September 16 2024 - Saints Cornelius & Cyprian, Martyrs - Instruments of mercy, peace, and unity.

 During a particularly violent persecution of the Church, led by the roman emperor Decius in the year 250, many Christians, in order to save their lives, submitted to the imperial mandate for citizens of the empire to prove their loyalty to empire by offering incense to the Roman Gods.

This imperial mandate was designed to root out Christians. For by this time, the empire knew well that Christians could not commit this act of idolatry. 

Some Christians, tried to get around the mandate by bribing authorities to obtain a document which stated that they had offered such sacrifices.  But that document till said, basically, “I deny Christ”. It’s still a public act—still an act of apostasy.

As the persecutions died down, the question arose: can these apostates be readmitted to communion? After all, the denied Christ publicly, through public documentation. 

So, in the year 251, Pope Cornelius, whom we honor today, called a synod in Rome. After hearing from his bishops and theologians, he declared that, yes, the apostates could be restored to communion, as long as they underwent what he called “the usual medicines of repentance”.  He affirmed that through penance and firm purpose of amendment, a sinner could be readmitted to Communion again. 

Pope Cornelius was supported in this pronouncement by many bishops, but especially St. Cyprian, the most important bishop in North Africa, and one of the most important theologians and writers of the time.

All these centuries later, we are still in possession of a letter written by Cyprian to Pope Cornelius. Listen to these words: “My very dear brother,” he wrote, “we have heard of the glorious witness given by your courageous faith. On learning of the honor you had won by your witness, we were filled with such joy that we felt ourselves sharers and companions in your praiseworthy achievements. After all, we have the same Church, the same mind, the same unbroken harmony. God’s merciful design has warned us that the day of our own struggle, our own contest, is at hand. By that shared love which binds us close together, we are doing all we can to exhort our congregation, to give ourselves unceasingly to fastings, vigils and prayers in common. These are the heavenly weapons which give us the strength to stand firm and endure; they are the spiritual defenses, the God-given armaments that protect us. Let us then remember one another, united in mind and heart. Let us pray without ceasing, you for us, we for you; by the love we share we shall thus relieve the strain of these great trials.”

Cyprian was right, that, both he and Pope Cornelius would face their own day of struggle, as Cyprian called it. Both were martyred when the persecutions flared up again. But Cyprian gives good advice for all of us, in the time that we have, to make use of the “heavenly weapons which give us strength”—fasting, prayer vigils, and prayer in common. 

Through the intercession of Saints Cornelius and Cyprian may we encourage one another through all the trials we face, and bear witness to all whom we are called to forgive, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That the Pope and all the clergy may be effective instruments of mercy, and for the grace and strength to seek out the lost, last, and least.

That through the intercession of the martyrs Cornelius and Cyprian, lapsed Catholics will be moved to return to the Sacraments.

For an end to government corruption and politically motivated violence, and all forms of greed which breed hatred and war.

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.

December 20 2023 - Idols or Emmanuel

 

Ahaz was king of Israel at a crucial moment in Israel’s history. The Assyrians were sweeping through the region—conquering everyone who would not assimilate and join their empire and worship their gods.  

So King Ahaz had a choice, will he trust in God and the guidance of the prophets or will he bow to Assyria and assimilate. Will he trust in the one true God or bow to the false gods. Knowing how weak Ahaz was, God spoke through Isaiah and told Ahaz: I’ll even give you a sign that I am with you and with Israel: “the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel.”

Sadly, Ahaz trusted not in the power of God. He entered into a protection treaty with Assyria. Despite Isaiah’s warnings, an altar was built for the worship of the Assyrian gods in the very Temple of Jerusalem violating Israel’s covenant with the one true God. And it wouldn’t be long before Jerusalem was conquered by Babylon a few decades later.

Every year, the world is given the same crucial choice as Ahaz. Emmanuel is born of the virgin, come believe in Him, trust in Him, worship Him, adore Him. God invites all of humanity to trust in the sign. The sign of signs. Will you trust? 

King Ahaz failed to trust in God and that had tragic consequences for the nation. Similarly, the world sinks further and further into depravity and chaos when it rejects the Christ.

So, the Church, in her prophetic mission, urges the world: “do not make the same mistake. The false gods of the world will not protect you, they will not give you the peace and prosperity they promise. There is one God and Him alone shall you worship. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” 

In these final Advent days, let us pray for the world, to believe in the One born for them on Christmas, Emmanuel, God with us, born of the Virgin Mary, as Savior of the World. Let us fast and pray for the church to resist the assimilation to the ways of the world, for increased faith in Emmanuel, hope in Him, and love of Him for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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

That Christ may visit his holy Church and always find her repentant of sin and watchful in prayer.

