July 06 2026 - St. Maria Goretti - Lover of Chastity

 

Maria Goretti was born of a poor family in the central Italian town of Corinaldo. Her father died when she was 10 years old. One of the men who had worked with her father, 19 year old Alessandro Serenelli, had made several attempts to seduce the young girl. She told him that he could go to hell for what he wanted to do, but her refusal and her words of faith so angered him that he stabbed her, 14 times.

It took Maria two days to die from those stab wounds.  But as she lay dying, Maria, not only forgave Alessandro, but she said: “I hope that he too will join me in Paradise.”  Maria Goretti was scarcely twelve years old when she died on July 7, 1902. 

Alessandro remained unrepentant for his assault and murder of the young girl, but several years into his prison sentence, Alessandro had a dream in which Maria presented him with a bouquet of lilies. Repentance filled his heart and he turned to the mercy of Christ.  After 27 years in prison, Alessandro was released, and visited Maria’s mother, Assunta, whom he asked forgiveness. “If my daughter can forgive him, who am I to withhold forgiveness?" she said. Alessandro spent his last years as a third-order Franciscan and died in 1970.

Maria Goretti was canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1950, and it is the first time in history that the mother of a saint was present at the canonization.  Alessandro was also there, also probably the first time that the saint’s murderer was present at the canonization, and thanks be to God, his soul was right with God. He had testified in her cause for canonization.

It is said that "even if she had not been a martyr, she would still have been a saint, so holy was her everyday life".  And this is such an important lesson for all of his: the holiness of her everyday life helped her at a crucial moment to remain courageous, to forgive and love her murderer with the heart of Christ. And her sanctity brought about the eventual conversion of a very evil man, who probably only died in communion with Christ because of her.

May St. Maria Goretti help us to cultivate a love of innocence, chastity, and forgiveness, and help all of us to remain steadfast in faith in the moment of trial, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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Through the intercession of the holy virgin-martyr St. Maria Goretti, may God help all Christians to practice the virtues of chastity, purity, and modesty and bring about a greater respect for the dignity of the human body and all human life.

 

That all of our young people on summer vacation may be kept safe from the poisonous errors and vices of our time and be kept in close friendship with the Lord Jesus.

 

That God may bring about repentance in all those guilty of sin and crime, and that the message of God’s mercy might reach the most hardened hearts.

 

 

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, for victims of abuse, especially children, 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, 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

 

 

 

 

Holy Family 2025 - Example and Virtues of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph

 Shortly after the close of the Second Vatican Council, sixty years ago, in order to continue the spirit of engagement of the Church in the Modern World, Pope Paul VI established what is called the Synod of Bishops. The Pope wanted Bishops from around the world to continue to meet periodically to discuss and provide him counsel regarding questions and important matters facing the Church.

Prior to his passing, Pope Francis called for a Synod on Synodailty. Kind of abstract, but he wanted the bishops to help him reflect upon what it means for the Church to be constantly examining her mission in light of the new challenges and changes in society.

10 years ago, Pope Francis called another synod discuss an issue deeply important to the Church: the pastoral care and promotion of marriage and families.  

It wasn’t the first synod on the family. Pope St. John Paul II called a synod on the family back in 1980, after which he issued his great post-synodal apostolic exhortation called, Familiaris Consortio. Listen to the Pope’s insightful words:

“The family in the modern world”, wrote Pope John Paul, “as much as and perhaps more than any other institution, has been beset by the many profound and rapid changes that have affected society and culture. Many families are living this situation in fidelity to those values that constitute the foundation of the institution of the family. Others have become uncertain and bewildered over their role or even doubtful and almost unaware of the ultimate meaning and truth of conjugal and family life.”

In other words, from the Pope’s perspective, there are those families who understand to build their families on the teachings of Jesus,  like so many of you. Then, there are those who are confused about what that means. And, then there are those who are clueless about the importance of building one’s family on Christ. And the Church has a mission to each of these types of families—to all families, and each of us should consider how we are called to help each of these types of families. 

Fast forward to 2015. Pope Francis calls another synod on the family, he listens to bishops, and not just to bishops but he also gathers a number of ordinary families, like yours gain insight about their struggles, and he compiled all of these thoughts, plus his own, into the post-synodal apostolic exhortation called Amoris Laetitia. And in this document, Pope Francis enumerated a number of challenges facing families today. 

