5th Week of Easter 2026 - Wednesday (School Mass) - Belly Buttons, Vines & Branches

 

Why do you have a belly button? Do you know?

Your belly button is actually a scar, marking the spot where you were connected to your mother by a cord—called an umbilical cord, while you were still a tiny baby growing in your mother’s womb. Around the time you were 5-7 weeks old in your mother’s belly, so 33 weeks before you drew your first breath in the world, when you were just half an inch big, you were connected to her by this cord at your belly button. And through that cord, your tiny little body received from your mother oxygen, nutrients, blood. You were completely dependent upon her for life.

So make sure you thank your mother and thank God for the gift of your mother this weekend on Mother’s Day.

In the Gospel today, Jesus uses an image very much like that cord that connects us to our mothers for life. He says, “I am the vine, you are the branches… Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me.” Just like you could not have physical life as a little baby unless you remained connected to your mother, you cannot have spiritual life unless you remain connected to Jesus.

“Without me, you can do nothing” he says.

Now, that does not mean you cannot do your math homework without Jesus, or eat your lunch without Jesus, or tie your shoes without Jesus. He means that without him, we cannot have the kind of life that matters most: the life of grace, the life of holiness that leads to heaven. We cannot become the saints God created us to be unless we remain connected to him.

And how do we stay connected to Jesus?

We stay connected to him by prayer. Every time you pray, even very simply, you are turning your heart toward Jesus.
We stay connected to him by listening to his word. When we hear Scripture, when we learn about the faith, when we pay attention at Mass, Jesus is speaking to us.
We stay connected to him by obeying him. When we choose honesty instead of lying, kindness instead of cruelty, purity instead of sin, forgiveness instead of revenge, we remain in his love.
And of course, we stay connected to him through the sacraments, especially the Holy Eucharist, where Jesus gives us his very self, and Confession, where we become reconnected to Jesus when we sever ourselves from his life through serious sin.

A branch cut off from the vine may look fine for a little while. It may still look green. But it is already dying, because it is no longer connected to its source of life. That can happen to us spiritually too. A person can look fine on the outside, but if he stops praying, stops listening to God, stops going to Mass, stops receiving the sacraments, and chooses sin again and again, then the life of Jesus in the soul begins to weaken.

But the good news is that Jesus wants us close to him. He wants us to have his life in us. He wants us to bear fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and holiness.

So today Jesus gives us a very important reminder: stay connected to me. Remain in me. Do not drift away. Do not allow yourself to live without me, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

 

Trusting in Jesus Christ, the true vine, from whom we receive the life of grace, let us bring our prayers before our heavenly Father.

For the Church:  that she may always remain deeply united to Christ and help all people grow in faith, holiness, and love, let us pray to the Lord.

In anticipation of Mother’s Day, we pray for mothers, grandmothers, and all women who care for children with love and sacrifice: that God may bless them, strengthen them, and reward them for the gift of their love, let us pray to the Lord.

For our academy community: that our students, teachers, and families may stay connected to Jesus through prayer, obedience, and the sacraments, let us pray to the Lord.

For those who feel far from God: that they may hear the voice of Jesus calling them back to remain in his love and receive the life only he can give, let us pray to the Lord.

For the sick, the lonely, and those who are suffering: that remaining close to Christ, they may receive strength, peace, and hope, let us pray to the Lord.

For our beloved dead: that they may live forever with Christ in the joy of heaven, let us pray to the Lord.

Heavenly Father, you give us life through your Son, Jesus Christ, the true vine. Hear these prayers and keep us always united to him, who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.

 

5th Week of Easter 2026 - Monday - He will teach you

 

Already we near the end of the Easter Season and the great feast of Pentecost. Our Scripture readings have even begun to signal Pentecost by mention of the Holy Spirit. In the Gospel today, the Lord announces, “The Advocate, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name—he will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I told you.” The Holy Spirit will teach what Jesus taught in the Father’s name—for Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are teachers.

It is clear from Scripture that God is teacher—he bestows knowledge and wisdom on us that we may live in righteousness. In the Psalms, God says, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go” Isaiah prophesied about a time when the peoples of the earth cry out, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, To the house of the God of Jacob; That He may teach us concerning His ways.”

It is clear from the beginning of his ministry that Jesus is a teacher. He teaches his followers in the ways of holiness and beatitude, he teaches about the kingdom of God, and prayer, and how to attain heaven.

The Holy Spirit, too, is a teacher. How so?

First, the Holy Spirit teaches by guiding the Apostles and their successors into the fullness of truth. The Spirit does not bring a new Gospel, but ensures that the Church never loses, distorts, or forgets what Christ revealed.

Second, the Holy Spirit teaches through the Church’s Magisterium. Jesus entrusted his teaching authority to the Apostles, and the Spirit preserves that authority from error in matters of faith and morals. When the Church clarifies a doctrine, when a council gathers, when the Pope teaches definitively, Catholics believe the Holy Spirit is guiding that process. The Spirit ensures that the Church remains the “pillar and foundation of truth,” not because of human brilliance, but because God himself is the teacher.

Third, the Holy Spirit teaches through Scripture. The same Spirit who inspired the sacred authors continues to open the Scriptures for us. When a passage suddenly speaks to our hearts, when a line of the Gospel convicts us, consoles us, or challenges us—that is the Holy Spirit acting as teacher.

Fourth, the Holy Spirit teaches in the hearts of believers. Saint Paul says, “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit.” The Spirit forms our conscience, stirs our desire for holiness, and gives us insight into how to live the Gospel in the concrete circumstances of our lives. Whenever we experience a nudge toward goodness, a conviction to repent, or a deeper understanding of God’s love, the Spirit is teaching us from within.

Finally, the Holy Spirit teaches through the gifts he pours out on the Church—wisdom, understanding, counsel, knowledge, fortitude, piety, and fear of the Lord. Through these gifts, the Spirit shapes us into disciples, who are also called to instruct the ignorant, counsel the doubtful, correct the sinner, and comfort the afflicted.

As Pentecost approaches, let us pray for an openness to being taught by the Holy Spirit: for ourselves, the whole church, and the whole world, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

 - - - - 

As we prepare to celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, let us open our hearts to God’s grace and ask for the Spirit’s guidance in our lives.

For all Christians, that we may remain open to the Spirit’s instruction, constantly growing in our understanding and practice of the faith, let us pray to the Lord.

For all who are struggling with confusion, doubt, or temptation, that the Holy Spirit may remind them of Christ’s nearness and strengthen them in holiness and hope, let us pray to the Lord.

For those who teach the faith—parents, catechists, clergy, and educators, that the Holy Spirit may guide their words and example, helping others to encounter Christ through them, let us pray to the Lord.

For the sick, the dying, and those in need of comfort, that the Holy Spirit, the Consoler, may fill them with peace and strength, let us pray to the Lord.

For our beloved dead, that the Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead may bring them into eternal life, let us pray to the Lord.

Father, send your Holy Spirit into our hearts to teach us, remind us, and transform us in the image of your Son. Hear the prayers we offer today and grant us the grace to live as faithful disciples of Jesus. Through the same Christ our Lord.

5th Sunday of Easter 2026 - Jesus is the Way

 

“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”  Imagine the apostles hearing these words for the first time.

