The astounding mystery of Christmas is that the Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us. This marvelous mystery is prolonged in Holy Communion. The altar is the crib and there we go to feed ourselves on Godu2019s most Sacred Flesh.
Our Lady is immaculate and pure in every respect. Sin never touched the body or soul of most holy Mary. The Mystery of the Immaculate Conception instructs us in many ways, but let us focus on two foundational principles of the spiritual life. [1] When God elects a person to a certain office, He grants the person all the necessary graces for that office. [2] All things that are ordained for God should be holy and free from stain. We see these truths embodied in the Immaculate Conception. They also apply to the priesthood and to each of the faithful, especially [...]
Christ is present and lives in the Most Holy Eucharist. Under the impulse of His divine Love, He ceaselessly renews His Sacrifice. This Sacrament is the very soul of the Church. From this source the Church draws and has all her strength. From the rising to the setting of the sun, there should be no cessation of the Hymn of Praise and Thanksgiving [the Mass] which man owes to God. Indeed, man's chief duty and supreme dignity is to participate in the Eucharistic sacrifice. This is all Catholic teaching from the popes. Listen to it with faith, begging our Lord to [...]
God's best gifts come from above. They are perfect and unchanging. They make us more like Him. We are to conform our lives to them. Motherhood is one such gift. It is sacred and unchanging. However, our fallen world is doing much to try to change, devalue, even destroy motherhood. It is so great a gift that God provides us with two spiritual mothers: Our Lady and the Church. It is through them that God chooses to transmit His life (grace) to us. A mother [1] gives life and she [2] nourishes life. She must also strive to [3] bring the life of [...]
What has happened to our Catholic Faith that we have fallen into this present abyss? How can some speak as if taking our Lord in the Eucharist away is the will of God? The very words of Christ run counter to this. He promised to remain with us always in the Holy Eucharist - to nourish and strengthen us. He calls all who labor and are burneded to come to Him, always and everyday, and He shall refresh us. Compare the words we hear today from our prelates with those of the saints and teaching of Pope Leo XIII. The Mass [...]
Let us marvel at the mystery of Holy Mass and believe, love and adore Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist. Consider: (1) The connection between the Incarnation and the Eucharist. It is through the Eucharist that Christ continues to make present this greatest of blessings - God amongst us. (2) How at Mass and through the Eucharist, Jesus is shielding the world from the just wrath of God. To abandon or cancel the Mass for human considerations, to think 'we can just make do until the Mass returns,' is simply not Catholic. Such reactions betray a lack of faith. But do not [...]
St. John teaches that true faith in Jesus Christ conquers the world. The Easter Gospels are replete with examples of belief that Jesus is God. Moreover, true faith in Jesus must necessarily be a Eucharistic faith. Our human nature wants to "see" and understand, but this Mystery is beyond human limits. Many profess to be Christians but do not believe; even many Catholics. When urged to go see a Eucharistic Miracle, St. Louis IX remained before the Blessed Sacrament explaining, "Let those who do not beleive by faith go and see. I believe more firmly than if I saw Christ with my eyes!" Would [...]
Four brief Easter week sermons. The Easter Octave overflows with grace to increase our Faith, especially in the Sacrifice of the Mass and Holy Eucharist. Meditation with the ecuharistic prayers composed by St. Thomas Aquinas brings a greater depth of understanding and sheds greater light upon how terrible it is that Masses for the faithful have been cancelled. * Mary Magdalene lamented 'They have taken away my Lord.' We are living in such times. After Vatican II, modernists replaced the high altar with a table, removed crucifixes and tabernacles from the center of the catholic sanctuary, and destroyed communion rails and statues. Now [...]
Two brief Easter week sermons. This Easter Octave, take time to reflect upon the readings of Holy Mass. They clearly show the Risen Lord is different and His disciples are now called to know Him in a deeper way, which is primarily by faith. Jesus is present through [1] the ministry of His Apostles, particularly Peter; [2] the Scriptures explained by Him; and [3] in the Holy Sacraments. Apart from these, one cannot come to truly know Christ. Our Lord's greatest desire is to remain with us and to nourish us. The Christian's greatest desire should be stay with Jesus, Mane nobiscum! In [...]
St. Dominic Savio teaches us the importance of making holy resolutions, especially in conjunction with our reception of Holy Communion. The piety with which he received his Dear Savior is shown by the zeal of his resolutions: to dread mortal sin, to flee from the occasions of sin, to avoid bad companions, never to read bad books (today we might add any bad from of entertainment), to guard his eyes not looking upon evil, and to pray often. We should resolve to love Jesus for this is why we have been placed upon this earth. Resolve to love the Catholic Church and [...]