He mentioned materialism. Materialism, the love of stuff, seeking meaning and purpose in stuff, keeps families from fulfilling their mission, loving God, loving each other and spreading the Gospel as they should. He mentioned narcissism. “Narcissism”, he said, “makes people incapable of looking beyond themselves, beyond their own desires and needs.” Narcissism within families can be a tremendous source of dysfunction. 

He spoke of the cultural ideologies that devalue marriage and family and the fear that some young people have of entering into such a commitment. He mentioned the false notion of overpopulation fueled by world politics which leads to a mentality against having children. He spoke of “spread of pornography and the commercialization of the body, fostered also by a misuse of the internet,” and of course, “the weakening of faith and religious practice” which has had disastrous consequences for society. 

Today is the Christmas Feast of the Holy Family, a feast instituted only in the 1920s, but a feast vital for our time, in which we ask God to help us amidst all of these cultural and interpersonal challenges to imitate the example and virtues of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. In the Gospel today we read of Joseph listening to the voice of an angel guiding him to protect his family from the evils of his time: the murderous plot of King Herod. So, meditating on their example and virtues of the Holy Family is so vital in helping us to act rightly amidst the evils of our own day. 

The first evil Pope Francis mentioned was materialism. Where society values materialism, we see the Holy Family practicing holy poverty. The Christ child was born in the straw poverty of the Bethlehem stable. At his presentation, the family could only offer the oblation of the poor—two turtle doves. When Joseph received word from the Angel regarding the murderous intent of King Herod, the poor family took refuge in the foreign land of Egypt. 

They were poor, but they humbly trusted in God and treasured the things of God. Together, they embodied the first of the beatitudes: “Blessed are the poor in spirit” placing their trust and confidence in God rather than trusting material possessions and earthly power to bring them happiness. 

Secondly, where society values narcissism, we see the Holy Family practicing selflessness. Scripture portrays their sweet and Holy Charity. We read of Our Lady going in haste to help her elderly cousin Elizabeth, and Our Lady at the wedding at Cana shows holy attentiveness to the needs of the newly married couple. St. Joseph looks to the needs of Mary and Jesus, as the great guardian of the holy family, protecting them from Herod’s murderous plots, providing for them through years of labor and sweat. Charity towards each other and toward their neighbor filled their lives, so too must it be for us.

Thirdly, the purity, chastity and self-control of the Holy Family stands in contrast to the perversion, indulgence, decadence, and other habits of instant gratification of our modern society. In their purity and chastity, the Holy Family fulfilled another one of the Lord’s Beatitudes, “Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.” They remind us of the need to guard our eyes and our minds from those evils which keep us from seeing God. 

Fourthly, we see in many countries, including our own, a sharp decline in religious practice and fulfillment of religious obligations among families. The Holy Family shows us the importance of fulling our religious duties. The Holy Family was accustomed to making the annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem for Passover. And even though it required sacrifice and effort to make that pilgrimage, they were faithful. And their fulfillment of this obligation was not without drama, as it is for many families. But they were faithful. They remind us to be faithful, too.

In the holy family we see the remedy for many of the evils that beset us, but also we see the power of holy families. God chose to enter the world as Savior, through a family. So too God wants to use the holy families of our Church NOW. The world needs holy families—the holy families of our parish—to be open to being used by God in so many ways, but primarily to lead others to heaven, to Christ. Holy families are a powerful evangelical instrument God uses to draw souls to Himself.

As we continue this Christmas season, allow the Holy Family to help your family love and trust God in all of your family activities, to value the things of heaven over the things of earth by imitating their poverty, to practice purity and chastity, to show the world the importance of right religion by seeking first the kingdom of God for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

June 03 2022 - St. Charles Lwanga - Love of Chastity

 o many of us, the name of the Ugandan Martyr St. Charles Lwanga is unfamiliar.  But, he is well-known and revered in much of tropical Africa and is honored throughout the universal Church as a patron saint of young people and chastity. 

Evangelization of Uganda only began in the mid-1800s by the Society of Missionaries of Africa (known as the White Fathers because of the white cassock they wore). At that time Uganda had a very vicious, lustful king named Mwanga who forced himself on the young boys and young men of his court.  Charles Lwanga, who had become a Catechist for the Christian community, encouraged the young boys to preserve their chastity. For opposing the King’s lusts, Charles was arrested and burned to death on June 3.

