November 30 2020 - St. Andrew the Apostle - Bravely Beginning Advent

 

On this first weekday of Advent, we honor the apostle first-called by the Lord. The celebration of the Feast the Apostles outranks the Advent weekday celebration, for, without the Apostles faithfully fulfilling their mission we wouldn’t have Advent, would we? Yet, we can still ask, what lessons particularly for Advent, can we learn from this courageous martyred apostle?

Though Andrew was of Jewish heritage, his name Andrew, comes not from a Hebrew word, but a Greek word: andreios, meaning “brave”, “manly”. The Apostle Andrew bravely followed Christ, bravely spread Christ’s Gospel, and bravely witnessing to Christ in martyrdom.  

Tradition says that he preached the Gospel in Patras, a city on the northwest coast of Greece’s Peloponnesian peninsula. He was met with great hostility by the governor of Patras, a man by the name of Aegeas. After imprisoning and torturing the apostle for preaching against the pagan gods, Aegeas promised great honors to Andrew, if he would forsake his Christian faith and offer the pagan sacrifices. Andrew responded: “the honors you offer me have no value in my eyes, because they are temporal and pass away; the tortures you threaten me with, I despise, for the same reason; but you, Aegeas have to fear torments which last forever, if you do not abandon your idols, and recognize Jesus Christ for the true and only God, and worship Him as such.”

Andrew’s courageous words recalls the promise of Our Lord in the Gospels, who said, “You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake. When they deliver you up, do not be afraid…”

How are we called to practice Apostle-like ‘courage’ this advent? We’re certainly called to fortify ourselves against all of the secularizing influences of this upcoming month which seek to remove Christ from Christmas.  

But also, we are certainly called to ‘bravely’ enter into the spirituality of this season, to not be afraid to put aside worldly matters in order to seek after heavenly matters: to fill our Advent days with devotions, scripture reading, and good works.

After refusing to offer the pagan sacrifice, Andrew was crucified on the X-shaped cross. Hanging on the cross for two days before he died, he continued to preach the Gospel. Despite our crosses, we are called to bravely preach Christ this Advent, to prepare our souls to meet Him. 

Like Andrew we are called to leave behind the old life of earthly concern, in order to preach the Good News of Christ to the ends of the earth, to seek our joy not in earthly honors and riches, but in our faithfulness to the end. 

May the intercession and example of Saint Andrew grant us courage for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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We raise up our prayers of petitions, as we await with longing the Advent of Christ the Lord.

That through the courageous witness of the Christian Church, Our Lord will bring hope to the hopeless and joy to the joyless.

That world leaders may look upon the Son of God, believe in him, and seek the peace and justice that only he can bring.

That Christ may heal every disease, drive out hunger, ward off every affliction, and bring peace to the suffering.

For the deceased of our parish, family and friends, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Keep us alert, we pray, O Lord our God, as we await the advent of Christ your son, so that, when he comes and knocks, he may find us watchful in prayer and exultant in  his praise. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

1st Sunday of Advent 2020 - Recognizing our need for God

During the season of Advent, we read extensively from the prophet Isaiah. Isaiah is the Advent prophet; for, In the weeks leading up to Christmas, we are attentively to Isaiah’s message to Israel. But in order to understand his message, we need to know about the context—what was Israel going through to need a message like the one they receive from Isaiah?

So, let’s consider the context: things had gone from bad to worse for Israel. A few hundred years prior, the twelve tribes had been united under single king. But after just a few generations that unity had begun to suffer. The united Kingdom of David had been divided into the southern kingdom where the Davidic King continued to rule in Jerusalem, and a rival northern Kingdom. The King of the North, not wanting his people to travel to Jerusalem for the Jewish Feasts, started what was basically a new religion, he built a rival temple, instituted new feast days. And as the northerners strayed from the religion of their forefathers, they soon fell into immorality and they became vulnerable to their enemies. And in the year 740 BC, that northern kingdom was conquered by the Assyrians.

Witnessing what happened in the North, the Prophets of the South pleaded with the southerners to remain faithful to God: if it could happen in the north, it could happen to us. And you’d think, they’d have less reason to stray from God: after all, they had the holy city of Jerusalem, the True Holy Temple, the True Religion was being taught. Yet, within a few generations, even the southerners began to slip and stray. 

Prophets like Obadiah, Joel, and Habakkuk, who are painted on the edge of our ceiling,  warned the south that the disaster which befell the North would soon befall the South if they did not reform their lives and teach their children to walk in the ways of righteousness.

This is why, in the first reading, Isaiah calls the southerners an “unclean people” their deeds “like polluted rags”, their nation “withered like leaves”.  And, just as the prophets had foretold, as the south strayed from God, they too became vulnerable to their enemies.  In 605 BC, the Babylonians captured the South; in 589 Nebuchadnezzar laid siege to Jerusalem culminating with the destruction of the city and the Temple in 587.  The remaining Jews, as Isaiah foretold, were “carried away by the wind”—most of the Jews of the South were carried off in chains, marched into Babylonian captivity.  They were exiled from their homeland, from their temple; loved ones were separated.  It was the darkest point in Israel’s history. 

Imagine how shaken the Jews must have been.  No doubt, they thought, How could God allow this to happen to his chosen people, his holy city, his holy temple. Why has God allowed us to fall into captivity? 

Who can’t identify with that sentiment.  Who hasn’t felt captive at some point in their life? Who hasn’t felt captive at some point in the last 10 months? Who hasn’t felt like things had gone terribly wrong in their life? In our country? How could things have come to this? The political turmoil, the civil unrest, the grave immorality all around us, wondering when, O Lord will you show yourself?  When will there be justice? When will there be mercy?

Isaiah then verbalizes some of Israel’s frustration: “oh that you would rend the heavens and come down with the mountains quaking before you.” Israel was desperate for God to show himself, and do something, and save them. 

This is the sentiment that begins the season of Advent—not on a very cheery note, but a realistic one. Right at the beginning, we recognize how much we need God—how much we need a Savior. Our families need Him. Our nation needs Him. I need Him. And if you don’t sympathize with that…If that need for God doesn’t resonate with you. Than a little spiritual tune-up is needed. 

For, we get into spiritual trouble, don’t we, when we forget that we need God? When we fall into what the scripture calls spiritual slumber. Look at what happens in my life when I don’t’ pray as I should…when I don’t keep the commandments of God always before me, as I should…when I don’t keep the example of my Savior always before me. A division between me and God begins to grow. Where there was once prayer now there is some earthly distraction, some selfish pursuit, my spiritual life suffers, my moral life suffers. And I’m certainly not filled with the joy that comes from a vibrant living relationship with God. 

And so Advent begins with this stark warning. Don’t let what happened to Israel happen to you. Recognize your need for God. Repent. Don’t be carried off by the winds of this godless culture. Plead with God, daily, in the words of the Psalm, “Turn our eyes toward you O God.”

For when we go through life without lifting our eyes to God, without recognizing our need for God, the activity of our life becomes vacuous—empty—undirected by anything but our whims. But when we rightly look to God throughout our day, beginning our day with prayer, engaging in our daily activity prayerfully, finding some time to reflect on the Word of God throughout the day, and ending our day in prayer, our lives become full of God’s presence.

Our lives are fuller when we turn our minds and our hearts to God, than they are when we neglect prayer or when we fill our lives with selfish pursuits. We are happier, we are more joyful, our lives have more meaning, when our faces are turned toward God, when our hearts recognize our need for God. 

This week, let us undertake two tasks. First, take stock of your spiritual life. Identify one activity that needs to be replaced with prayer, or at least one that needs to be undertaken with more prayer. And make a holy advent commitment to God, concerning that activity, that the Lord may keep you “firm to the end” in the words of St. Paul today.

Secondly, identify a person who you know, who has fallen away from church and prayer and religion and the sacraments. Pray for them. If you have the courage, at the opportune time, reach out to them. Remind them that it’s advent, invite them, perhaps to watch mass or even attend mass with you. And keep them in prayer throughout this holy season. Pray in the words of our psalmist “turn our eyes toward you O God”. 

