11th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2026 - Pope Leo Vatican II Catechesis - Royal Priesthood

 

At the beginning of the New Year, Pope Leo began a new initiative. He announced that each Wednesday he would be offering catechesis on the documents of the Second Vatican Council at his weekly general audience.

So he began, first thing, first week of January 2026, and he explained his reasoning this series of teachings, now 60 years after Vatican Council II. He said, “as the years have passed, the Conciliar Documents have lost none of their timeliness; indeed, their teachings are proving particularly relevant to the new situation of the Church and the current globalized society.”

In other words, “the Church has something to say, a message to give, a communication to make” in our modern world and the Documents of Vatican II are important for interpretating what God is calling us to do, in this era of AI and global challenges.

The following week, the Holy Father began with a catechesis on the first of the Vatican II documents, Dei Verbum, the dogmatic constitution on Divine Revelation—how God’s revelation—how God’s revealed truth is imparted to humanity, particularly through Scripture and Tradition.

He then went on to discuss Lumen Gentium, the constitution on the Church, and he’s now onto discuss a third document, Sacrosanctum Concilium, the Constitution on Sacred Liturgy—reflecting on the role of liturgy in the church, the reform of the liturgy that took place at Vatican II, and the way God uses the rituals, signs and symbols of the liturgy to impart his divine gifts to us. Exciting stuff.

But again, for a few months there, the Holy Father was teaching on Lumen Gentium—a very important document on the make-up of the Church,—so, the role of bishops, the role of priests and deacons, the role of the consecrated religious, and the role of the laity, including the role of the family—how all of us, together are called to fulfill the mission of the Church.

Why do I bring any of this up? Partially because Lumen Gentium, explaining the role of the people of God in God’s saving plan, heavily draws upon concepts we find in today’s scripture passages for the 11^th Sunday in ordinary time. And Pope Leo, in his current catechesis, really draws out some of these themes quoting even from our first reading today.

In our first reading, from the book of Exodus, the people of God at the time, comprised of the Israelites, are at the base of Mt. Sinai where God reminds them how he has delivered them from 400 years of Egyptian slavery  for a purpose—he chose them for a purpose. God chosen them to be a kingdom of priests, a holy nation—in order to glorify God in the world. He chose them for a mission—a priestly mission—to sanctify the world.

Now, in this era of the Church—of course, God’s chosen people includes us—the baptized people of the nations of the world—from every place the Gospel has been preached. And we’re reminded today that we are a kingdom of priests, a royal priesthood. Pope Leo, just a few weeks ago, spoke on this very idea. He said, “the Lord Jesus, through the new and eternal covenant, has established a kingdom of priests, constituting his disciples as a ‘royal priesthood’.”

The Holy Father says, we are formed into a priestly people at Baptism, which enables us to worship God in spirit and truth, and to “confess before men the faith which we have received from God through the Church” quoting Lumen Gentium 11. In other words, each of us is called to the priestly duty of worshipping rightly and teaching rightly, witnessing rightly.

Furthermore, through the sacrament of Confirmation, all the baptized “are more perfectly bound to the Church … and the Holy Spirit endows them with special strength so that they are more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith, both by word and by deed, as true witnesses of Christ”.

Why has God formed us into a royal priesthood? Because we have the mission—both ordained and lay—of sanctifying the world through the spreading and defending the faith.

The Holy Father goes on, “the exercise of the royal priesthood takes place in many ways, all aimed at our sanctification, first and foremost through participation in the offering of the Eucharist.” Every week we come to mass, not just to get an obligation out of the way—but to participate in right worship—offering ourselves along with the priest—as a living sacrifice to God the Father.

The Holy Father goes on, he says, we exercise our royal priesthood through prayer, asceticism and active charity—prayer fasting and almsgiving aren’t just for Lent, but are to be part of the ordinary priestly dimension of our faith, and by doing so, we bear witness to a life renewed by God’s grace. As the Council summarizes, “it is through the sacraments and the exercise of the virtues that the sacred nature and organic structure of the priestly community is brought into operation”.