For centuries, the apostles and their Jewish ancestors had been praying to God in the psalms “Teach me your way, O Lord” and here Jesus was saying, “I AM the way.” They like their ancestors had been imploring God in their daily and weekly prayers, “Teach me your decrees” that “I may walk in your truth,” and here Jesus was saying, “I AM the Truth.” They had been begging God in times of difficulty and oppression, “Show me the path of life,” and here Jesus was claiming, “I AM the Life.”

“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. In this profound declaration, Jesus declared to the apostles to be the answer to their deepest and most insistent longing for God. Yet, these desires and prayers were not exclusively Jewish, of course. They are deepest religious desires every human soul.

I’d like to focus today on that first declaration, where Jesus says, “I am the Way.”

Have you ever lost your way? Many of us carry around sophisticated Global Positioning Devices and satellite-connected maps with us wherever we go at this point, to avoid losing our way, and showing us the way to our destination because being lost is destabilizing, terrifying. Many people avoid traveling because losing ones way in strange places with strange people is terribly unsettling.

But have you ever lost your way, in life? The loss of a job, the death of a spouse, a financial setback, perhaps even retirement, can lead us to question: “what’s the way forward. What am I to do now?” Being at the crossroads of life can be overwhelming. Seniors in high school often feel this: do I go to college, do I get a job, do I join military service, or volunteer with the peace corp, or do some missionary work. “Where do I go?”

Sometimes the way forward is unclear among the many ethical or moral decisions we face: what is the right thing to do? What is the right thing to do to be happy. What is the right thing to extend my health. What is the right thing to do with my money, with my time? Here we often face real temptation: a choice to follow the way of the world or the way of God—and the way of God is not always easy.

Well, what does it matter if I follow the right way? Well, for thousands and thousands of years, in nearly every culture, we find that the an awareness of the fact that the way that we follow in this life has eternal consequences.  What is the way the leads to the best possible afterlife. If I want to avoid eternal punishment, if I want to live in a way in which I can rejoin my ancestors, what is the way to the best possible outcome of my existence?

And as Christians, we believe we have the answer to all of these questions: Jesus is The Way. What is the best way to live. Look at Him, follow Him, listen to Him, learn from Him. What is the best way to endure your trials: Jesus Christ. What is the way to live forever and be happy in eternity? Jesus Christ.

His prayer life, his obedience to the father, his teachings, his example, his outpouring of his life, his sacraments, his Church, his Most Sacred Heart, his embrace of the sinner, his mercy, He has the words of everlasting life. “No one comes to the Father, except through Him.”

Now, many people don’t believe this simple truth. They think they can be happy without him. Why do people choose not to follow Jesus? His Way is not always easy, it’s certainly not popular. It’s a blow to one’s ego to admit you need God. Americans especially, we like to pretend we are so self-reliant, that we can build a life on our own. We don’t need anyone telling us how to live, “I’ll decide my own way” thank you very much.

But we know that not every path leads to happiness, not every avenue leads to human flourishing. Just look at our world. Look at what happens when God is replaced with drugs, with promiscuity, with the pursuit of internet celebrity, with wealth and power at the expense of the happiness and well-being of others. A life centered on the false gods of the world will always result in exhaustion and unhappiness—restless, lonely, confused, addicted, enslaved.

Sin always makes grand promises it cannot keep. It says, “Choose yourself, indulge yourself, define yourself apart from God, and you will be happy.” But it never works. A life built apart from God eventually collapses because the human heart was not made for lesser gods. It was made for the living God.

Which is why Christians proudly profess that we should not settle for anything less than the best way to live: Jesus Christ.

And notice: Jesus does not merely say, “I will show you the way,” though he does. He says, “I am the Way.” The Christian life is not simply about following a list of rules or adopting a philosophy. It is about communion with a person. To walk the right path is to walk with him. To remain on the right road is to remain close to him. We lose our way when we drift from Him. We wander in darkness when we separate from Him.

Are you following the Way? In your priorities? In your use of your time? In your moral decisions? In your speech? In the way that you treat people? In the way you handle suffering, frustration, and disappointment?

How do you know if you are? Do you seek him? Do you include Him? Do you start every endeavor and end every endeavor pleading his help and thanking Him for his help? Do you draw near to Him? Are you still open to learning from Him? Are you growing in his grace? Are you rooting out the attitudes and behaviors that are inconsistent with His life? Are you being refreshed by Him near the restful waters of prayer every day? Are you seeking to decrease that He may increase? Are you committed to leading others to Him, so that they may too, walk in his ways?

Today the Lord places before us once again this beautiful, comforting, but demanding truth: “I am the Way.” If you want to know how to live, look to him. If you want to know how to love, look to him. If you want to know how to suffer, look to him. If you want to know how to be saved, look to him.

And so let us ask for the grace not merely to admire the way from a distance, but to walk it. Lord Jesus Christ, you are the Way. Lead us. Keep us close to you. Do not let us wander. Bring us through the confusion of this life into the joy of the Father’s house for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

April 29 2026 - St. Catherine of Siena (school mass) - The Courage to Encourage

 

Today, the Church celebrates a very courageous saint—St. Catherine from the Italian town of Siena.

St. Catherine was a member of a religious order called the Order of Preachers—the order founded by St. Dominic—also called the Dominicans.

St. Catherine possessed many gifts and virtues. She had a powerful intellect, she was a prolific writer, and for her great contributions to Church teaching has been named a Doctor of the Church. Catherin wasn’t just an intellectual though, she engaged in many great works of charity—she nursed the sick and visited prisoners in prison.

She also had many mystical, miraculous aspects of her life: she received the holy stigmata—the very wounds of Jesus’ crucifixion--on her hands, feet, and heart. She also had what is called the mystical gift of tears, she would weep in union with Jesus for the souls of sinners. For many years, she ate nothing, except, once a day she would receive the Lord’s body and blood—the eucharist.

Though she died in the year 1380—almost 650 years ago—her body has not deteriorated, but remains incorrupt. I’ve seen it, multiple time. I always go to visit the body of St. Catherine when I am in Rome.

But, I’d like to share with you today about St. Catherine’s courage. In the 1300s the King of France exerted tremendous political pressure upon the Church and convinced the Pope to move his residence from Rome to a city in France called Avignon.

So, instead of living in Rome, the place of Peter’s martyrdom, the Popes from 1309 to 1377 lived in France, during which time there was great turmoil in Europe—factions and violent hostility.

Each day, holy St. Catherine would make a pilgrimage to St. Peter basilica to pray for the Pope’s return to Rome, she wrote to the Pope and pleaded for his return. For 20 years, she prayed and wrote, until in the summer of 1376, she went to Avignon herself, and convinced Pope Gregory XI to return Rome despite the pressure of the French Cardinals who elected him.

“I beg of you, on behalf of Christ crucified, that you be not a timorous child but manly” she said…to the Pope. “Be a man”. Stand up and do what is right for the good of the Church.

It takes a lot of Courage to say something like that to the Pope, but she did so out of love for the Church, love for peace, love for souls. Catherine was not in competition with the Pope, she wanted Him to become the best man he could be. We must have the Courage to Encourage others.

Girls, ladies, please be like St. Catherine, encouraging the men in your life to be the best men they can be. And all of us, need to be like St. Catherine, who encourage each other to do what is right, even when we face earthly pressure. May each of us cultivate courage born of true holiness, in love of Jesus Christ, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

- - - - - 

Filled with Paschal joy, let us turn earnestly to God, to graciously hear our prayers and supplications.

