Though canonized just in 1962 by Pope John XXIII three centuries after his death, devotion to San Martin de Porres has been present in the hearts of generations of Peruvians. From the moment of his death on November 3rd, 1639, the citizens of Lima have remembered his love and devotion to the poorest of the city. Born in Lima in 1579 in the house pictured above, Saint Martin grew up close to the Dominican Convent of the city. He entered that same... Read more
With this post, I continue the virtual tour of Catholic churches and sites of Lima, Peru. This city is rich in history and beauty. I hope these posts bring a greater awareness of the religious sites Lima has available to pilgrims and tourists. Lima may be considered the city of saints. Three canonized saints lived at the same time in 16th century Lima: Saint Rose, Saint Martin of Porres and Saint Toribius of Mogrovejo. The least known of the three is... Read more
My homily for today’s Solemnity of All Saints About 1,000 years ago Saint Bernard of Clairvaux asked himself why it is that we celebrate and remember the saints. He wrote, “why should our praise and glorification, or even the celebration of this feast day mean anything to the saints? What do they care about earthly honors when their heavenly Father honors them by fulfilling the faithful promise of the Son?” Saint Bernard answered his own question, “calling the saints to... Read more
The first time I ever went camping it was in the countryside around the beautiful Italian town of Norcia. Along with my friend Jordan, we hiked from Norcia up through mountains to the beautiful Piano Grande, a vast plain surrounded by mountains and a beautiful small medieval town overlooking it, Castelluccio. During the spring, the Piano Grande is full of wild flowers, making it one of the most breathtaking places in Italy. This morning the ground in Norcia shook significantly.... Read more
En julio del 2016 viajé a Ruanda con Catholic Relief Services como miembro de una delegación. Lo que vi y oí de la gente que conocí en este país renovó mi fe en el poder del perdón y la reconciliación para establecer paz entre personas, entre naciones y dentro de uno mismo. Click here for English Justine perdió a su hermano en 1996 cuando refugiados de Ruanda y Burundi lo asesinaron despiadadamente. Su cuerpo sin vida fue atado a un... Read more
I traveled to Rwanda in July 2016 with Catholic Relief Services as part of a delegation. What I saw and heard from the people I met there renewed my faith in the power of forgiveness and reconciliation to create peace between people, between nations, and in oneself. Click aqui para español Justine lost her brother in 1996 when Rwandan and Burundian refugees mercilessly murdered him. His lifeless body was tied to a truck and dragged, leaving the young man’s remains... Read more
With this post, I begin a virtual tour of Catholic churches and sites of Lima, Peru. The national capital, Lima was founded on January 18th, 1535 as “The City of Kings” since its founding was decided on the Feast of the Epiphany, January 6th. Some argue it is also a reference to the Catholic kings of Spain, Isabelle and Ferdinand. The Catholic faith was brought to South America by the Spanish crown and missionaries, and over five hundred years of... Read more
El sábado pasado, aproximadamente setenta fieles se reunieron en el Centro Pastoral de la Diócesis de Savannah para celebrar la fiesta del Señor de los Milagros con una Misa y un compartir. Acompañaron a la comunidad peruana amigos colombianos, mexicanos, italianos, puertorriqueños, americanos y de otros países. Fue una noche muy alegre y un momento especial para mantener vivas nuestras tradiciones. Aqui mi homilia: Esta noche nos reunimos primero que nada como fieles hijos de Dios, obedientes al mandato que... Read more
Me acerqué al mostrador de boletos de tren en el aeropuerto de París, y después de expresar algunas palabras en un francés mediocre que la joven detrás del mostrador casi no pudo comprender, conseguí mi billete de tren hacia la pequeña ciudad de Lisieux al norte de Francia. Esa misma noche, después de varias horas de viaje desde Roma, llegué a la ciudad natal de una de las santas favoritas del mundo moderno: Santa Teresita del Niño Jesús, también... Read more
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President of Peru Consecrates Country to Sacred Heart
The recently elected president of Peru, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, the son of a Hitler-fleeing Jewish father and a Swiss mother, consecrated his family as well as Peru to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary during the National Prayer Breakfast held in Lima last Friday at the Swisshôtel of San Isidro. The annual event is usually attended by business and political leaders of the country, but this was the first time in thirty-one years that the president attended.... Read more