For any healing, or peace, or unity we hope to see in our families or in our nation, will only when happen when our eyes are rightly turned to God, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

34th Week in OT 2020 - Friday - Endless spiritual summer is at hand

 Just like the blossoming of the fig tree indicates the coming of summer, the Lord explains that there will be a series of signs that indicate the final stage in human history, and some of them are pretty frightening. The Lord foretells the destruction of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple, he tells of the awful calamities which will precede the end of the world and his second coming, and how his followers will be persecuted; Christians will be hated because of his name; and at the great tribulation there will be signs in the sky, people will even die of fright.

But the Lord insists that Christians must not lose hope, we must not lose faith during times of political turmoil or natural disaster, even Christian persecution. These are but the labor pains that will precede a new era of endless spiritual summer, that will last forever, when the Lord returns and the kingdom of God is fully manifested. To paraphrase St. Theresa of Avila, compared to the glory of eternity to come, all the sufferings of life shall be like an uncomfortable night in an inconvenient hotel. 

The devil is in a great fury for he knows his time on earth is short, as St. John says in the Apocalypse. The devil is going to do as much damage as he can, cause as much war and suffering as he can, draw as many souls away from God as he can. And in a sense, the Lord is saying in the Gospel today, this should not surprise us. These are the labor pains, these are the signs the devil’s reign is nearly at an end. These signs proceed the new heaven and the new earth, the endless era of the kingdom of God yet to come.

Our readings today certainly describe the state of the world, for indeed, the Church is experiencing these great labor pains prior to the return of our Lord. And yet, there is also an analogue to our own personal spiritual lives. Whenever we are on the verge of spiritual growth, of new spiritual birth, we can expect great resistance from the enemy. He doesn’t want to see the life of God within us flourish, he doesn’t want to see us bear new spiritual fruit. And so he will obstruct, and obfuscate, and complicate things, so that we will weaken in our cooperation with grace. 

So we mustn’t be surprised when things get difficult for us on a personal level too, when we are working for peace in our family, or working to pursue purity or some spiritual good, there is going to be elements of resistance, but these too are but the labor pains for new spiritual birth, the birth of heaven within our souls.

As we come to the end of the liturgical year and the beginning of Advent, may God’s Holy Spirit help us to always practice patience and perseverance throughout all of life’s difficulties whatever challenges the new year has in store. May we follow the Lord’s urging to “stand erect and raise our heads, for our redemption is at hand” for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That the members of the Church will practice great fortitude when resisted and opposed by the powers of darkness.

For the protection of our armed forces, police, and firemen and all those who risk their lives to preserve the security of our country.  We pray to the Lord.

For the safety of travelers, the peaceful resolution of all family divisions and national hostilities. 

For the poor, the hungry, the homeless, the sick, the aged, the lonely, the grieving, those who are out of work, those who are facing financial difficulties, those with addictions, and the imprisoned: that God will draw close to them, and bless them with grace and peace.

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 N., for whom this mass is offered. 

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

Thanksgiving Day 2020 - Catholic Squanto, Religious Tolerance, and Gratitude

Thanksgiving is not an explicitly Christian holiday; it’s not a feast day of the Church, even in the United States. Yet, it certainly has a religious dimension, for on thanksgiving we turn to God, the author of all Goodness, to give thanks for those things which we value most: family, friendship, nation, the goods of the earth, and our neighbor.

In the year 1615, an English explorer Thomas Hunt, a compatriot of the famous John Smith, captured a group of Native Americans to sell them on the slave trade. One of these Native Americans was Squanto.  The group was rescued by Catholic Franciscans Friars, who baptized Squanto and catechized him in the Catholic faith.  Squanto went to England where he worked in the shipyards and became fluent in English.  

Squanto returned to his Native America where he was living for about 5 years when the pilgrims left England in order to pursue a Calvinist Utopia in Massachusetts because they thought the Anglicans were “too Catholic”.  The pilgrims however had no food and were starving.  Squanto, hearing of their distress, came to their aid teaching them how to grow corn and to fish.  Thanks to Catholic Squanto they celebrated their first successful harvest in 1621, the first Thanksgiving.

Not long after, Squanto was abducted by another group of hostile Native Americans, and the pilgrims whom Squanto had helped, dropped everything to go and save him. Already, our land was beginning to take shape as a place of religious toleration and mutual cooperation. A place where people of different beliefs could work together.

So the Thanksgiving meal has a history of people even of different faiths sitting down at table together. It is not that we ignore the divisions, strife, pain, friction, brokenness, or sorrow out there. But it is a very important human need to stop and give thanks. It’s not a day for political arguments, but for the refreshing of society. Thomas Aquinas said, gratitude is the “mark of a happy disposition to see good rather than evil.” So, take time today with those you love, to count the blessings; as St. Paul writes to the Philippians, “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy” speak about these things.

Thankfulness is the soil in which the soul thrives, in which families and nations thrive. May this day be filled with a deep sense of gratitude to God, free from turmoil, division, and discord, that those most important bonds may be strengthened and refresh our society for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That people of good will may work together against attacks on religious liberty and the Christian Faith to pursue together the building up of God’s kingdom.  We pray to the Lord.

For the protection of our armed forces, police, and firemen and all those who risk their lives to preserve the security of our country.  We pray to the Lord.

For the safety of travelers, the peaceful resolution of all family divisions, and national hostilities, for protection from disease, and harmony amongst all those who gather together today.

For the poor, the hungry, the homeless, the sick, the aged, the lonely, the grieving, those who are out of work, those who are facing financial difficulties, those with addictions, and the imprisoned: that God will draw close to them, and bless them with grace and peace.

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, and For Our Country, Our Constitution & Religious Liberty, for which this Mass is offered. 

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

November 25 2020 - St. Catherine of Alexandria - Sharing the faith with patience and love

 In the Gospel the Lord foretold how his followers would be seized, persecuted, brought before kings and imprisoned because of his name. This was certainly true for St. Catherine of Alexandria who was one of the most revered saints of the early Church and middle ages. That her feast is now an optional memorial would baffle our forebearers—in several dioceses in France her feast was observed as a Holy Day of Obligation, devotion to St. Catherine was so great. She is one of the 14 holy helpers whose intercession is sought especially during times of plagues.

The story of her martyrdom is still inspiring: the beautiful and wise Catherine of Alexandria had attracted the attention of the Emperor Maximiam. Having consecrated herself to Jesus, she refused the emperor’s advances. So the emperor sent his 50 wisest philosophers to convince Saint Catherine to change her mind. They however proved no match for Catherine’s superior intellect, and were so impressed with her that all 50 converted to Christ. Furious, the Emperor had her imprisoned, and whilst in prison, Catherine continued to convert members of the emperor’s family, including his wife, and many soldiers—over 200 converts—before she was condemned to martyrdom on a spiked-wheel. 

For her competency in explaining and sharing the faith, Catherine of Alexandria is invoked as Patron saint of Apologists, philosophers, scholars, students, theologians, and wheel-makers. 

The Old Mass for St. Catherine referred to a legend in which at the time of her death, angels carried her body aloft to Mt. Sinai, where God gave the law to Moses. During the middle ages, Christians would make pilgrimage to Sinai where a constant stream of healing oil was said to have flowed from Catherine’s relics. 

Tomorrow at the thanksgiving meal, we may find ourselves engaged in theological discussion, like St. Catherine, with those who do not share our faith. May we, like St. Catherine, always explain and share our faith competently and patiently, absolutely rooted in the truth of Christ and the love of Christ. As Augustine would say, “nothing conquers but truth, and the victory of truth is love.” Truth needs to be shared patiently and with understanding, even when it feels we are being tortured on spiked-wheel. 

May St. Catherine’s example guide us, and her heavenly intercession help us, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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May St. Catherine help all clergy and all catechists teach the truth with clarity and conviction and help us all share the faith patiently with non-believers.

