• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

The Passionists of Holy Cross Province

The Love that Compels

  • Migration
    • Statement from Passionist Leadership Regarding Current United States Immigration Policies
    • The Global Migration Crisis: What Can a Retreat Center Do?
  • Laudato Si’
    • Celebrating the Season of Creation
    • Laudato Si’ 2023-24 Report and 2024-25 Plan
    • Ways to Live Laudato Siˊ
    • Sustainable Purchasing
      • Sustainable Purchasing Guide
      • Hints for Sustainable Meetings and Events
      • Sustainable Living Hints
    • Passion of the Earth, Wisdom of the Cross
    • Passionist Solidarity Network
  • Pray
    • Daily Reflections
    • Prayer Request
    • Sunday Homily
    • Passionist Spirituality and Prayer
    • Video: Stations of the Cross
    • Prayer and Seasonal Cards
  • Grow
    • Proclaiming Our Passionist Story (POPS)
    • The Passionist Way
    • Retreat Centers
    • Passionist Magazine
    • Passionist Ministries
      • Preaching
      • Hispanic Ministry
      • Parish Life
      • Earth and Spirit Center
      • Education
      • Fr. Cedric Pisegna, CP, Live with Passion!
    • Passionist Solidarity Network
    • Journey into the Mystery of Christ Crucified
    • Celebrating the Feast of St. Paul of the Cross
    • Subscribe to E-News
    • Sacred Heart Monastery
      • History of Sacred Heart Monastery
      • A Day in the Life of Senior Passionists
      • “Pillars” of the Community
  • Join
    • Come and See Holy Week Discernment Retreat
    • Are You Being Called?
    • Province Leadership
    • Vocation Resources
    • Passionist Brothers
    • The Life of St. Paul of the Cross
    • Discerning Your Call
    • Pray With Us
    • Passionist Vocation Directors
    • World Day for Consecrated Life
    • Lay Partnerships
  • Connect
    • Find a Passionist
    • Passionist Websites
    • Fr. Cedric Pisegna, CP, Live with Passion!
    • Passionist Alumni Association
  • Support
    • Donate
    • Monthly Giving
      • St. Gemma Circle of Giving Intentions
    • Leave a Legacy
      • Giving Matters
      • Ways to Give
      • Donor Relations
      • Testimonials
    • Prayer and Seasonal Cards
    • Privacy Policy Statement
  • Learn
    • Our Passionist History: Webinar Series
    • Proclaiming Our Passionist Story (POPS)
    • Our Founder
    • History
    • The Letters of St. Paul of the Cross
    • The Diary of St. Paul of the Cross
    • Mission and Charism
    • Saints and Blesseds
    • FAQs
    • Find a Passionist
    • STUDIES IN PASSIONIST HISTORY AND SPIRITUALITY
  • Safe Environments

Daily Reflections

Daily Scripture, September 8, 2025

Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Scripture:

Micah 5:1-4a or Romans 8:28-30
Matthew 1:1-16, 18-23

Reflection:

In Saint Matthew’s gospel, the story of Jesus’ birth is told mostly through the eyes of Joseph. He is the one to whom the Lord reveals the Divine plan and Joseph is the one who is the principal actor in these early events. Joseph is however an ‘actor who never speaks’ either in interactions with others or indeed in his dialogue with the Lord. Joseph is a silent witness, but an acute listener and one who acts on every instruction given by the lord (albeit in dreams).

However, while the scripture highlights Joseph’s role in the birth of Jesus, today our focus is drawn towards Mary since the liturgy of today celebrates her birth – a Feast Day that has been celebrated in the Church from around the sixth century onwards.

Tradition celebrates Mary’s parents as Anne and Joachim (who only have the one child Mary herself). We know little of the life of Mary prior to her call by God and her marriage to Joseph, and as to Mary’s early years we must speculate. Perhaps we might consider two possibilities for the life that Mary lived.

