June 13 2025 - St. Anthony of Padua - Preaching to fish and seeking the lost

 In the early 1200s a group of Franciscans left Assisi to preach the Gospel to the Muslims in Morocco. The Franciscans led by St. Berard were bold in their preaching, but their efforts were resisted. They were arrested, tortured, and beheaded.

Not long after, their relics were brought to Portugal, and there a young Augustinian friar named Anthony was deeply moved by the courage of those evangelizing Franciscan martyrs. He felt a profound calling to emulate their zeal and their way of life, and so he received permission to leave the Augustinians and join the Friars Minor. He immediately traveled to Morocco to continue that preaching mission of those martyrs, but fell ill and had to return to Italy.

And there he continued to became well known for his powerful preaching rooted in God’s word and sound Catholic theology. There is a famous story where St. Anthony traveled to Rimini in Northern Italy where there were a number of heretics. He started to preach, but they did not want to listen to him, and they even mocked him. In a dramatic gesture, Anthony went to the seashore, saying, “Because you show yourself unworthy of God’s word, behold, I turn to the fishes so that your unbelief may be shown up more clearly”. As he spoke of God’s care for those creatures that live in the waters, a shoal of fish swam near to the bank, partly thrusting themselves out of the water and appearing to listen carefully. At the end of his sermon, the Saint blessed them and they swam away. In the meantime, so deep was the impression made upon the onlookers that many hurried back to the city imploring their friends to come and see the miracle, while others burst into tears asking forgiveness. Soon after a great multitude gathered around the Saint, who exhorted them to turn back to God. So through St. Anthony’s sermon to the fishes, the city of Rimini was purged of heresy.

While he is lovingly and effectively invoked as the Patron of Lost objects, his main mission was to help find lost souls. We should invoke St. Anthony not just when we’ve lost our car keys, but to find the right words to speak to those who have left the faith and those who do not know Christ. 

May St. Anthony help us to go and seek out those who are lost, that they may find Christ. May St. Anthony’s zeal and courage fill us for the glory of God and the salvation of souls. 

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With trust in God's providence and inspired by the zeal and courage of St. Anthony of Padua, let us bring our prayers before the Lord:

For the Church throughout the world, that she may boldly proclaim the Gospel in season and out of season, drawing all people to Christ, 

For all preachers, catechists, and evangelists, that like St. Anthony, they may be rooted in God’s Word and fearless in proclaiming the truth with love and clarity, and that our parish, attentive to the needs of others, may courageously share the faith with those around us.

For those who have fallen away from the faith, that through the prayers and witness of the Church—and the intercession of St. Anthony—they may return to the sacraments and to Christ.

For the poor, the forgotten, and the spiritually lost, that we may seek them out with the love of Christ.

For the faithful departed, especially those who sought Christ in this life, that they may now rejoice in the presence of the Lord forever. 

Father of mercy, you raised up St. Anthony to preach your Word and seek the lost. Through his intercession, help us to live our faith boldly and bring others to the joy of your Kingdom. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Easter Octave 2021 - Friday - Revealed

 The very first verse and the very last verse of the Gospel passage today contain a very important word: reveal. After his resurrection, the risen Lord “revealed” himself to his disciples. 

St. John likes to use this word, both in his Gospel and in the book of Revelation. He’s even sometimes called “St. John the Revelator” 

The signs Jesus accomplished throughout John’s Gospel: the wedding at Cana, walking on water, multiplying loaves, raising the dead, reveal Jesus’ identity and his mission—his divine identity and his mission to bring about the salvation of mankind.

Two details certainly reveal his identity and mission in the Gospel today: the miraculous catch of fish and the meal Jesus provides. And yet, these two details reveal something about the church, too. Just as at Jesus’ word, the net is cast into the sea after a long night of fruitless fishing, now in the period after the resurrection the church is to cast the net of the Gospel into the world, to bring in souls. We are made fishers of men. And just as the risen lord shares a meal with his friends on the seashore, the members of the church, are to celebrate the holy mass, in which the lord feeds his friends with his body and blood in every corner of the world. 

The Lord wishes to use us to continue to reveal that his is Risen from the dead. The Church’s mission continues and will continue until the Lord’s return: to help people believe that Jesus is God, that he is savior, and that he is risen. 

In the Gospel, it takes a number of disciples to pull in that net of fish, and so too with us. It takes a number of Christians, working together, to bring souls to Christ. Who are your fishing partners? Your not meant to be working all alone. The work of the Gospel is never a solitary act. Where two or three are gathered, the Lord is revealed. 

Lord, reveal to me how you wish me to reveal you to others, today. For the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

19th Week in OT 2019 - Monday - Sons of the King

Prior to ascending the Mount of Transfiguration, Our Lord announced to the apostles his forthcoming Passion. We know how the apostles reacted; Peter, especially was aghast, and tried to talk the Lord out of it. To which the Lord responded, “get behind me Satan, You aren’t thinking like God but like men.”