May St. Catherine, heavenly helper and patron against plagues, help deliver us from the current plagues which afflict us. 

For peace and refreshment to all who prepare to gather for the Thanksgiving Holiday, bring safety to travelers, and protection from all disease.

For comfort to the sick and suffering, charity and care to the destitute and down-trodden, and courage to the fearful. 

That the Lord welcome into his kingdom all the faithful departed, especially members of our families, friends, and parish, all clergy and religious, and N. for whom this mass is offered.

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

November 24 2020 (School Mass) - St. Andrew Dung-Lac - Faith or Fear

 From one perspective, Jesus’ warning in the Gospel today could be kind of frightening. Standing on the foot of the beloved Jerusalem Temple the Lord shouts out, “everything you see here, all these costly stones and votive offerings will be destroyed. And not only that, there are going to be wars and violence and earthquakes and floods and famines and persecutions and plagues”. Kind of frightening, no?

And yet, Jesus isn’t trying to be frightening, rather, he’s trying to be comforting. All these terrible events he says are going to happen. Do not be terrified, he says. Do not be terrified, by these things. For the past few months, we’ve been living through one of these plagues Jesus was talking about. A plague, is a disease that sweeps through the population. 

And over the past few months I’ve met two types of people. People who are full of fear and people who take Jesus at his word here, who allow their love for Jesus Christ to cast out fear that is repeated over and over on the 24-hour news cycle and on the internet. Two types of people: the fearful and the faithful. 

The fearful are full of sadness, and they feel like prisoners, and they have been led to violent riots and vehement anger toward their fellow man. Their fear leads to anger, their anger leads to hate.

And the faithful are full of peace, and they are working to make the world brighter for others. During this plague, the faithful, take reasonable precautions not to get anybody sick, but they are not allowing fear to keep them from pursuing what is most important in life. Goodness, holiness, and peace.

Today the Church celebrates a group of Christian martyrs who experienced some of the most terrible and gruesome tortures in the whole history of the world. They were hated by their government, persecuted by their own people because of their faith in Jesus. Despite the persecution and the torture, they radiated peace and forgiveness and trust in God. And because of their courageous faith, Christianity is flourishing in Vietnam. Where there was once fear and hatred, now their faith and peace.

When we choose faith over fear God does amazing things—he performs miracles. Put your faith in Jesus throughout all the terrible events of life. And you will know a freedom and a peace that the fearful cannot even imagine. Don’t believe me? Try it for yourself. 

To all of our school families and teachers and staff, please know of my prayers, that your thanksgiving gatherings may be filled with the peace that comes through faith in Jesus Christ for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

 

For the sanctification of the Church, that bishops and priests be granted courage to preach the Gospel in its fullness.

For the sanctification of families, that the Word of Jesus may be studied, cherished and practiced in every home.

For all who have fallen away from the sacraments, may they repent of their sins and desire the life that can only come from you.

For peace and refreshment to all who prepare to gather for the Thanksgiving Holiday, bring safety to travelers, and protection from all disease.

For comfort to the sick and suffering, charity and care to the destitute and down-trodden, and courage to the fearful. 

That the Lord welcome into his kingdom all the faithful departed, those whose names are written in our parish necrology, all clergy and religious, and N. for whom this mass is offered.

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

November 23 2020 - St. Clement, Pope and Martyr - Anchor of Hope

Imagine a sailing ship, several miles offshore, being battered by stormy, raging seas and buffeted by high winds.  The captain, prevented by the storm from getting into the safe harbor, lowers the anchor to the sea floor to prevent the wind and waves from sweeping the ship away.  The anchor holds “sure and firm”; and though the ship is caught in a storm, the anchor keeps the ship from being lost or destroyed.

Today’s saint, St. Clement, is often depicted with the anchor. For it was the instrument of his martyrdom around the year 100. For opposing the emperor Trajan, Clement, the fourth Pope of the Roman Church, was condemned to death by drowning—he was tied to a marble anchor and thrown into the sea.

Clement is often depicted in art with the marble anchor by his side. Much like the cross, the terrible instrument of Our Savior’s agonizing death, has been transformed into a symbol of hope—so too, Clement’s anchor. The anchor is found in many of the catacombs and is still utilized in Church art and architecture as a symbol of hope. We HOPE that what we suffer for Christ—great trials and persecutions, and even offering up our minor inconveniences—we hope that these things will bear fruit in eternal life.

The letter to the Hebrews calls to mind this symbol. In speaking about the need to hold fast to the promises of God amidst the threat of persecution, Hebrews says, “This we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and firm, which reaches into the interior behind the veil.”

When our lives become hectic, chaotic, stormy, we need to hold fast to Our Lord, who is our anchor. When we are firm in hope, we become safe from being swept away by the turmoil of the world. 

Again, imagine, you are hiding in the catacombs, three of your best friends have just been thrown to the lions or burned at the stake, or crucified and set ablaze during the emperor’s persecution.  The anchor reminds you, that Jesus’ peace can be yours in this life and the joy of heaven can be yours in the next, if you but hold fast to Him.

The relics of St. Ignatius our patron, are buried in the Church of St. Clement in Rome. And like Ignatius, Clement wrote to several of the churches before his martyrdom. Clement, writing to the Corinthians, calls to mind this virtue: “Having then this hope, let our souls be bound to Him who is faithful in His promises, and just in His judgments.”

The anchor, or the cross are not magic symbols that will banish our earthly storms; but if Christ is your anchor, your soul will survive the storm. Christ is the only hope for a future existence in heaven. If we remain true to Christ, if we die with him, then we shall be raised with him, forever and ever. May Christ be our anchor of hope today and all days for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

 

That the holy Father and all bishops and priests will help the Church will remain true to their mission of helping the Church grow in faith, hope, and love. Let us pray to the Lord.

For those who do not put their hope in the promises of Christ, for those who have left the Church or despair of God’s forgiveness, that the holy Spirit will bring the hopeless to safe harbor. Let us pray to the Lord.

For those undergoing the storms of life: for the poor, the hungry, the homeless, the sick, the aged, the lonely, the grieving, those who are out of work, those who are facing financial difficulties or struggling with addiction, and those most vulnerable, that God will draw close to them, raise them up, and answer their needs.  Let us pray to the Lord.

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.

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

Christ the King 2020 - The King in disguise

 Today the Church celebrates with great joy the Solemnity of Christ the King. It is the last Sunday of the liturgical year and, in many ways, the culmination.  All of the seasons and feasts point to this reality: that Jesus Christ is the King of the Universe, the Lord of all.  All of time, all of history, is heading toward this climax when Christ will be revealed as the universal King of Kings. 

Although this feast wasn’t officially on the Church calendar until 1929, it’s been a doctrine of the Church since the very beginning—Israel referred to God as Heavenly King long before they had an earthly King. In fact, we Americans are a bit like ancient Israel in that way. We do not bend our knee to any earthly king, and yet we resoundingly hail Christ as Our King.

For a little cultivation of mind and soul, a few years ago, I read Shakespeare’s Henry V.  Act IV of Henry V, takes place the night before the great battle of Agincourt, and King Henry does something surprising. He disguises himself as a commoner. The king dressed in peasant garb walks among his soldiers, he calls brothers, and raises their spirits for the upcoming battle.

Sound familiar?  The King of the Universe became one of us.  And it wasn’t just an act; God really became man and sent the Church on a campaign to bring the Gospel to all of the corners of the earth.  

There is another famous story about royalty disguising itself as the commoner, a story I heard as a young boy, the story of the Prince and the Pauper.  The prince and a poor commoner trade places, the prince goes and lives in the streets, begging for food, and the pauper lives in the castle and is treated like royalty.  While he is living in the streets, some treat the prince with kindness, some ignore him, some even spit on him.  At the end of the story, the prince comes back to the castle, sits on his throne and rewards those who cared for him, loved him, helped him, when they did not know he was the prince.