St. Charles Lwanga’s witness reminds us that chastity is part of God’s plan for all people, but the culture is not always receptive to that message. Especially as “National Pride Month” is celebrated by many in our land, Christ’s call to chastity needs to joyfully resound in his Church.

Chastity involves self-mastery, self-control, self-knowledge, developing the virtue of temperance, and learning to rely on God’s grace in times of temptation. Chastity brings freedom from our baser, fallen, and disordered impulses, and the joy of bringing one’s life more under the dominion of the Holy Spirit. Chastity is largely a personal journey, though Christian parents certainly have a pivotal role in protecting the innocence of their children from the perversions of the culture. Indeed, the Church has a role in promoting chastity in the larger culture. 

The proliferation of pornography, the confused gender ideologies which are pushed in public schools and in the media, the cultural-acceptance of sex before marriage, are certainly signs that we have a lot of work to do in this area. 

In the Gospel for today’s feast of St. Charles we heard the Lord’s beatitudes, in which he proclaims, “blessed are the pure of heart.” The “pure of heart,” according to the Catechism, “refers to those who have attuned their intellects and wills to the demands of God’s holiness, chiefly in three areas: charity; chastity or sexual rectitude; love of truth and orthodoxy of faith."

Through the intercession of St. Charles Lwanga and his martyred companions, may we seek that purity of intellect and will, that chastity, and the love of the truth that St. Charles lived and died for, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That the witness, sufferings, and death of the  martyrs may bring about rebirth of Christianity and civilization, in those places where faith and morals have diminished.

Through the intercession of St. Charles Lwanga, patron of youth, may our young people be protected from the perversion of our culture and be infused with virtue.

That religious indifference in our country and around the world may be transformed to radical commitment to the Gospel of Christ.

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

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

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.

July 6 2021 - St. Maria Goretti, virgin martyr - Lover of Chastity

Today we celebrate the 99th anniversary of the martyrdom of St. Maria Goretti. Maria was just 11 years old when one of the men working for her father made several attempts to seduce young Maria.  Her refusal so angered him that he threatened to kill her, which he eventually did, stabbing her 14 times.  Maria died in the hospital after forgiving her murderer.  

God is invoked in the Collect for her feast as the “author of innocence and lover of chastity.” Chastity is a virtue to be practiced by all Christians, and St. Maria Goretti is a model of this virtue for us. Even at the age of 11 Maria knew that giving in to seductive advances outside of marriage is sinful, telling her seducer that God forbids such behavior as sinful and could lead to the damnation of their souls.

Maria had a rightly formed conscience. Her parents brought her to Church and instructed her in the virtues. Her faith rightly guided her. Sadly, so many of our young people have no guidance in these matters save for what they see on television and internet. Sex before marriage and cohabitation are commonplace. But that doesn’t make them right.

Even when her seducer tried to wear down her conscience through multiple attempts to seduce her, Maria remained strong. When there was the threat of death, she remained courageous. Our young people, and all Christians need fortitude and courage in resist the constant and relentless barrage of perverted sexuality in our culture. For perverted sexuality brings only inner emptiness, shame, and dysfunctional relationship. So we do well to invoke St. Maria Goretti as the patron saint of young people and a patron saint of chastity.

Maria loved chastity because Christ loved chastity, and calls all Christians to practice chastity consistent with their vocation in life. And because chastity is beautiful, it attracts souls to Christ. May St. Maria Goretti’s steadfastness help us all in keeping and obeying all Christ commands of us for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

O God, author of innocence and lover of chastity, who bestowed the grace of martyrdom on your handmaid, the Virgin Saint Maria Goretti, in her youth, grant, we pray through her intercession, that, as you gave her a crown for her steadfastness, so we, too, may be firm in obeying your commandments.

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Through the intercession of St. Maria Goretti and all the holy virgin-martyrs, for an increase in reverence for and practice of the virtues of chastity, purity, and modesty and for greater respect for the dignity of the human body and all human life. 

That all of our young people on summer vacation may be kept safe from the poisonous errors and vices of our time and be kept in close friendship with the Lord Jesus through the faith of their families, daily prayer, attendance at Mass, and the practice of the virtues.

