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St. Cecilia I went to the Basilica of the National Shrine of The Immaculate Conception here in Washington DC  last week to celebrate Mass the TV Mass. Afterward I went to the crypt church and took a series of pictures of the beautiful mosaics of the women of the Scriptures and early Church. Among them are Agatha, Agnes, Anastasia, Anne, Brigid, Catherine, Cecilia, Lucy, Margarita, Perpetua, Felicity, and Susanna.At the right is a mosaic of St. CeciliaThe Mosaics date to 1927 and were designed and installed by Ravenna Mosaic Co, of St. Louis. They are  the backdrops for the...

February 5, 2005Memorial of Saint Agatha, virgin and martyr Psalm: Saturday 8 Reading IHeb 13:15-17, 20-21 Brothers and sisters:Through Jesus, let us continually offer God a sacrifice of praise,that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have;God is pleased by sacrifices of that kind. Obey your leaders and defer to them,for they keep watch over you and will have to give an account,that they may fulfill their task with joy and not with sorrow,for that would be of no advantage to you. May the God of peace, who...

February 5, 2004Memorial of Saint Agatha, virgin and martyr Psalm: Thursday 8 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Gospel Reading I1 Kgs 2:1-4, 10-12 When the time of David's death drew near,he gave these instructions to his son Solomon:"I am going the way of all flesh.Take courage and be a man.Keep the mandate of the LORD, your God, following his waysand observing his statutes, commands, ordinances, and decreesas they are written in the law of Moses,that you may succeed in whatever you do,wherever you turn, and the LORD may fulfillthe promise he made on my behalf when he said,‘If your sons so...

February 5, 2003Memorial of Saint Agatha, virgin and martyr Psalm: Wednesday Week 8 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Gospel Reading I Heb 12:4-7, 11-15 Brothers and sisters:In your struggle against sinyou have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.You have also forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as children:My son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lordor lose heart when reproved by him;for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines;he scourges every son he acknowledges.Endure your trials as "discipline";God treats you as his sons.For what "son" is there whom his father does not discipline?At the time, all discipline seems...