January 1 2020 - Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God - The Octave Day

It is good for us to gather for Holy Mass on this 1st day of the New Year for a number of reasons.
Firstly, it’s a good day to come to mass, simply because it is a new year. We begin the new year offering the most powerful prayer we can, the holy sacrifice of the mass, the eucharist, looking back with gratitude upon God’s grace and mercy last year, and placing 2020 into His providential hands.

A second reason why this is an important day for the Church is because it is the octave day of Christmas, the 8th day. Biblically, the number 8 is important. Just like the octave note in music resonates with the same tone as its root, biblically, the 8th day resonates and recalls the major feast that proceeded it. The Old Testament prescribes that Passover, Hanukkah, and other major feasts be celebrated for eight days, and so, too the eighth days of major feasts of Easter and Christmas are celebrated have special solemnity.

Another reason for us to gather, goes back a little over 40 years. Pope Paul VI made January 1 a special day of prayer for peace. Pope Paul said, "The world must be educated to love Peace, to build it up and defend it." And so today we gather to pray for peace in our world desperately in need of it—the peace of the Christ Child, offered to all who believe in Him.

Fourthly, the eighth day after Christmas was for many years, centuries really, celebrated the feast of the circumcision of the Lord and the Holy Name of Jesus. For the Mosaic Law prescribed circumcision to occur on the 8th day after birth. It was through circumcision, the shedding of blood that the child would enter into the covenant. For the Christ child, the circumcision would no doubt foreshadow the blood to be shed on Calvary.

And as we heard in the Gospel, Mary and Joseph had the Lord circumcised. And it was then that he was given his Holy Name. The Holy Name of Jesus, given by the angel, signifies his identity and mission. For the name of Jesus, derives from the Hebrew for “God saves”. Jesus the Christ is God incarnate, who brings salvation for his people.

Yet, on our liturgical calendar, January 1 is no longer the feast of the circumcision or the feast of the holy name. A new solemnity was instituted after Vatican II: the solemnity of Mary, the mother of God. This new feast is really a return to an ancient custom of the early church both in the east and the west, to honor the Lord’s Blessed Mother during the Christmas octave.

While much of the world is sleeping off a hangover, having spent last night with little or no reference to Christ, the Church gathers today soberly—with great solemnity and seriousness—to celebrate once again his incarnation through the ever-Virgin Mary, that our year, our life may always be in reference to Him.

As Mary’s life revolved around Him, so must ours. As her life was placed in total submission to God’s, so must ours. As she was found worthy to receive the Author of Life, so may we receive Him in our minds and hearts, and allow Him to reign in our lives completely. May his peace be ours. May his burning charity be ours. May his power to withstand the temptations of the devil be ours. May the Spirit of Him who was not slave, but Son, be ours. May the salvation that comes through Him be ours.

We along with Mary-Mother, keep all these, and reflect upon them in our hearts, that the invisible God may become visible in our lives, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

January 1 2019 - Mary, Mother of God - "You are my mother now!"

In 1929, just 17 days short of his 9th birthday, the young Karol Wojtyla — the future Pope Saint John Paul II — entered his family home during the afternoon. His parents were very pious, and young Karol was accustomed to see his father — a strong soldier in the Polish army — praying on his knees on their parlor’s hardwood floor. That day, when the young Karol saw his father praying, he saw his dad’s knees bathing in a pool of tears.

“What’s wrong, Papa” the young future Pope asked his father. “Karol, your mother has died!” was his father’s answer. His mother had Emilia died in childbirth.

The eight year old ran out of his home to the local parish Church, which was actually right across the street from the Wojtyla apartment home. He entered the Church and ran up the aisle of the Church to a kneeler in front of a statue of Mary.  Tearfully, he said to her: “Blessed Lady, I don’t know why God took my mother home at the time he did. But I do know one thing: YOU are my mother now!”

“You are my mother now!” Today we celebrate the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. At the beginning of the civil year, when we ponder what time will bring in the upcoming year, the Church reminds us very strongly of what happened at the fullness of time. “When the fullness of time had come,” we hear in today’s second reading, “God sent his Son, born of a woman.”