We could do an hour lecture on this stuff, it’s so good. But for now, we do well to consider: why is Pope Leo wanting to remind us, now in 2026, that we are a priestly people. Because this is one of the great needs of our time. For you and for me, to more deeply fulfill the priestly duties of our baptism: to offer our life to God, to prayerfully intercede for the world, to sanctify the ordinary duties of daily life, and to bear witness to Christ as best as we possibly can, especially through works of charity.

Again, this priestly duty is not just for the ordained. Each of us have a priestly role—to pray, to preach and teach, to sanctify the world and to save souls.

The Catechism speaks particularly of parents priestly role. It says, “In a very special way, parents share in the [priestly] office of sanctifying “by leading a conjugal life in the Christian spirit and by seeing to the Christian education of their children.”

What does a priest do? He sanctifies. And so priestly parents have a special duty of ordering and orienting your children to God—through your holy example and holy teaching.

In the Church, God works powerfully through Holy Families. When someone asks you what it means to be Catholic, you should be able to say, come and spend time with my family. It’s a little chaotic yes, but, the Catholic family is the place where the Church in a vital way, lives out its call to daily love, care, hospitality, sacrifice, forgiveness, prayer, Christian education, and turning to God’s healing and grace in our brokenness. Look at how we pray together and for each other, look at how we forgive one another, look at how we are patient with each other’s smaller imperfections, look at how we study the faith together, and work together to meet the needs of the less fortunate and the suffering.

So, Pope Leo is offering some pretty powerful catechesis right now, which helps us to understand what God’s plan for the Church, for each of us, and how we are called to live out our call to holiness and the mission of the Church. The Holy Father’s messages, audiences, homilies, and encyclicals are available for free on the Vatican’s website. I highly recommend you check them out.

May God’s Divine Assistance help us be that royal priesthood and holy nation that God made us to be, enlightened by God’s Truth, washed in Christ’s Blood, united and animated by God’s Spirit for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

29th Week in Ordinary Time 2022 - Friday - Responding to the Signs of the Times

 

Earlier this month we celebrated the feast day of Pope St. John XXIII, good Pope John, who, much to the surprise of the Cardinals and Bishops and the rest of the world, convoked an ecumenical council—the Second Vatican Council.

The Holy Father detected great changes in society such as rapid technological development, the development of the working class, changes in women’s role in society, and the gradual disappearance of colonialism. In the Papal Bull calling the Council, Pope John wrote about the Church’s need to pay attention to the “signs of the times”. He wrote, “We renew our confidence in our Savior who has not left the world he redeemed. Instead we make our own the recommendation that one should know how to distinguish the signs of the times (Mt 16:4) and we seem to see now in the midst of so much darkness a few indications that argue well for the fate of the Church and humanity (sec. 3).”

After the death of Pope John, the new Pope, Paul VI, also continued this idea, that the Church needed to pay attention to the signs of the times in order to effectively speak to the world in the midst of all of these changes and challenges. 

In the Gospel today, the Lord Jesus remarks that his contemporaries are adept at forecasting the weather by reading the signs, but they were missing something more important than weather, which was happening in their midst. Signs of God’s presence were all around them: loaves being multiplied, the lame walking, hardened sinners repenting, and the good news spreading. But with all these signs many refused to believe.

Similarly today, even amidst all the political chaos, natural disaster, war, and sickness in the world, God is present. There are miracles and healings, restored relationships, souls trapped in cycles of destructive behavior being freed through faith in Christ, Catholics pouring out their lives in teaching the young, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, so much evidence—if we take time to look and listen—of the presence of God. 

And yet, there are dark clouds on the cultural horizon, that the Church also needs to read and respond to. The rise of artificial intelligence, sexual immorality and gender confusion being imposed on young people, war mongering, unnecessarily risked national security, the threat of the use of nuclear arms, rampant, rampant corruption on every level of politics, the negligence of the media, the rise in the popularity of communism and atheism and witchcraft and the occult, the scientific community being compromised by financial and political interests. 

