November 15 2024 - St. Albert the Great - Effectively using the time we've been given

As we near the end of Ordinary Time, our daily scripture readings are taken from those portions of the Gospels where Jesus is nearing the end of his earthly ministry. His preaching, teaching, and miracle working had taken him throughout Galilee, but now he nears Jerusalem, that city where he would accomplish what he was born to do, to die on the cross for our salvation.

As the Lord neared Jerusalem, his teachings and preachings got very serious. As we read in today’s Gospel, Jesus explains what is at stake: at the end of the age God’s angels will separate the wicked from the righteous. The righteous—those who turn away from sin and seek God’s help—will be gathered into the eternal kingdom of God. The wicked—those who remain in sin, who refuse God’s help, who refuse heed Jesus’ message—will be cast into eternal fire. 

This is why there is such an urgency to Jesus’ message. There are consequences for what we believe and how we act—how we use our time. 

The Saint we honor today, St. Albert the Great, believed in using every moment he had to pursue knowledge and goodness. 

He was born at the beginning of the 13th century and became an expert student and author on many academic topics including rhetoric, mathematics, astronomy, ethics, economics, politics, metaphysics, and so many of the natural sciences from physics to chemistry, minerology, botany and zoology.  And of course, he studied, what he would have called the highest science, or the queen of the sciences, the study of God, theology.

St. Albert shows us that when our lives are properly ordered—when we turn away from wickedness and selfishness—we are free to pursue what is good and holy. St. Albert didn’t like to waste his time on selfish things. He cultivated his mind—he learned all that he could about the world and about God for the sake of others. 

Now each of us have our own gifts—not all of us are in the end called to pursue a rigorous academic career—but that doesn’t excuse any of us from seeking heaven and serving our neighbor in charity with all of our hearts. 

Each of us are wonderfully made, and God gives to each of us all the opportunities to turn away from wickedness and selfishness, and to use the time we’ve been given we need to fulfill the mission he has for each of us. May St. Albertus Magnus help us put our own ingenuity, creativity, energy, and interests in service of the Gospel for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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As we celebrate the feast of St. Albert the Great, let us turn to God, the source of all wisdom and goodness, and offer our prayers for the Church and the world.

For the Church: That, inspired by the saints, we may be dedicated to the pursuit of holiness, wisdom, truth, and charity. Let us pray to the Lord.

For scholars, scientists, and theologians: That they may use their gifts to deepen our understanding of God’s creation and contribute to the common good with humility and love.Let us pray to the Lord.

For those who struggle with sin and selfishness: That they may turn to God’s mercy, find the courage to change, and seek what is good and holy in their lives. Let us pray to the Lord.

For students and educators: That they may be inspired by the example of St. Albert to pursue knowledge with diligence and use their learning to serve others and glorify God. Let us pray to the Lord.

For all who are sick, suffering, or in need: That they may experience the compassion of Christ through the care and charity of Christians. Let us pray to the Lord.

For our community: That we may use our gifts, ingenuity, and energy to fulfill God’s mission in our lives and serve our neighbors with love and dedication. Let us pray to the Lord.

During this month of November, we pray in a special way for all of the faithful departed, that they may be gathered among the righteous into the eternal kingdom of God, especially N. 

Almighty God, you gave St. Albert the Great the wisdom to study your creation and the grace to live a life of holiness. Hear the prayers of your people and guide us to use our gifts for your glory and the salvation of souls. Through Christ our Lord.

33rd Week in Ordinary Time 2022 - Tuesday - Message to the lukewarm and weak of faith (& St. Albert the Great)

 As I mentioned yesterday, for these final two weeks of the Church year, we read from the final book of the Bible—the book of Revelation. 

The book begins with a series of seven visions and messages to be delivered to seven particular Churches in Asia Minor. Yesterday’s reading ended with a message to the Christians at Ephesus, the place where the Blessed Mother lived before her Assumption into heaven. 

Today’s reading has skipped ahead abit, after all, we have just two weeks to get through the whole book. We heard the messages to the Church in Sardis and the Church in Laodicea, the fifth and seventh churches to be addressed. The messages share many similarities, the primary one being that Jesus Christ is aware of the situation in their communities, and that he offers them words both of comfort and challenge. 

The situation in Sardis was pretty pitiful. The Christians were on the verge of losing their faith entirely. Jesus said, “I know your works, you have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.” There couldn’t be a stronger rebuke. Could you image? Jesus himself saying to the Church at West Blvd. “You claim to be Christian, you claim to be faithful, but your faith is dead because your works are incomplete in my sight.” So, Jesus urges the Christians at Sardis to fan into flame the little faith they had left. 

Jesus’ message to Laodicea is nearly just as correctional: he says, the Christians there are neither hot nor cold for the faith, simply lukewarm, and it makes him want to spit them out of his mouth. And their lukewarm faith was the result of growing complacent in the mission of the Church, and placing more trust in money and politics than in the teaching of the Church. 

