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.
#20161113M
Quinquagesima Sunday 2016
This Epistle is beloved among all Christians because of its beautiful explanation of charity. We can see from St. Paul’s words how far-removed true charity is from the false notions held today. In our days, great emphasis is placed on giving aid to the poor, which is a truly important work of mercy, but we are seldom reminded that if these works are not done with love of God for His own sake, and love of neighbor for God’s sake, they will profit us nothing. As we approach the season of Lent, we must ask ourselves if we have improved in our spiritual life over the last year. If we have not, then we have great work ahead of us. However, we are not alone. Our Lord and His Mother stand by our side to lift us up.
#20160207K
Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus 2016
St. Telesphorus led the Church as pope soon after it was founded. He is one of the many saints who corroborates the fact that our Church is certainly apostolic. This pope gave us the midnight Mass on Christmas, along with the Gloria chanted at the Mass, and many other practices we have to this day. The star which led the magi was not a natural phenomenon, but clearly a miraculous guide to lead these men to Our Lord. Uttering the Holy Name of Jesus obtains an immediate response from Our Lord. God the Father loves to hear us invoke the Name of His Son. Christ was given this Name at the moment of the circumcision, when He began our redemption by shedding the first drops of His Precious Blood. There is no more lofty prayer than the Name of Jesus.
#20160103S
Sunday within the Octave of Christmas 2015
The liturgy is not only the prayer of the Church, but the prayer of Our Lord Himself. Similar to the sacraments, the liturgy also uses outward signs to confer grace to us. We continually renew the celebration of Christmas throughout the days of its octave. In the composite scene of the Creche Set we are taught many things. In the animals of the nativity scene we see that all of creation is being renewed and once more submits to its Creator. This Mass also looks forward to the end of the Christmas season with its reference to the feast of the Purification. We must not submit to the disinformation which the world propagates against the Nativity and must remain ever confident in Christ’s coming victory.
#20151227M
Gaudete Sunday 2015
The “O” Antiphons are sung every day from December 17th to the feast of the Nativity. Antiphons are citations from Holy Scripture or prayers created by the Church that demonstrate the theme of the day, recited before and after the Psalms of the Divine Office. The “O” Antiphons are very ancient petitions to God the Son in preparation for the end of time. These prayers refer to the Son of God as “Wisdom,” “Adonai,” “Root of Jesse,” and other titles full of meaning. We should pray these antiphons to help us prepare for the real purpose of Christmas.
The liturgical color of rose is a combination of the violet color representing penance and the white representing joy. Penance is found in the hatred of sins and the intention never to commit them again. Mortification is related to penance but refers to acts which put our evil inclinations to death. Through mortification we deny ourselves even those things which are permissible, in order to strengthen us on the road to sanctity. The joy of this day comes from our proximity to the great feast of Christmas, in which we have a foretaste of the everlasting joys of Heaven.
#20151213
Feast of the Immaculate Conception 2015
Although the Blessed Mother was given the unique privilege of being preserved from Original Sin, this does not mean that she was not redeemed. It simply means that she was redeemed in a more perfect, anticipatory manner. She was conceived with an initial plenitude of grace, yet her share in God’s life continually increased in her until she was taken back to Heaven. Adam was made God-like with the gift of Sanctifying Grace and mankind was meant to remain in perfect harmony with the Divine. Because Adam was made master of creation, he was given a sign to show his subordination to God – the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. The devil brought evil into the world by convincing Eve to tempt Adam. We see in the book of Genesis how quick God is to offer mercy after we fall. Immediately after the sin of Adam was revealed, God promised a Savior who would come through the new Eve, the woman never touched by sin.
#20151208
At the beginning of the new liturgical year, we are reminded of many great truths. Advent is a time of preparation. God had His Chosen People wait in anticipation of His first coming in mercy, and He has His chosen people once again waiting for His return in glory. Our Lord, as the great Pontiff, bridges the gap between the Creator and the creature, between the infinite and the finite, in His Incarnation. With the beginning of the liturgical year, our journey to become more Christlike is renewed once more. This progressive incorporation into Christ can only be accomplished through participation in the Mass, devout reception of the sacraments, and unceasing prayer.
#20151129M
All Souls Day 2015
Very few in our day remember the souls of the departed because of the false belief in the universal salvation of all men. In assisting the suffering souls in Purgatory, we gain friends who will intercede for us. We must never waste the time we have been given, because the way we choose to spend our moments on earth will make the difference between an eternity in Heaven or Hell. Many souls can be released on this day, especially through the intercession of the Virgin Mary. All our sins have a debt of punishment attached to them. If we pray our penance well, we could remit our entire debt of temporal punishment, but if we die with these dispositions of soul, we would rather throw ourselves into the punishments of Purgatory than remain in the presence of the infinitely perfect God.
#20151102
All Saints Day 2015
Today we rejoice because this is the day on which the Church celebrates all her children who have overcome the world. In the process by which a saint is canonized, it must be determined that they expressed nothing contrary to faith and morals, and that they practiced virtue in a heroic way. After this, the Church waits for God to affirm the individual’s sanctity by miracles attributed to their intercession. It is not enough for a Catholic merely to recite the Creed, he must believe it and practice it. For every walk of life, there is a saint who has lived it as an example to follow. Today we adore God as we honor His saints, and desire to make the little sacrifices necessary on our road to holiness.
#20151101M
Feast of Christ the King 2015
All Saints Day celebrates the canonized saints as well as the unknown saints in Heaven. We are all called to imitate their virtues in our lifelong pursuit of sanctity. The process of progressive incorporation into Christ mirrors the development of our natural lives. We show reverence to the images of the saints because of what they represent and because of the favors that are given to us through them.
Catholics do not believe in freedom of religion or religious indifference but rather religious toleration. Pope Pius XI wrote the encyclical Quas Primas in which he denounced men’s refusal to recognize God’s rights over all nations. He instituted this feast to assert the truth of Christ’s royal power. Catholics know that they belong to their Divine King, Who is God and Master of all.
#20151026
We absolutely guarantee that your order will be transmitted securely. All transactions are processed through Authorize.Net and transmitted securely using SSL encryption signed by a GlobalSign128-bit certificate.