The Church has the duty to point to God, but she also has a duty to call souls to turn away from evil, and to call men of good will to work against the tides of evil. In fact, one could argue that the Church is being faithful to her mission when she is actively and publicly combatting evil, for the Lord said, the gates of hell shall not prevail against the Church. 

The darker the world becomes, the more worldly evils provide reasons for unbelief, the brighter the Church need to shine, the clearer the Church needs to teach, and manifest God’s goodness through works of charity, providing hungry souls with reasons for belief for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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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.

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 our young people may will turn away from the evils of our culture in order to pursue the goodness of Christ’s eternal kingdom.

For all whose lives are marked by suffering, may they come to know the healing and peace of Christ.

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.

October 11 2022 - Pope St. John XXIII - Aggiornamento

 Pope Saint John XXIII was canonized along with Pope Saint John Paul II on Divine Mercy Sunday in 2014. 

He was called “good Pope John” because he was beloved by the Italian people; he was dearly affectionate and had a good sense of humor.  The phrase “Santo Subito” – “sainthood now” was chanted at his funeral. Pope Francis referred to Pope John XXIII as a “model of sanctity.”  He is a model of holiness not just for the bishops and Popes of the Church, but for all of us.

Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, was the first born son of poor, sharecroppers in the small Italian village of Sotto il Monte near Borgamo in northern Italy. Following his ordination in 1904, he served in increasingly challenging ecclesiastical assignments. He studied canon law; he served as a diplomat in the second World War, and helped save an estimated twenty-four thousand Jews. 

Though, many of the Cardinals thought John was going to be more of a “caretaker Pope”—Pope John helped resolve the Cuban Missile Crisis, and shocked the church and the world when he called for a Second Vatican Council—not so much for the purpose of condemning the errors of the day, like previous councils, but for the purpose of Aggiornamento…letting in some fresh air to the life of the Church. Pope John XXIII set a tone for the Council when he said, “The Church has always opposed… errors. Nowadays, however, the Spouse of Christ prefers to make use of the medicine of mercy rather than that of severity.” No doubt, Pope John was an influence on our current Pontiff, Pope Francis. 

Pope John promoted dialogue with the Orthodox as well as with Protestants; he was the first Pope to meet the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury. He also encouraged positive relations with Muslims, Jews, and men of good will around the world.  

Pope John also set an example for all Christians in performing the works of mercy—he, like John Paul, Benedict, and now Francis, would leave the walls of the Vatican in order to visit the imprisoned and the sick. 

In his last encyclical in 1963, one of his most famous, called Pacem in Terris, Peace on Earth, he urged all people to think not just of themselves, but work for the common good, paying great attention to the less fortunate members of society, that as members of the universal family of mankind, we need to work together to attain our flourishment. 

For those of you who might be a little disheartened by the current state of politics, I encourage you to read that encyclical, to let some fresh air into your mind and soul

And yet, in the words of that great encyclical, Peace on Earth—which man throughout the ages has so longed for and sought after—can never be established, never guaranteed, except by the diligent observance of the divinely established order. Yes, humanity must work together for peace, but peace is only obtainable by faithfulness to God.

Strengthened by the example of Good Pope John’s holy life, taught by his words of preaching, may we aspire to work together for the spiritual flourishing of all mankind, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For Holy Father Pope Francis, that the saintly Popes may intercede for him and obtain for him great graces in his pontificate.

That government leaders make work together to safeguard and promote authentic human rights, especially the right to life; and that the temporal order may be ever-more infused with the goodness and truth of God.

That during the month of October dedicated to the Holy Rosary, we may be strengthened in devotion to Our Lady and trust ever-more in her maternal intercession. 

For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, for all the poor souls in purgatory, and N. for whom this Mass is offered.