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, 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

February 05 2021 - St. Agatha - Chastity and Martyrdom

 Saint Agatha is one of the great virgin martyrs honored by the early Roman church. She was martyred in the brief but ferocious persecution of the emperor Decius, whose own reign lasted only two years, 249 to 251. Prior to Decius, much of the persecution, was local and sporadic throughout the empire, even with periods of general tolerance toward Christians. 

But, in 250 AD, Decius issued an imperial decree requiring all citizens of the empire to offer a sacrifice to the Roman Gods, renounce the Christian faith in front of a Roman official and obtain a certificate called a libellus proving they had done so. Many Christians publicly rejected their faith by offering the sacrifice; some bribed the public official to obtain the libellus.  

Saint Agatha was a beautiful Sicilian woman who had consecrated herself to Christ—to be His bride—to spend her life in his prayerful service and consecrated virginity.

When she refused the romantic advances of a pagan man, he turned her into the authorities. Since she would not offer the pagan sacrifice, she was imprisoned, tortured, and eventually killed. The popular legend states that her gruesome torture involved the cutting off of her breasts. St. Peter is said to have appeared to her and healed her wounds. She was then put over hot coals and roasted, but an earthquake saved her from the fire. 

For these reasons she is both patron saint of breast diseases and also invoked as a protector from fire, like volcanic eruptions in her native Sicily.

In the Gospel about the beheading of John the Baptist, we see the world’s hatred of the saints is nothing new. For speaking out against the corruption and sexual sins of the royal court of his day, John the Baptist was imprisoned and beheaded. 

Throughout the ages, the Church has been hated for teaching God’s vision for marriage and sexuality and chastity. St. John the Baptist, St. Agnes, St. Anastasia, St. Lucy, St. Charles Lwanga, St. Maria Goretti in our own modern day, were killed for this reason. 

Christians today are surrounded by innumerable pressures to forsake the faith, to make compromises with the world, to embrace errors repugnant to the teachings of Christ. And in this increasingly perverse and degenerate age, it is likely the Church will be increasingly opposed and more ferociously mocked and attacked for teaching the Truth, even from within the ranks of the church, even perhaps by members of the hierarchy. But woe to the faithful if we flee from this task. For the Truth of the Gospel does not change, especially due to the whins of the world. For Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. So we do well to increase our devotion to the great martyrs, that we may have the courage to witness clearly and teach clearly and embrace the inevitable sufferings that follow, that the power of Christ and the love of God may shine in our lives for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For Pope Francis’ prayer intention for the month of February: for women who are victims of violence, that they may be protected by society and have their sufferings considered and heeded. Let us pray to the Lord.

Through the intercession of St. Agatha and the holy virgin-martyrs, for an increase of reverence for the virtues of chastity, purity, and modesty and for greater respect for the dignity of the human body and all human life.

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, 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

July 6 2020 - St. Maria Goretti - A holy life prepares us for trial

Maria Goretti was born of a poor family in the central Italian town of Corinaldo. Her father died when she was 10 years old, and one of the men who had worked with her father, 19 year old Alessandro Serenelli, had made several attempts to seduce the young girl. She told him that he could go to hell for what he wanted to do.  Her refusal and her words of faith so angered him that he stabbed her, 14 times.

It took Maria two days to die from those stab wounds.  And On her deathbed, Maria, not only pardoned Alessandro, but she said: “I hope that he too will join me in Paradise.”  Maria died in the hospital after forgiving her murderer.  Maria Goretti was scarcely twelve years old when she died on July 7, 1902. 

Alessandro remained unrepentant for his attempted rape and murder of the young girl, but several years into his prison sentence, Alessandro had a dream in which Maria presented him with a bouquet of lilies—lilies are of course a symbol of purity. Repentance filled his heart and he turned to the mercy of Christ.  After 27 years in prison, Alessandro was released, and visited Maria’s mother, Assunta, whom he asked forgiveness. “If my daughter can forgive him, who am I to withhold forgiveness?" she said. Alessandro spent his last years as a third-order Franciscan and died in 1970.