 

For the shepherds of our souls, the pope, bishops, and clergy, that they may govern wisely the flock entrusted to them by the Good Shepherd, leading the Church in the increase in faith, hope, and love.

 

For the whole world, that it may truly know the peace of the Risen Christ.

 

That our parish may bear witness with great confidence to the Resurrection of Christ, and that the newly initiated hold fast to the faith they have received.

 

For our brothers and sisters who suffer, that their sorrow may be turned to gladness through the Christian faith.

 

That all of our beloved dead and all the souls in purgatory may come to the glory of the Resurrection.

 

O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the desires of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our lord.

4th Sunday of Easter 2026 - "I am the Gate"

 

Since the reform of the liturgical calendar we have often refered to the 4^th Sunday of Easter as Good Shepherd Sunday. For. two out of three years of the Lectionary cycle on the 4^th Sunday of Easter we read Gospel passage for Our Lord claiming “I am the Good Shepherd”.

Like a shepherd, the Lord watches over, feeds, and cares for his flock. The good shepherds of Scripture patiently care for their flocks, leading them to safe pastures, pulling them out of thorn bushes when they foolishly stray into trouble. Jesus is the Good Shepherd—the best shepherd.

But we didn’t hear this Gospel passage this year, did we? For, every third year, on Good Shepherd Sunday, we hear a slightly different message, a slightly different image. “I am the gate for the sheep,” He says.

Perhaps not as intimate of an image as a loving tender shepherd, but certainly an important one. What is the purpose of a gate? For one, the gate is an entry point. “I am the gate, whoever enters through me will be saved.” Our Lord is the gate to salvation. He is the open door through which we enter into salvation and the good pasture of the Church and the life of God.

Back in 2011, in the seventh and final full year of his pontificate, Pope Benedict XVI ushered in a special “Year of Faith” with a document called “Porta Fidei” the door of faith, the gate of faith. The gate of faith, the holy Father writes, “is always open for us, ushering us into the life of communion with God and offering entry into his Church. It is possible to cross that threshold when the word of God is proclaimed and the heart allows itself to be shaped by transforming grace. To enter through that door is to set out on a journey that lasts a lifetime. It begins with baptism (cf. Rom 6:4), through which we can address God as Father, and it ends with the passage through death to eternal life, fruit of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, whose will it was, by the gift of the Holy Spirit, to draw those who believe in him into his own glory (cf. Jn 17:22).”

The gate of faith is a powerful image reminding us of our ultimate goal. Yes, the Lord loves us and cares for us in this life, but the purpose of faith, the goal of faith, the destination of our faith, is heaven. And it is through Christ, the Gate, the way, the truth, the life, that leads to heaven, "one one comes to the Father except through" Him. 

There is another purpose for gates alluded to by the Lord in the Gospel today. Gates keep-out robbers and thieves. Gates guard us, they protect us from those who wish us ill.

In the spiritual life, there are certainly those who wish us ill. The world, the devil, and the flesh, lead us away from Communion with God—away from the peace and joy of the Spirit. When Jesus Christ is the gate of your life, he protects you from all that would rob us of the peace and joy and life of God.

The truth of Jesus Christ enables us to discern right from wrong—fallacy from veracity—when we come across it in the media, in propaganda, or from false shepherds. The truth of Jesus Christ protects us from the lies and heresies promulgated by the devil which bring ruin to souls and division in the Church. When Christ the Truth is our gate, all ideas and opinions must pass through Him—and if they don’t pass the Truth-Test, they can be rejected. This includes temptation—temptation is the lie that we’ll be happy if we sin. But when Christ is our Gate—the empty promise of sin which brings us ruin can be identified and rejected.

When we do fall into temptation, there wasn’t a problem with the gate, it’s us who ignore all of the warning signs, and complicitly welcome those robbers and thieves into our souls.

The Christian life entails strengthening our relationship with Christ the Gate—developing a Christian filter for our choices and words.

Is Christ the gate of your speech? The words you use, the conversation you engage in, the texts you send, the internet posts you make?

We commit sins of speech when we fail to make Christ the Gate of our speech. The Catechism lists a number of sins of speech and communication, which are often sins against the 8^th commandment. The sin of bearing false witness and perjury. The sin of rash judgment, which assumes the moral fault of a neighbor without sufficient foundation; The sin of calumny involves spreading lies. The sin of detraction is when we disclose another's faults and failing to persons who did not know them and have no business knowing them, without objectively valid reasons. In other words, damaging a person’s good name without sufficient reason, even if told in confidence.

Due to social media, we see detraction and calumny, lies and unverified facts flowing like never before. Cyber-bullying, too, is rampant in many social groups, and has terrible effects on mental health for our young people. Many Catholics have fallen into the lax discipline over speech that plagues our modern world. Carelessness, cruelty, rash judgment, impatient grumbling and complaining.

The Christian life entails, putting on the mind of Christ, putting on the heart of Christ, and putting on the mouth of Christ, saying only what builds others up, leads them to truth, what is for the sake of the Gospel. Is it true, is it kind, is it necessary? “Is it true, is it kind, is it necessary”? Every word, every thought, every internet post, every text message, needs to pass through that filter. It sounds like a lot of work, but as you develop this filter, this virtue, it becomes easier and easier.

One of my favorite parts of the Mass, is right before the proclamation of the Gospel, we sign ourselves, don’t we, on our foreheads, our mouths, and on our breast, a simple, yet profound gesture. I was always taught to offer a little prayer at that point, to say something like, May the Lord be always in my thoughts, on my lips, and in my heart. We pray, at the point in the mass, that the gates of our minds might be opened to received and contemplate and understand the Gospel message, that our lips might be open to later go out and proclaim the Gospel message, and that our hearts might be open to love and live the Gospel message. 

So, may the Lord preside over our thoughts, words, and deeds this day. May nothing which is impure pass through our eyes or ears or through our lips or into our heart. May he guard us from the corruption of this generation and lead us to eternal life, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

3rd Week of Easter 2026 - Friday - Eucharist and Supernatural Life

Last week, remember, we read through the Lord’s conversation with Nicodemus in which Jesus speaks of supernatural and spiritual rebirth. Through baptism, we are born again through water and the spirit. What is spiritually dead in us is brought to new life, and not only that, but God’s supernatural grace raises—elevates—our human nature. The intellect is elevated by grace to know God not merely by natural reason, but by faith. The will is elevated enabling us to love God with charity, which is far beyond merely natural love or moral goodwill. 

Through baptismal grace we share in God’s own life and are now capable of acting in a way ordered to the ultimate supernatural end: union with the Trinity. Human nature, left to itself, cannot attain the beatific vision. No amount of natural intelligence, moral discipline, or sheer human effort can reach it. But through baptism, our earthly life can culminate in heavenly life.

But, in the Gospel today, Jesus explains that for the supernatural life to be sustained in us, we must eat supernatural food. “Unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood, you do not have life within you.” The Eucharist sustains the supernatural life begun at baptism. 

When the body is deprived of food it languishes and dies; and it is the same with the soul. The Eucharist does not merely symbolize supernatural life; it actually communicates it, because it is not ordinary bread but the living Christ himself. “I am the bread of life”, says the Lord. 

