The charges of homicide and Deicide were dropped on Easter Sunday, for the Body of the Victim is now risen. Murder charges on Good Friday make no sense with the Resurrection three days later. But having been freed from these charges, let us not crucify Jesus again by our own personal sins.
Children who visit their mothers regularly are sorrowful when they see her die, but their grieving is healthy and natural. They are sad but still hopeful. But children who distanced themselves from their mother, even abandoning her in her old age, are struck with a grief at their mother’s death … a grief that can be coupled with a deep guilt. Now consider the scene which horrified us all - Notre Dame burning. Parisians gazed upon their mother dying and they were filled with grief … and with guilt, for so many have abandoned Holy Mother Church. Let us make sure [...]
The Supreme act of Christ's infinite love is constantly renewed upon the altars of His Church. The Mass is the culmination and center of the Christian religion. It should thus be obvious that this has to be most stable (the rock of our Faith), for if it is radically changed, what will happen to the entire Catholic religion? At the Mass, we offer perfect adoration and thanksgiving to God (incredible!) and God's grace and mercy descends upon us. At Mass, the merits won by our Divine Redeemer are made available to us. Participating actively at Mass is the baptized's chief duty [...]
Faith is the virtue by which we firmly believe all the truths God has revealed on the word of God revealing them. it is impossible to be saved without faith. This is a grace which only God can give and He wills to give it to all. Many refuse it. Many fail to nourish it by not studying their catechism or by neglecting the practice of religion. It can wither when one needlessly exposed to things opposed to the faith or via unnecessary interaction with people opposed to the faith or shameless living contrary to it. Nor should one actively doubt, [...]
It is helpful to consider how various faithful members of the Mystical Body of Christ act as branches on the vine, supplying what is needed for dying branches to be saved or for dead branches to return to life. This theme naturally leads us to focus on priests, especially in light of the current crisis in the Church. However, on this Mother’s Day, let us consider the connection between motherhood and the holy priesthood. Sacrifice is essential to both. Holy mothers help raise good priests. In particular, let us examine two historical cases: Concepcion "Conchita" Cabrera de Armida (1862-1937) from Mexico [...]
On this Good Shepherd Sunday, let us reflect upon one important way shepherds become good and stay good. A pithy statement expressing this principle is “There are two kinds of priests, those for whom people pray for and those for whom people do not.” I first heard this when the terrible priest scandals were coming to light around the turn of the 21st century. Two historical examples which help illustrate this truth are: St. Nicholas of Cusa (+1464) and Bishop Wilhelm Ketteler of Mainz (+1877).
In God’s way of working, it is clear, that in as much as one has 'taken droughts from the foaming and spicy chalice of this world', someone has to 'drink of the chalice of suffering' before God will grant His mercy, healing and peace. The Justice of God must be satisfied before His Mercy and Peace is bestowed. We must “pay-in” to have this Mercy bestowed. Protestants often take a ledger approach to salvation: one day they are in the column of debts, the next they are transferred into the gains. No expiation and payment needed by anyone save Christ. But [...]
Palm Sunday and Maundy Thursday Sermons Our Lord entered Jerusalem on a donkey. A consideration of three attributes of the donkey illustrate why this was so fitting. A donkey is humble, not prideful or beautiful like the horse. It is also patient, even while enduring ill-treatment. The donkey is submissive - an obedient beast of burden. Call this image to mind when tempted to ostentation or pride. We are fascinated by great power in small packages. Imagine if all your parents' love could be packaged into a button which they gave you as they lay dying. Our Lord did pour all [...]
On Good Friday, Our Lord suffered in every part of His Body and Soul in order to undo all the sins committed by man for all times and all places. The Scriptures (prophet Isaias) tell us that “His appearance was … marred, beyond human semblance.” Yet, on Easter Sunday, all the wounds were healed save the five wounds of the nails and the spear. These He glorified and chose to keep (they are the only man-made things we know of in Heaven at present). Why did He keep them? We can learn many lessons from five reasons provided by St. Thomas [...]
Continuation and conclusion to Part One by the same title.