Firstly we might note ancient tradition which stresses that from her very childhood Mary was dedicated to God and served in the Temple as a girl and young woman. This tradition can be seen in the writings of the Fathers of the Church who claim that Mary was presented to the Temple and served there from the age of three until the age of fourteen (when she was betrothed to Joseph and left such service to marry). Certainly there is evidence in the scriptures of women offering non-liturgical service in or around the Temple,  and we encounter one such person in the story of Joseph and Mary meeting Anna – an elderly widow who spent her days in service at the Temple.  But whether Mary lived such a life in her early years is beyond my knowledge.

Another way to reflect on Mary’s early years is simply to speculate that her life may have been no less than that of other young girls of her day. Although in such times girls were excluded from formally attending school, there is evidence that both mothers and fathers instructed their children in the Law, the scriptures and the customs and religious practices of the community. Mary’s faithfulness and dedication to God seems to provide ample evidence of her having an education that both nourished and informed her faith deeply. Of course for Mary, as for everyone in her society, education also meant learning basic skills – and indeed far more, since the scriptures record that apart from skills like weaving, cooking and sewing, women in fact undertook various tasks in agriculture and worked with textiles, perfumes and practiced as midwives.

But the essence of today is that of faithfulness. Mary’s whole life is given to God and her faithful stance becomes for us not just a key component in the story of our salvation, but a wonderful example to us of how to live our own lives.

Mary teaches us that discipleship knows no bounds, can be active at any age of our lives and that it is founded upon family, upon learning and listening and upon a deep sense of faith in God. Like Mary we are called to be listeners to the Word and to welcome the Word into our own lives so as to live our lives in service of Jesus ‘God with us’.

Fr. Denis Travers, C.P., is the Provincial Superior of Holy Spirit Province, Australia. 

Daily Scripture, May 1, 2011

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47 1 Peter 1:3-9 John 20:19-31 Reflection: "Rejoice to the full in the glory that is yours, and give thanks to God who called you to his kingdom, » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, April 30, 2011

Scripture: Acts 4:13-21 Mark 16:9-15 Reflection: On Easter morn Jesus rose from the dead.  When the apostles heard the news, at first they were doubtful, then they were excited…and then » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, April 29, 2011

Scripture: Acts 4:1-12 John 21:1-14 Reflection: "There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, April 28, 2011

Scripture: Acts 3:11-26 Luke 24:35-48 Reflection: We are still in the midst of the octave of Easter, and yet today’s Gospel and the Reading from Acts both speak of doubt.  » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, April 27, 2011

Scripture: Acts 3:1-10 Luke 24:13-35 Reflection: "Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him."   Today’s gospel begins with two disciples on » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, April 25, 2011

Scripture: Acts 2:14, 22-33 Matthew 28:8-15 Reflection: "Then they went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce this to his disciples."   During this Octave » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, April 24, 2011

Easter Sunday: The Resurrection of the Lord Scripture: Acts 10:34a, 37-43 Colossians 3:1-4 or 1 Corinthians 5:6b-8 John 20:1-9 or Matthew 28:1-10 Reflection: Recently I visited the Gettysburg battlefield where » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, April 23, 2011

Holy Saturday Scripture: Genesis 1:1-2:2 or 1:1, 26-31a Genesis 22:1-18 or 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18 Exodus 14:15-15:1 Isaiah 54:5-14, Isaiah 55:1-11 Baruch 3:9-15, 32-4:4, Ezekiel 36:16-17a, 18-28 Romans 6:3-11 Matthew » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, April 22, 2011

Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion Scripture: Isaiah 52:13-53:12 Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 John 18:1-19:42 Reflection: Good Friday came alive for me the year one of my sons was an 8th » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, April 26, 2011

Scripture: Acts 2:36-41 John 20:11-18 Reflection: The Gospel of John presents us with a striking story of Mary Magdalene’s grief. Her heart is broken and her grief at the loss of Jesus » Continue Reading.

  • « Previous
  • 1
  • …
  • 450
  • 451
  • 452
  • 453
  • 454
  • …
  • 527
  • Next »

Footer

Support the Passionists

Contact the Passionists

Name

The Passionists of Holy Cross Province
660 Busse Highway | Park Ridge, IL 60068
Tel: 847.518.8844 | Toll-free: 800.295.9048 | Fax: 847.518.0461
Safe Environments | Board Member Portal | Copyright © 2025 | Log in