The Eucharist nurtures the deepening of supernatural life. Every time we receive the Eucharist, we are offered a greater share and participation in the life of God, for the Eucharist strengthens the theological virtues. It nourishes faith, because in Holy Communion we entrust ourselves to Christ’s word and presence even when hidden under sacramental signs. It nourishes hope, because the Eucharist is a pledge of future glory, a foretaste of heaven. It nourishes charity, because the life of God is one of love—self-sacrificial love, and in the Eucharist, we become what we receive, says St. Augustine—the very Christ who gave himself as a ransom for many.

Like medicine that strengthens the body weakened by illness, the Eucharist strengthens the soul against spiritual disease—enabling us to withstand the assaults, temptations, and lies of the enemy.

 St. Cyprian, writing in the early third century, says Christians imprisoned and tortured for the name of Christ received from the hand of the Bishop the sacrament of the Body and Blood of the Lord, so they would not yield to a Roman prosecutor and deny their faith. Before going on trial, they pleaded, “Give me Communion, so I’ll be able to resist.” From the very beginning of the Church, this was the reason Holy Communion was brought to the Christians in prison, that they could be strengthened in their persecution and temptations.

Whenever you present yourself to receive the Eucharist, do so with openness to be strengthened in the Christian life, fortified against sin, desiring to grow in the life of the spirit, in faith, hope, and charity, in the gifts and fruits of the Spirit, for the mission of the Church, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls. 

- - - -  

By offering His Body and Blood for us, Jesus reconciles the world to the Father. Therefore, we present our needs to God with confidence.

That the outpouring of charity in Christ’s Eucharistic Self-Sacrifice will become manifest in all of the Church’s activity in the world, in all marriages, in all of our business relations, family relationships and  daily encounters, in our care for the downtrodden and most vulnerable; among friends, strangers, and enemies.  

For Catholics who have fallen away from the Eucharist, that they may know the grace of sincere repentance and return to the table of the Lord.

That all of God's children may have sufficient bread for their physical life and the Bread of Life for their spiritual life. 

That those who have died may share the eternal life that Jesus promised to those who feed on the Bread from Heaven. 

Gracious Father, hear our prayers. Nourish us continually with your Son’s presence in the Eucharist, and grant us the grace to lead others to this divine source of eternal life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

3rd Week of Easter 2026 - Wednesday (School Mass) - We belong to God

 

It seems strange that during this joyous easter season, we have these readings from the Acts of the Apostles about how the Church was being persecuted. Last week, we heard of how the apostles were thrown into jail for their Christian faith. Yesterday, the reading recounted the death of the first martyr, the deacon Stephen. Today’s reading picks up right where yesterday’s left off. With the death of Stephen a severe persecution broke out in Jerusalem, and Christians were scattered to the country side.

Why do we focus on imprisonment, persecution, suffering, and martyrdom during this season of joy?

The Church reads from the Acts of the Apostles during Easter because it contains the testimony of how ordinary, frightened disciples became courageous because they knew that their redeemer lived. We see how the first Christians were able to keep going, keep loving, keep preaching, keep serving, even when life became difficult because Jesus Christ was risen from the dead, and they believed that preaching and serving the Gospel was the most important thing they could do for themselves and others.

These stories are so powerful for us because they help us to be courageous and to serve God when it is difficult as well. I can’t promise you that being a follower of Jesus will help you overcome a fear of heights, or spiders, or other phobias. But I can promise you that as you seek to follow Jesus more and more faithfully, you will become a more courageous, generous, loving, peaceful, wise Christian. As you begin to hand your minds and your hearts over to Jesus more and more, he will help you overcome temptation, he will give you strength of spirit, he will help you carry the burdens of your life—including the burdens that other people do not even know about—troubles at home, grief, loneliness, or social pressure.

In the Gospel, Jesus says, I will not lose anyone who comes to me, but I will raise them up on the last day. Here was another powerful reminder to the early church. Following Jesus means that you belong to God. And God does not lose things, like we do.

The early Christians were scattered by persecution, but wherever they went, Jesus was with them. So too with us. Whenever we experience the pressure and hatred of the world for being Christian, God is with us. In whatever true challenges we face, God is with us, helping us to do his will, to walk in his light, to witness to the goodness and truth of Jesus Christ.

Trust in the Lord, now and always, for Jesus Christ is truly risen from the dead, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

- - - - -  

Trusting in the risen Jesus, who conquered death and continues to guide His Church, let us bring our prayers before our heavenly Father.

For the Church throughout the world:  that, like the Apostles, she may boldly and faithfully preach Jesus Christ risen from the dead, and that Jesus, the Bread of Life, may be her strength in every season, let us pray to the Lord.

For Christians throughout the world, especially those who are mocked, threatened, or persecuted for their faith:  that the Lord may protect them and fill them with the same courage he gave to the Apostles, let us pray to the Lord.

That the grace of Easter may deeply transform our lives, strengthen marriages, renew our families, increase vocations and sanctify the clergy, make us attentive to the poor and helpless, bring peace to the world, and bless us in carrying out the mission of the Gospel.  Let us pray to the Lord.

For Corpus Christi Academy:  that our students, teachers, and families may let the power of Jesus’ resurrection shape the way we think, speak, and live each day, let us pray to the Lord.

For those who are sick, suffering, or discouraged:  that the victory of the risen Lord may give them strength, peace, and hope, let us pray to the Lord.

For our beloved dead:  that they may share forever in the glory of Christ’s resurrection, let us pray to the Lord.

Heavenly Father, you raised your Son from the dead and filled the Apostles with courage and joy. Hear these prayers we place before you and help us to live always in the light of Easter. Through Christ our Lord.

 

2nd Week of Easter 2026 - Wednesday (School Mass) - The power of Christ's resurrection in the life of the Church

 

A week and a half ago, Christians celebrated the great feast of the Resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday. After suffering and dying on the cross and being buried in the tomb, Jesus rose from the dead, just as he said he would.

As you can see, the Church is still decorated with many signs of Easter, the priest wears the color white, to signify that we are still in the Easter season, we still have easter flowers and decorations. Much of the world has moved on from Easter, but Christians continue to celebrate Easter for 50 days—from Easter Sunday to Pentecost.

One of the features of the Easter season is that we read extensively from the book of the Bible called “The Acts of the Apostles”. The Acts of the Apostles is found in your bibles right after the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Where the Gospels focus on the birth, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus, the Acts of the Apostles talks about what happened next—those first weeks and months and years of the Church.

We read from the Acts of the Apostles during the Easter Season because in the Acts of the Apostles we see the impact Jesus’ resurrection had on the apostles—how Jesus’ resurrection changed them, animated them, guided their words and actions and behaviors—how they shared news of the resurrection and the importance of believing in Jesus and following Jesus and being baptized.

We also hear how the Apostles were hated by the world, just as Jesus was hated. But the Apostles were willing to suffer for the mission of the Church because their task was given to them by Jesus—to go and make disciples of all nations teaching them to observe all that he has commanded and baptizing in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

In the reading from the Acts of the Apostles today, we hear how the Sadducees were filled with anger and jealousy over the teachings of the Apostles, just like they were filled with anger and jealousy over the teachings of Jesus. And like they did to Jesus, they threw the Apostles in jail. But then, there is something that reminds us of Easter. Just as the prison bars of death could not contain Jesus, the prison bars could not contain the Apostles. The temple guard found them, not in prison, but back in the temple area preaching and teaching in Jesus’ name.

Over the last 2000 years later, many of the world governments have tried to eradicate the Church and stop the preaching of the Gospel. Christians have been thrown in prison, tortured, and killed. But the mission continues and succeeds because the Catholic Church is not just some man-made institution—it is the body of Christ, risen from the dead, victorious over death, which continues to preach and teach in his name the message of salvation—that those who believe in Jesus and follow him shall have eternal life.

