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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Sacrament Sunday

July 16, 2017By

6th Sunday after Pentecost 2017

After learning about the saints this week, particularly St. Mary Magdalen, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and the brown scapular were explained.  This Sunday’s Mass is concerned with the Easter Sacraments of Baptism and the Holy Eucharist which are the thoughts found in the Epistle and Gospel.  The Blessed Sacrament will strengthen us throughout life and we must always pray that we be preserved from a sudden and unprovided death in the end.

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Peace Of Conscience

July 17, 2016By

9th Sunday after Pentecost

The life of St. Mary Magdalen is a perfect example of the serenity that comes to anyone who converts from sin and begins to love God above all else.  The Act of Contrition is our way of imitating this holy penitent.  St. Camillus is another case of a beautiful conversion which led him to express his love of God through heroic care for the sick and dying.  Finally, this sermon gives several practical ways of living a spiritual life in today’s world.  It explains the difference between temptation and sin and how to deal with both.  Discerning God’s Will for us requires prayer, reflection and counsel.

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The Thirteenth Apostle

July 19, 2015By

8th Sunday after Pentecost 2015
St. Mary Magdalene is one of the only saints given the title of “Penitent.”  After living a life of great impurity, she became one of the most dedicated disciples of Our Lord.  She is sometimes called “The Thirteenth Apostle” because of the great privileges she received in witnessing the death of Christ and announcing His Resurrection.  When she heard Our Lord call her name after He had risen, she fell at His feet and embraced Him, in a gesture which implied her unwillingness to lose Him again.  She was later arrested and sent off in a boat without oars, so that she and her companions might die at sea, but she was miraculously carried to the south of France where she lived in contemplation of God to the end of her days.
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The Veiling Ceremony

July 20, 2014By

Sermon From
6th Sunday After Pentecost 2014
This week we have the feasts of St. Mary Magdalen, St. James the Greater and St. Anne.  This Mass repeats Holy Week for us and its sacraments of Baptism and the Holy Eucharist.  Today is also the veiling day for one of the Carmelite Sisters which is rare in our world.  The veil is the sign of consecration to Our Lord as the true Spouse of souls and the reserving of the look of the countenance to Him alone.  Do not deny Jesus anything because no amount of generosity on our part can outdo that of the Savior.  All the elements of this beautiful ceremony express the joy, peace, sacrifice and eternal reward that a contemplative vocation embodies.
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Much Is Forgiven Those Who Love

July 21, 2013By

Sermon From The
9th Sunday After Pentecost 2013 – 10am Mass
Tomorrow is the feast of the great penitent, St. Mary Magdalen.  Early in life she fell into sin which made her like Satan.  However, Our Lord’s love frees us from sin.  Some, like the Pharisees, rejected His love.  Even mortal sins can be forgiven by a perfect act of contrition.  The Blessed Mother will help us as St. Mary Magdalen discovered.  Christ praised our saint for choosing the better way in contemplation and giving all as shown by her anointing Him with oil.  After the Epistle and Gospel follows an instruction on the priesthood and religious life which stresses the importance of zeal for the commandments as expressed through the vows so thereby we lay up treasures in heaven.
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The Three Give Testimony

April 7, 2013By

Low Sunday 2013
This Sunday does not have the liturgical splendor of Easter, and it is in comparison to that feast that it is called Low Sunday.  We made promises on Easter to love Christ and to put away the things of the devil.  Although we do not know the true state of our souls, we should examine our spiritual life and ask ourselves if we have made any progress.  The Gospel account of today is a truly exquisite example of God’s mercy.  We are quick to judge the Apostles for their doubts, but how often do we struggle with doubts of our own?  The sacrament of Penance was instituted on the evening of Easter Sunday.  We see Christ in the Holy Eucharist, but we must still believe.  We are told that St. Mary Magdalen was one of the first to see the risen Lord because, despite her sins, she remained faithful at the foot of the Cross.  May we ever retain the effect of the Paschal mysteries in our lives.
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All Is Found in the Cross

March 29, 2013By

Good Friday 2013
We should pray to enter into the mind and Sacred Heart of Our Lord during this ceremony.  In His sufferings, our Redeemer bore the weight of all the sins of all mankind.  Through His unimaginable tortures, He never ceased thinking of us.  He looks down at His loving Mother, St. John, and Mary Magdalen.  He also sees His enemies and the bystanders who mocked Him.  In what group would we be found?  Would we be more faithful than the majority of the Apostles?  Do we have ill will in our hearts for our neighbor, even in the face of this moving scene?  All who have conformed their lives to the Cross will come to Christ with great confidence in the last day.  There is no hope of eternal life except in the Cross of Christ.
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