Liturgical Year

Mercy Comes at a Cost

svfonline2019-05-12T07:18:55-04:00

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 [...]

Mercy Comes at a Costsvfonline2019-05-12T07:18:55-04:00

Humility and Love

svfonline2019-04-30T15:41:38-04:00

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 [...]

Humility and Lovesvfonline2019-04-30T15:41:38-04:00

Five Reasons for the Five Wounds

svfonline2019-04-30T15:18:45-04:00

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 [...]

Five Reasons for the Five Woundssvfonline2019-04-30T15:18:45-04:00

Christ and the Liturgical Year Part2

svfonline2019-04-22T11:08:25-04:00

Continuation and conclusion to Part One by the same title.

Christ and the Liturgical Year Part2svfonline2019-04-22T11:08:25-04:00

Christ and the Liturgical Year Part1

svfonline2019-04-22T11:03:56-04:00

During the course of the liturgical year we are celebrating the great mystery of our Savior Jesus Christ. The five most holy days provide the structure of the entire liturgical year: Christmas, epiphany, Easter, Ascension, Pentecost. Most Catholics fail to realize that, as Pius XII teaches, the liturgical year is Christ Himself - Who is ever living in His Church. We always have to keep making this act of Fatih for little of it is apparent to our senses. It is primarily through living the liturgical year that we come to truly know Christ, believe in Him, and follow Him. The [...]

Christ and the Liturgical Year Part1svfonline2019-04-22T11:03:56-04:00

Prisoner of Love

svfonline2019-04-20T07:06:12-04:00

Cell Block 26 at the concentration camp in Dachau (Bavaria, Germany) was known as the 'Priest Block.' More than 3000 priests suffered at Dachau, yet in the midst of this terrible imprisonment, they had Mass and our Eucharistic Lord. In the Blessed Sacrament, and through His sacred Priests, Christ has chosen to abide among those who crucified Him as a "Prisoner of Love." Here he humbles Himself even more than at the Incarnation, as now both His Divinity and humanity are hidden. He is now more vulnerable and more dependent than even as an Infant in Mary's arms. He perpetually dwells [...]

Prisoner of Lovesvfonline2019-04-20T07:06:12-04:00

Grievance Culture vs Christ the Victim

svfonline2019-04-18T06:18:47-04:00

We hear a lot about grievances today. 'Grievance communities' compete for exceptional treatment and vie to claim the role of greater victim. In fact, we are a nation of grievance-nurturers, living in a grievance culture. Yet as we enter Holy Week, we are called to deepen our meditation upon the horrific injustices perpetrated against our dearest Lord, to God Himself! We are awed by His power and by His willingness to hand Himself over to His enemies. Compare this to the devil, the ultimate Lord of the grievance community, who is always filled with rage and resentment. Although a true Victim [...]

Grievance Culture vs Christ the Victimsvfonline2019-04-18T06:18:47-04:00

Christ Will Not Be Known Without His Cross

svfonline2019-04-16T06:20:48-04:00

Throughout the three years of His public life, His Majesty did not allow anyone to publicly proclaim Him to be the Christ (Messias, Savior). He silenced the demons who tried to reveal Him and commanded His disciples to keep quiet until after He had risen from the dead. Why did Our Blessed Lord not want to be known as the Christ? We learn the answer on Palm Sunday, for this is when He first allows people to proclaim Him to be the Christ, the Son of David and King. His hour is now at hand and Palm Sunday begins the immediate [...]

Christ Will Not Be Known Without His Crosssvfonline2019-04-16T06:20:48-04:00

Whose Glory Do You Seek

svfonline2019-04-12T08:52:01-04:00

How do we keep Christ's words? Do we seek to use them simply to justify ourselves and serve our cause? If so, we glorify ourselves. Yet if speak with meekness, bless, and give good words - for our salvation and our neighbor's advantage - then we glorify God. When one is unable to speak thus, silence is best, lest one mimic the devil's tongue uttering curses, insults, deceit and envy. In such an event we are worse than devils, because we use that very same tongue to also taste the Flesh of the Savior. We know it is hard to remain [...]

Whose Glory Do You Seeksvfonline2019-04-12T08:52:01-04:00

Behold a Rose of Judah

svfonline2019-04-12T08:46:42-04:00

Laetare Sunday is also known as Rose Sunday because of an ancient practice of the Church of Rome where the Pope himself would bless a rose and then carry it in procession. The rose symbolized the Son of God and Son of Mary. Flowers are given on many occasions, but roses are for one's beloved. The Father's only Rose - a long stemmed Blood Red Rose complete with thorns - was presented to us. Like the Adam of old, who was called to cultivate and work the Garden of Eden, so the New Adam cultivates spiritually His own garden, the Holy [...]

Behold a Rose of Judahsvfonline2019-04-12T08:46:42-04:00