For all victims of war, For hurricane victims and for all affected by flooding and severe weather conditions, and for those experiencing any kind of hardship or sorrow, isolation, addiction, or disease: that they may know God’s sustaining grace.

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish; for all of the poor souls in purgatory and for N.

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.

May 31 2022 - Visitation of Blessed Virgin Mary - Pro-life Joy and Compassion

 

On the final day of this Marian Month of May, we celebrate the joyful feast of the Visitation, a celebration of life. 

For me, today’s Gospel is one of the great Pro-Life passages from scripture. We heard today, John dancing and leaping in the womb of Elizabeth like David joyfully dancing before the Ark of the Covenant when he first encounters his unborn cousin, Jesus, only days old in the womb of Mother Mary.

The infant John the Baptist in his mother’s womb is a powerful pro-life model for us, as John recognizes that Jesus was truly human from the moment of his conception and he leaps for joy over life. Some might claim that it is “above their paygrade” when human life exists. But both Scripture and modern science are clear that human life begins at conception. And we therefore have a duty to reverence it, to protect it, to rejoice over it. 

Mary, going in haste, to help the pregnant, elderly, Elizabeth, models for us that even overwhelmed with burdens of our own, we are all to have a special care for pregnant mothers, especially pregnant mothers in difficult circumstances. We are to devote to them our time, talent, and treasure in helping them nurture and bring-forth life.

Mary would also stay with Elizabeth until the birth her baby, accompanying her through childbirth, and through those difficult days as a first-time mother. Mary reminds us to have a special care for mothers and children throughout pregnancy and afterwards as well.

The Second Vatican Council, in its Decree on the Church in the Modem World, Gaudium et spes, reiterated the Church's ancient and consistent teaching that “from the first moment of conception life must be guarded with the greatest care while abortion and infanticide are unspeakable crimes” His Holiness, Pope Francis, in keeping with his predecessors, has likewise been quite clear and emphatic in teaching on the dignity of human life in the womb.

Compassion and joy fill those who embrace Church teaching on reverence for life, and who engage in what Pope Francis calls “self-forgetful service of our neighbor” and the needs of the poor in the works of mercy.

May the heavenly intercession of St. John, St. Elizabeth, and Holy Mary and the life and grace of Our Lord help restore reverence and care for human life and make us self-forgetful in charity, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That the leaders and members of the Church may fulfill with joy their calling to proclaim, celebrate, and serve the Gospel of Life.

That God may protect all unborn babies, and keep them safe from the scourge of abortion, and for the safety and welfare of all pregnant mothers, and that all mothers and fathers will know the assistance of the Christian Church in nurturing and raising their children. 

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

All Saints 2020 - Who we are, where we're going, how to get there

At the tail end of Vatican II, Pope Paul VI promulgated a document called Gaudium et Spes, the pastoral constitution on the Church in the Modern World. It’s purpose was to help the Church understand her position and role and mission in the changing modern world with all of its advancements and strengths and foolishness and errors. For it’s important for the Church to reflect upon the “signs of the times”—a phrase which came from this document—to understand better the concrete details in which we are to live out our Christian mission and identity.

While explaining the need for Christians to bring our faith and live our faith in the many different levels of society in which we find ourselves, Gaudium et Spes is also very realistic in speaking about monumental struggle against the powers of evil and darkness.  History is not just the story of human progress, right? We are opposed by satan, the father of lies, who seeks to corrupt souls and bring ruin to nations and families and the Church. 

Last week, when we celebrated Priesthood Sunday, I asked for and thanked you for your prayers for priests—because there is a real battle involved in working for the good of souls. And if the devil can bring ruin to priests, well, that’s going to have an impact on parishes and families, isn’t it? 

But it’s not just priests, Vatican II says, all Christians are involved in this struggle, this battle. Facing such hostility and wickedness and personal demons, we recognize we need God. We need the Sacraments. We need prayer. We need the guidance of good solid Catholic teaching from our Pope and Bishops. If we are going to survive the battle with our souls intact, we need to make sure that we are drawing as much strength and protection and light from our faith as possible. 