That Christ may fill the Pope, our Bishop, and all the clergy with spiritual gifts and graces.

That Christ may guide the minds of those who govern us to promote the common good according to His Holy Will.

That Christ may banish disease, drive out hunger, and ward off every affliction.

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

Almighty ever-living God, who bring salvation to all and desire that no one should perish, hear the prayers of your people and grant that the course of our world may be directed by your peaceful rule and your Church rejoice in tranquility and devotion. Through Christ our Lord.

5th Week of Lent 2022 - Wednesday - Pharisaical Idolatry

 The prohibition against idolatry was one of the first and most important laws God gave to the Jewish people. At Sinai, he tells them: “You shall have no other gods before Me.” Idolatry became an issue for Israel on numerous occasions. Coming out of the desert, they encountered the Caananite peoples with their many gods. And many fell into idolatry, especially when they intermarried. When they were conquered by the Assyrians, the Babylonians, and the Persians, many fell into idolatry, worshipping the gods of their conquerors.

In the first reading today, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were told they must worship an idol or be put to death. They are examples of courageous faith for Jews and for us as well. 

In the Gospel, the Lord addresses the idolatry of the Pharisees. The Pharisees claim to be children of Abraham and worshippers of the One True God of Abraham, but the Lord exposes their idolatry. They might not be offering burnt sacrifices to foreign Gods, they’re idolatry is more subtle, but far worse

Their hardness of hearts, their failure to show mercy, their failure to love the sinner are all evidence they don’t worship the one true God. For if they did, they would resemble the God they worship. The claim to be the religious experts, having an impeccable knowledge of scripture and theology. But they didn’t recognize the God revealed in the Scriptures when he appeared in the flesh before them. 

Worse still, they’ve subverted what religion was supposed to be all about. Right religion is about the right worship and love of God, of serving God, and seeking authentic holiness in this life. They were leading people not to seek authentic holiness, but to imitate their own errors and hardness of heart. 

Why did they hate Jesus? Because he exposed them, and sought to depose them. They put themselves in the place of God, and when he exposed their hypocrisy, they sought to kill him.

These readings certainly help us understand the animosity toward Jesus that led to his arrest and trumped up trials and Passion and Death in the upcoming week. Today’s readings also challenge us to examine our own idolatrous tendencies. Again, not that we are offering burnt offerings to pagan idols, but the idolatry of the self, of the ego, of the need to wrestle control away from God, the resistance toward obeying God and seeking to imitate God.

In the days ahead, may our hearts truly bow before the Lord in worship, as he goes to the cross for us, to save us from sin, to save us from ourselves; for in him we find true freedom, true peace, eternal life and joy, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That God may be pleased to increase faith and understanding in the catechumens and candidates who approach the sacraments of initiation in the coming Paschal Solemnity. 

That those in need may find assistance in the charity of faithful Christians and that peace and security may be firmly established in all places.

For strength to resist temptation, and the humility to sincerely repent of sin.

That through fasting and self-denial, we may be ever more conformed to Christ.

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

Mercifully hear, O Lord, the prayers of your Church and turn with compassion to the hearts that bow before you, that those you make sharers in your divine mystery may always benefit from your assistance.

September 29 2021 - Feast of the Archangels - For the defeat of idolatry and plague

 For many centuries, September 29 was exclusively the feast of St. Michael, and so those who the old calendar, call today’s feast “Michaelmas”. Since the reform, today celebrates not just Archangel Michael, but the Archangels Gabriel and Raphael as well. 

Scripture and Tradition are clear about the existence of the angels.  And even Though Scripture mentions the angels over 200 times, only these three are mentioned by name.  

In the book of Daniel, Michael stands guard over the nation of Israel. Michael is also a great defender of God’s Holy Church.

There’s a story that in 590 the Roman populace had begun revering pagan idol in the Church of Santa Agatha and this displeased God that a plague began to run through the city. Hearing of this idolatry the pope lead a procession to the Church and upon arriving, the idol miraculously fell apart with a clap of thunder. Returning to St. Peter’s, the Pope had a vision of an archangel atop the ancient tomb of the Emperor Hadrian, wiping blood from his sword, as if it was through the angel’s intervention that the idol had been destroyed and the plague was at its end.

