Corpus Christi Blog
Our Lady of Knock
08-11-2024Weekly ReflectionJen Arnold, M.A.Earlier this summer, I had the opportunity to travel to Ireland with my mom. Our itinerary included a stop in the village of Knock, where Our Lady appeared on a rainy evening on August 21, 1879. While the apparition was investigated and approved by the Church, it remains less familiar than others like Fatima, Lourdes, and Guadalupe. With the feast of Our Lady of Knock occurring this week (August 17), I thought I would share a bit about the apparition itself and its message.
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St. John Vianney’s Preaching on Authentic Repentance
08-04-2024Weekly ReflectionJen Arnold, M.A.Today, the Church celebrates the feast day of St. John Marie Vianney, so I thought it would be fitting to recognize him and pay him homage as an outstanding preacher.
St. John Vianney (1786-1859) lived through the French Revolution and its aftermath. It was a tumultuous time for France at large, but also specifically for the Catholic Church. The revolution carried a strong anti-Catholic sentiment with its objective of abolishing the Catholic monarchy. The Church was suppressed, and priests were forced to operate in secret under the threat of persecution and death. The bravery of these priests greatly affected St. John, and their heroic efforts helped to shape his own ministerial work as a priest. During the suppression of the Church, people lost broad access to the sacraments, Mass, and catechetical formation.
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