In today’s Gospel, Jesus has come down from the mount of transfiguration, and returning to Galilee, he makes his second Passion prediction. And again, his disciples are overwhelmed with grief. The truth has sunk in, a little deeper. He’s going to the cross. Peter doesn’t try to talk Jesus out of it this time; after all, he’s witnessed the Lord speaking about his Passion with Moses and Elijah while in Transfigured Glory.

Our Lord and the twelve then travel back to the base of operations, Capernaum, where the Lord’s public ministry began, and we hear this strange tale about fish and taxes. And perhaps, this incident is meant to lift the apostles spirits a bit. Because in the course of this story, the Lord once again equates himself with a King, and his disciples with his subjects. And really, our translation of the Greek isn’t great here. The Greek word really doesn’t mean subjects, but sons. Disciples of Jesus are not just members of the kingdom who live outside the king’s own house, they are sons of the king, members of the royal family, who eat at the king’s table, who receive the special blessings and special intimacy with the king. We have the king’s ear, always. We participate in the life of the King and the work of the King.

This important for the Christian to remember when we face our own crosses, when we are overwhelmed with grief and exhaustion. Just as a king showers blessings on his children, Jesus blesses us as members of his family.

St. Leo the Great said, “Christian, remember your dignity, and now that you share in God’s own nature, do not return by sin to your former base condition. Bear in mind who is your head and of whose body you are a member. Do not forget that you have been rescued from the power of darkness and brought into the light of God’s kingdom.”

It is important for us to recollect many times a day, our Christian identity and our Christian mission. That amidst the trials and crosses, we are Christians, we members of the royal family, and we have mission for which we are blessed with abundant graces, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That all members of the Body of Christ may preserve and live-up to their Christian identity always and everywhere.

For the Holy Father’s prayer intention for the month of August that that families, through their life of prayer and love, become ever more clearly "schools of true human growth."

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

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

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.

Easter Friday 2017 - Fish transformed into Fishermen

The sailing ship or fisherman’s boat was an ancient Christian symbol for the Church. The Barque of Peter sailing on a wind-tossed sea of worldliness, disbelief, persecution carrying her cargo of human souls.

The symbol draws some of its imagery from Noah’s Ark, which protected Noah’s family during the flood. Jesus too protects Peter’s boat and the apostles on the storm Sea of Galilee.

Saint Anselm said that the Bark of the Church may be Swept by the Waves of the world, but she can never sink, because Christ is with us. When the Church is in Greatest Need, Christ comes to her help through miracles, or by raising up Saintly Men to strengthen and purify her. She is the Bark of Peter; when the Storm threatens to Sink her, the Lord awakens from His Sleep, and Commands the Winds and Waters into Calm: “Peace; be still!”

Many Church buildings even are built to resemble a ship: the main nave contains the faithful gathered like in the galley of a ship. In fact, the word nave, comes from the Latin “Navis” which means, ship.  The ribbing of the church rafters even resemble the ribs of a ship.

In today’s Gospel, the risen Lord commands Peter to cast the net over the right side of the boat and brings in a large catch. This has always been the Church’s mission.

Under the guidance of the successor of St. Peter, the Pope: we fish for souls, that those souls may come to safe harbor, the port of Heaven. One of the earliest symbols for the Christian was a fish: the icthus. Once safely in the boat, fish are transformed into fisherman and are put to work to cast out into deep waters.

The net cast at the command of Christ symbolizes our Evangelizing Mission. The Quantity of fish netted, One Hundred and Fifty-Three (153), is the total number of Species of Fish known by the Greek Civilization at that particular time in History. Therefore, this Number represents all of mankind to which the saving Gospel is to be preached.

After being pulled into the safety of the Barque of Peter, the disciples then go to shore in order to eat a meal with the Lord: a beautiful symbol of the celebration of Eucharist. We go out into the stormy world with all of its errors and vices, seeking to make a catch of souls, and then come back to the presence of the Lord for the celebration of Eucharist—in thanksgiving for keeping our own souls safe from evil and seeking strength to be more faithful and effective in our mission.

May our celebration of the Eucharist today and throughout the Easter season continue to strengthen us for the evangelizing mission, to spread the Gospel to all people, that no soul may be lost to the watery chaos, including our own, but may be brought to the glory of our eternal homeland, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
 
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Filled with paschal joy, let us pray more earnestly to God that he, who graciously listened to the prayers and supplications of his beloved Son, may now be pleased to look upon us in our lowliness.
1. For the shepherds of our souls, that they may have the strength to govern wisely, the flock entrusted to them by the Good Shepherd.
2. For the whole world, that it may truly know the peace given by Christ.
3. For our brothers and sisters who suffer, that their sorrow may be turned to gladness which no one can take from them.
4. For our own community, that it may bear witness with great confidence to the Resurrection of Christ.
O God, who know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the desires of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ Our Lord.