And then came one of the most beautiful passages in all the new testament, at least one of my favorites: Jesus says, "'Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me.” Jesus is knocking on the doors of our hearts, and he is knocking on the doors of the hearts of the lukewarm and those who have grown weak in faith. 

How do we help others open the doors of their hearts to Christ? How do witness how good it is when faith is on fire, when Christ is invited into the home, when intimate friendship with Jesus is developed? 

Today, we honor one of the great saints of the middle ages, who did just that: Saint Albert the Great. The Collect for his feast speaks of how God made Albert great through his joining of wisdom and divine faith. What made Albert Great? He wisely put his life in order, he had his priorities straight. He put God first, he put his tremendous intellectual gifts at the service of the kingdom. He sought to love and serve the Lord with his whole mind, heart, soul, and strength and he taught others to do the same. May St. Albert assist us in our share in the mission, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

 

For blessings upon the Bishops gathered in Baltimore for their annual meeting this week, that their conversations, prayers, and deliberations for the good of the Church may be blessed. 

Through the intercession of St. Albert the Great, patron of philosophers and scientists, that those involved in the sciences may be men and women of faith may glorify God in their learning, research, and work. 

For safety for travelers and for the homeless and destitute affected by cold and inclement weather, and that Christians may be every more attentive to the needs of the poor and the despairing in our midst. 

For the transformation of all attitudes which lead to violence, racial hatred, and religious persecution. For the safety of police and firefighters, for first responders, the underemployed and unemployed, for those struggling with addiction, for those suffering from depression or burn-out, and the healing of all the sick.  

We pray in a special way for all of the faithful departed during this Month of November, for the deceased members of our family, friends, and parish, and all the souls in purgatory, and for N. for whom this mass is offered. 

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

November 15 2021 - St. Albert the Great - Patron of Scientists and Philosophers

St. Albert the Great—Albertus Magnus—was born at the beginning of the 13th century to an influential family in Germany. He went to Padua in Italy to study the so-called “liberal arts” : grammar, rhetoric, dialectics, arithmetic, geometry, astronomy and music.

During his stay in Padua he attended the Church of the Dominicans, whom he then joined with the profession of the religious vows. It is said, however, that, he came to the discernment of his vocation quite gradually, and three main factors played a role: the Dominican Friars' example of holiness, hearing the sermons of Blessed Jordan of Saxony, St Dominic's successor as the Master General of the Order of Preachers, and his own intense relationship with God.

In my late teenage years, as I began to discern my vocation to the priesthood, I think of the holy example of my home parish pastor, some excellent homilies, and some pretty intense prayer that led to my entrance into holiness. God can and does speak to us in our youth in pointing us toward our life’s project. 

As it was for Albert, so also for all of us, personal prayer, nourished by the Lord's word, frequent reception of the Sacraments and the spiritual guidance of enlightened people are the means to discover and follow God's voice. 

Albertus Magnus is best known as one of the Fathers of the scholastic method of philosophy in the Medieval period that became the predominant system of philosophy in the Church for centuries. His synthesis of the philosophy of Aristotle was further developer by his student and friend, Thomas Aquinas.  

Albert wrote a compendium of knowledge which addressed topics such as logic, rhetoric, mathematics, astronomy, ethics, economics, politics, and metaphysics, and so many of the natural sciences from physics to chemistry, astronomy and minerology, from botany to zoology.  He is one of the patron saints of philosophy and the natural sciences. He certainly shows us that there is not only a place in the Church for deeply rational thought, but a need for men and women of scientific minds who are also open to and fervent for the deep mystery of God. We need faithful Catholic economists and mathematicians and astronomers and politicians to lend their rational thought and faith to the mission of the Church.

There is a place for the greatest minds inside the Church. May St. Albertus Magnus help us put our own ingenuity, creativity, energy, and interests in service of the Gospel for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For blessings upon the Bishops gathered in Baltimore for their annual meeting this week, that their conversations, prayers, and deliberations for the good of the Church may be blessed. 

Through the intercession of St. Albert the Great, patron of philosophers and scientists, that those involved in the sciences may be men and women of faith may glorify God in their learning, research, and work. 

For safety for travelers and for the homeless and destitute affected by cold and inclement weather, and that Christians may be every more attentive to the needs of the poor and the despairing in our midst. 

For the transformation of all attitudes which lead to violence, racial hatred, and religious persecution. For the safety of police and firefighters, for first responders, the underemployed and unemployed, for those struggling with addiction, for those suffering from depression or burn-out, and the healing of all the sick.  

We pray in a special way for all of the faithful departed during this Month of November, for the deceased members of our family, friends, and parish, and all the souls in purgatory, and for N. for whom this mass is offered. 