This story inspired Pope Leo X to commission the large statue of St. Michael which stands atop Hadrian’s Tomb in Rome today, which is also known as Castel San Angelo. 

Idolatry and Plague. I can’t help but think of how just a few months before the COVID outbreak, there were these strange stories of the Pachamama idols being revered in Rome. St. Michael should certainly be invoked in defeating the evil of the COVID pandemic, and also whatever human evils may have contributed to its spread.

Gabriel too, whose name means “God is mighty” and Raphael, whose name means “God’s healing”, should be invoked often. For God allowed us to know the name of these three angels because he wants us to call upon them for help. Each of these three archangels have been given special roles in salvation history and those roles continue. 

The archangels have a special role in the spiritual warfare of the Church, a warfare against the powers and principalities which have made themselves enemies of God and the Church. May the holy archangels watch over and guide us, and help us to be faithful in the great task of laboring for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

 

That through the intercession of the archangels, God’s holy ministers and God’s holy Church may be protected from the all of the deceptions of the enemy. Let us pray to the Lord. 

That through the intercession of the Archangels, all modern forms of idolatry may be struck down. Let us pray to the Lord. 

That through the intercession of the Archangels, plague and pandemic may be defeated. Let us pray to the Lord.

That through the intercession of the Archangels, may God’s healing remedies be dispensed to all who suffer from loneliness or sickness.  Let us pray to the Lord.

That through the intercession of the Archangels, may God’s strength be with all those who work for the Spread of the Gospel.  Let us pray to the Lord.

That through the intercession of the Archangels, may all Christians may seek that conversion of heart in conforming themselves to the life of Christ. Let us 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. Let us pray to the Lord.

Heavenly Father, may our prayers rise like a pleasant fragrance before you and be brought to your altar on high through the hands of your holy angels. Through Christ Our Lord.

5th Week of Lent 2019 - Wednesday - Imitators of the Passion

When told they must worship an idol or be put to death, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, chose to remain faithful to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  They exhibited tremendous and courageous faith in the face of suffering and death.

The early Christians often faced this same trial.  “Offer sacrifice to the roman emperor and live, refuse, and die.”  Great martyrs like Perpetua and Felicity, Popes like Sixtus and Cornelius, apologists like Justin, refused to offer the pagan sacrifice and were put to death.

The Saints do not compromise their faith for the sake of worldly success.  Jesus asks, “What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?” The saints show us that authentic faith means remaining true to Jesus Christ in the face of temptation, difficulty and trial.  Our own parish patron St. Ignatius of Antioch on his way to martyrdom wrote to the Romans: “It is better for me to die on behalf of Jesus Christ than to reign over all the ends of the earth…Him I seek, who died for us: him I desire, who rose again for our sake…Permit me to be an imitator of the Passion of my God!”

The prospect of suffering for the Gospel terrifies us. Most of us don’t want to be bothered or distracted from pursuing or own goals, what we think will make us happy. Prayer is considered a waste of time, charity a waste of money, fasting a waste of pleasure. And aren’t those the idols of our own day: my time, my money, my pursuit of pleasure?

Many people reject Catholic Christianity not because they have a distaste for ornate churches, beautiful vestments, or they reject the hierarchical constitution of the Church. It’s that they detect that Catholicism calls them away from the worship of idols to the worship and imitation of Christ, who embraces the cross, who reveals the cross as the royal road to heaven.

The account of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace foreshadows a powerful truth of our Christian faith. In the furnace, the three faith boys were not alone, they were joined by one with the “appearance of a son of God.” So too in our suffering we are never alone. Christ is with us, transforming the fire of our suffering into the light of glory.

As Holy Week draws near, let us draw near to Jesus as he suffers for us, let us draw near to Him to console Him who consoles us. May these final days of Lent help us to have courage in the face of suffering and temptation, to know Jesus’ presence with us as we imitate Him in his Passion for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
 
That the Church will experience the graces of profound renewal during this season of Lent.  That we may grow in our eagerness in spreading the Gospel of Christ.
That all Christian families will recommit themselves to putting Christ at the center of their family life, so as to grow in faith, hope, and love.  We pray to the Lord.
For an end to abortion and for the reverence and protection of human life.  We pray to the Lord.
For the young people of our Church. May they be strengthened to be witnesses to the Gospel of mercy and work for a future that embodies a genuine culture of life.
For those preparing to enter the Church at Easter: that they will be profoundly blessed in their preparation for full initiation into the Body of Christ.  We pray to the Lord.
For the needs of the poor, the hungry, the homeless, those who are sick, unemployed, or suffering from addiction, mental, or physical illness, imprisoned, and those most in need: that the Lord in his goodness will be close to them in their trials.  We pray to the Lord.
For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.
Mercifully hear, O Lord, the prayers of your Church and turn with compassion to the hearts that bow before you, that those you make sharers in your divine mystery may always benefit from your assistance.