“You are my mother now!” Those words would first have been said by Jesus.  This is an incredible mystery, that the second person of the Blessed Trinity, who take human flesh, and call one of his creatures, “his mother”. Mary bore God in her womb, and is thus rightly called “Theotokos” the God-bearer.  We profess this truth every time we pray the Hail Mary:  “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners”

“You are my mother now!” Those words were spoken by Saint John the Apostle.  For from the Cross, Jesus said to his beloved disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home”. 

“You are my mother now!” These words are spoken now by every disciple. For Jesus gave Mary as mother in the order of grace to the whole Church. We know that Mary had an important role in the life of the early Church, the disciples gathered around her in prayer in the upper room at Pentecost. And Mary is the mother of the family Jesus established through his passion, death, and resurrection.  Jesus wants his disciples to have his Mother as our own so that she could raise us to be like her Son.  Through Baptism, we say along with Saint John and along with Jesus himself, “You are my mother now!”

Jesus says to each of us, “Behold your mother!” He wants and hopes that each of us will do what his first beloved disciple wisely did, and take Mary into our home, into our lives.

Pope Saint John Paul’s devotion to the Blessed Mother deeply impacted his life, his priesthood, and his papacy.  When he was made bishop of Krakow, he took as his episcopal motto the words: Totus Tuus ego sum, which is latin for “I am completely yours.”  The motto “Totus tuus” was taken from a prayer by Saint Louis Marie de Montfordt: "Totus tuus ego sum, et omnia mea tua sunt. Accipio te in mea omnia. Praebe mihi cor tuum, Maria." "I am completely yours, and all that I have is yours. I take you for my all. O Mary, give me your heart"

In giving one’s self to Mary you can trust that she will always lead you to Jesus.  In our sinfulness, Mary leads us to Christ’s mercy.  In our sorrows and sufferings, Mary leads us to the sweet comfort of her son.  In our joys, Mary leads us to magnify God.  When we turn to Mary in prayer, she leads us deeper into the mystery of God.  She helps us to overcome our vices and our selfishness.

Our mother comes in haste to our aid when we call upon her.  And she will always help us to be free from all that keeps us from loving her son as we should—to make haste in serving God’s kingdom. 
We celebrate this Feast of the Motherhood of Mary at the beginning of the Church year, not because the Church wants to make New Year’s morning more difficult for us, but because this title of Mary as Mother is of the utmost importance. The heart of Jesus was filled with love for His Mother, and our hearts must become like His. Love for Mother Mary does not detract from our Love of God, but magnifies it. Authentic love of Mother Mary deepens our gratitude for the for the role she played in Jesus’ life, for the role she continues to play in our salvation.

So deepen your love for her by Praying her Rosary. Bring flowers to her statues. Build shrines to her in your homes and workplaces. Teach your children songs in her honor. Imitate her virtue. Take as your personal motto for 2019, Totus Tuus, give yourself and all that is yours to her completely. You will not regret it. Invoke the sweet name of Mary, our mother often, fly to her protection, implore her help, and seek her intercession for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

December 12 2017 - Our Lady of Guadalupe - The Holy Protection of the Mother of God

In 1531, Mary appeared to St. Juan Diego as Our Lady of Guadalupe. In the image imprinted on his tilma, Our Lady wears a black band around her waste, showing herself to be with child. To the pagan nation of Mexico, Mary revealed herself as a mother: the mother of Christ and their mother as well. Mary would help them break the bond of a false religion which involved the abominable practice of human sacrifice.

For this reason Our Lady of Gaudalupe is invoked as patroness and protector of human life.
The protection Mary offers to those who call her “mother” runs through this feast. The collect spoke of how God has placed us under the protection of the the Blessed Virgin of Guadalupe. For nine months, the Christ child grew in the protective womb of Our Lady. From the cross, Jesus taught us to call Mary “Mother”, to seek her maternal protection.

