nearby, joiningContinue reading “Oremus for Friday, February 10, 2023”

Daniel EganDaniel Egan, a Bronx native, joined the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement in 1935 and was ordained a priest. A turning point in his life came in 1952, as he was preaching in a church and noticed a woman in grave distress. She confessed that she was a drug addict struggling to kick herContinue reading “Oremus for Thursday, February 9, 2023”

Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/ypfm8yec Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be consoled.Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,for they shall have their fill. Matthew 5 Almighty God,to whom all hearts are open,all desires, known,and from whom no secrets are hid:Cleanse the thoughts of our heartsby the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,that we may perfectlyContinue reading “Oremus for Wednesday, February 8, 2023”

Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/h3ebwvj2 To you I call; for you will surely heed me, O God;turn your ear to me; hear my words.Guard me as the apple of your eye;in the shadow of your wings protect me. Psalm 17 Almighty God,to whom all hearts are open,all desires, known,and from whom no secrets are hid:Cleanse the thoughts ofContinue reading “Oremus for Tuesday, February 7, 2023”

The Martyrs of JapanIn 1597 twenty-six Christians (some priests or monks, but mostly lay folk, including three altar boys) were put to death near Nagasaki as part of a persecution aimed at wiping out Christianity in Japan. Sub-sequently, many more Christian converts were put to death. The teaching of Christianity was proscribed until the middleContinue reading “Oremus for Monday, February 6, 2023”