And just as the power of Jesus resurrection guided and shaped the early Church, it continues to guide and shape our lives, if we let it, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

- - - - 

Trusting in the risen Jesus, who conquered death and continues to guide His Church, let us bring our prayers before our heavenly Father.

For the Church throughout the world:  that, like the Apostles, she may boldly and faithfully preach Jesus Christ risen from the dead, let us pray to the Lord.

For the Holy Father, Pope Leo, our bishops, priests, deacons, and all who teach the faith: that they may be strengthened by the joy of Easter and remain courageous in proclaiming the Gospel, let us pray to the Lord.

For Christians throughout the world, especially those who are mocked, threatened, or persecuted for their faith:  that the Lord may protect them and fill them with the same courage he gave to the Apostles, let us pray to the Lord.

For Corpus Christi Academy:  that our students, teachers, and families may let the power of Jesus’ resurrection shape the way we think, speak, and live each day, let us pray to the Lord.

For those who are sick, suffering, or discouraged:  that the victory of the risen Lord may give them strength, peace, and hope, let us pray to the Lord.

For our beloved dead:  that they may share forever in the glory of Christ’s resurrection, let us pray to the Lord.

Heavenly Father, you raised your Son from the dead and filled the Apostles with courage and joy. Hear these prayers we place before you and help us to live always in the light of Easter. Through Christ our Lord.

2nd Week of Easter 2026 - Monday - Born again

Last week, throughout the Easter Octave, we read the different accounts of Jesus' resurrection and his appearances to his disciples from the four Gospels.

For the rest of the Easter Season, we’ll be reading predominately from the Gospel of John—the discussion with Nicodemus this week from chapter 3, the miracle of the multiplication and the great Bread of Life discourse next week, and then his teachings about the Holy Spirit up until Pentecost. 

The central theme of the Lord’s conversation with Nicodemus is new life— the biological life that begins in the wombs of our mothers, and the spiritual life that begins in the womb of the Church—a birth of earthly origin and a birth of heavenly origin.

We did not chose to be born biologically, but we certainly have a choice whether or not we will live for what is above. And this choice has eternal ramifications, as the Lord says today, “No one sees the kingdom of God without being born from above”. The refusal of spiritual rebirth will result in the failure to experience the kingdom of God. 

St. Justin martyr, writing just a few decades after St. John, commented on this passage. He wrote, “At our [biological] birth, we were born without our own knowledge or choice by our parents coming together. We were brought up with bad habits and wicked training. However, so that we may not remain the children of necessity and of ignorance but may become the children of choice and knowledge and may obtain in the water the remission of sins formerly committed, there is pronounced over the one who chooses to be born again and has repented of his sins the name of God the Father and Lord of the universe…”

The early Church clearly identified that when the Lord said to Nicodemus that “unless one is born of water and Spirit he cannot enter the Kingdom of God” he was speaking about the necessity of Baptism—spiritual rebirth involves reception of the Sacraments of the Church. 

And yet, the choice to live for what is above, to live out our spiritual rebirth, to pursue the kingdom of God, is a choice that we must make every day: will we live simply for our biological impulses or for that which is highest. The new life of the Christian entails seeking what is above our fallen disordered impulses—living for the highest ideals—truth, goodness, and beauty, and striving for the highest virtues—cultivating true self-mastery over our disordered passions. 

The Christian is to be open to constant sanctification--the gradual and continuous process whereby we are made more like Christ in character, desire, and action--increasingly reflecting God's character in our thoughts, words, and deeds.

God desires his life to flourish in us, as Jesus says, “I have come that they may have life and have it more abundantly. May we choose the path of being born again day after day, that we may come to experience the fullness of divine life in eternity, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

- - -  

Filled with Paschal joy, let us turn earnestly to God, to graciously hear our prayers and supplications.

For the shepherds of our souls, the pope, bishops, and clergy, that they may govern wisely the flock entrusted to them by the Good Shepherd leading us faithfully in the Gospel mandate.

For the whole world, that it may truly know the peace of the Risen Christ.

That our parish may bear witness with great confidence to the Resurrection of Christ, and that the newly initiated may hold fast to the faith they have received. 

For our brothers and sisters who suffer, that their sorrow may be turned to gladness through the Christian faith.

That all of our beloved dead and all the souls in purgatory may come to the glory of the Resurrection.

O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the desires of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. 

 

Divine Mercy Sunday 2026 - Unfathomable mercy

 

On the Sunday after Easter in the year 2000, Pope Saint John Paul II surprised the world, and even many of his cardinals, by declaring that the second Sunday of the Easter season is to be known as Divine Mercy Sunday.

Though the title for this Sunday is relatively new, the message of God's merciful love is certainly not a new concept.  It's the central message of the Christian faith preached for 2000 years.  God has mercy upon sinners; we are loved by God even when we are unlovable because of our sins—no matter how sinful, God's forgiveness is available to all who turn to Him.

The celebration of Divine Mercy is a fitting conclusion to the octave of Easter.  On Easter Sunday we celebrated the triumph of God's love over the powers of sin and death.  Jesus' resurrection shows that Sin and death do not get the last word.  God did not counter our sin with fiery wrath from heaven.  Rather, God defeated man’s sin in a totally unimaginable and unexpected way, Mercy.

Think about it.  On Mount Calvary, we violently rejected God in the flesh.  Everytime we sin, we reject God, but the crucifixion, in a sense, is man's ultimate rejection of God.  At that moment, more than any in human history, God would have been justified in simply ending this whole thing project, condemning us as too sick, too depraved, so corrupt we’d rather kill God than admit our errors. 

Yet from the cross Jesus pronounces not wrath, but forgiveness—not an end to mankind, but an end to the reign of sin and death. “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”. And from his side flowed blood and water flowed as rays of divine mercy made available to all people in the Sacraments of the Church. 

The Gospel reading for this Divine Mercy Sunday echoes the message of mercy. Entering the upper room, in the midst of his disciples—he shows them, his wounds, and in doing so he wasn’t pointing them out as if to shame his disciples, or to announce his vengeance. “Look what you did, now it’s time for you to pay”. Rather, he points to his wounds, and says, “peace”. 

Today is a day for the Church to celebrate God’s mercy and to commit to making that message known.

Back in the year 2000, when Pope St. John Paul instituted today as the feast of mercy, he did so in the context of the canonization of a saint—a little known polish nun at the time named Saint Faustina Kowalska. 

In the 1930’s Sister Maria Faustina Kowalska, received a series of private revelations from the Lord himself about his desire to make known to the world his mercy.

Listen to the words of Jesus recorded by Sister Faustina:

“My daughter, tell the whole world about My inconceivable mercy. I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and a shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day are opened all the divine floodgates through which graces flow. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet. My mercy is so great that no mind, be it of man or of angel, will be able to fathom it throughout all eternity. Everything that exists has come from the very depths of My most tender mercy. Every soul in its relation to Me will contemplate My love and mercy throughout eternity. The Feast of Mercy emerged from My very depths of tenderness. It is My desire that it be solemnly celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My mercy.”

