No Lover But Christ

September 8, 2024By

16th Sunday after Pentecost 2024
Carmelite Perpetual Profession – The perpetual vows are received by the prioress of the convent, but the veil comes from the hands of the priest or bishop.  In taking the black veil the novice shows herself to be a true bride of Christ, so it is fitting that it be given by him who is acting in Persona Christi.  In the early days the veil sheltered the face of a married woman from the gaze of the world, her beauty and innocence being reserved for her spouse alone.  So too with the perpetual vows of a nun.  She is the spouse of Christ and she will accept no other lover.  The nun is called to be generous and giving especially in the service of Christ’s representatives – the priests.  The Carmelites in particular share in a special way in the interior life of the priest.  This life is the means of sanctification and union with God.  It requires great love and confidence in the unfailing assistance of Our Lord.
#20240908

Listen Now

For Those Who Have Lost Their Way

September 6, 2024By

1st Friday Conference September 2024
St. Tarcisius lived during the days of great persecution.  He was ordained an acolyte or deacon as a young man, and was commissioned to care for the Christian prisoners.  While bringing Viaticum to these captives, St. Tarcisius was accosted by a group of pagans.  He gave his life rather than expose the Holy Eucharist to desecration.

Devotion to the Holy Infant of Prague is loved and honored by Our Lord Himself.  Our Lord is not a child now, but this is the humble state in which He first appeared in the world.  The statue depicts the Holy Infant as both God and Man, as well as King of all creation.  His welcoming gentleness seems to radiate out from the Infant Jesus of Prague.  He makes Himself a guide to all those who have lost their way.

Much is said about the accomplishments of St. Pius X, but not enough about his interior life.  His prayer had reached the heights of contemplation and was directed by the Holy Ghost.  He radiated goodness and wanted to comfort everybody, yet fought unwaveringly against the enemies of his spiritual children.
#20240906

Listen Now

Never Stop Loving

August 11, 2024By

12th Sunday after Pentecost 2024
This Epistle shows how God has accommodated Himself to mankind.  Saint Paul reminds us to practice the Spirit of the Law.  Although there were holy men who followed the Old Law, it had no grace in itself.  However, it constantly promised the coming of the New Law, the coming of Jesus Christ.  Today’s gospel reminds us that we must never stop loving.  We must love God, our neighbor, and our enemies, and follow the example of Our Lord and the saints in doing so.
#20240811K

Listen Now

God’s Promises Accomplished

July 5, 2024By

Conference on 1st Friday July 2024
In St. Paul’s instruction to the young bishop, St. Timothy, he emphasized the importance of spiritual reading.  If this instruction is given to a bishop, it applies all the more so to the laity.  Prayer and spiritual reading are necessary for the growth of sanctity.

St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria became a physician in his early life but soon discovered that his calling was not to heal men’s bodies but their souls.  He dedicated his life to the assistance of the dying and the welfare of children, and his great love of the Holy Eucharist led to his institution of the 40 Hours Devotion.

In gratitude for the victory over the forces of Free Masonry, Pope Pius IX elevated the feast of the Visitation.  There were two annunciations in preparation for the coming of the Redeemer – the annunciation of the birth of St. John the Baptist and that of Our Lord.  St. John the Baptist was the herald of Our Lord not only in his words, but in his life.  In the Visitation we see the great love of the Blessed Mother, who cares for even our smallest needs.
#20240705

Listen Now

The Death of Saints and Sinners

June 23, 2024By

5th Sunday after Pentecost 2024
It is not sufficient for those inclined to anger to wait for the moment of temptation before fighting their vice.  To practice the opposite virtues of meekness and fraternal charity is the most effective way of combatting unjust anger.  Those who persecute the faithful, should stir our pity rather than our anger, especially when we remember the judgments in store for them.  Good Catholics do not wish the frightful death of an unrepentant sinner on even their worst enemies.  We ought to receive injuries and insults cheerfully whenever possible and pray that our enemies be converted, so they may die happily in God’s grace.
#20240623B

Listen Now

The Compendium of All Religion

June 7, 2024By

Feast of The Sacred Heart 2024
This feast was created relatively recently in the history of the Church, yet it was foreshadowed even in the Old Testament.  As God took the rib from Adam’s side while he slept to form his great love, Eve, so while Christ slept in death on the Cross the Church was brought forth from the wound in His side.  In this Epistle St. Paul speaks in utter amazement about the love of the Sacred Heart.  The essence of religion is found in the love of God the Son for God the Father, and all our prayers find their value when they are united with this love.  Even if we possess all the faith in the world, we will still not be saved if we do not have love.  Anyone who has loved has known the pain of love.  Can we even imagine the pain of Christ’s Heart when He saw how little He would be loved in return?
#20240607S

Listen Now

Where Are The Martyrs?

May 19, 2024By

Pentecost Sunday 2024
Pentecost is called the birthday of the Catholic Church because, although it was conceived on the Cross, this is the first day the Church manifested herself in the world.  Not only every human being, but all nations and governments are called to convert to Christ.  True Catholics reject the false tenets of religious indifferentism.  The Holy Ghost expresses God’s love for us because He is the Person of Love.  In these days when there is such great cowardice within the Church, we pray for the virtue of fortitude to help us persevere in the face of adversity.  The Holy Ghost will provide us with the strength of the saints and martyrs.
#20240519

Listen Now

Necessity of Priestly Vocations

April 14, 2024By

Good Shepherd Sunday 2024
If we have charity, we desire the salvation of all our neighbors and pray for both our loved ones and our enemies.  The words, “I know mine and mine know me,” refer especially to the clergy.  How could we be saved without the priest – without his prayers and instructions.  Those who do not answer the call to follow their vocation are in grave danger.  We must follow our calling even if we lack the sensible feeling of enthusiasm towards that state of life.  The Blessed Mother loves priests as she loves her own Son.
#20240414S

Listen Now

Attraction to the Divine

March 3, 2024By

3rd Sunday in Lent 2024
As children imitate their parents, so must we imitate God.  When St. Paul in this Epistle says, “how unbecoming of saints,” he is not referring to canonized saints, but all Catholics.  We are all called to sanctity.  We must battle the temptations about which St. Paul speaks by the Rosary, mental prayer, spiritual reading, and devotion to our guardian angels.  Aristotle, judged from reason alone, without the help of Divine Revelation, that “man should be attracted to divine and immortal things as much as he is able, and however little of these things he experiences, he should love them above all inferior substances.”  We should all heed these words.
#20240303S

Listen Now

The Real Battle

February 14, 2024By

Ash Wednesday Evening 2024
Our heart should remain forever in the chapel with Our Lord.  Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are the great practices of Lent.  The words that were spoken by God to Adam and Eve after the Fall are repeated for us today with the distribution of blessed ashes.  We are reminded of our mortality and the passing glory of this world.  If we always remember our mortality, we will certainly avoid sin.  When we fast it not only makes us weak, but it also brings us closer to God.  Christ came to Earth to suffer and die for our sins, and without His suffering we would not be saved.  How much do we owe Him in penance; how much do we owe Him in love?
#20240214S

Listen Now

Dec
26
St. Stephen
0
    0
    Your Cart
    Your cart is emptyReturn to Shop
    To find out your shipping cost , Please proceed to checkout.
    Continue Shopping
    •‎  ‎ Sunday Mass: 9 AM  ‎ • ‎  719.985.4129 ‎  •