The Vatican II Constitution on the Church, speaks of the ancient devotion to Mary’s protection: “Clearly from earliest times the Blessed Virgin is honored under the title of Mother of God, under whose protection the faithful took refuge in all their dangers and necessities.”

I remember reading a report last year of seven Iraqi Catholic women who claimed Mary protected them from ISIS terrorists. When ISIS soldiers stormed their shelter, they prayed to Our Lady as the hid under beds which were being used by the soldiers. They said, “When ISIS entered our room, they didn’t see us, we feel that the Virgin Mary closed their eyes from seeing us.”

Sometimes it seems that the powers of evil which surround us and conspire against the Church are so cunning and pervasive. Yet, God has not left us unprotected. He has given us such a powerful advocate and protector in Our Lady.

She who was guarded from sin from the moment of her Immaculate Conception throughout her whole life guards her sons and daughters from sin and evil as well. The theologian Richard of St. Lawrence writes: “Mary protects us under the mantle of Her humility.”

And of course, the Memorare written by St. Bernard implores Our Lady’s protection, praying “REMEMBER, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided.”

St. Bernard also said: Mary “recognizes and loves those who love Her. And She is ready to help all that call on Her, especially those who resemble Her in chastity and humility.”

May we place ourselves under the protection and guidance of Our Lady of Guadalupe, who helps us in remaining faithful to her Son in all things, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - - - - - -
 
We bring our prayers to God through Mary.

Please respond to the petitions: “Mother of the Redeemer, intercede for us”

That Our Lady may protect the Church from all evil, and aid us in the mission of the Gospel.

That all government leaders may be awakened to the supreme dignity of each human life, and that all people of our nation may work together for and end to the culture of death.

For all mothers, that they may find in Mary the example and strength to carry out their
vocation.

For all refugees forced to flee from their homes, that God bring peace to them and their country of origin.

That the sick may draw strength, consolation, and healing by turning to Our Lady, who
intercedes for us from her place in heaven.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

We pray, O Lord our God, that the Virgin Mary, who merited to bear God and man in her chaste womb, may commend the prayers of your faithful in your sight. Through Christ our Lord.

November 21 2017 - Presentation of Mary - Daily dedication to God

Pope St. John Paul wrote how the Church from the beginning has modeled her earthly journey on that of the Mother of God. “It is to her as Mother and Model that the Church must look in order to understand in its completeness the meaning of her own mission.”

What does the sacred event which we commemorate today teach us about the Church’s mission, our mission?

Though she belonged entirely to God from the moment of her immaculate conception, the Church Fathers speak of how Mary herself desired to be brought to the Temple, to be presented to God in a formal, solemn, and public way to demonstrate to all that she really did belong to God.

This certainly reveals an important dimension of Christianity. It is not enough for us simply to belong to the Lord privately. We show that we belong to God in formal and public ways. The Sacramental system certainly reflects this principle. Catholics show we belong to God every week, some of us, every day, by gathering at the altar for the celebration of the Eucharist. Here, we present ourselves to God, we receive the nourishment of the Eucharist. But, our dedication to God does not end here. We receive the Eucharist that we might go out into the world to build the kingdom of God.

In the Gospel for this feast, Jesus pronounces belonging to his spiritual family, the Church, requires more than a biological bond: “Whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother and sister and mother”.

Our dedication to the Lord is seen when we engage in the works that God wants of us. Without these works, faith is dead, says St. James.

It is good and important to dedicate ourselves to God through prayer and the sacraments. The morning offer is a powerful way of dedicating ourselves to God on a daily basis, particularly when we cannot come to daily mass. But even the morning offering speaks of our works: “O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world.”

Pope John Paul II once said that the practice of praying the Morning Offering is ‘of fundamental importance in the life of each and every one of the faithful.’ It is a daily reminder to make our entire day, our whole life ‘a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God’ (Romans 12: 1).”

A daily prayer of dedication can help to order our day, that we like Mary, may remain united to God in all of our thoughts, intentions, affections, desires, words, and deeds, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - - - - -
 
For deeper Marian devotion amongst all Christians, that the Church may more deeply share in Mary’s dedication to God.

