NOW OPEN

How is your #Lent journey going? Dedicating some time to daily spiritual reading can really help you grow deeper in your relationship with Christ. Check out Veritatis Publishing's range of Lenten books: https://veritatis.com.au/?s=lent&post_type=product

A timely story of #almsgiving during this time of #Lent: The Vincentian Family - a charity in the Catholic Church - has provided homes to more than 7,000 homeless people around the world from places like Mexico, Nigeria and Peru. Click on this link to watch the inspiring story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCX-j0tH0kA&feature=emb_logo Photo by Tony Lam Hoang on Unsplash

“Fasting cleanses the soul, raises the mind, subjects one’s flesh to the spirit, renders the heart contrite and humble, scatters the clouds of concupiscence, quenches the fire of lust, kindles the true light of chastity.” St. Augustine Check out our range of books that you can read during Lent here: https://veritatis.com.au/product-category/lent/

Pope Francis' Lenten message for 2021 touches on the positive aspect of fasting. Through fasting and a spirit of sacrifice, we are able "to rediscover God's gift and recognize that, created in His image and likeness, we find our fulfillment in Him.'' Photo Credit: Ashwin Vaswani via Unsplash

“You are dust, and to dust you shall return (Genesis 3:19).” Although most of us around the world can't attend Ash Wednesday Mass in this pandemic, read this practical guide on how you can make the most of the Lenten season day by day. https://veritatis.com.au/2021/02/16/your-ash-wednesday-and-lenten-guide/

February 11: Our Lady of Lourdes is another title given to Mother Mary after her several appearances to a 14-year-old peasant girl now known as St Bernadette Soubirous in the 1850s. Bernadette described Mary’s appearance as ‘’something white in the shape of a girl’’ and as ‘’a pretty young girl with a rosary over her arm’’. There was also a yellow rose on each foot. The shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in France is a popular pilgrimage site attracting over 2 million visitors every year. Our Lady of Lourdes became a feast worldwide in 1907. Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

February 2: The Presentation of the Lord takes place 40 days after Christmas – the birth of Jesus. The presentation of Jesus as the Messiah in the temple fulfils the words of the prophet Malachi: “Now I am sending my messenger – he will prepare the way before me; And the Lord whom you seek will come suddenly to his temple; The Messenger of the covenant whom you desire – see he is coming! Says the Lord of hosts (Malachi 3:1).”

January 28: Feast of St Thomas Aquinas (1224-1274). Thomas is known as one of the Catholic Church’s greatest theologians. His most famous work is his masterpiece Summa Theologica. His unique writing explained why it was reasonable to believe – that faith and reason were complimentary, not opposite. He was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1567. Photo Credit: Andreas F. Borchert

On this Australia Day, we entrust this great country into the hands of God and Mary Help of Christians. Our Lady Help of Christians is the Patroness of Australia. The feast day of this title of Mary has been celebrated in Australia since 1844 on May 24. The prayer of Mary Help of Christians, Patroness of Australia says: “Almighty God, deepen in our hearts our love for Mary Help of Christians. Through her prayers and under her protection, may the light of Christ shine over our land. May Australia be granted harmony, justice and peace. Grant wisdom to our leaders and integrity to our citizens. Bless especially the men and women of the Australian Defence Force and their families. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.’’ Photo Credit: Tommaso Andrea Lorenzone (1824-1902), at the request of Don Bosco., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

January 25: The conversion of St Paul. Paul, also known as Saul of Tarsus, persecuted Christians for their belief in Jesus Christ as the Messiah. When Paul was on the road to Damascus to arrest more Christians, a light from above suddenly blazed around him. Jesus made a miraculous appearance and said: “Saul, Saul why do you persecute me?” (Acts 9:4 RSV). From then on, Paul spread the Christian faith during his missionary trips to Asia Minor and southern Europe. He was martyred for his faith in Rome around 66 AD. His relics are found in the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls in Rome. Paul’s radical conversion is an opportunity for us to reflect on our own because every day gives us a chance to make a small conversion to be more Christ-like. Photo Credit: Free Library of Philadelphia