And, this weekend, on this solemn feast, we look to the holy souls, the saints, the men and women and children, from every age, and place, and profession, who “survived the time of great distress," as St John calls this life on earth in our First Reading. The survivors, the spiritual war heroes, those who are glorified by God in eternity because of their Christian faith, hope, and love.

Contemplating these brothers and sisters in Christ encourages us: for if they can do it, so can we. I propose three short lessons on how the saints can be our teachers and guides. 

The first lesson is that the saints live with the destination in mind—they know what is at stake—that there is more to life than this earthly life. In the first reading, we get a glimpse of those saintly victors standing, robed in white in the heavenly throne room. In the presence of God stand this great multitude—people of every nation, race, and tongue, who have put on the wedding garment of Christ, who have been baptized, and have kept their faith amidst all the temptations and persecutions in this life—again, knowing what was at stake: in the end they would stand victorious in the heavenly throne room, or be banished from it for all eternity.

Why do we resist those terrible onslaughts of temptation? Why do we pray to remain faithful in the midst of persecution? Because heaven is at stake. Not only does sin diminish us—weaking our will and clouding our mind—it puts our souls at risk of hell. 

This first lesson is so important—because if we aren’t living with the destination in mind, we are likely to veer off the path—perhaps even forget there is path. There are many souls living this way--as if this earthly life was all that is—eat drink and be merry for tomorrow we shall die, and that’s it. And their souls are in danger. Because if you don’t live as if heaven exists in this life—why would anything be different in eternity?

So the saints remind us to live with the destination always on our minds. 

Secondly, it’s not enough to know the destination—you have to know where you are starting from—where you are, right now, spiritually, and who you are. If you can’t pinpoint yourself on the map—how do you know the direction in which you are to walk? 

And this is the second lesson: the saints understand who they are: they understand that they are human beings, with fallen natures due to sin in need of salvation. They know they need Christ. They know they need the Sacraments. They know they need prayer. 

And, they know that through baptism they have become Children of God. We read in our second reading: "See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are." Children of God. Members of God's family. God’s love for us is so profound—we are gathered into his family through the blood of Christ. And the saints are animated by this profound self-knowledge. In whatever hostilities we face, whatever temptations: we do so as Children of God. 

The saints know that they were made for love, by the one who is love. Love animates us, love guides us, love fills us, love protects us. The saints recognize because they are loved they need to become love--loving God and neighbor in the concrete details of their life. 

And that’s the third Lesson. it is not enough just to know who we are and where we are supposed to be going, but we also need to know how to get there. In order to cross a lake, you need a boat. In order to cross a mountain, you need mountain gear. In order to get to heaven, the home of the saints, you need to practice saintliness, blessedness.

This is what today's Gospel passage reminds us of: the Beatitudes are the practices and attitudes that you and I must cultivate if we wish to join the saints. 

We must practice poverty of spirit—recognizing our fundamental need for God in all things. We must mourn for our sins—those lost opportunities to live for God. We must be meek—treating each other with gentleness. We must hunger and thirst for righteousness—seeking to justly give God what belongs to God and to treat our neighbor and the poor with the respect and fairness due to every living human person. We must not just be just but merciful—going beyond what is merely fair and just—but practicing true mercy to become a blessing for others. We must be clean of heart—turning away from anything impure, corrupt, perverted, vile, or selfish, in order to seek God through prayer and worship and divine contemplation. And we must keep the faith amidst persecution—in fact, if we are not living our faith in such away that the world hates us, we might not be really living the faith.

Live with the destination in mind, live with the humble knowledge that you are a sinner, reborn in baptism as a child of God, now called to strive to live the beatitudes in this life, that we may join the ranks of the blessed in eternity.