Maria Goretti was canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1950, and it is the first time in history that the mother of a saint was present at the canonization.  Alessandro was also there, also probably the first time that the saint’s murderer was present at the canonization, and thanks be to God, his soul was right with God. He had testified in her cause for canonization, speaking not only of her courageous protection of her purity, but the tremendous holiness the saint had cultivated over those short twelve years.

It is said that "even if she had not been a martyr, she would still have been a saint, so holy was her everyday life".  And this is such an important lesson for all of his: the holiness of her everyday life helped her at a crucial moment to remain courageous, to forgive and love her murderer with the heart of Christ. And her sanctity brought about the eventual conversion of a very evil man, who probably only died in communion with Christ because of her.

May St. Maria Goretti help us to cultivate a love of innocence, chastity, and forgiveness, and help all of us to remain steadfast in faith in the moment of trial, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
 
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Through the intercession of the holy virgin-martyr St. Maria Goretti, for an increase of reverence for and practice of the virtues of chastity, purity, and modesty and for greater respect for the dignity of the human body and all human life.

That all of our young people on summer vacation may be kept safe from the poisonous errors and vices of our time and be kept in close friendship with the Lord Jesus through the faith of their families, daily prayer, attendance at Mass, and the practice of the virtues.

That the Holy Spirit may guide the selection of a new bishop for the diocese of Cleveland.

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, for victims of abuse, especially children, 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, 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

June 03 2020 - St. Charles Lwanga and Companions - Courage to preserve chastity

To many of us the name of the Ugandan Martyr Charles Lwanga is unfamiliar.  But, he is well-known and revered in much of tropical Africa as a patron saint of young people. Personally, I’ve grown increasingly devoted to this Courageous Saint over the past few years.

Uganda only began to be evangelized in the early to mid-1800s by the Society of Missionaries of Africa, known as the White Fathers because of the white cassock they wore. The earliest converts were soon preaching the Gospel in places inaccessible to the White Fathers. Charles Lwanga was among the early converts, and was a servant in the royal court of the Ugandan king, King Mwanga, who ruled in the south eastern part of the country.

Mwanga was a violent ruler and a pedophile who forced himself on the young boys and young men who served as his pages.  Following the violent death of the leader of the small Christian community within the court, Charles Lwanga took the leadership of offering Christian instruction within the community. When King Mwanga tried to force himself on these young men, Charles tried to serve as their protector, encouraged the young boys to preserve their chastity. For refusing the advances of the King, they were arrested and burned to death on June 3 by royal decree.

Charles and the 22 Ugandan martyrs are such valuable witnesses in a time where young people are increasingly at risk of falling to the perversions in our culture, and for all those who seek to practice Christian chastity in this over-sexualized age.

In that powerful reading from 2 Maccabees we hear of the unshakeable faith of the righteous young men. In the face of death, death by a king, they placed their trust and hope in God and in eternal life that can come only from Him: “It is my choice to die at the hands of men with the God-given hope of being restored to life by him”

In the face of temptation, and when faced with threats from the world to compromise the Gospel, may we take courage in our hope of eternal life, that those who remain faithful to God in this life, will receive the great reward of glory in eternity, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That the witness, sufferings, and death of the  martyrs may bring about rebirth of Christianity and civilization, in those places where faith and morals have diminished.

Through the intercession of St. Charles Lwanga, patron of youth, may our young people be protected from the perversion of our culture and be infused with virtue.

That religious indifference in our country and around the world may be transformed to radical commitment to the Gospel of Christ.

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

For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, for the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, for those who have fought and died for our freedom, and for The Smigovsky & Kermes Family, 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.

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FIRST READING          2 Maccabees 7:1-2,9-14
It happened that seven brothers with their mother were arrested
and tortured with whips and scourges by the king,
to force them to eat pork in violation of God's law.
One of the brothers, speaking for the others, said:
"What do you expect to achieve by questioning us?
We are ready to die rather than transgress the laws of our ancestors."
At the point of death he said:
"You accursed fiend, you are depriving us of this present life,
but the King of the world will raise us up to live again forever.
It is for his laws that we are dying."
After him, the third suffered their cruel sport.
He put out his tongue at once when told to do so,
and bravely held out his hands, as he spoke these noble words:
"It was from Heaven that I received these;
for the sake of God's laws I disdain them;
from him I hope to receive them again."
Even the king and his attendants marveled at the young man's courage,
because he regarded his sufferings as nothing.
After he had died,
they tortured and maltreated the fourth brother in the same way.
When he was near death, he said,
"It is my choice to die at the hands of men
with the God-given hope of being restored to life by him;
but for you, there will be no resurrection to life."