The Lord Jesus could have appeared at any moment in history, but he chose the 1930s. The 1930s began an era of cruelty and godlessness. It saw the rise of totalitarian atheistic governments and rampant materialism and the trampling of basic human freedoms like the right to life. Merciless governments, merciless war crimes, merciless genocides in Europe and Africa, merciless wars over the resources of the earth, merciless religious persecutions, merciless killing of babies, merciless pursuit of wealth at the expense of human life. And Jesus shows up, and tells Sr. Faustina, make my mercy known.

It is unfathomable, that in the face of evil, Jesus wants us to announce His mercy. Most of us would be quick to condemn the world for all of these grave sins, but Jesus says that our task to announce his mercy. “Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My Mercy.”  

Though, of course, the Church must speak the truth about sin. We must never grow tired of announcing mercy. To whom? To everyone. To fallen away Catholics, “you are welcome back”. To those ashamed by their sins: “don’t be afraid of confession, Jesus is waiting for you there.” To filled with anger and hatred: “you will find peace in forgiveness”. To those who think their sins are too big for God to forgive: “God’s mercy is boundless”. To those trapped in patterns of sin, resentment, impurity, addiction, or indifference: Jesus Christ is not done with you: “Trust in Jesus, and you will find freedom, peace, joy, and meaning”. 

There are souls who feel that it is pointless to change their ways because they think are too far gone, they are too entrenched in sin to change: God’s mercy can save you. Allow yourself to be saved. Whatever your sins might be, they can be forgiven, whatever the direction of your life, it can be changed. 

Brothers and sisters, the world is starving for mercy, even when it does not know how to name what it is seeking. Beneath so much anger, confusion, and violence are wounded human hearts—estranged from God—locked in fear. And so the Church, like her risen Lord entering the locked room, must enter those locked rooms say again and again: God’s Peace be with you. No door is truly locked to Jesus. And the message of mercy can reach the most hardened hearts when we have the courage to share it.

Today, on Divine Mercy Sunday, we thank God for his infinite mercy for each of us and for all—pro omnibus et singulis. But we also pray for the grace to be ambassadors of mercy—for as the Lord has proclaimed peace, so must we—to lead souls to the font of mercy: Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, whose mercy endures forever, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

Easter Octave 2026 - Friday - Come, have breakfast

 

On Easter Sunday morning, the angel gave instructions that the disciples were to leave Judaea and go to Galilee where the would see the Lord. Well, in today’s Gospel, the disciples have traveled to Galilee—to the Sea of Tiberius, which is another name for the Sea of Galilee—and there they see the Lord.

Now, notice that they’ve returned to Galilee, and they’re not exactly looking that hard for Jesus. They aren’t preaching, teaching, healing, or spreading the Gospel in his name. In fact, they seem to have reverted to their old way of life—they’ve gone fishing.

Well, they might not have been looking that hard for Jesus, but Jesus was looking for them. He makes himself visible to them, he calls out them from the seashore, and when they approach him, Jesus says, “come have breakfast”. 

There is something unique about breakfast. Breakfast is not a royal banquet, it’s a simple meal, typically shared with family. Breakfast is informal; everybody might still be a bit disheveled before having their favorite caffeinated beverage—not everyone is washed or totally awake. The disciples, after a night of working, certainly fit this description. Like a parent for children still groggy from sleep, the Lord makes breakfast for these groggy children, he even calls them children. And in his closeness to them, in sharing the meal, they recognize that it was the Lord.

Easter was 5 days ago, and we, like the disciples are already a bit groggy. Our catechumens, initiated at  the Easter Vigil are still wrapping their minds and hearts about meeting Jesus in the Sacraments.

Maybe, since easter, we like the disciples retreating to fishing, have retreated back into old bad habits already instead of allowing Easter to change us. Maybe, since Lent is over, we haven’t been looking for Jesus that hard in prayer. But it is good that we are here, at Mass. Weekday Mass is so powerful, and I wish more people would come to weekday Mass, because the Lord meets us here for an intimate family meal—like the Lord dining with his disciples on the seashore--to feed us, to reorient us and strengthen our faith for the work he has for us out in the world.

The Collect for Mass today asks God to dispose our minds that the faith we celebrate may be expressed in our deeds. That’s exactly what the Lord was doing on the seashore with the disciples, opening their minds to the reality of his resurrection, that their faith might impel them into the world. And he does the same thing here. May the reality and power of the Lord’s resurrection animate our words and deeds today, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Filled with Paschal joy, let us turn earnestly to God, to graciously hear our prayers and supplications.

For the shepherds of our souls, that they may have the strength to govern wisely the flock entrusted to them by the Good Shepherd.

For the whole world, that it may truly know the peace of the Risen Christ.

For our own community, that it may bear witness with great confidence to the Resurrection of Christ, and that the newly initiated hold fast to the faith they have received.

For our brothers and sisters who suffer, that their sorrow may be turned to gladness through the Christian faith.

That all of our beloved dead and all the souls in purgatory may come to the glory of the Resurrection.

O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the desires of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our lord.

 

Easter Octave 2026 - Monday - “To the dead, he has given life.”

 

For the secular world, Easter is over now. For disciples of Jesus Christ, however, today is the second day of a fifty day season of glory—reveling in, celebrating, reflecting upon, basking in the light of the most important thing that ever happened. Jesus Christ rose from the dead, just as he said he would.

The Catechism says, “The Resurrection of Jesus is the crowning truth of our faith in Christ, a faith believed and lived as the central truth by the first Christian community; handed on as fundamental by Tradition; established by the documents of the New Testament; and preached as an essential part of the Paschal mystery along with the cross: Christ is risen from the dead! Dying, he conquered death; To the dead, he has given life.”

“To the dead, he has given life.” What powerful words these are! This truth resounds through every Easter Alleluia we sing. It is meant to animate every day of our life.

This is what we see already in today’s readings. In the first reading, Peter stands in Jerusalem and boldly proclaims that the crucified Jesus has been raised up by God. Peter himself is a sign of what the Resurrection does. The man who once hid in fear now speaks with courage. In the Gospel, Mary Magdalene runs to announce the news to the disciples. Sorrow has given way to joy and urgency.

The Resurrection is not only something that happened to Jesus; it is something Jesus now shares with us. His victory becomes our victory. His life becomes our life. Souls, dead because of sin, have been raised up. Lives under the sway of sin are freed. Again, fear is transformed into boldness. Sorrow is transformed into joy.

This season, the secular world, which has forgotten Christ, which never really knew him, is to witness His resurrection through us. That’s why on this 1^st day after easter sunday, we are given examples of Easter witness: Mary Magdalene sharing the news with the disciples, St. Peter boldly proclaiming Christ to the crowd. Mission. The Church has a mission. You and I have a mission. We

The world needs to see signs of his Resurrection in us: in deeper hope, in real joy, in renewed courage, in freedom from sin, in charity and peace. Christ is truly risen, and has given us new life—and that life is meant to be lived.

May the power of Christ’s resurrection continue to raise us to new life and help us to witness to his great victory for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

 

Brothers and sisters, rejoicing in the victory of Christ who has conquered death and given new life to his people, let us bring our prayers before the Father.

For the Church throughout the world: that, renewed by the joy of Easter, she may boldly proclaim that Christ is risen and bear convincing witness to his victory by lives of holiness, charity, and peace. Let us pray to the Lord.

For the Holy Father, bishops, priests, and deacons: that the power of the Resurrection may strengthen them in their ministry and make them fearless heralds of the Gospel. Let us pray to the Lord.

