20 February 2026

Edvard Grieg: Holberg Suite

It's time for some classical music. This is a presentation of Edvard Grieg’s Holberg Suite (op. 40) as given by the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra, with Gordan Nikolic on violin and concertmaster:

 


Birthday Blessings, Matthew!!!

Birthday greetings to grandnephew Matthew Duggan, whose birthday is today!!! May this day, and each day of the upcoming year, be filled with the Lord's choicest blessings!!!

Belated Birthday Blessings, Christopher!!!

Belated birthday greetings to Christopher Ryan (husband of niece Tiffany), who recently celebrated his birthday!!! May each day of the upcoming year be filled with the Lord's choicest blessings!!!

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of tarter sauce.

Fr. Joe Newman, OSFS, on Returning to the lord with Our Heart

"Lent begins with an invitation from the Prophet Joel (2:12), 'Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart.'

"Returning items is not my expertise."

In a recent commentary, Father Joe Newman, OSFS, reflected on the imortance of having the name of Jesus etched on our hearts.

To access Fr. Newman's complete post, please visit:

De Sales Weekly: Provincial Reflection: Pyrex Heart (19 FEB 26)


Reflection Starter from St. Francis de Sales

"During the course of the day, recollect as often as you can that you stand in the presence of God." - Saint Francis de Sales

15 February 2026

Birthday Blessings, Jim!!!

Birthday greetings to brother Jim, whose birthday is today!!! May this day, and each day of the upcoming year, be filled with the Lord's choicest blessings!!!

"A New Commandment"

As we continue our Sunday celebration, I offer this version of Roy Crabtree's "A New Commandment":

 


Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Today the Church celebrates the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The assigned readings are Sirach 15:15-20, 1 Corinthians 2:6-10, and Matthew 5:17-37. The Responsorial Psalm is from Psalm 119 (Psalm 119:1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34).

For one version of the Responsorial Psalm set to music, please visit:

YouTube: Psalm 119: Blessed are those who walk in the law of the Lord. 6th Sunday of the Year A 

The Gospel reading is as follows:

Jesus said to his disciples: "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven. I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

"You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, 'You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.' But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; and whoever says to his brother, 'Raqa,' will be answerable to the Sanhedrin; and whoever says, 'You fool,' will be liable to fiery Gehenna. Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into Gehenna.

"It was also said, 'Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce.' But I say to you, whoever divorces his wife -  unless the marriage is unlawful - causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

"Again you have heard that it was said to your ancestors, 'Do not take a false oath, but make good to the Lord all that you vow.' But I say to you, do not swear at all; not by heaven, for it is God's throne; nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Do not swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. Let your 'Yes' mean 'Yes,' and your 'No' mean 'No.' Anything more is from the evil one."

Reflections related to these readings:

Community in Mission: A Slide Show of Sanctity - A Homily for the 6th Sunday of the Year (14 FEB 26) 

Benedictine College: This Sunday, Jesus Tells Angry Americans What We Need to Change, Right Now (12 FEB 26)

Word on Fire: Become Someone for Others (Cycle A * Ordinary Time * 5th Week) 

The Pilot: Echoes: Deacon Greg Kendra: Scripture Reflection for Feb. 15, 2026, Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (11 FEB 26)  

The Quiet Corner: Moving from Conduct to Contemplation (12 FEB 26) 


Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the many ways we can find You in nature.

Michael Pakaluk on the Relationship between Faith and Reason

"When St. Pope John Paul II wrote in his great encyclical, 'Fides et ratio,' that 'Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth,' he surely meant that faith and reason are complementary not simply in how they act but also in what they say.

"What do I mean? They are complementary in how they act: a stronger faith clarifies our reason, and surer reasoning fosters a surer faith.

"But also in what they say: faith tells us, in faith, that it is not sufficient; while reason tells us, in its stringency, that on its own it falls short, so that faith must enter in also."

In a recent commentary, Dr. Michael Pakaluk reflected on how faith and reason testify to each other.

To access Dr. Pakaluk's complete essay, please visit:

The Pilot: Echoes: Michael Pakaluk: Faith and reason testify to each other (13 FEB 26)


Reflection Starter fro Pope Leo XIV

"The Gospel of the Day (Mt 5:17-37) offers us this valuable teaching: minimal righteousness is not enough. We must have great love, which is possible with the power of God.- Pope Leo XIV