Ultimately Penance Is Love

February 14, 2021By

Ash Wednesday 2021
Neglect of practicing penance during Lent is a cause of the problems we experience in the world today.  The virtue of penance is a power from God which makes us hate sin, be sorry for it, make reparation for it and convert because sin offends God Who loves us.  Penance spurs us on to mortify our evil tendencies and remove the obstacles during Lent so to make room for Our Lord.  The Liturgy teaches us these things and the acts of penance are traditionally known as prayer, fasting and almsgiving.  Many ask for penances during Lent and several recommendations are given to help us make a good and holy Lent.
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Purity of Intention

February 14, 2021By

Quinquagesima Sunday 2021
In preparation for Ash Wednesday and Lent there is a review of the laws concerning fast and abstinence.  Today is also the feast of St. Valentine and his impact in our own day.  The Epistle for this Mass is taken from St. Paul and teaches us the importance of doing all our works, especially the upcoming penances, with purity of intention which is produced by charity.  The Gospel tells of the cure of the blind man by Our Lord.  We are that blind man who need God’s help to see our sinfulness and do something about it.
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Give All To Receive All

February 7, 2021By

Sexagesima Sunday 2021
Saints this week are our friends like St. Apollonia.  The Liturgy is our ordinary means of sanctification and reception of sacramentals is a practical aspect of this.  St. Paul is the dominant character during this season of Septuagesima and tells in the Epistle of all he has sacrificed in fulfilling Our Lord’s prophecy about his suffering for the Name of Jesus.  The Gospel shows the Word of God gently warning all to receive Him well and thereby receive a hundredfold.  Finally, we need to follow Catholic principles in our daily lives and imitate the Catholic Supreme Court justice and not the famous author who wrote that lying is permitted if done for the sake of the nation.
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Liturgy: Yesterday, Today and Forever

February 5, 2021By

First Friday February 2021 – Feast Of St. Agatha
With the beginning of the Easter Cycle through the season of Septuagesima it is a good time to review what the Sacred Liturgy is and how it leads our spiritual lives through the purgative, illuminative and unitive states.  The Holy Mass is the highest form of prayer in the worship of the Mystical Body of Christ and this vocal prayer is also the springboard for mental prayer which culminates in contemplation.  An analysis of the liturgy, the essential element in the lives of all saints and the foundation of all of schools of spirituality, is a profound and deep one that should make us appreciate ever more the treasure we have been given.  The praying of the Rosary is our daily link to all these divine benefits.
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Purification, Presentation and Candles

February 2, 2021By

Feast Of The Purification 2021
This feast was already old in the fourth century.  It celebrates Our Lady’s fulfilling the Law by going to the temple forty days after giving birth so she could be admitted once more ceremonially to worship.  Her humility was extraordinary because she was not bound by the Law but she freely submitted as her Divine Son did also.  In addition, on this same day, Christ was presented in the temple as the first born Son to receive His rightful place and to be ransomed for a time until His hour has come and He will return to complete the sacrifice.  The candle which is blessed and used in today’s procession reminds us of the Holy Infant being carried in the first procession centuries ago which revealed the Light of Revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of Israel.
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Season of Examination

January 31, 2021By

Septuagesima Sunday 2021
This week is the feast of St. Agatha whose veil is a precious relic that has protected the city of Catania from various cataclysms throughout history.  The significance of wearing a veil is explained.  Septuagesima season is a transition from the Christmas to the Easter cycle and an immediate preparation for Lent.  It is a time for the catechumens and penitents especially.  We recall the story of Genesis and the fall of Adam and Eve whose crime is inherited by us and known as original sin.  This week examines the effects of original sin in our lives so we are ready to combat these vices as soon as we reach Ash Wednesday.
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The Conversion of St. Paul

January 24, 2021By

3rd Sunday After Epiphany 2021
The showing of Our Lord’s divinity through the time after the Epiphany continues this Sunday with His cures of the leper and the centurion’s servant. Tomorrow is the feast of the conversion of St. Paul and because Christianity hinges on this event it is described in detail for us to appreciate it.  Because of the miraculous nature of this, the sermon during today’s Q&A teaches us about miracles, their purpose and how to judge them.  We then learn more about Saul, the persecutor of the Church, and what he accomplished for God after the unexpected and dramatic moment of his meeting Our Lord on the road to Damascus.
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An Outpouring of Love

January 17, 2021By

2nd Sunday After Epiphany 2021
Today is also the feast of St. Anthony the Abbot who counselled that we should think every morning and night that this is our last day of life.  In this way we will always be ready for our end.  The Gospel is about the wedding feast at Cana which gives multiple lessons concerning Our Lord’s beginning of His public life, the sacrament of Matrimony, Our Lady’s intercession, transubstantiation, miracles etc..  The details of the changing of water into wine in such an abundant amount and in the context of a marriage feast give us a glimpse of the love God has for us and what we should do in response.
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The Epiphany And The Holy Family

January 10, 2021By

Feast Of The Holy Family 2021
The crèche is a composite of many events surrounding the Nativity and culminating with the adoration of the Magi which is celebrated on the feast of the Epiphany.  The first Sunday after this feast is that of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.  The Gospel tells the story of the finding of Our Lord in the Temple at the age of 12.  The Holy Family is a model of liturgical prayer for our families because of its fidelity and devotion to all the celebrations of the Old Testament like the Passover.  Our religious community has enjoyed the patronage of the Holy Family for 44 years and we are grateful for that and for all the assistance we have received from the faithful.
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Call Upon The Name of Jesus

January 3, 2021By

Feast Of The Holy Name of Jesus 2021
The Gradual for this Mass informs us that invoking the Holy Name of Jesus will bring us to Heaven.  The power, beauty and importance of the Name of God made Man has been taught through the centuries by holy people like St. Bernard and St. Bernadine.  The Apostles raised the dead to life by use of the Holy Name.  Jesus means Savior and by using the Holy Name we are invoking all the blessings of God and the Redemptive Incarnation on us, especially in moments of temptation and struggle.  It links us with Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist and sweetens our prayer life.  Ask your guardian angel to whisper the Holy Name to you often throughout the day.
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