For those who govern the nations: that the risen Christ may turn hearts from violence, division, and despair toward justice, reconciliation, and the dignity of every human life. Let us pray to the Lord.

For those who were baptized or received into the Church at Easter: that they may remain close to the risen Lord and grow each day in the new life of grace they have received. Let us pray to the Lord.

For those whose souls are burdened by sin, fear, grief, illness, or hopelessness: that the Lord Jesus, who gave life to the dead, may raise them up with his mercy and fill them with peace. Let us pray to the Lord.

For those who have died: that they may come to share fully in the triumph of Christ’s Resurrection, and for the consolation of those who mourn them. Let us pray to the Lord.

Priest:
Heavenly Father, you raised your Son from the dead and made him the source of new life for the world. Hear the prayers we place before you and make us faithful witnesses of the Resurrection.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Easter Sunday 2026 - Easter Renewal

 

He is Risen, Indeed He is Risen! Alleluia!

On Good Friday, the world was darkened by an eclipse of the sun. Evil was so tangible that even the earth shuddered with an earthquake. It was a day when lies and conspiracies and plotting seemed to conquer truth, and darkness seemed to eclipse light, and death seemed to have been victorious over life, and Satan seemed to have gotten the upper hand on God.

But enough of that. For now we celebrate a morning when the tomb was empty; a morning when light was so bright it blinded roman soldiers and burnt an image into a burial cloth; a morning when life triumphed over death, and truth trumped falsehood, and hope was victorious over despair, and faith championed doubt, and God put Satan in his place. For He is Risen, Indeed He is Risen! Alleluia!

The extraordinary news of Easter morning is that not only did Jesus Christ conquer death for himself, but that he shares that victory over death and sin and despair and darkness and sin and evil with us. His victory is ours. He invites us to share in his triumph. If that is not extraordinarily Good News, I don’t know what is.

On the High Holy Days, many of us come to Church for a lot of different reasons: perhaps you are here today because it’s simply family tradition or because it just seemed like the right thing to do; perhaps you are a life-long Catholic, and there was never a doubt that you’d be at Church on Easter Sunday.

Maybe there’s a bit of darkness, or a lot of darkness in your life, and you just needed to draw near to the brightest light you possibly could today. In that case, you’re in very good company, because I’m pretty sure everybody in this Church has experienced are periods in life that seem more like Good Friday than Easter Sunday. Periods of life when you wonder about life’s meaning, periods of life when we seem stuck on a cross, or overwhelmed, like life has buried us in a tomb, when we struggle to find God amidst all the chaos and violence and evil in the world.

The message of course today is that Good Friday does not get the last word. Easter morning does. Our faith in Jesus Christ allows us to be confident that evil and death do not get the last word. So, if there is a part of your life, that still seems to be stuck in Good Friday, I invite you to ask Jesus very sincerely today, to enter that part of your life, to transform it. Ask him to come into that Good Friday broken relationship, that Good Friday doubt or confusion, that Good Friday sense of defeat. And to allow him to bring Easter Victory to your Good Friday sufferings.

A number of years before his death, Pope Francis offered these words on Easter: “Let the risen Jesus enter your life, welcome him as a friend, with trust: he is life! If up till now you have kept him at a distance, step forward. He will receive you with open arms. If you have been indifferent, take a risk: you won’t be disappointed. If following him seems difficult, don’t be afraid, trust him, be confident that he is close to you, he is with you and he will give you the peace you are looking for and the strength to live as he would have you do.”

In just a few moments we will renew our baptismal promises. From time to time I meet a college student or older adult who, though baptized as an infant has left the practice of the Catholic faith: they aren’t coming to mass and they don’t accept the truth behind particular Church teachings.  I ask them why they’ve left the practice of the faith in which they were raised.   And they often say, “well, I was baptized as a baby, so I didn’t get a choice to become Catholic or not.”

Well, to all of you, who feel like you didn’t get a choice, today, and every Easter, we renew the promises of our baptism, we renew our faith that Jesus rose, we renew our belief in all the Church teaches in his name.  You will then be sprinkled with the Easter waters, that the Lord may breathe new life into your religious commitments.

In fact, the Early Christians celebrated every Sunday as a “little Easter”. They knew that without this little Easter every week, they’d be allowing those forces which conspired against Christ on Good Friday to have power over them. So, if you want to make this Easter part of your deliverance out of the Good Fridays in your life, make every Sunday a “little Easter”

For, if the power of Christ’s resurrection is to overflow in your life, constant faith must be an open conduit. Don’t shut off the flow of grace. If you are tempted to do so, remember that it’s the power of the world trying to isolate you again.

So today, the priest will ask every one of you here six questions for the renewal of your baptismal promises.  The first three have to do with Sin.  Christ’s Easter victory was a victory over sin, so the Christian is to seek to be rid of anything that has to do with sin.  So the priest will ask, “Do you renounce sin, so as to live in the freedom of the children of God. Do you renounce the lure of evil, so that sin may have no mastery over you? Do you renounce Satan, the author and prince of Sin?”

What are we saying, when we say “I do” to these questions?  I’m promising to do everything in my power, with the help of the power of Easter, to put an end to sin in my life, to put an end to all self-absorption and all selfishness. I’m promising to do everything in my own power to change my life, to alter my daily and weekly routines, that they can better reflect the Christian faith as taught by the Catholic Church.  I’m renouncing all of those excuses of laziness which hinder the power of Easter becoming more manifest in me. All the powers of lust which cause me to focus on passing earthly pleasure instead of eternal heavenly joy. Today, we readily turn away from these things. For those excuses, those sins, are the most likely culprits for not enjoying the peace and joy God wants for us.

The last three questions of the baptismal promises concern the doctrines of the Faith.  Do you believe in God the Father, do you believe that Jesus Christ suffered and died and rose again, do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church.

These are teachings the Church professes every Sunday when we profess the Creed.  These are the truths upon which our religious life rests.  These are the truths that give us strength in the face of temptation, they are the light of truth in the darkness of the world’s confusion and error. Amidst all of the nonsense in the world, all of the error perpetuated through modern media, all the fake news out there, the Christian can say, I know these things to be true.

We renew our baptismal promises today, and by doing so open ourselves to the power of Christ’s Easter Victory. Through them, we become heirs of the promises of Christ, that we, like him, shall be risen from the dead and live forever. For he risen from the dead, indeed he is risen, alleluia, alleluia. 

 

 

Easter Vigil 2026 - Our place in Salvation History

 

On this Easter Vigil night, our Scripture readings took us on quite a journey, through the various stages of salvation history.

We began at the beginning, with creation itself. In Genesis, God brings light from darkness, order from chaos, and life where there had been nothing. Man and woman were made in God’s image and likeness, created for communion with Him. Already, there at the very beginning, are foreshadowing of what we celebrate tonight: the giving of life, the restoration of communion.

Our second reading, saw Abraham willing to offer his only son as a sacrifice to God, so strong was Abraham’s faith. While God spared Abraham’s Son, God did not spare his own, but handed him over to us for our salvation. And through Abraham came the promise of a great people, a family too numerous to count—a promise fulfilled in us—in the Church, in which God gathers people from every nation into his family through faith and Baptism.

In our third reading, God delivers his enslaved children through the waters of the Red Sea. This is not only Israel’s story; it is ours. For again this reading foreshadows, what God does here tonight and in the life of the Church—God delivers us from the slavery of sin through Baptismal waters to the freedom of the children of God.

