As I was preparing to teach Section 1 of Pope Benedict’s Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation, Verbum Domini, I read his striking words on how Mary play’s such an important part in knowing the […]
“Mondays with Mary” – ‘Mary, Mother of God’s Word’
“Mondays with Mary” – Mary as the New Ark of the Covenant
Not excluding the Esheth Yahil (Woman of Valor) from Proverbs 31, Mary as the Ark of the Covenant has to be one of the greatest Old Testament types of Mary. The original […]
Scripture in the Life of the Church
This past Tuesday, I began teaching a five-week course titled, “Scripture in the Life of the Church” for a cohort of men in the Diaconate Program here in the Diocese of Phoenix. […]
“Mondays with Mary” – Mary in the Old Testament, Part 3
Today, we continue with the third part of Mary in the Old Testament. In the month of September, we looked at Mary in the Old Testament in two parts – part 1 […]
“Mondays with Mary” – Mary in the New Testament, Part 2
Continuing with last week’s theme, Mary in the New Testament, this week we will focus on the Mary in the Redemption of Jesus Christ and her role in the life of the […]
“Mondays with Mary” – Mary in the New Testament, Part 1
Recently I gave a talk at a parish here in the Phoenix Metropolitan area that focused on the Person of the Jesus Christ. One of the points I made is that the […]
12 Points about Saint Luke the Evangelist and His Accounts
1. He was a Gentile (Greek) from Antioch. 2. He was a companion to St. Paul and traveled with him during the Caesarean and Roman persecutions and imprisonments. 3. He was an […]
Saint Jerome – “Father of Biblical Science”
Today we celebrate the memorial one of the great Early Church Fathers and Doctors of the Church, Saint Jerome. He is known as the “Father of Biblical Science” for it was he […]
“Mondays with Mary” – Mary in the Old Testament, Part 2
Today, we continue with the second part of Mary in the Old Testament. In the month of November, we will return to this theme again. Last week, in Part One, we discussed […]
“Mondays with Mary” – Mary in the Old Testament, Part 1
Mary in the Old Testament might seem like a foreign concept to many if they have never studied the Holy Scriptures in detail or understand the biblical vocabulary term, Typology. Like many […]
The Bridegroom, Ten Maidens, and a Marriage Feast
Today’s Gospel Reading from the 21st Week in Ordinary Time happens to be a favorite of mine. It’s such a favorite, that while in graduate school at Franciscan University of Steubenville, I […]
The Transfiguration of Jesus Christ
Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up a mountain to pray. While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were conversing with him, […]
Mary’s Song of Praise
Today is the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a very important feast in the life of the Church where we celebrate Mary’s journey to the hill country, to a city of […]
“Mondays with Mary” – The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Take Two
The reading from the Gospel of Luke – 1:39-45 was read yesterday for the Gospel reading and was also read this week for the Gospel during weekly Mass. Instead of rehashing the […]
“Mondays with Mary” – The Magnificat
This post should have been part of the blog from last Monday on the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, however with last week being Final Exams week for my students and […]
“Mondays with Mary” – The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
This coming Thursday is the Feast Day of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and also happens to be my Mom’s birthday. What a great day to be born! With all […]
Reflections on the Pentecost Readings
These readings are some of my favorites from the entire Canon. I truly love the First Reading because as I Lector at Mass I have read it numerous times. The Gospel is […]
TOM PERNA 