May the saints help us and preserve us for this our destiny, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

29th Week in OT 2018 - Friday - Pointing out signs of God

When St. John XXIII convoked the Second Vatican Council the modern world was in cultural chaos. Western Europe since the eighteenth century Enlightenment had been growing more secular. The world was changing in dramatic ways: technologically, politically, economically, and ideologically. Good Pope John discerned the need for the Church to be able to address these changes, and to do so, he said that the Church had to take in account the “signs of the times” in order to show where God was at work and where human society was leaving God behind.

Jesus in the Gospel today spoke of “signs”…the signs of his time. He pointed out that his contemporaries were very good at discerning some signs, but they seemed oblivious to others. His contemporaries could easily forecast the weather by reading the signs, but they were missing something more important than weather which was happening in their midst. The signs of the time were all around them: loaves being multiplied, the lame walking, hardened sinners repenting, and the good news spreading. Signs were pointing to God-in-their-midst, and yet they hardened their hearts to Him, they looked away from Him.

Similarly today, even amidst all the tragedy, natural disaster, political turmoil, and sickness in the world, we see miracles, healings, restored relationships, Christian joy, fellowship, all which come through Christ. Catholics pouring out their lives in teaching the young, feeding the hungry in soup kitchens, clothing the naked, so much evidence if we take time to look and listen for the work of God. 

Some of our contemporaries do turn a blind eye to the signs of God. Yet, some are waiting for us to point God out for them—to take them by the hand and very patiently, as if to a young child—point out how God is working all around them.

Each of us has someone in our lives who God wants us to take by the hand, with all gentleness and humility, and with patience as St. Paul says in our first reading. If Christians cannot be gentle and humble with unbelievers there is something wrong with us.

As. St. John XXIII called us to be attentive to God’s presence in the changing, chaotic modern world, may we help to lead unbelievers to the true, good, and beautiful signs of God’s unchanging Word for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That our Church leaders may be instilled with genuine Faith, Hope, and Charity and help all people of the world to grow in those virtues.

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 our young people may take seriously the missionary call of Christ, that they will turn away from the evils of our culture to spread the good news of Christ’s eternal kingdom.

For all whose lives are marked by suffering, may they come to know the healing and peace of Christ.

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.

Thursday - 2nd Week of Easter 2017 - The source of evangelization

In seven verses, our Gospel today gives seven statements about Jesus’ true nature and his mission.

One, he comes from heaven, he is divine. Two, his testimony will be rejected. Three, He speaks God’s own words. Four, He is filled with God’s Spirit without limit. Five, He is God’s Son. Six, whoever believe in Him has eternal life. And seven, anyone who does not believe in Christ has no life.
During Easter we reflect upon our own need to spread the Gospel, to share our beliefs with others. Well, what exactly are we to share with others? There is so much about our faith, it can be overwhelming to choose what exactly to share with others.

The seven verses here at the end of chapter 3 give us seven key truths about Jesus Christ: who he is, why it is important to believe in him. Not a bad seven verses to memorize so that we can draw upon them in our conversations with others.

For remember, we study our faith, we read the Scriptures, not simply for our own edification, but that it might be shared and taught. We will never regret the time we spend studying and memorizing the Scriptures. For remember, as St. Jerome says, “Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.” We learn the Scriptures, and study them, so that we can learn Christ and share Him with others.

Listen to the beautiful and challenging words of Vatican II concerning the role the Scriptures should play in our lives: The sacred synod also earnestly and especially urges all the Christian faithful, especially Religious, to learn by frequent reading of the divine Scriptures the "excellent knowledge of Jesus Christ". "For ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ." Therefore, they should gladly put themselves in touch with the sacred text itself, whether it be through the liturgy, rich in the divine word, or through devotional reading, or through suitable instruction…”

Pope Francis said, “The sacred Scriptures are the very source of evangelization…The study of the sacred Scriptures must be a door opened to every believer. It is essential that the revealed word radically enrich our catechesis and all our efforts to pass on the faith….Let us receive the sublime treasure of the revealed word.”