In our fourth reading, Isaiah recalls the waters of Noah, through which God brought a cleansing of the wickedness of the world. These waters, you guessed it, foreshadow the cleansing waters of baptism.

In our fifth reading, Isaiah again speaks of water: the water that quenches thirst, but also grain that becomes food, and the promise of everlasting covenant. Here Isaiah foretells not just baptism, but Eucharist, the body and blood of the new and everlasting covenant.

In our sixth reading, Baruch speaks of the wisdom of God which is meant to guide the lives of his people—"those who cling to this wisdom will live” says Baruch. Here Baruch foreshadows the Wisdom of Christ—whose words are everlasting life.

In the seventh reading and last of the Old Testament readings from Ezekiel spoke of the day when God will sprinkle his people with water and put a new spirit within them. Here of course is a foreshadowing of Baptism, and Confirmation, the giving of the Spirit.

Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist all given to us, so that we may share in the Victory of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, which we proclaimed in the Gospel and by St. Paul in his letter to the Romans.

All of these Scripture readings are not just a collection of important moments from Israel’s history. They help us to understand and experience that from the beginning, God has been preparing humanity for what we celebrate tonight: deliverance and new life through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Tonight, all of those promises, all of those foreshadowings, all of that long preparation comes to fulfillment. For, tonight is not merely the anniversary of something that happened long ago. Tonight, the risen Christ acts in his Church. Tonight, he draws people into his death and resurrection. Tonight, he makes all things new.

That is why this night is so fitting for the initiation of our catechumens. Dear catechumens, tonight you do not simply join an institution or adopt a set of religious ideas. Tonight, by Baptism, you are brought through the waters. You are freed from the slavery of sin. You are cleansed. You are claimed. You are made sons and daughters of God. In Confirmation, the Holy Spirit will be given to you in a new and powerful way, sealing you as belonging to Christ. And in the Holy Eucharist, you will come to the altar to receive the Body and Blood of the risen Lord, the food of the new and everlasting covenant. Tonight, the whole history of salvation which we have heard proclaimed becomes personal in you.

And for the rest of us, tonight is a summons to remember who we are. For following the baptism of our Catechumen, all of the baptized, with lighted candles, will renew our baptismal promises. We will renounce Satan, and all his works, and all his empty show. We will profess again our faith in God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

The renewal is to be for each of us, not an empty recitation of familiar words, but a true renewal of our identity, as baptized members of the body of Christ. We are baptized into his victory, and that victory is to resound in our lives.

So tonight let us rejoice. Let us rejoice for those who are about to be initiated into the mystery of Christ and his Church. Let us rejoice that the same grace once poured into our own souls is still alive and powerful. Let us rejoice that the God who created, called, delivered, cleansed, fed, instructed, and renewed his people throughout salvation history has done all this so that we might share in the victory of his risen Son for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

Holy Saturday 2026 - Morning Prayer - Jesus descended into Hell

 

In the Apostle’s Creed we profess that after Christ was crucified, died and buried, “He descended into Hell.” Christ was not condemned to Hell, like the rest of humanity. Rather he descended; he went willingly and with purpose.

The Catechism says, “Jesus, like all men, experienced death and in his soul joined the others in the realm of the dead. But he descended there as Savior, proclaiming the Good News to the spirits imprisoned there.
From the time of Adam, all who died, whether evil or righteous were deprived of the vision of God. And Christ went to those who souls who awaited their Savior. The ancient homily for Holy Saturday puts it this way: “he has gone to free from sorrow the captives Adam and Eve…the Lord approached them bearing the cross, the weapon that had won him the victory.”

I remember my first holy Saturday as a seminarian. I was home for the triduum, and I went to pray in my home parish church. And I brought with me my breviary, the liturgy of the hours, and for the first time encountering the famous patristic reading describing Jesus descending into hell preaching to Adam, the first man, who has been asleep in death from time immemorial.

Listen to these words, spoken by Christ: ‘I am your God, who for your sake have become your son. Out of love for you and for your descendants I now by my own authority command all who are held in bondage to come forth, all who are in darkness to be enlightened, all who are sleeping to arise. I order you, O sleeper, to awake. I did not create you to be held a prisoner in hell. Rise from the dead, for I am the life of the dead. Rise up, work of my hands, you who were created in my image. Rise, let us leave this place, for you are in me and I am in you; together we form only one person and we cannot be separated.

In order to prepare for easter, Jesus descended to the depths of hell, to those who were distant from God, maybe we reach out today to someone towards whom we’ve grown distant, wish them a happy easter and invite them to church tomorrow. The Lord no doubt wants to use us to knock on the doors of the hearts of the fallen away. We do well, certainly to pray for those who reject the invitation to return to Church.

We quietly and prayerfully wait for easter today, but we also recognize that though he was in the tomb, Christ was still at work announcing the Gospel, which is our easter mission. May these last few hours before Easter, prepare us well for the great celebration and our share in the great mission for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

Good Friday 2026 - Press the Cross to your heart

 There was a young boy, about 8 years old, who liked to have his own way, and would become very angry anytime his will would be contradicted.  He would talk back to his parents and teachers, fight with his brothers and schoolmates. He would be disciplined in school and at home, but nothing seemed to alter his behavior or attitude, and his parents began to despair.

One day, there was an unexpected change.  His selfishness seemed to entirely disappear; he became one of the most obedient and gentle children.  His parents began to wonder about this change of behavior, and then they noticed that from time to time, the boy would put his hand to his chest, and press something under his shirt close to his heart.  

The boy’s father asked what he was doing.  The boy said, just something grandpa gave me to help me.  The boy took out a crucifix which hung from a thin chain which he had been wearing underneath his shirt.  “When I am angry that I’m not getting my way, I press this image to my heart, I think of what Jesus suffered, and then I find it easy to be good.”  

Today we press the cross to our hearts.  

An eastern orthodox saint named St. Symeon the Theologian who was a monk in the 11th century wrote, “The only way to protect oneself against the devil is by constant remembrance of God: this remembrance must be imprinted in the heart by the power of the Cross, thus rendering the mind firm and unyielding”.

Today, we press the cross to our hearts, that its power might be imprinted there—the power of self-emptying love. When the Cross is pressed to the heart, it teaches us how God loves us, and it teaches us how to endure trial, temptation, and suffering. The devil tempts us toward pride, resentment, despair, and self-will. The Cross teaches us humility, forgiveness, hope, and surrender to the Father.

We venerate the cross today in some outward sign of devotion, so that we may venerate it every day in our actions, in our attitudes, in our speech. Self-emptying love is to mark everything we do, because Jesus self-emptying love has marked us. 

We press the cross to our hearts because we have been pressed to God’s heart, by God himself. In the Passion of the Lord, we see just how near God has drawn to us. He has not loved us from a safe distance. He has entered into our suffering, our betrayal, our loneliness, our fear, even into death itself. The Cross is the proof that there is no human misery Jesus has refused to touch, no sinner is unwilling to seek.

Today we offer solemn intercessions on behalf of the world and the Church, pressing our needs and struggles to his cross and those of the whole world.  We also solemnly venerate the wood of the cross, we press the cross to our lips, or our foreheads, to remember his great love, and that we may be rendered firm and unyielding in the face of temptation and confirmed in the desire to carry our crosses in union with the Son of God, and to bear the message of his love to a world in desperate need of it for the Glory of God and salvation of souls.