[Three brief daily sermons.] (1) On the Feast of Michaelmass, we consider four ancient apparitions of St. Michael the Archangel. (2) Most importantly for our times, we should also consider a fifth apparition of St. Michael: at Fatima in 1916. St. Michael is not only the special protector of the Church, but also the angelic guardian of the Blessed Sacrament. (3) A third sermon helps us meditate upon the path to holiness.
At Tuy in 1929, Sr. Lucia received a mystical vision, and we do well to keep it in our mind’s eye. Above all, the vision (and the entire Fatima Message) points us to the one True God, the Blessed Trinity. It also shows us the two great means that lead us to God: [1] Jesus and His Sacrifice on the Cross, and [2] the Blessed Virgin Mary holding her Immaculate Heart and the Rosary. Our Lady’s prophecies at Fatima bring no “new” doctrine, but rather emphasize what is unchanging, truly Catholic, and what we most need at this present time to [...]
A heart-felt and quite personal sermon by Fr. Rodríguez on the 21st anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. Perhaps you can share this sermon with priests you know, as it may be particularly inspirational for them. Our Lady was entirely consecrated to God at every single moment of her existence. All her thoughts, affections, words, and actions were directed perfectly to the fulfillment of His holy will. In order for my priesthood (and your life) to be fruitful and endure, I need Mary’s intercession. Why such an insistence about Mary? Because of God’s grace - of which she is full. [...]
Today, as Lent begins, God speaks three things to us very clearly. [1] The sacramental of Ashes reminds us of what we are: fragile, weak, and mortal.[2] By the Cross, He tells us that He loves us and died for us; and He calls us to love the Cross for His sake. (Sadly, modern Catholics have forgotten how to love and appreciate the Cross. It is no coincidence that in many concrete ways the Cross has been removed from the New Rite of Mass.) [3]Through the prophet Joel, God speaks to us of His willingness to be merciful when man is [...]
- Two daily sermons on St. Michael the Archangel - The angels were created to give glory to God and to help man save his soul. St. Michael has an outstanding zeal for both of these supernatural activities. His four principal offices are centered upon them. Pray that God grant you a greater zeal for His glory, the salvation of souls, and a correspondingly greater devotion to the Marshall of God’s Celestial Army. - God has appointed St. Michael as the guardian and defender of the Catholic Church. Consider three historical miracles where he manifested his spiritual and temporal intercession and [...]
Three brief daily sermons. [1] Ash Wednesday Lent begins with death. In order to live for God we must die to sin and the passing cares of this world. In order to live a holy life we must think about the reality of death like the saints. During Lent, keep your own death before your eyes. [2] Mar 2 Oh what a folly is the world that never thinks upon death. We must prepare well for our death, for it will come upon us at the moment we least expect. Your eternity depends on your death. Resolve at this moment to [...]
To some degree or another, your family is weighed down by the darkness of sin. This is the greatest problem in our marriages and family. Christ is the light we so much need. Let us draw grace from the light of Christmas, Epiphany, and the Holy Family. In this centenary year of Our Lady of Fatima, note how she too brings the light needed by our families to convert. In a letter to Cardinal Cafara, Sr. Lucia wrote: “The final battle between the Lord and the reign of Satan will be about marriage and the family… this is the decisive issue.” [...]
There are many mysteries hidden in the great Christmas feast of the Epiphany. These mysteries bring light to the spiritual life. Let us consider “Twelve Lights of Epiphany”, that is, twelve examples of mysteries and lessons for the spiritual life contained in this great feast. For example: The world is against Christ, rejects His light, and denies the supernatural. Yet a mysterious interplay between grace and nature pervades our life. In fact, every single human being is born to adore Christ as Lord, God, and King, and to worship Him as He commands. We will face many trials, but must relentlessly [...]
Whenever God wants to restore some fallen thing - a person, a nation, the world - He sets about establishing, as it were, a home base, or we might say a sort of supernatural homing beacon to attract His graces. Yet the devil apes God and likewise wishes to establish his "home bases" upon persons, places, and even the Church. The devil prefers to create his 'homing beacons' by sacrilegiously profaning sacraments and sacramentals, which calls down God's wrath upon men. The devil gains greater permission to corrupt and seduce when he is enthroned, and increased power if it be a sacred place. His chains are loosened even [...]
God has established an irreconciable enmity between Our Lady and satan (cf. Gen 3:15). The can be no 'co-existence' between Christ the King and Baal. Where Christ reigns, there His Mother reigns. If the devil wishes to usurp Christ, he must first attempt to replace His Queen Mother. Consider the Amazonian idol recently enthroned in the Vatican. She is a queen goddess of 'mother earth' depicted as a dragon or a woman with serpents entertained who demands worship and blood sacrifice. In this image we see the woman and satan now reconciled, according to the 'spirit of the age' so favored [...]
