Live In The Present

January 1, 2017By

Octave Of Christmas 2017

The Octave Day Of Christmas is a re-celebration of the Nativity.  It also commemorates the Circumcision of Our Lord as well as the Solemnity of The Blessed Virgin Mary.  The Church has long celebrated major feasts for more than just one day through what are called octaves or 8-day periods, week-long celebrations which include the day of the Feast itself.  Today is the 8th day of the Octave of the Nativity and it gives us the opportunity to once again rejoice in this tremendous Feast Of Christmas.  As well, it celebrates the Circumcision of Our Lord which is a “type” for our Christian Baptism, as it was for the Jews a sign of the individual’s acceptance into the “chosen people” or the Jewish religion of the Old Testament.  Inasmuch as the circumcision of Jesus was carried out on the lap of the Mother of God, it also reflects the solemnity of Mary in Her singular role as Co-Redemptrix of the human race.

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God Became A Man

December 25, 2016By

Christmas Midnight Mass 2016

St. Joseph’s care for Blessed Mother and The Holy Infant is explained.  We also learn of the significance of the swaddling clothes and that the Savior wrapped in them was how the shepherds recognized Him.  Finally, the beautiful and consoling doctrine of the Incarnation is clearly stated for us to appreciate.

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Do Not Put Off Your Salvation

December 18, 2016By

4th Sunday of Advent 2016

The upcoming Feast of the Nativity celebrates not only Christ’s birth on earth but His Second Coming at the end of time.  As the Gospel says: the Word came to St. John as the Voice of One Crying in the desert, make straight the paths of the Lord… for all mankind shall see the Salvation of God.”  The Ember Days this past week gave us the opportunity to do penance in preparation for this great feast of the Nativity.  It is important for us to realize that sorrow in itself, though necessary and good, is not enough.  Our Lord gave to the disciples the power to not only forgive sins but to retain them in the Sacrament of Penance.  This is why the firm purpose of amendment attached to the Act of Contrition is so necessary.  For we must not only show sorrow for our sins and confess them to the priest, acting as Christ in the confessional, but we must resolve to live out our lives by doing good works and making reparation for our sins.  It is also important for us to realize that Our Lord is the Supreme Judge who will judge definitively at the end of time.  Withholding personal judgments in this life is our only safe course.

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The Peace Of God Surpasses All Understanding

December 11, 2016By

Gaudete Sunday 2016

“Rejoice in the Lord always: again I say rejoice.  Let your modesty be known to all men: for The Lord is nigh.”   These words taken from St. Paul’s epistle to the Philippians for the Third Sunday of Advent may seem strange in today’s times because of all that is wrong in today’s world   However, they are as true now as they were when they were first written because they refer not only to the upcoming Feast of the Nativity but to the Second Coming of Our Lord and Savior at the end of time.  We can be joyous because we have already been saved through Baptism.  The promise of what lies ahead for us, if we are faithful, is far greater than any of the problems and sufferings that we endure in this life.  The Lord is indeed nigh and all we have to do is recognize His presence in our midst and pray that He keeps us true to our baptismal promises.

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Enmity Between You And The Woman

December 8, 2016By

Immaculate Conception 2016

Our Lady was conceived without Original Sin, which every human being contracts because of Adam’s sin.  Our own country is dedicated to Her under this title of the Immaculate Conception.  Our Lady at Lourdes identified herself to St. Bernadette Soubirous by saying: “I am the Immaculate Conception.”  In the epistle from today’s Mass taken from the book of Proverbs we see the excellence of Wisdom applied to Our Lady in the words: “The Lord possessed me in the beginning of His ways, before He made anything, from the beginning, I was set up from eternity.”  And, it is She who will crush the Head of the Serpent and those who find Her “shall find life,and shall have salvation from the Lord.”   So, we have a special opportunity to flee to Our Mother as the patroness of our Country and the One that will crush the Head of the Serpent.

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Go To Heaven For Christmas

December 4, 2016By

Second Sunday of Advent 2016

“Art thou he that art to come, or look we for another?”  This question posed to Our Lord by the disciples of St. John the Baptist in no way implies that St. John himself had any doubts about the Divinity of Our Lord.  St. John had been informed by revelation who Jesus was: “This is My Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased” but John knew that he must decrease so that Christ must increase and he wanted his disciples to follow Jesus, not himself.  In today’s Mass we have both the Joy of Christ’s coming on earth and the forewarning of Christ’s Second Coming in the scriptural readings for the Second Sunday of Advent.  The big question is: will we be prepared for both?  Unless we pray that we will be among the elect, it will not happen – so now is the time to do so.

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Advent – Season Of Desire

November 27, 2016By

First Sunday of Advent 2016

The new Liturgical Year begins with the first Sunday of Advent. Liturgy is derived from a Greek word and means public worship. It differs from private prayer in that the ends of adoration, thanksgiving, reparation and petition are united with the entire church and its public prayer. The official prayer of the Mystical Body is then made sublime and sacramental through the presence of Christ. The best example, of course, is the Eucharistic Sacrifice wherein Christ Himself unites his prayer to the Father with our own. But the other sacraments accomplish the same type of worship in their own way – even the sacrament of Penance. The prayers of today’s Mass offer hope in the Final Coming to those who have kept the Faith with humility rather than the judgment of the proud predicted in last Sunday’s scriptural readings. The famous words: “Look up your salvation is at hand” are meant to give us that hope.

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Do Not Delay Your Conversion

November 20, 2016By

Last Sunday after Pentecost 2016

Our Lord admonishes us that when the end of the world comes, many will not expect it and, more importantly, not be prepared for it. There have been numerous times when the world did not expect the widespread destruction that occurred, such as the total destruction of Jerusalem where “not one stone was left upon a stone.” Scripture tells us about the events that we will see in the final days citing the analogy of the fig tree, that when it sprouts and sends forth its buds you know that Spring is near. It also warns us not to believe the deceivers who give false statements about the presence of Christ in the final days. We should use the upcoming new liturgical year to prepare our souls to receive the Master when the Angels sound the trumpet announcing His return.

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Hope In His Irresistible Power

November 13, 2016By

26th Sunday after Pentecost 2016

We are reminded that prayer for the Holy Souls in Purgatory is important and having Masses offered is the best aid we can give them.  Hope is critical for us despite all the difficulties we face individually and collectively.  The parable of the mustard seed teaches us to have trust in God’s omnipotence which will draw tremendous results from the smallest beginnings.

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The Fool’s Thoughts Are In His Mouth

November 6, 2016By

Day 25th Sunday after Pentecost

The scripture passages remind us not to be guilty of detraction by speaking of the faults of others.  We are told that we may not like another person but we must still love that person in that we fervently desire and pray for their salvation.  Once a person’s reputation is damaged how can it be repaired?  A person who reveals the faults of others without cause is a fool who has his thoughts in his mouth whereas a wise man has his thoughts in his heart.  It is difficult sometimes to keep control of our tongue but this is precisely why we must do it so that the adage “we are Christians by our love” is truly the one we live by.  We must “sow the seeds of love not hate” to use an analogy from today’s gospel, lest we be among the “weeds gathered up to be burned at the harvest.”

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