That lesson should sound familiar as well as it sounds a lot like Matthew’s Gospel this weekend!  In Matthew’s 25th chapter, the Lord teaches us that those in need are really him in disguise. For the rest of history he is disguised in ever hungry, naked, thirsty, homeless, imprisoned person we meet. And we will be judged—we will be separated into two camps—when he returns in glory—by our treatment of the least. 

Last Wednesday, on the 11th of November we celebrated the feast of St. Martin of Tours, whose image is depicted in one of our stained glass windows here at St. Ignatius. St. Martin of Tours lived in the 4th century.  He was a soldier, but also a Christian.  And one very cold day, much like today, Martin came across a poor, nearly naked man, lying at a city gate, begging for help.  Martin had no money, so the story goes that he took his red soldier’s cape, and cut it in half, and gave it to the poor man, to keep warm. That’s what is being depicted in the stained glass window. 

Not depicted is what happened shortly after. Martin had a vision of the Christ Child, seated on his throne, wearing half of Martin’s red soldier’s cape.  An angel asked the Lord, why are you wearing that cape, were did you get it from?  And the Lord responded, “My brother Martin gave that to me.”  When we care for the poor, we care for Christ.

St. Mother Theresa of Calcutta said, “at the end of life, we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made, how many great things we have done, we will be judged by, ‘I was naked and you clothed me, I was hungry and you fed me.”  But then she broadens the concept, “hungry not only for bread, but hungry for love; naked, not only of clothing, but of human dignity and respect, homeless not only of a room of bricks, but also homeless because of rejection…this is Christ in disguise.”  

The catechism validates Mother Theresa’s words, when it says, “On Judgment Day at the end of the world, Christ will come in glory to achieve the definitive triumph of good over evil…when he comes at the end of time to judge the living and the dead, the glorious Christ will reveal the secret disposition of hearts and will render to each man according to his works and according to his acceptance or refusal of grace.”    

Praised be to God, this parish has a such long history of taking this Gospel quite seriously. And I hope that can continue for a long time. It takes a lot of work and time. But please know that if you, or a group of fellow parishioners, have some idea of how you would like to serve the needs of our neighborhood or the needs of the parish, I will help you develop that. That’s what I’m here for.

Our everyday encounters, as St. Paul says, carries an “eternal weight of glory”—our treatment of the waitress, the cashier, the political rival, the belligerent family member at the thanksgiving dinner table—our decisions, our words, how we treat people, will be recalled on judgment day—when the disguise is taken off, and we will be judged according to the measure of our charity or lack thereof.

For Christ to truly be King of our lives, we must recognize that the King desires our service, especially when he dresses in disguise. Most of us are on our best behavior when we come into church, because we are in the Eucharistic presence of Christ, but that behavior, that generosity, always needs to extend beyond these walls, out in the world, in setting good Christian example by our words and deeds, sharing the good news of salvation with the brokenhearted, and even simply meeting the very common, simple needs physical needs of the stranger, for the Lord comes disguised as the stranger, and demands our respect, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

33rd Week in OT 2020 - Friday - The Sweetness of God's Word

 A few years ago, Pope Francis dedicated the third Sunday of Ordinary Time as “Word of God Sunday”. A day in which the Church was to consider the importance of the Word of God in our lives and to consider ways of making the Scriptures part of our everyday life.

Reflecting on the Scriptures, the holy father writes, we will be able to strive daily to embody and bear witness to their teachings.

The readings for this day contain a sort of reflection upon the word of God. Taking and swallowing the scroll in the first reading, St. John finds the words “sweet as honey” initially, but also a little troubling to the stomach. Also, in the Psalm, we hear the psalmist praise God for his word, God’s law is more precious than thousands of gold and silver pieces”, his promises are sweeter to his palate” than “honey to my mouth”.

And in the Gospel, there were crowds of people who found the words of Jesus compelling and intriguing, the crowd was “hanging on his every word” while the his enemies, found them bitter, and conspired to silence the word, putting him to death. They rejected the word of God that seeks to purify, casting out evil from our lives, just like he purified the Temple, casting out that which did not belong in the Temple of God.

Why does the Psalmist describe the word of God as sweet? The word of God refreshes the soul. Reading it and reflecting upon it in dark times, in challenging times, we are enlightened by it, comforted by it. We encounter God’s promises as they give us hope, that what we suffer in this life for his sake shall be rewarded in the life to come, that the coldness in this earthly life will be replaced with this warmth of God’s embrace in eternity. 

God’s word, upon reflection, can also be somewhat bitter, in that, we soon come to discover that it challenges us to change, to give up our sinful attachments, and to bear the cross in union Christ. 

Pope Francis writes “The sweetness of God’s word leads us to share it with all those whom we encounter in this life and to proclaim the sure hope that it contains. Its bitterness, in turn, often comes from our realization of how difficult it is to live that word consistently, or our personal experience of seeing it rejected as meaningless for life. We should never take God’s word for granted, but instead let ourselves be nourished by it, in order to acknowledge and live fully our relationship with him and with our brothers and sisters.”

In the encounter of the sweet word of God, may we be generous in sharing it with others, drawing others to God, that they may become Temples of his Spirit, and may we generously allow the Word of God to purify our lives of all that is selfish or sinful, that we may radiate God’s goodness ever more effectively for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That Christians may undertake the meditation and prayer necessary to live holy and righteous lives. 

For a healing of all family divisions, reunion for the estranged and welcoming of the alienated. 

That those who have fallen away from the Church or fallen into serious sin may repent and return to the grace of the Sacraments. 

For the poor, the hungry, the homeless, the sick, the aged, the lonely, the grieving, the unemployed, those who are facing financial difficulties, those with addictions, and the imprisoned: that God will draw close to them, and bless them with grace and peace.

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.

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

November 18 2020 - Dedication of the Basilicas of Sts. Peter and Paul

On June 29 every year we celebrate the feast of the martyrdoms of Saints Peter and Paul. Today’s feast commemorates the dedication of the Roman Basilicas built in their honor: the basilica of St. Peter in the Vatican in the year 350 and the dedication of the basilica of St. Paul in 390.  

Both of these edifices now stand very near the places where it is traditionally believed Saints Peter and Paul were martyred. Peter, we know, was said to have been crucified upside-down in the Circus of Nero, located on the mons Vaticanus, the Vatican Hill. Paul, was martyred outside the walls of the ancient city, at a place now called the abbazia delle tre fontane, the abbey of the three fountains, called such, because it is said, that when Paul was decapitated, his head bounced three times, from which, springs of water began to flow.

Each were buried near the place of their martyrdom. Again, Peter in a roman cemetery on Vatican Hill. And Paul, in a Roman Necropolis outside the ancient walls, in the tomb of a devout roman Noblewoman named Lucilla. 

When Christianity was eventually legalized in the Roman Empire, basilicas were built over the burial places of these two foundation stones for the Church. Though pilgrimage to their tombs was already occurring before the edict of Milan. Christians in fact risked imprisonment in order to make pilgrimage to pray at the tombs of Peter and Paul. 

Neither of the original basilicas still stand, in fact St. Paul’s has been subject to numerous fires. The new basilica of St. Paul’s was consecrated by Pius IX in 1854 and St. Peter’s Basillica was consecrated on this day, November 18 in 1626 by Pope Urban VIII—the altar of St. Peter’s basilica standing directly over the burial place of the apostle.

We can certainly see homages to these two great basilicas in the architecture of St. Ignatius, and yet, we aren’t really celebrated architectural achievement today, are we? Rather, the entire Catholic world today celebrates these two buildings in Rome,  in order to show our honor to the Apostles, and to remember that we belong to a Church that spans the entire globe, several millennia, which is built on the apostolic foundation. 

In an age where so many are tempted to sever themselves from the past and from authentic Church teaching, this feast is an important dimension of our Catholic faith. We unite ourselves to the great efforts of the apostles, to the millions of Catholics who have suffered persecution for our faith, for the efforts of missionaries and evangelists and teachers who have spent their lives passing on our faith, without whom we would not be here today. 