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

November 15 2020 - St. Albert the Great - Joining Wisdom to Divine Faith

As we near the end of Ordinary Time, our readings from the Gospel of Luke near Jesus’ arrival to Jerusalem, the end and culmination of his earthly ministry. The Lord’s teachings grow more and more dire, urging his disciples to prepare their souls for the end of their own lives.

In today’s passage, the Lord warns us to be ever vigilant against becoming too focused over earthly pursuits.  Eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, and building aren’t bad in themselves, of course, in fact, they are necessary for maintaining earthly life. However, if we become too overly focused on them, and forget that our ultimate purpose is to serve God and to seek the kingdom of God, then Our Lord says that the consequences will be as dire for us as they were for the people of Noah’s time who perished in the flood or the people of Sodom and Gomorrah who were destroyed by fire and brimstone.

Of course, our Lord is alluding to the eternal punishment of hell for those who live only for this world and neglect the call to holiness through faith.

Similarly, the passage from the book of Wisdom speaks of how it is foolishness to become enamored by the things of creation, as beautiful as they are, while neglecting the author of creation, who is the source of their beauty. The foolish become distracted, wisdom says, by earthly things while neglecting the most important thing, their relationship with God. That which distracts us puts our souls in danger, and yet, we foolishly return over and over again to the distraction.

Rather than foolishness, we are to live wisely, putting things in their proper order, seeking first the kingdom of God, seeing distractions for what they are, engaging in the works of the earth only as a means to achieving our ultimate purpose, life with God.

Today, we honor one of the great saints of the middle ages, Saint Albert the Great, who was the teacher of the greatest theologian of the time, St. Thomas Aquinas. The Collect for his feast speaks of how God made Albert great through his joining of wisdom and divine faith.

What made Albert Great? He wisely put his life in order, he had his priorities straight. He put God first, he put his tremendous intellectual gifts at the service of the kingdom. He sought to love and serve the Lord with his whole mind, heart, soul, and strength. May we do the same, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That Pope Francis and all bishops and clergy will help defend the Church against error, and lead her members always in the pathways of truth, righteousness, and charity.

For the conversion of all those who perpetuate error or set bad Christian example for young people and those of weak faith.

That Christians may be fortified against the distractions and temptations of the world and work diligently for the spread of the Gospel.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, immigrants and refugees, 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 all who have died, for those whose names are written in our parish necrology and all the deceased members of our parish, for deceased clergy and religious, and for all the poor souls in purgatory for whom we pray in a special way during the month of November, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

November 15 2018 - St. Albert the Great - Deeper Knowledge and Love of God

Saint Albert the Great  was considered the most learned man of his time, the 13th century, and, he was the teacher of the greatest theologian of all time, Saint Thomas Aquinas.

Recall the words of this morning’s opening prayer, “O God, who made the Bishop Saint Albert great by his joining of human wisdom to divine faith.”  God makes all the Saints great in holiness, by raising their human virtues to heroic levels. In the saint, the human intellect, human compassion, virtues like prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance which the wise of every age have sought to develop, are made raised to a whole new level through grace, through faith.

This is one reason why all the saints are our teachers. They show us by their example what is possible when a life is united to God. St. Albert, in particular, is one of only 33 people in human history known as a doctor of the Catholic Church—doctor, coming from the Latin word meaning “Learned One”.  He is “learned” not simply intellectually, but in the ways of Christ.

The proper reading from the book of Sirach spoke of how those who fear the Lord, that should be all of us, shall be nourished with the bread of understanding and given the water of learning to drink. Our minds should crave understanding and learning like our bodies crave food and water. Catholics should always be engaged in some kind of intellectual formation.  Now, you don’t have to sit by the fireside every day with Saint Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologica, though you can get it for free on your Kindle!  Though it certainly couldn’t hurt, no one will sharpen the mind like St. Thomas. Nor is learning supposed to replace our daily prayer, but daily learning is our way of life...that's what it means to be a disciple--a learner of the way of Christ.

But understanding and learning about our faith, about the scriptures, about the lives of the saints, musn’t end when our grade school catechesis ends. Minds that don’t crave learning like the body craves bread and water, have perhaps been dulled by too much tv, video games, or nonsense.
Albert was called “the Great” even during his lifetime by his contemporaries because of his immense scholarship and knowledge of philosophy.  Yet, he could only truly be called great by history, by us, because of the greatness of his holiness and love—a holiness that put his life—his gifts, his talents, and struggles, at the service of Christ and his Holy Church.

May the prayers and example of the learned Saint Albert the Great help us to deepen our knowledge and love of God, for the building up of the Church for His Glory and the salvation of souls.

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That Pope Francis and all bishops and clergy will help defend the Church against error, and lead her members always in the pathways of truth, righteousness, and charity.

For the conversion of all those who perpetuate error or set bad Christian example for young people and those of weak faith.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, immigrants and refugees, 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 all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, for whom we pray in a special way during the month of November, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord