Author Archives: Steve Benner

Janani LuwumJanani Luwum was born in 1922 and became Bishop of Northern Uganda in 1969 and Archbishop of the Church of Uganda in 1974. He was murdered on the orders of President Idi Amin on 16 February 1977. His death was a direct result of protests made by the Ugandan bishops about the abuse ofContinue reading “Oremus for Saturday, February 17, 2024”

Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/py2kunu6 Say to the faint of heart: Be strong and do not fear.Behold, our God will come, and he will save us. Isaiah 35 Almighty God,you love us, but we have not loved you.You call, but we have not listened.We walk away from neighbors in need,wrapped in our own concerns.We condone evil, prejudice, warfare,Continue reading “Oremus for Friday, February 16, 2024”

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,you love us, but we have not loved you.You call, but we have not listened.We walk away from neighbors in need,wrappedContinue reading “Oremus for Thursday, February 15, 2024”

Ash Wednesday Antiphon1 Ant. Your mercy extends to all things, O Lord, * and you despise none of the things you have made. You overlook the sins of men for the sake of repentance. You grant them your pardon, because you are the Lord our God.V. Have mercy on me, God, have mercy, *for in youContinue reading “Oremus for Wednesday, February 14, 2024”

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 Tuesday, February 13, 2024”

Fanny CrosbyFanny Crosby was the most prolific writer of hymn texts and gospel songs in the American evangelical tradition of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. She wrote more than eight thousand sacred texts in addition to other poetry.Frances Jane Crosby was born in Putnam County, New York, on March 24, 1820. Although notContinue reading “Oremus for Monday, February 12, 2024”

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; *let us hail him withContinue reading “Oremus for Sunday, February 11, 2024”

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 Saturday, February 10, 2024”

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 Friday, February 9, 2024”

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 Thursday, February 8, 2024”