Since this Thursday is the optional memorial for the Deacon and Doctor of the Church, St. Ephraem, I found it fitting to share with you some of his Marian writings. As an Early […]
“Mondays with Mary” – The Marian Writings of St. Ephraem the Deacon
“Mondays with Mary” – The Theotokos Brings Joy to the Whole World
Since this upcoming Thursday, January 1, is the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, I wanted, as I have done over the past couple of years on this Solemnity, to […]
Saint Ephraem the Deacon – Harp of the Holy Ghost
Saint Ephraem, who hails from the eastern lung of the Church, was born in Nisibis in Mesopotamia in the year 306 A.D. He was instructed in the mysteries of the Christian faith […]
Saint Athanasius – The Father of Orthodoxy
Saint Athanasius was born around the year 297 A.D (296-300?) in the city of Alexandria. Not much is known of his family besides that they were Christians. He did receive a great […]
Saint Cyril of Jerusalem – “Doctor of Catechesis”
Saint Cyril was born in or near Jerusalem in the year 315 A.D. His Christian parents, who provided him with an excellent education that focused on the Scriptures, raised him well. Seeing […]
St. Gregory Nazianzen – The Theologian
Not only do we commemorate Saint Basil the Great today, but we also commemorate his friend, Saint Gregory Nazianzen. He, like St. Basil, was a great fighter for the Christian faith in […]
Saint Basil the Great – Father of Eastern Monasticism
Today we commemorate one of the Greats of the Church and the Father of Eastern Monasticism – Saint Basil. He is described as “a luminary of the Church” in the Byzantine liturgy […]
The Declaration of the Theotokos at the Council of Ephesus
Since tomorrow is the Solemnity of Mary, The Holy Mother of God, and a Holy Day of Obligation for Catholics (in the Western lung of the Church), todays post is dedicated to […]
Saint John of Damascus – Doctor of Christian Art
Saint John of Damascus was born around the year 676 A.D. and was baptized in infancy. Later in his life, he would become very famous for his vast knowledge and understanding of […]
Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Early Church Father and Martyr
Saint Ignatius was given the surname, Theophorus, which means “God-clad” or “bearing God.” It’s believed that he was a late convert to Christianity and a disciple of Saint John the Evangelist. Besides […]
St. John Chrysostom – “The Golden-Mouthed”
Not to be confused with Saint Peter Chrysologus – GoldenWord, today’s memorial is for Saint John Chrysostom – Bishop of Constantinople, Eastern Church Father, and Doctor of the Church. He was given […]
In Union With the Pope and the Eastern Churches…Let Us Pray
Please offer up a prayer in union with Pope Francis and the Eastern Churches for those being hurt by the lack of peace in the Middle East, especially our fellow Christians in […]
Breathing with the Two Lungs of the Church for the Assumption of Mary
My fascination with Eastern Catholicism began on Pentecost Sunday 2010 when I first attended Our Lady’s Maronite Catholic Church in Austin, Texas with the Weis Family. At the time, I was teaching […]
The Monk of Lebanon and Breathing With Two Lungs
Today is the feast day of a saint I would imagine many people have never heard of before – Saint Sharbel (Charbel) Makhluf. He was born in Northern Lebanon on May 8, […]
Blessed John Paul II on the 1550th Anniversary of the Council of Ephesus
It’s January 1, 2013 and the Catholic Church (Western lung) celebrates the great Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. While the secular world dives deeper into revelry and chaos, Catholics gather at […]
“Mondays with Mary” – The Council of Ephesus and the Declaration of the Theotokos
Since tomorrow is the Solemnity of Mary, The Holy Mother of God, and a Holy Day of Obligation for Catholics, “Mondays with Mary” is dedicated to this important dogma in the life […]
Saint John Chrysostom – “Golden Mouth”
Today is the feast day for the great eastern Church Father, who was Archbishop of Constantinople and is a Doctor of the Church – St. John Chrysostom. He was born around the […]
TOM PERNA 