RESPONSORIAL PSALM           124:2-3, 4-5, 7b-8
Anima nostra sicut passer erepta est de laqueo venantium.

R./ (7) Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler’s snare.
Had not the Lord been with us–
When men rose up against us,
    then would they have swallowed us alive,
When their fury was inflamed against us.
R./ Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler’s snare.
Then would the waters have overwhelmed us;
The torrent would have swept over us;
    over us then would have swept
    the raging waters.
R./ Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler’s snare.
Broken was the snare,
    and we were freed.
Our help is in the name of the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth.
R./ Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler’s snare.


ALLELUIA          Matt 5:3
Beati pauperes spiritu, quoniam ipsorum est regnum caelorum.
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.


GOSPEL          Matthew 5:1-12a
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain,
and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.
He began to teach them, saying:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you
and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.
Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward will be great in heaven."

Feb 05 2019 - St. Agatha - The Powerful Faith of the Virgin Martyrs

After offering a series of parables about the Kingdom of God, St. Mark gives us series of stories of Jesus manifesting the power of God. We hear of Jesus calming the storm—showing his Divine authority over the destructive powers of nature, we heard yesterday of Jesus’ exorcism of Gerasene demoniac—showing his Divine authority over the powers of evil which seek the destruction and corruption of human nature. Today we hear two stories: the curing of the woman stricken with a hemorrhage for 12 years, and then the raising of Jairus’ daughter from the dead. Here Jesus shows his Divine authority over terrible human disease which the most learned of doctors and experts could find a cure. And he shows his Divine authority over the most terrible of human afflictions—death itself.

By stringing these stories together, St. Mark helps us to place our faith in Jesus as Lord and Son of God, who is victorious over the powers of sins and death through his own cross and resurrection.
It is this faith that gives the martyrs, like St. Agatha who we honor today, such courage and conviction in their own trials. St. Agatha is one of the great virgin martyrs of the early Roman church, who in the midst of persecution, chose to be faithful to Christ no matter what the cost. 

Saint Agatha was born in Sicily to rich and noble parents. Out of love for Christ, she consecrated herself to the Lord and His service. When a government edict called for the suppression of Christianity, St Agatha was arrested for resisting the advances of a degenerate civil official. To punish her for wishing to protect her chastity, she was sent to a brothel, a house of prostitution. When she persevered in protecting her chastity, her breasts were cut off, and she was sent to her martyrdom.

The world needs witnesses to holiness like St. Agatha. And the power and love of God shines so brightly in the witness of the virgin martyrs—that corruption, and perversion, and violence, and death do not get the last word.

Christians today are surrounded by innumerable pressures to forsake the faith, to make compromises with the world, which are repugnant to the teachings of Christ. We do well to invoke Agatha and the virgin martyrs on behalf of our young people, that they will value Christian chastity above the perversions of our culture, and all of us do well to invoke Agatha, that we may be willing to suffer in order to allow the power of Christ and love of God shine in our lives for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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Through the intercession of St. Agatha and all the holy virgin-martyrs, for an increase in chastity, purity, and modesty and for greater respect for the dignity of the human body and all human life.
That all of our young people may be kept safe from the poisonous errors and vices of our time and be kept in close friendship with the Lord Jesus through the faith of their families, daily prayer, attendance at Mass, and the practice of the virtues.
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, 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

July 6 2018 - St. Maria Goretti - Lover of Chastity

Maria Goretti was eleven years old, when she died in defense of her chastity on July 6 1902.  She was canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1950, and it is the first time in history that the mother of a saint was present at the canonization. 

One of the men who had worked with her father, 19 year old Alexander Serenelli, had made several attempts to seduce young Maria.  Her refusal so angered him that he threatened to kill her, which he eventually did, stabbing her 14 times.  Maria died in the hospital after forgiving her murderer. 
It is said that "Even if she had not been a martyr, she would still have been a saint, so holy was her everyday life".  God is invoked in the collect for her feast as the “author of innocence and lover of chastity.”