4th Week of OT 2018 - Tuesday - Loving your enemies

King David’s behavior, his grief is somewhat confusing. Absalom was a usurper. He killed his brother Amnon. He had stolen the loyalty of David’s army and countrymen. You would think that David would rejoice at the news of Absalom’s death, that he would heap praise upon the soldiers who killed this anti-king.

And yet, we see David cry out with grief, “My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you.”

Intimations of Christ-like forgiveness are found in this story—Christ who chose to die for us when we were worthy of death.

We are Absalom, guilty of usurpation, seizing what did not belong to us; we are Adam and Eve grasping at the forbidden fruit, as if divinity could be gained through disobedience.  We are Cain, jealous of our brothers favor. We are Israel worshiping false idols even after it is clear that God had intervened in our history.

We made ourselves into the enemies of God by virtue of sin. How absolutely mind-blowing, ego-shattering to consider that God chose to become man to die, not for his friends, but for his enemies. Paul write to Rome, “Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a good person one might even find courage to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.”

So when, Our Lord teaches us that we must not hate, but love our enemies, he’s not just saying that we are simply to refrain from killing them, but that perhaps we would be willing to die for them, like David desired to die for his son Absalom, like Jesus desired to die for us.

This sort of Christ-like love for our enemies makes most of us quite unsettled. And it should, because most of us have a lot of converting still to do. But no doubt, true joy is found in the conversion of our hearts from hardness to Christ-like love.

We do well to ask the Lord to teach us the meaning of love, to give us the desire to love, not simply our friends, but our enemies, for the stranger, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
 
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That all members of the Church may live out their baptismal call with greater conviction and faithfulness, and turn to the Lord in their sins with sincere contrition.

During this Catholic Schools Week, we continue to pray for all students, for their openness to knowledge, wisdom, and understanding, and for their teachers ability to educate.

For parents, the first teachers of their children, and for a strengthening of all families in faith.  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

Monday - 2nd Week of OT 2018 - Saul's unacceptable sacrifice

Very early on in his kingly career, Saul shows himself to be far from the ideal ruler. He is brash and impulsive and disobedient to God’s commandments. As the story progresses his becomes increasingly irrational, volatile and hostile to the commandments, he attempts to murder the Lord’s anointed, and becomes a practitioner of the occult.

In the conversation between Saul and Samuel this morning, we even see Saul adopting sort of a mocking tone. Saul claims to be doing the will of God: from his military conquests he even brought back all these animals to be sacrificed to God, even though this was contrary to the divine mandate.
Samuel reveals that Saul’s heart is far from surrender to the divine will of God: these supposed sacrifices were not pleasing to God because they were offered by a disobedient arrogant heart. Samuel equates these empty sacrifices with idolatry and sorcery, sins most contrary to right relationship with God.

We are reminded of how the sacrifice of Cain was found unacceptable to God for the same reason. The unacceptable sacrifice is a mockery; it pretends at being rightly ordered, like many Catholic politicians and leaders who claim to be Catholic all the while forwarding a morally corrupt political agenda.

But this is also a danger each of us must be on guard against, that we don’t go about play-acting at Catholicism, but that our intentions might be purely for God’s glory.

In every celebration of Mass the priest says, “pray brethren that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father”, and the congregation responds praying that the sacrifice at the altar be found acceptable. These are prayers touching on the heart of the Christian life, that our sacrifice, our lives might be rightly ordered.

The Eucharist is the acceptable sacrifice because it is the sacrifice the Son obediently makes of himself to God. It is the sacrifice offered from the humblest heart.

May our days and deeds be rightly ordered to the humble heart, the self-sacrifice of Jesus Our Lord for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That all members of the Church may live out their baptismal call with greater conviction and faithfulness.

That those in civic authority may submit their minds and hearts to the rule of Christ, the Prince of Peace and Hope of the nations.

As our nation observes Martin Luther King Day, we pray for an end to racial prejudice and bigotry, for racial harmony and justice for all people.

That the March for Life in Washington D.C. this Friday will help to transform our culture and inspire many to adhere to the Gospel of 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