For all mothers, that they may find in Mary the example and strength to carry out their vocation of love, and that all sorrowful mothers may know the consolation and peace of God.

For all consecrated religious, that their dedication may inspire all Christians to deeper faith, hope, and charity.

That through Immaculate Mary, Queen of Peace, hatred, violence, and cruelty will cease in the world. 

That from the moment of conception all children will be preserved from bodily harm; for the overturning of unjust laws permitting the destruction of innocent life; and that the minds of all may be enlightened to know the dignity of every human life.  We pray to the Lord.

That the sick may draw strength, consolation, and healing by turning to Mary, who intercedes for us from her place in heaven

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased clergy and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.

We pray, O Lord our God, that the Virgin Mary, dedicated to your Holy Will,  may commend the prayers of your faithful in your sight.

June 27, 2017 - St. Cyril of Alexandria - Champions of the Truth

Today, we celebrate the memorial of St. Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop, Doctor, and Father of the Church. He is most famous for presiding over the Council of Ephesus in 431 as Archbishop of that city and the Pope’s representative. He was the principle defender of Our Lady’s title “Mother of God”—“God bearer”—Theotokos, in the Greek.

Listen to his words, from this morning’s Office of Readings, “That anyone could doubt the right of the holy Virgin to be called the mother of God fills me with astonishment. Surely she must be the Mother of God if our Lord Jesus Christ is God, and she gave birth to him! Our Lord’s disciples may not have used those exact words, but they delivered to us the belief those words enshrine, and this has also been taught us by the holy fathers.”

A couple things going on here. First, St. Cyril teaches us, whenever there is a theological question, to look to the scriptural and apostolic tradition. Scripture is clear that Jesus is the Word Made Flesh, and that he took that flesh from the Virgin Mary, “he fashioned a body for himself from a woman and shared our flesh and blood”. Cyril also looked to the Church Fathers, like St. Athanasius, who taught nothing contrary to the Scriptures. St. Athanasius several times calls Mary, Theotokos, in his writings.

St. Cyril shows that Mariology, the study of Mary, enshrining Mary with beautiful titles that extolling her virtues and her role in salvation history is part of our earliest Tradition.

St. Cyril also shows that good theology is an application of right reason and common sense. Jesus is God, Mary is his mother, therefore she can be called Mother of God.

Isn’t it interesting that we have as our Gospel today, on this feast of this logical, learned, holy doctor and defender of the faith, this short little passage from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus telling his disciples not to “throw pearls to swine”. I’ve always connected this passage with our work of evangelization.

There comes a point, when we are spreading the faith, that we come across people who show contempt for the faith, who have no interest in it, no desire for repentance or intellectual conversion. If people show open disdain for the holy word of God, then it is prudent to withdraw and take the good news elsewhere. It is unwise to waste time preaching to those who only balk at the message, and especially to lose your temper over it.

I think of St. Cyril: showing clear reasoning, pointing to scripture, apostolic tradition, the church fathers. And still, there were heretics who clung to their errors. There is a point when the discussion is over: you accept the true faith, or you don’t, and there will be eternal consequences for that. As Our Lord told his Apostles, “those who reject you, reject me”

Like St. Cyril we are called to be learned in the words of Scripture and the teachings of the church fathers, so that we can explain and spread the faith clearly and patiently, to be champions of the Truth for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - - - - 

That our bishops and clergy may be zealous in preaching and teaching the truth of the Gospel, and that our future bishop of the diocese of Cleveland may be a man of true faith and the Holy Spirit.

That this fortnight of prayer for religious freedom may help people of faith remain vigilant in defending their religious liberty and united in making their voice heard on behalf of the rights of the Church.

For all those who reject the faith, for those who show contempt for the holy word of God and the Catholic Church, for their openness to the Truth, and that all Christians may be committed to spreading the faith boldly, patiently, and clearly.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.

For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, for the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, for the deceased priests and religious of the diocese of Cleveland, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.