Chastity is a virtue to be practiced by all Christians, and St. Maria Goretti is a model of this virtue for us. Even at the age of 11 Maria knew that giving in to seductive advances outside of marriage is sinful. Maria would always rebuked the advances of the young man, telling him that God forbids the sinful actions which could lead to the damnation of their souls.

Maria had a rightly formed conscience. Her parents brought her to Church. Instructed her in the virtues. She was very pious. Her faith rightly guided her. So many of our young people have no guidance save for what they see on the internet. Sex before marriage and cohabitation are commonplace. But that doesn’t make them right.

Even when the young boy tried to wear down her conscience through multiple attempts to seduce her, she remained strong. Even when there was the threat of death, she remained courageous. Our young people, and all Christians need fortitude and courage in resist the constant and relentless bombardment of perverted sexuality in our culture. And perverted sexuality brings only inner emptiness, shame, and dysfunctional relationship. So we do well to invoke St. Maria Goretti as the patron saint of young people and a patron saint of chastity, and to share her story.

For Maria loved chastity because Christ loved chastity, and calls all Christians to practice chastity consistent with their vocation in life. And because chastity is beautiful, it attracts souls to Christ. May St. Maria Goretti’s steadfastness help us all in keeping and obeying all Christ commands of us for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
 
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Through the intercession of St. Maria Goretti and all the holy virgin-martyrs, for an increase of reverence for and practice of the virtues of chastity, purity, and modesty and for greater respect for the dignity of the human body and all human life.

That all of our young people on summer vacation may be kept safe from the poisonous errors and vices of our time and be kept in close friendship with the Lord Jesus through the faith of their families, daily prayer, attendance at Mass, and the practice of the virtues.

For Pope Francis’ prayer intention for the month of July: That priests, who experience fatigue and loneliness in their pastoral work, may find help and comfort in their intimacy with the Lord and in their friendship with their brother priests. We pray to the Lord.

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, 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

February 5 2018 - St. Agatha, virgin-martyr - Reverencing the Temple (of the Body)

The Ark of the Covenant being brought into the newly constructed Temple was a momentous occasion for Israel. It marked that God was now being rightly worshipped by Israel, and that would bring tremendous favor upon his chosen people. And so the ark was processed in quite the majestic and solemn way. Countless sheep and oxen were sacrificed, trumpets were blown, the king marched along with the priests and his people. And it seemed God was quite pleased, for the cloud of God’s glory filled the Temple.

If you’ve ever attended the Easter Vigil, you might experience some similarities. We of course do not sacrifice sheep and oxen, for Christ has provided the worthy sacrifice of himself. But, there are processions, and clouds of incense, and trumpets on Easter, to celebrate the presence of the Risen Christ with His Church.

At the Great Vigil we also celebrate new Christians becoming Temples of God through the Sacrament of Baptism. And, all of us who are baptized are taught to reverence our bodies as Temples of the Spirit.

The dedication of Solomon's Temple was one of the great events in history. However, Jesus is greater than Solomon. And we who are baptized are greater than Solomon’s Temple.

So we need to have great reverence for our bodies, adorning them with virtue, using them to glorify God in all things. St. Paul urges the Romans, “brothers and sisters…offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God…Do not conform yourself to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.”

When we understand the reverence we are to have for ourselves, we begin to understand why people like St. Agnes, St. Anastasia, Susanna, St. Agatha, who we honor today, St. Lucy, St. Maria Goretti, they died to preserve their purity, their chastity, their consecrated virginity.

For resisting the advances of a degenerate civil official, for her faith, St. Agatha was arrested. To punish her for wishing to protect her chastity, she was sent to a brothel, a house of prostitution. When she persevered in protecting her chastity, her breasts were cut off, and she was sent to her martyrdom.

We do well to invoke St. Agatha and the virgin martyrs to help our culture reclaim the value of chastity and modesty and purity. May we all resist, especially our young people, conforming ourselves to this increasingly perverse and degenerate age, and come to reverence our bodies once again as Temples of God, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
 
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For the Holy Father’s prayer intention for the month of February, that those who have material, political or spiritual power may resist any lure of corruption. We pray to the Lord.

Through the intercession of St. Agatha and the holy virgin-martyrs, for an increase of reverence for the virtues of chastity, purity, and modesty and for greater respect for the dignity of the human body and all human life.

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, 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