May our lives continue to be built upon the apostolic faith, courage and strength of Peter and Paul. May the love for the Lord which animated their lives animate ours, that we may serve him generously, if not heroically, like them, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For the purification of Holy Church, that the Pope and Bishops and clergy may be filled with Apostolic Zeal, and that all the Christian faithful may discover and nurture their spiritual gifts for the building up of the Church.

For those who have left the Church, for those who have grown lukewarm, for those in mortal sin, for their conversion and the conversion of all hearts.

For the healing of all those afflicted with physical, mental, emotional illness, for those in hospitals, nursing homes, hospice care, those struggling with addictions, for those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today.

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

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

 

November 17 2020 - St. Elizabeth of Hungary - Patron Saint of Third Order Franciscans

 

Elizabeth was born in the year 1207, right about the time St. Francis of Assisi founded the Franciscans.

She was the daughter of Andrew II, King of Hungary, and was very devout from a young age.  She would often give away her possessions to the poor and sick, and had a special love for lepers. 

She was placed in an arranged marriage, and, as providence would have it, she was married to another devout soul: Louis, the Landgrave of Thuringia. Her husband encouraged her in the works of charity and they were said to have had an “unusually happy marriage”.  

St. Elizabeth, as part of her charitable works, built a hospital next to their castle, and, would personally tend to the sick and the poor, feeding over 900 people daily.  

Sadly, her husband died on his way to fight in the crusades, and Louis’ brothers, rose up against her, and drove her out of the castle.  She was forced to flee with her 4 children, one of those children being only 2 months old.  She was cast out, like the Holy Family, she could find no place to enter, for people were afraid to take her in out of fear of her husband’s brothers.  Like the Holy family she was granted asylum in a stable.  

The amazing thing, she didn’t complain, she didn’t curse God, she saw this as a sign of God’s favor, and she gave thanks to God for permitting her a share in the savior’s cross and be conformed to the Holy Family.  She continued to work odd jobs, spinning garments and selling them.  She was allowed to come back to the castle under the new emperor, and even built a second hospital.

She died at the age of 24.  Yet, because of the great number of miracles at her grave, Pope Gregory canonized her, only four years after her death. She is invoked as patron saint of third order Franciscans. 

Here was a holy woman, more concerned about the nobility of her soul, than her noble status in the world—more concerned with clothing her soul with virtue, than with the fine garments of a queen—a holy, virtuous woman, industrious in doing good works.  

Because her eyes were set on heaven, when she met the cross, she did not despair; rather, she saw the sufferings of her life as an opportunity to conform herself to Our Lord.  So let us follow in Elizabeth’s footsteps, in performing many good works and accepting all of the trials that God deigns to send us, and learn to accept the cross with gratitude that we may partake in the cross of His son, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For our consecrated religious, particularly those under the patronage of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, may they be strengthened and supported in their witness to Christ’s saving Gospel.

That families experiencing division may know the peace and reconciliation that comes from Christ.

For all those struggling with addiction, mental illness, chronic sickness, unemployment, or ongoing trials of any kind, for those who grieve the loss of a loved one, or for those who will die today: that they will be fortified and blessed with God’s special favor and consolation.  

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.

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

November 16 2020 - St. Margaret of Scotland - Reflecting Divine Goodness

A few years ago, at the encouragement of a priest-friend of mine, I made pilgrimage to Scotland. I stayed near a place called Queensferry, named after Queen Margaret, whose feast is today. The place was named after the saintly queen because she was devoted to offering free passage across the river Fife to pilgrims traveling to the great shrine of the Apostle St. Andrew, whose x-shaped across adorns scotland’s flag. 

The patron saint of my first parish assignment, St. Columbkille, also had a connection to Scotland, having set up a monastery on the Scottish isle of Iona, after having been exiled from Ireland. 

I was immediately fascinated by the history of Christianity in Scotland, and yet, also saddened. Though Catholicism flourished in Scotland for centuries, particularly because of the efforts and sanctity of St. Margaret, the county has become catastrophically secular and anti-Catholic, no doubt due to the insidious efforts of Scottish Freemasonry. Around every corner there seemed to be a Church defaced and an ancient monastery beyond repair. St. Mary’s Cathedral in Edinburgh, formerly one of the world’s great Catholic cathedrals has been nearly stripped of its Roman art and statuary. Monasteries even predating Queen Margaret by centuries, have been ransacked and left to crumble of the Scottish reformers. So throughout my pilgrimage, I offered continual petition to St. Margaret, for Scotland’s reconversion.

Wife of the King and mother of eight children, Queen St. Margaret’s sanctity was clearly seen in her compassion, energy, and commitment to the relief of the suffering poor in the midst of the extreme political and social upheaval of her day. She was a reflection of divine goodness, as we prayed in the Collect, to her family and country. Each day the saintly queen served food to the poor and even washed their feet before she herself would take a meal. She had a great devotion to the Sacrament of Confession—seeking to correct her faults and develop heroic virtue. Throughout the day, she knew the importance of taking breaks from her duties as queen, wife, and mother, in order to pray and to read scripture. She knew the importance of keeping her eyes set on heaven, lest she get too wrapped up in the things of the world. In the midst 

What a wonderful model for all of us, and a powerful intercessor to turn to, as our own nation faces, once again, tremendous secularizing anti-Catholic forces. May seek to follow her holy example and know the benefit of her saintly intercession that we too may reflect divine goodness to all we meet for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For the Church in Scotland, that her members may continue to resist the forces of secularism and heresy and be strengthened in their witness to the saving Gospel of Christ.

For those who have fallen into error, for Catholics who have grown lukewarm in their faith, for those who have left the Church, for their conversion and the conversion of all hearts.

For all those struggling with addiction, mental illness, chronic sickness, unemployment, or ongoing trials of any kind: that they will be fortified and blessed with God’s special favor, healing and peace.  We pray to the Lord.

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.

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

33rd Sunday in OT 2020 - The gift of holy fear

 For the past few weeks, I’ve been conducting RCIA classes for adults who are seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church. The last two years we didn’t have anyone in RCIA, here at St. Ignatius, which was quite concerning, but this year we’re happy to have three adults preparing for the Sacraments. The first two months of RCIA consist of covering the basics, the elements of the Creed: what it means that Catholics believe in God, that God is the Creator of all things visible and invisible, and that Jesus Christ is True God and True Man, and we begin to look at the parts of the Bible.  On Monday, this week,  we will begin our discussion of the Holy Spirit, and we’ll talk a bit about the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, knowledge, counsel, fortitude, piety, and fear of the Lord.

Like the talents in the Gospel, these gifts of the Holy Spirit are given to each of us, to be utilized in the master’s service. We are to use the gift of wisdom to order our life according to the priorities of God. We are to use the gift of understanding to clearly explain our faith to others—to help them grow in faith. The gift of piety helps us to be mindful of God throughout our day and to set good Christian example for others.   

Our psalm today speaks about that last spiritual gift—last, but not least, and maybe even the most important gift: the fear of the Lord. “Blessed are those who fear the Lord.” Our first reading, too, speaks of the fear of the Lord. Proverbs says, “the woman who fears the Lord is to be praised”.  

I say fear of the lord may be the most important of the gifts of the Spirit, because it seems to be a prerequisite for the other six. Elsewhere in the book of Proverbs, we find the well-known verse that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom”. 

What do we mean by fear of the Lord? Fear of the Lord, of course, is completely different from the fear of spiders or fear of suffering. Fear can be good and fear can be bad, it can be healthy and it can be unhealthy. For example, Founding Father and third President, Thomas Jefferson, said "When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. When governments fear the people, there is liberty.”  

There is a type of fear which is inconsistent with the Christian life. Over and over Jesus says, “do not be afraid”. “Don’t be afraid, to leave behind your old life” he says to peter, james, and john, “for you will be become fishers of men.” “Don’t be afraid” he says If you suffer for righteousness sake, or If they bring you before rulers and kings because of me…don’t be afraid, I am with you, don’t be afraid, for the holy spirit will give you what you are to say”. “Have no fear of those who kill the body…BUT…have fear of those who can destroy the soul and body in hell” In that last one, the Lord speaks of the type of fear that is good and holy. Just like when you are carrying something precious like a crystal vase, or a delicate baby, you should be afraid, to drop them. So, too with our souls. We should be afraid to expose our souls to evil through sin. So we need to care for our soul  to protect it from sin, lest it be destroyed in hell forever. 

The biblical Greek word for fear of the Lord is theosebeia. When that word, theosebeia, is used in scripture , it typically means having a special reverence for God, a consciousness that the eye of God is watching us always, and that there are consequences in our relationship with God if we violate his commands and fail to repent.  

Hence the woman in the book of proverbs: she is to be praised for her fear of the Lord, because she seeks to live rightly in the sight of God. She seeks to bring good to her husband and to her family. She reaches out her hands in generosity to the poor; she seeks to live obediently to the commands of God. She is a model for all of us for living out the gift of holy fear. For, the fear of the Lord is a spiritual gift not just given to a select few of us, but to each of us at baptism. It’s like a seed, that if watered and nurtured through prayer and right conduct, it blossoms. It will also fail to blossom if you neglect it. 

Each of the Saints, in their own way, display this spiritual gift. You can see it in the great care they take to avoid sin which is displeasing to God. St. Francis of Assisi writes “Where there is the fear of the Lord to guard the house the enemy cannot find a way to enter.” In other words, fear of the Lord motivates us to guard our soul against sin. To take special effort to avoid…gossip, if that’s a habitual sin for us. Or To take special effort to avoid impurity, or impatience, or immoderate intoxication.  

Healthy fear of the Lord motivates us to not only avoid sin, but also to seek God’s mercy when we do sin. It motivates us to go to Confession if we commit mortal sin, lest we appear before the judgment seat of God with unrepented mortal sin.

Again, there is healthy fear and there is unhealthy fear. In Scripture, one of the first instances of unhealthy fear is right after original sin in the garden of Eden. Adam and Eve, having sinfully eaten from the forbidden tree, run and try to hide from God. Their unhealthy fear is kind of silly, if you think about it. Trying to hide from the omniscient God…they knew they were guilty, but their unhealthy fear caused them to have this distorted image of God as some sort of cruel tyrant. The wicked useless servant in the Gospel too, was filled with unhealthy fear, we are told, unhealthy fear of his master which caused him to bury his talent. 

With Adam and Eve, their unhealthy fear then led them to lie to God, as if he couldn’t see through it. Instead of coming clean with the loving God who made them, they start blaming each other for their sin. 

If there is a sin that you are ashamed of that you have not brought to the sacrament of confession, please, stop running away from God. He loves you and he is ready to forgive you. But he will also respect your decision to run away from him forever if you fail to repent. 

Again, holy fear of the Lord is a spiritual gift, like the talents in the Gospel, given to us to be cultivated, grown, multiplied, and utilized in service of the master. And we cultivate the gift of holy fear by praying repeatedly and continuously throughout the day, remembering that we live in the sight of God and are beholden to his commands. 

The lazy wicked servant shows that he values the talent given to him so little, that he does nothing with it, and is consequently cast into the outer darkness. 

But when we do use this talent wisely, our lives become wisely and rightly ordered. We begin to understand the ways of God, and grow in knowledge of the things of God. We become sources of good counsel for troubled souls, and sources of strength and courage for weak souls. We grow in piety, becoming examples of holiness for others, instruments the Lord uses to draw searching souls to himself.  Having used the gift of holy fear in the Lord’s service, may we come to hear those beautiful words at the end of life, “well done, my good and faithful servant”, for the glory of God and salvation of souls. 

32nd Week in OT 2020 - Friday - A warning to progressives

Will you be prepared when the Son of Man comes?

Throughout his ministry, the Lord offers many warnings about the need to repent, to turn one’s life around and to embrace his teachings and place faith in him. For example, in the parable of the 10 virgins, which we heard last sunday, the foolish virgins are shut out of the wedding feast, for failing to prepare for the return of the bridegroom. There will be consequences if you fail to prepare your soul.

In today’s reading the Lord gives a series of examples of those who were unprepared for the end of their lives which came rather unexpectedly. 

The people of Noah’s time, ignored Noah’s warnings, wrote him off as a crazy person for constructing the ark. They just went about their lives eating and drinking and marrying. They were unprepared for the flood because they unlike Noah, had not attuned their hearts to God.

So too the people of Sodom, a city filled with wickedness. They were going about living godless lives—eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting and building, engaging in earthly matters, when all of a sudden fire and brimstone rained from the sky. Due to their wickedness, their souls were unprepared for this natural disaster. 

The warning is clear: we must be prepared by attuning our lives to God. How do we do that? St. John gives us the clear instruction.

St. John rejoices because many of the Christians to whom he was writing were walking in the truth, abiding by the commandments of God. They were attentive to attuning their moral lives to the truth that comes from God.

But John also offers a warning. He warns the Christians about being too progressive. Finding this term “progressive” in the scriptures might surprise us. I’ve known Christians who have prided themselves about being progressive. Open to new ideas and the changing ways of the world. And to an extent that is fine. But John is very clear about the possibility of being too progressive, so much so that you do not remain in the teaching of Christ. 

He is very clear that there comes a point where the ideas in the world, new ideas, new philosophies, new moralities, and models of the human person, cease to be consistent with the teaching of Christ.

And just like the people of Sodom and the people of Noah’s day, the danger of being too progressive is that you get so wrapped up in pursuing and pushing the ideas of the world, that you will find yourself unprepared for the return of the bridegroom. 

For the people of John’s day, it was considered “progressive” to deny that Jesus was fully human, to consider him simply appearing to be human or that his humanity was insignificant: a clear contradiction of the Catholic faith handed down by the apostles. In our day, so-called progressives might be those who seek to make allowance for certain moral teachings that are contrary to the Catholic faith. Progressivism can devolve into a form of godlessness when it no longer remains rooted in the truth of Christ.

So, St. John is warning us to be very careful about progressive theological trends, because you might just find yourself deceived by the antichrist, and unprepared for the return of the bridegroom.

Rather, as our Psalm declares: “Blessed are they who follow the Lord, who walk in the law of the Lord, who observe his decrees, and seek him with all their heart.” May we be prepared for the return of the Bridegroom by walking always in his truth, by seeking Him with our whole heart for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For the healing of all division in the Church, for the Pope and all Bishops and Priests to be truly faithful in teaching the fullness of Faith, for the conversion of those whose hearts are hardened to the truth of the Gospel. 

That leaders of nations may find guidance in the Word of God for proper governance and the pursuit of justice for all.

That Christian families may be places where the Christian faith is studied, understood, observed, and cherished.

For all those who suffer illness, those in hospitals, nursing homes and hospice care.

For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, the deceased members of our families friends and parishes, for those who fought and died for our freedom, and N. for whom this Mass is offered.

O God, our refuge and our strength, hear the prayers of your Church, for you yourself are the source of all goodness, and grant, we pray, that what we ask in faith we may truly obtain

November 11 2020 - St. Martin of Tours - What we were obliged to do

 

Many of us are familiar with images, perhaps from stained glass windows, of St. Martin of Tours, the Roman soldier, a top his horse, cutting his cloak in two in order to give half his cloak to the cold beggar. Not often depicted is what happened shortly after. In a dream or a vision, Martin is said to have been visited by the Christ Child, dressed in the cloak he had given to the beggar. The Christ Child said, “Martin, still a catechumen, has covered me with his garment.”

Martin, living centuries before great saints of the poor like Francis or Vincent de Paul, was for the early church a model of charity, a reminder of the Lord’s teaching that what we do for the least of our brethren we do for him.

How providential that our nation observes Veteran’s Day on the feast of St. Martin! For Martin’s story helps us, I think, to appreciate the sacrifices of our Veteran’s. They, in a very real sense, served Christ by serving their nation, the people of the nation, us. The put themselves in the service of the defense of our lives and our freedom, putting their own lives on the line, for us, and in doing so, they did for Christ. 

Like the servants in yesterday’s Gospel who claimed “we have done what we were obliged to do”, many of our veterans entered military service because they experienced a strong sense of duty and obligation to serve and preserve and fight for freedom, for their families freedoms, for their nation’s freedoms. 

And like Martin tearing his cloak, that service costs something. Many of our veterans sustain physical or psychological wounds that they carry for the rest of their lives—an amputated limb, or an amputated part of their psyche, post-traumatic stress, the trauma of witnessing their brothers-in-arms killed in action. 

So we do well to thank a Veteran today for his service, for we likely do not know the extent of his service, the price he continues to pay. And perhaps that word of gratitude might alleviate that ongoing price of service.

May we live ever grateful for the freedoms we enjoy because of the sacrificial service of others, may we do everything we can to preserve that freedom, and to use that freedom for the greater good, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That the nations of the world will seek to work together in harmony and peace; we pray to the Lord:

That our homeland will be preserved from violence and terrorism; we pray to the Lord

That even in armed conflict, we may keep clearly before us the defense of all human rights, especially the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

For all veterans experiencing physical or psychological, that they may know God’s healing and strength, and that all veterans may be blessed for their self-sacrifice.

For all veterans who gave their life for our liberty, and for the repose of the souls of all of our beloved dead, family, friends, those whose names are written in our parish necrology, deceased priests and religious, for all the souls in purgatory, and for N. for whom this mass is offered.

God, Almighty Father, creator of mankind and author of peace, as we are ever mindful of the cost paid for the liberty we possess, help us to use that liberty to promote peace and justice and spread saving Gospel of Christ. Through the same Christ Our Lord.

November 10 2020 - Pope St. Leo the Great - Confronting the New Barbarism

Pope Benedict XVI called Pope Leo the Great, whom we honor today, “truly one of the greatest Pontiffs to have honored the Roman See.” He was the first Bishop of Rome to have been called Leo, a name used subsequently by another 12 Supreme Pontiffs. He is also the first Pope to be given the title “great” and is known for his great administration of the Church during chaotic times and for his writing, which confronted and corrected the many heresies arising in his day.

Constant barbarian invasions and the gradual weakening of the Roman Empire’s authority made the time in which Pope Leo reigned quite difficult.

There is a famous encounter between Leo and the barbarian warlord Atilla the Hun. In 452, Attila and his Huns were vanquishing city after city. Attila had already devastated the northeastern regions of Italy and reports circulated that Attila was setting his sights on the rest of Italy.  The 52 year old Pope, rode on horseback to meet the barbarian leader and pleaded with Attila to spare Italy. The leader of the Huns was so impressed by the Pope, that he agreed to leave Italy. 

Unfortunately, a few years later, another barbarian horde, the Vandals, attacked and sacked Rome. Again, the Pope, defenseless went forth to meet the invader to implore him to desist. The Vandal leader promised to spare the great Basilicas of St Peter, St Paul and St John, whose dedication we celebrated yesterday, in which the terrified population of Rome sought refuge and were spared.  

Today, it seems, the barbarians are again at the gate, in fact they’ve entered it—disregard for law and order, right religion, and moral precepts threaten the very fundamentals of society.  You cannot have civilization without civility and civics, and therefore civilization is threatened by a new barbarism that seeks to tear down and plunder—through political and even physically violent means. 

What are Catholics to do? We do well to hold fast to that which is good. Hold fast to our right doctrines, persevere in prayer, engage in sacrificial service, and maybe we’ll even convert a barbarian or two by the constant and faithful witness we give to Christ. Pope Benedict writes, "Dear Friends, may no adversity paralyze you. Be afraid neither of the world, nor of the future, nor of your weakness. The Lord has allowed you to live in this moment of history so that, by your faith, his name will continue to resound throughout the world."

Pope Leo reminds us to fear no adversity, not even a hoard of barbarians and the crumbling of society, but to be people of sound doctrine, people of civility, and people who see even the human dignity of barbarians. Let us be good to one another, and work always for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For the purification of Holy Church, and for all Bishops and clergy, that they may always lead us in fidelity to the saving Gospel of Christ.

That the Christian faithful may continue to nurture and discover their spiritual gifts for the building up of the Church.

For those who have left the Church, for those who have grown lukewarm, for those in mortal sin, for their conversion and the conversion of all hearts.

For the healing of all those afflicted with physical, mental, emotional illness, for those in hospitals, nursing homes, hospice care, those struggling with addictions, for those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today.

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

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

November 9 2020 - 90th Anniversary of the Dedication of St. Ignatius of Antioch, Cleveland

90 years ago today, Bishop Joseph Schrembs, the fifth bishop of the diocese of Cleveland, celebrated the dedication of this parish church of St. Ignatius of Antioch.

After processing into the new church, he prayed to God that this place be dedicated to the Lord. He anointed the alter with sacred Chrism, making the altar a symbol of Christ, the Anointed One , our High Priest, who through the altar of his own body offered the sacrifice of his life for our salvation.

Bishop Schrembs then proceeded to anoint the walls of the church: twelve anointings, symbolic of the twelve apostles, the twelve anointed stones upon which Christ constructed his Church and the twelve gates of the heavenly Jerusalem.

Incense was then burned on the marble of the altar to signify Christ’s sacrifice, for again, from the altar Christ’s sacrifice ascends to God as an odor of sweetness along with our prayers to the throne of God. You can still see the scorch marks on the altar where the incense was lit.

The altar was then covered with a cloth, signifying that the altar is also the supper table of Lord, at which God’s people joyously gather to be refreshed with the heavenly food of Christ’s body and blood.

The candles of the altar, then the candles of the Church were lit for the first time, reminding us that the brightness of Christ is to shine throughout the Church, and that all nations are enlightened by Him.

Following the dedication, Bishop Schrembs celebrated a Pontifical High Mass, at which the Dominican historian Father Thomas Schweriner preached the dedication sermon.

The date for the dedication was no doubt chosen to coincide with today’s feast on the liturgical calendar, the feast of the dedication of one of the most important churches in Christendom, the Church of John Lateran, the Cathedral of Rome, which was certainly an architectural inspiration for this magnificent place.

We thank God for this building, so magnificently constructed to the honor of God. We thank the Lord, for the founding families of this parish who made its construction possible, and to those faithful parishioners and benefactors who have supported this parish through two world wars, 10 popes, and such tremendous cultural, technological, and societal change. 

May the Lord continue to bless us and continue to form us into the living stones of his Church, dedicated to the evangelization of the nations, to the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For the purification of Holy Church, and for all Bishops and clergy, that they may always lead us in fidelity to the saving Gospel of Christ.

That the Christian faithful may continue to nurture and discover their spiritual gifts for the building up of the Church.

For those who have left the Church, for those who have grown lukewarm, for those in mortal sin, for their conversion and the conversion of all hearts.

For the healing of all those afflicted with physical, mental, emotional illness, for those in hospitals, nursing homes, hospice care, those struggling with addictions, for those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today.

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, for whom we pray in a special way during this month of november, for all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased priests and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.

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

32nd Sunday in OT 2020 - The inevitability of mortality and the Christian Solution

It is hard to believe that in three weeks from today, we will be beginning a new liturgical year with the first Sunday of Advent. And as we are well aware, as we come to the end of the old liturgical year—the last Sundays of the liturgical year—our readings focus on the last things—death, judgment, heaven, and hell. 

The 17th century catholic philosopher and theologian, Blaise Pascal, said, “most of us, spend most of our time, diverting ourselves from facing the inevitability of our mortality”.  And so Mother Church, helps us to face the great inevitability, by exposing us to the teachings of Jesus about these things in the Gospels—in the Scriptures. 

In the second reading, St. Paul teaches Christians that we do not face death like the rest of the world. For the non-believing Pagans of his day, and the non-believing Pagans of our day, death is something to be feared, to be denied, to lose hope over. Paul says that Christians do not grieve because of death, like those who have no hope. 

Yes, of course, we grieve when a loved one dies. We mourn their loss, as we reflect on how deeply they touched lives, and how thankful we are for the time they’ve been given. I’ve had to preach the funeral homilies for nearly 500 people, and yet, when I had to preach the funerals for my grandparents, I was a mess. Then again, I come from a long line of weepy Italians. St. Paul isn’t saying that it’s sinful to shed tears at the death of a loved one, not at all. But, what he’s saying is we mustn’t treat death as if it’s the end, as if we’ll never see the faithful departed again. 

Christian’s always face death, with the hope of resurrection, of being reunited with in the kingdom of heaven with all the faithful who have gone before us. 

And our hope in life everlasting, is not mere wishful thinking, it’s not a fairy tale that we tell our young ones. It’s based on the historical fact of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He died on the cross, he was buried, and he rose again. He defeated death, the first born of those who will rise again with him at the end of time.

The martyrs, like St. Ignatius of Antioch, and St. Paul and all of the apostles, were so confident in the resurrection, that they were able to preach the Gospel to hostile kings and governments and torturers. They did not fear to preach the Gospel to anyone because they knew that even if they were to be killed for preaching the Gospel, the would rise again with Christ, and they would win the martyrs crown.

Our confidence in the resurrection should give all Christians a freedom from the fear of death. Yes, we need to certainly be responsible with the body and the life we’ve been given. But the fear of death must never keep us from doing what is right. 

Listen to the fearless words of St. Therese the Little Flower:  “It is not Death that will come to fetch me, it is the good God. Death is no phantom, no horrible specter, as presented in pictures. In the catechism it is stated that death is the separation of soul and body, that is all! Well, I am not afraid of a separation which will unite me to the good God forever.”

Living free from the irrational fear of death, enables us to live more fully for God and others, to spend ourselves in service, knowing that we will have all eternity to enjoy a much more glorious reality with God in heaven. 

But, as is clear in the Gospel this weekend, heaven is not a guarantee. Like the foolish virgins shout out of the wedding feast, those who spend their earthly lives pursuing false idols, shall be shut out of the heavenly wedding feast forever.

Rather, Christians must be like the wise virgins in the parable, who are prepared for the return of the bridegroom. We are to spend our lives preparing our souls to meet him—by repenting of all sin, and living lives of faith, hope, charity, virtue, and self-sacrificial service.

In this month of November dedicated to praying for the souls of the faithful departed, we pray for all those who were wisely prepared for death, who simply had to be cleaned up a bit in purgatory before entering the wedding feast. If you have not had a mass offered for your departed loved ones in a while, you can do so in the parish office. 

As I mentioned last week, Bishop Malesic will be celebrating the 11am Mass tomorrow. If you wish, you can watch the Mass via live stream, which can be accessed on our parish facebook page. You do not need to have a facebook account to access the livestream. You can also access it from our parish website. You can also watch the recorded video at any point throughout the week.

As the Bridegroom comes to us in this holy Mass, under the appearance of bread and wine, he does so to give us a foretaste of the communion that awaits us in the kingdom of heaven.  May this Eucharist prepare us for the Lord’s return, spurn us on to meet Him and Serve him in the poor, and prepare our us for eternal life, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

November 2020 - First Friday Holy Hour - Eucharistic Adoration and the Holy Souls in Purgatory

In the Gospel for today, the Lord tells a parable about how the so-called dishonest steward works to settle his accounts with his master. In a sense, this parable reminds of how we will all be required to make an accounting at the end of our life of how we used our time—did we squander it, did we use it to glorify God?

The parable challenges us to get our lives in order, to make sure our priorities are straight, that we are putting our time, talent, and treasure in the service to God, rather that pursuing our own selfish endeavors. 

During the month of November, we pray in a special way for the souls in purgatory who at the end of life, were found in need of further purification from the effects of sin in their life. Yes, they died in friendship with the Lord, but in that great accounting, there was found need of purgation. And during this month, we pray for them, knowing that our prayers truly help them.

Most efficacious is the celebration of Mass for a soul. Once during the celebration of mass, St. Bernard saw an unending stairway leading up to heaven. By means of it angels ascended and descended, carrying from Purgatory to Paradise the souls freed by the Sacrifice of Jesus—the sacrifice which is renewed at the altar during every celebration of Mass.

Eucharistic adoration too, is a powerful form of prayer, in assisting the holy souls. Kneeling before the Blessed Sacrament, St. Peter Damien proclaimed: “O HOLY HOST, YOU THAT BREAKS DOWN THE GATES OF PURGATORY AND OPENS THE DOOR OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN TO THE FAITHFUL!"

Kneeling before our Eucharist Lord, this evening, we do well to bring to him the souls of our loved ones, bring them to him by name. For from the Sacred host, streams of alleviating grace flow into Purgatory, bringing unspeakable relief and assistance to the Church suffering due to the effects of sin.

And, when it is time for the great accounting of our lives, when we appear before the judgment seat, we can be sure that speaking on our behalf will be all those souls who we prayed for, who were able to reach their heavenly destination thanks to our prayers and penances. 

Eternal rest, grant unto them, o Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. For the glory of God and salvation of souls. 

31st Week in OT 2020 - Friday - Imitate the holy ones

Paul’s exhortation might sound strange to our ears. “Be imitators of me”, he says. We are certainly reluctant to present ourselves as moral or religious examples for others. But in the ancient Greco-Roman world it was a common and acceptable practice for teachers to point to themselves as examples.

And really, it is human nature, to look for examples to imitate; and teachers know that their role inevitably makes them examples…for better or for worse.

Moreover, our own culture holds up examples all the time: a recovered alcoholic will tell their story to encourage other alcoholics toward sobriety. Exercise enthusiasts will speak of the new energy they’ve gained from a particular exercise program in order to prompt their sluggish friends to join a gym. Or upon finding a successful diet, we’re very quick to tell others about it.

Christians, like Paul, need to set good example for others and need to be enthusiastic about telling people about the difference believing in Christ means in our life. We don’t just tell people they need to go to Church, but why they need to go to Church, what we get out of going to Church. We don’t just tell people they need to pray the rosary, but why they should pray the rosary, what we’ve personally gotten out of praying the rosary. Why should we read the Bible? Because there are many misconceptions floating around in our culture about the Bible, and the Bible gives us deep insight into the mystery of God and how to conduct one’s life with wisdom and how to bear the fruits of the Spirit!

Having reminded the Philippian Christians whom they should take as their models, Paul warns them of those they should not imitate—do not imitate those who “conduct themselves as enemies of the cross of Christ.” Our culture holds up some pretty vile people as role models—people who have made earthly fame, earthly power, earthly riches, the god of their lives. And we must be very careful, that we are not envying these people, or allowing our minds to become occupied with earthly things as they are. 

Because in the end, and Paul is very clear about this, earthly life will end in one of two ways: salvation or damnation. If we have spent our life pursuing earthly things, it will end in destruction. But modeling our lives after the saints, spending our lives seeking to be models of faith for others, we show that our eternal citizenship is in heaven. 

May we repent of all earthly thinking and earthly pursuit, and recommit to imitating the holy ones, conforming ourselves to Christ in this life, that we may be conformed to him forever in heaven, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That all Christians may grow in their imitation of the saints. Let us pray to the Lord.

That our young people may be blessed to be raised in faith filled homes, that they may be protected from the evils of our culture, and be granted a firm knowledge of their vocation to holiness. Let us pray to the Lord.

For our nation, beset with such vast corruption, might look to the Son of God, believe in him, and seek the life that only he can offer. Let us pray to the Lord. 

That Christ the Good Shepherd will draw close to all who suffer, the sick, the needy, victims of injustice, and the dying.

We pray in a special way during this month of November for all the faithful departed, all deceased members of St. Ignatius of Antioch Parish, our deceased family members and friends, deceased clergy and religious, those who fought and died for our freedom and for X. for whom this mass is offered.

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