We Shall Perish Without Penance

February 22, 2026By

1st Sunday in Lent 2026
We see in this Gospel account, not only how easily Our Lord overcame the devil, but also how we are to respond when faced with trials and temptations.  God permits us to be tempted in those areas where we are the weakest.  Although Christ did not feel the pull to commit sin, He was nevertheless assaulted by the evil spirits.

Christ told us, “Unless you do penance, you shall all perish,” and we make a firm resolution to do penance every time we make the Act of Contrition.  Penance is an infused virtue which inclines a man to hate his sins because they offend God.  We see the example of true penance in St. Mary Magdalene, who bears the title of “penitent.” 

After the fall of Adam, all of creation turned against him.  All evil in the world is the consequence of sin.  We are all bound together through the solidarity of the human race, and we cause others to suffer, directly or indirectly, due to our own sins.  We must first turn away from evil and then we must do good.

The works of penance include the reception of ashes, the admission of our sins, and the acceptance of death as a punishment.  Our other works are prayer, fasting, alms, and study.

In the temptation of Christ, the devil first attempts to cause doubt in God’s help.  The devil attempts to make Christ compromise for power here on Earth.  There is no compromise with evil if we wish to enjoy a clear conscience and the happiness of Heaven.
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In the Steps of Heroes

February 15, 2026By

Quinquagesima Sunday 2026
Reading the lives of the saints reminds us that we too can become saints. Lent is about to begin, and we should be looking for ways to pray, fast, and give. We should go to Mass more often, pray the Rosary daily, and practice spiritual reading to learn about the God we wish to love.
We have been under the guidance of St. Paul, and he has told us that we are called to conquer ourselves. The only thing that counts in the end is sanctifying grace and our sanctification. Charity is the motive for everything we do during this season. This week’s great patriarch is Abraham, the patriarch of faith, because coupled with our charity we must believe. If we live correctly this Lent, we will be able to truly mean what we say when renewing our baptismal vows this Easter.
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Holy Anticipation

December 21, 2025By

Sermon on the 4th Sunday of Advent 2025
Although he is not commemorated when his feast falls on a Sunday, St. Thomas the Apostle is a great saint who should be remembered by all Catholics. Because of his doubt, we were all given a proof of the bodily Resurrection of Our Lord. To this day we repeat his beautiful words: “My Lord and my God!”
This day is all about sorrow for our sins and preparation of the coming of Christ. In the early years of the Church, the Christians would gather in the ancient St. Peter’s Basilica for a vigil Mass. We pray just as the early Catholics that we will remain as faithful as possible during these last days of preparation. After asking for forgiveness for our sins, with a contrite heart, we should not think of ourselves anymore but fix our attention on God alone.

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Thou Art Just, O Lord

October 5, 2025By

Sermon From
17th Sunday After Pentecost 2025
The people of the world do not care for our eternal welfare.  If only one of us hears the message of Our Lord and takes it to heart, he will lift up everyone with him.  At this Mass we ask that God protect us from the defilements of the devil.  When we fall into sin the two consequences are guilt and punishment.  We are freed from guilt through the sacrament of Penance.  The debt of punishment may be removed through good works such as prayer, alms, fasting, as well as the indulgences granted by the Church.  We ask God to help us despise the things of this Earth, so we may rejoice in His heavenly gifts.  We must pray for the enemies of Christ especially during the month dedicated to the Holy Rosary.
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He Has Loved Us to Folly

April 18, 2025By

Good Friday 2025
This is the day on which we put our God to death, and when we sin, we attempt once more to destroy the God Who created us.  The prostration in this ceremony is an expression of our utter nothingness.  Friday was the day on which man was created, and so it is on this day he is redeemed.  God loved us from eternity – loved us to folly.  We are the perpetrators of the Passion, and yet Christ still gave us the grace to be sorry.  The Blessed Mother would have willingly died a million times for our sake, yet she was sustained through the unimaginable pain of soul she endured.  We hope that we might share in our Redeemer’s death today, so that, like the Good Thief, He might remember us also in His kingdom.  The Cross of Christ, along with all His sufferings, will be offered for all eternity to the Trinity for us.  Even if we were saints, we could not fathom how our God could love us in this way.
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The Infinite Worshiper

April 17, 2025By

Holy Thursday 2025
Today we are celebrating the birthday of the Sacrifice of the Mass, the Holy Eucharist, and the priesthood.  We have been warned that we must learn from the sacred things we witness during this time, and it is incumbent upon us to call to mind the details of Our Lord’s life during these last days and moments before His death.  Christ explained to the Apostles at the Last Supper that the bread, wine, and lamb of the Passover meal are all one in Him.  For all priests all Thursdays are a day of retreat in commemoration of this great anniversary of the priesthood.  After the moment of the Incarnation all the prayers of the angels now pass through the Son of God made man.  First, He gave us Himself in the consecration of the bread, then in the consecration of the wine He gave us the Mass, and lastly, He instructed the Apostles to “do in like manner” and in these words He gave us the priesthood.  Today we continue the great feast of love practiced by the early Church and thank God for the birthday of the Eucharistic Christ.
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Impurity and Penance

February 18, 2024By

1st Sunday in Lent 2024
We are particularly the objects of temptation during this season in which God is calling us to sanctity.  During the temptation of Christ in the desert, Our Lord was not drawn to the evil as we are.  St. Margaret of Cortona after discovering her lover’s body, made a complete conversion of life.  The great sin combatted during Lent is impurity.  Many vocations and many marriages are destroyed by pornography, which is now so accessible, even to little children.  Parents will be greatly punished if they are not vigilant in protecting their children from this danger to their souls.  Penance is a virtue that is infused by almighty God, which inclines a soul to hate its sins, because they offend almighty God.  It is up to us to make up for the sins we have committed.
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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?
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From Dust to Dust

February 14, 2024By

Ash Wednesday 2024
The Church reminds us of the fate that awaits all men.  We are mortal and destined to return to dust.  The sacramental of blessed ashes reminds us of our mortality and also the transient nature of worldly glory.  From the triumphant Roman generals to the Byzantine emperors,  a Memento Mori has been a common practice to remind men that if their hearts are set on perishable things, their souls will perish with them.  For good Catholics this is not a season of sorrow but of liberation from the attachments of the world.  We should see every day we are given as a merciful call from God for a conversion of life.
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Catechumen To Neophyte

April 16, 2022By

Easter Vigil 2022
The Easter Vigil is the culmination of our Lenten retreat and especially for the catechumens who are baptized and who will receive their first Holy Communions at the Mass which follows.  The Liturgy brings light to the darkness of the world of sin and sings the praise of Our Lord’s Paschal candle.  Then we are reminded of the miracles around water in preparation for the blessing of the Easter and baptismal waters which lead to the baptism of our catechumens.  The Mass of Christ’s triumphant Resurrection will end with our Easter communion and our union with the Risen Savior.  The newest members of the Church now begin their lives as part of the faithful.
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