The Transfiguring Theophany

August 6, 2021By

Feast Of The Transfiguration 2021
The treasures of the basilica of St. Mary Major are described because of the feast of Our Lady of the Snow.  Also, St. Sixtus and his companions suffered martyrdom today and the martyrdom of St. Lawrence was prophesied.  Today’s feast of the Transfiguration recalls that moment in Our Lord’s life when He prepared Saints Peter, James and John for what was ahead concerning His Passion and Death by fortifying them with a glimpse of His divinity.  The importance of this  event is brought home to us by its being recorded in all the Gospels and St. Peter mentions it in his epistle as well.  The Blessed Trinity manifested Itself by the Father’s Voice commanding obedience to His Son Whose humanity became as bright as the sun and by the Cloud which showed the Holy Ghost.  The Transfiguration was a chance for Our Lord to rest and to strengthen the Apostles.  This feast also commemorates the miraculous victory in 1456 over the infidels attacking Europe.
#20210806

Listen Now

Humility And Sanctity

August 1, 2021By

10th Sunday After Pentecost 2021
This is Humility Sunday.  Our Lord in the Gospel states clearly that he who humbles himself will be exalted.  It is the fundamental virtue for holiness.  The Epistle lists the charismatic graces that were so prevalent in the days of persecution because the early Christians needed these helps in facing martyrdom.  As the Church came out of the catacombs it was already fully developed as could be seen at the Council of Nicea.  From the beginning the Resurrection was preached and sanctity was evident in the lives of the faithful.  We can do the same but we must pray.  Saints Oswald and Dominic are wonderful examples for us and their feasts are this week.
#20210801S

Listen Now

Built On A Rock

June 29, 2021By

Feast Of Saints Peter & Paul 2021
This feast honors Saints Peter and Paul who were martyred in Rome on this day.  Today concentrates on St. Peter and tomorrow is dedicated to St. Paul.  The Introit and Epistle show us the deliverance of St. Peter from Herod at the last moment and the Gospel etc. point to St. Peter’s special mission from Our Lord as the rock upon which He will build His Church.  Christ gave Simon Bar-Jona training that tempered his natural impetuosity and made him into the humble and wise visible head of His Mystical Body.  We can rest assured that St. Peter continues to safeguard the Church and its members today and will see that we are safe from harm and the machinations of the evil one.  St. Peter will also teach us in our personal lives how to overcome our own vices to become true followers of Our Lord.
#20210629M

Listen Now

Thou Art My Hope

June 13, 2021By

3rd Sunday After Pentecost 2021
This Mass and the recent feast days are about union with God, His Love and His Mercy. The earliest depiction of Our Lord in the catacombs is taken from today’s parable of the Shepherd carrying the lost sheep on His shoulders.  This season after Pentecost is one of hope and shown by the liturgical color of green.  The devil tries to discourage us and drag us into despair or inflate us with presumption.  We must maintain our humility in the face of these diabolical attacks and will thereby receive mercy proportionately.  Always have confidence in the Sacred Heart and never in the world.
#20210613B

Listen Now

Ticket To Heaven

May 13, 2021By

The dogma of the Faith that teaches that Our Lord ascended into heaven today was revealed to the apostles by the two angels as described in St. Luke’s Acts of the Apostles.  On their return to Jerusalem they remained there as instructed to await the coming of the Holy Ghost.  They gathered around the Blessed Mother in prayer and we imitate this first novena with our own starting this Friday.  The Ascension is the third critical element to our spiritual life.  Our Lord’s Death, Resurrection and Ascension are all essential in the plan of redemption.  We must die with Christ so we can rise to life and go to heaven.  The Ascension strengthens our faith and hope because our head is in heaven and we as members of His Mystical Body will be there one day.
#20210513K

Listen Now

Faith Without Works Is Dead

May 9, 2021By

This Thursday is the Ascension and then we begin the novena to the Holy Ghost.  We also have several important saints this week.  St. James has been a prominent apostle during Paschal time through his epistle and today he teaches that our love of God and neighbor is shown by the practice of good works.  The Gospel is another instruction to the apostles in preparation for Our Lord’s departure and His sending of the Holy Ghost.  Today is also Mother’s Day and a time for us to honor our own mothers and especially our heavenly mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary.
#20210509K

Listen Now

Good Example

April 25, 2021By

Third Sunday after Easter 2021
Today is also the feast of St. Mark the Evangelist and the day for the Greater Litanies, which are more ancient than St. Mark’s day.  St. Peter in the Epistle is asking the faithful to practice the Faith and thereby be models for non-Catholics and poor Catholics.  He reminds us of practicing the virtue of obedience before God and our neighbors.  Our good example and brief words, not preaching, convert others.  The story of a priest simply asking a girl “not to hurt God” is a wonderful case in point.
#20210425S

Listen Now

Gospel Of Faith

April 11, 2021By

Low Sunday 2021
The Easter Octave is completed today and our recently baptized neophytes put aside their baptismal garments and now begin the life as one of the faithful.  This is particularly done by following Our Lord in the Liturgy in our prayers. The Paschal candle is Christ with us now and lights the way in appreciating His Resurrection.  The Faith is all important and essential.  Today’s Gospel teaches us how we must approach this gift with humility knowing we cannot achieve this by our own power.  This theological virtue which has God as source and goal will lead us to heaven one day.
#20210411B

Listen Now

Guardians Of The Liturgy

April 4, 2021By

Easter Sunday 2021
We gather at the stational Church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary because she was the first to see her Risen Son Who truly died and rose again.  At this Mass we join with those from last night’s vigil in renewing our baptismal promises and the renouncing of Satan and all his works and pomps.  This Mass is mystic and the Introit expresses the eternal unity of the Blessed Trinity and much more.  The priests and those preparing for the priesthood must heed the last prophetic reading from the vigil last night which carries a warning for those commissioned to protect Our Lord in the Mass and sacred liturgy.  Happy Easter.
#20210404M

Listen Now

Easter Vigil Baptisms

April 3, 2021By

Easter Vigil 2021
During this Vigil in anticipation of Our Lord’s Resurrection at midnight we begin outside in the darkness by lighting the Paschal Fire.  Then we carry the Light of the World in through His Candle which is praised in the exquisite praeconium called the Exsultet.  Prophetic readings and the Litany of the Saints ready us for the making of the baptismal water and finally the solemn Baptism of our catechumens.  Mass begins and we join with the neophytes as they receive their first Holy Communions.  Happy Easter.
#20210403K

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 ‎  •