May each of us continue to be enriched and challenged by the Word of God this Easter Season that the Word of God may lead us to deeper faith, integrity of life, Christian virtue, and courage in its proclamation for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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Let us pray.
Through the resurrection, Christ confirmed the faith of his disciples and sent them out into the world, may all bishops and priests faithful preachers of the Gospel.
Through the resurrection, Christ became our peace and reconciliation, may all of the baptized be united in the perfect communion of faith and love.
For deeper commitment to studying and sharing the Word of God.
May the Lord look upon all of the sick and suffering and reveal in them the power of his glory.
Through the resurrection, Christ became the firstborn from the dead, may all the faithful departed be granted a share in Christ’s glory, especially…

Homily: Oct 11 2016 - Pope Saint John XXIII - Aggiornamento

Pope Saint John XXIII was canonized, along with Pope Saint John Paul II on Divine Mercy Sunday in 2014. Since October 11 fell on a Saturday that year and on a Sunday last year, this is the first time many of us have the opportunity to celebrate the feast of this great 20th century pope.

He was called “good Pope John” because he was beloved by the Italian people; he was dearly affectionate and had a good sense of humor.  The phrase “Santo Subito” – “sainthood now” was chanted at his funeral. Pope Francis referred to Pope John XXIII as a “model of sanctity.”  He is a model of holiness not just for the bishops and Popes of the Church, but for all of us.

Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, was the first born son of poor, sharecroppers in the small Italian village of Sotto il Monte near Borgamo in northern Italy. Following his ordination in 1904, he served in increasingly challenging ecclesiastical assignments. He studied canon law, he served as a diplomat in the second World War, and helped save an estimated twenty-four thousand Jews.

Though, many of the Cardinals thought John was going to be more of a “caretaker Pope”—Pope John helped resolve the Cuban Missile Crisis, and shocked the church and the world when he called for a Second Vatican Council not so much for the purpose of condemning the errors of the day, but for the purpose of Aggiornamento…letting in some fresh air to the life of the Church. Pope John XXIII set a tone for the Council when he said, “The Church has always opposed… errors. Nowadays, however, the Spouse of Christ prefers to make use of the medicine of mercy rather than that of severity.” No doubt, Pope John was an influence on our current Pontiff, Pope Francis.

Pope John promoted dialogue with the Orthodox as well as with Protestants; he was the first Pope to meet the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury. He also encouraged positive relations with Muslims, Jews, and men of good will around the world.

Pope John also set an example for all Christians in performing the works of mercy—he, like John Paul, Benedict, and now Francis, would leave the walls of the Vatican in order to visit the imprisoned and the sick.

In his last encyclical, one of his most famous, called Pacem in Terris, he urged all people to think not just of themselves, but work for the common good, paying great attention to the less fortunate members of society, that as members of the universal family of mankind, we need to work together to attain our flourishment.

For those of you who might be a little disheartened by the current state of politics, I encourage you to read that encyclical, to let some fresh air into your mind and soul.
Strengthened by the example of his holy life, taught by his words of preaching, may we aspire to work together for the spiritual flourishing of all mankind, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Homily: Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Last week, the Telegraph, a british periodical, reported on a study of what 2000 children put on their wish-list for Christmas.  A “pet horse” was the third most popular choice.  Many children asked for ipads and ipods.  Some quirky kids asked for a “time machine”, “a donkey”, “an elephant”, a “real live reindeer” or “Harry Styles from One Direction”.  I neither know who Harry Styles is or what One Direction is, nor do I want to, but our young people probably do.

Yet, atop this list of toys and treats, at the number one spot, was…can you guess? The request for a new baby brother or sister.  For the days of large families have come to an end, especially in Europe, whose population is in decline because the birth rate is so low.  Our nation, as well, has tipped, into negative population growth for a number of reasons including the breakdown of marriages, divorce, gross materialism, and the explosion in use of artificial contraception. Families are having less children, in fact, we are even seeing a decline in families in general—less marriages, more cohabitation, less children.

And so this request for a new baby brother or sister is very telling—children are yearning, not for the toys and electronics, but for real human experience, real family experience.  Blessed Pope John Paul II, seeing this plague of childlessness growing said, “The greatest gift you can give your child is another sibling.”  He knew what he was saying.  He knew the implications, what this meant for mothers and fathers, and the sacrifices that go along with it.  And he encouraged married people to be generous in their cooperation with the Creator in bringing new life into the world.

Yet, another item on this Christmas wish list is very telling.  In the number 10 spot, children asked, for a dad.  ‘A Dad’—‘a father’—is not something children should not have to put on their Christmas list.  That should be a given.  This children know that ‘a dad’ should not be missing from their life. 

This is not to say that single-parents are not courageous and trying their hardest to provide for a healthy, loving, holy upbringing for their children.  But as Catholics we acknowledge the Creator’s design for the family as being very important for the emotional and psychological and spiritual health of children. 

Statistics show many of the consequences of fatherless households.  Boys whose parents are divorced or never married are two to three times more likely to end up in jail as adults. Children whose parents get and stay married are healthier and also much less likely to suffer mental illness, including depression and teen suicide.

Many of us today may have more formal education, money and opportunities than our ancestors.  Yet family life and marriage is also crumbling like never before.  The fact that a sibling and a dad ranked so high on these Christmas wish-lists is very disturbing.  But it is also a sign of hope.  These children who long for a father, who long for a healthy family, seem to know that happiness is not found in more stuff and more money, and that families should be healthier than they are.

The Second Vatican Council was prophetic in many ways.  The Council fathers saw the growing materialism, the breaking down of families, the braced the Church for the upcoming cultural revolutions.  The Feast of the Holy Family was a direct result of Vatican II, it was added to the liturgical Calendar that we might celebrate the dignity of the family and that our savior was born as a member of a family. 

The Feast of the Holy Family was added to the Liturgical Calendar to be celebrated the first Sunday after Christmas, at a time when I think most of us – after the parties and cooking and visiting and obligations and expectations and disappointments — have started to have about as much “family” as we can take—perhaps during the Christmas celebrations we confront the brokenness of many of our families.

But, when we speak of the Holy Family, we speak of a family that struggled and suffered, like so many of us.

The story of the Holy Family is the story of life not always turning out the way you expected.  It’s the story of a teenage mother, conceiving a child before the wedding.  It’s the story of an anxious foster father, planning on divorce. It’s the story of a family forced to flee to a foreign land because of a hostile government and become refugees, living as immigrants in the land that once held their ancestors as slaves.  As we heard in today’s gospel, it’s the story of a boy who disappeared, and days of anxious searching by his parents.

But, this family also knew profound hope and trusted completely in God, and they call all of us to that kind of trust, when we are facing the many trials of our lives.  They stand beside all who worry, who struggle, who search, who pray.  For they gave themselves fully to God, and made their family life a prayer and sacrifice to Him and for His glory.

How do we obtain their level of trust, their level of faith, their level of love for each other?  Statistics continue to show the importance of family prayer for the happiness of families.  Moms and Dads who take the time to pray with one another and with their children have a huge impact.  The importance of Sunday worship is undeniable.  Families that pray together stay together.  And families who are involved in some sort of volunteer work together.  But the key word is together. 

Separate televisions in separate rooms, separate meals at separate times, separate this and separate that, are disastrous.  Families need to nurture togetherness, especially in a culture that is driving families apart. 

Today the Church calls our attention to not simply the importance of family life, but the necessity that our families be holy. But, the definition of holiness and the definition of the family are not something that we have to invent.  In fact, we get in trouble when reinvent what God has already defined.  The definition of the family and the definition of marriage are meant to be received from God.  Happiness and holiness are found in family life not when the family is divorced from God, rather when it is immersed in the sacramental community of the Church.

May all families be generous in following the commandments of God, generous in their love towards each other, and generous in their charity towards all, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.