Formation for Evangelization
Leonard DeLorenzo is a professor of Theology at the University of Notre Dame. He recently wrote an article in Church Life Journal entitled, “Evangelization: If We Just Keep Them, We’ll Lose Them.” The “them” he refers to are the young people who are the object of intense concern in the Church. DeLorenzo argues that the Church makes a mistake when framing the issue in negative terms,Continue reading “Formation for Evangelization”
Dr. Irenaeus
I remember years ago doing a little research to find out if my birthday was also the feast day of a saint. When I found the answer, I said to myself in disappointment: “Who is St. Irenaeus?” As you read this, you might be saying the same thing. But these days St. Irenaeus has been making a big comeback. Just a couple of weeks ago, Pope Francis announced hisContinue reading “Dr. Irenaeus”
Good Pope John
In October 1962, almost 60 years ago this month, Pope St. John XXIII opened the Second Vatican Council. The First Vatican Council had been cut short and left unfinished in 1870 by the War of Italian Unification. Prior to that Council was the Council of Trent, which was the Catholic Church’s response to the crisis of the Protestant Reformation in the 16th Century. Less than 20 yearsContinue reading “Good Pope John”
God’s Minstrel
This Monday, October 4, is the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi (1881-1226). St. Francis is one of the most beloved saints in the Christian tradition, especially among the people of his native Italy. An Italian friend of mine once joked that Italians love St. Francis best, then comes St. Joseph, then Padre Pio, then Jesus! St. Francis captured theContinue reading “God’s Minstrel”
Carthago Delenda Est
There was an article in the New York Times a number of years ago that reported on a place that scholars have called “the largest cemetery of sacrificed humans ever discovered.” It’s located near the North African coast, not far from the city of Tunis, the site of the ancient Phoenician city of Carthage. In its day, Carthage was one ofContinue reading “Carthago Delenda Est”
Forming a Eucharistic Strategy
Last week someone shared with me a recent article from Commonweal by Cardinal Blaise Cupich, the Cardinal Archbishop of Chicago. Cardinal Cupich is generally considered to be a “progressive” member of the American episcopate, though those types of political labels are often unhelpful when applied to the Church. Irrespective of one’s leanings, the article offers some compelling observations. In it, the Cardinal outlines several themes about the Eucharist that he believes should be the foundation of a strategy to address the significant challenges the Church faces inContinue reading “Forming a Eucharistic Strategy”
Seeking Refuge
Over the past week we have been doing much as a nation to commemorate the terrible events of September 11, 2001. Part of the ritual has been to share with each other our own experiences of that horrible day, which set so many things in motion and changed our world in so many ways. I was living in Spain at theContinue reading “Seeking Refuge”
Holy Hour for Vocations
Several years ago, when I was the Vocations Director for the Diocese of Bridgeport, I came across a talk that Mother Teresa of Calcutta gave back in 1993. In it, she told the story of an old man that her sisters discovered and pulled out of a gutter. He was in very bad shape. They brought him toContinue reading “Holy Hour for Vocations”
Our Lady of Perpetual Help
In 1882, there was a terrible outbreak of smallpox in the small nation of Haiti. Over the course of several months, tens of thousands of Haitians died of the disease. The epidemic was made worse by a drought that was unusually long for the tropical island. On February 5, 1882, Archbishop Alexis Jean-Marie Guilloux gathered the people to the church of St. Francis Xavier in the Bel-Air neighborhoodContinue reading “Our Lady of Perpetual Help”
Breaking the Spell
There was a very interesting opinion article in last Sunday’s New York Times (“How to Think Your Way Into Religious Belief” 8/15/21). It was written by Ross Douthat, who has had a column in the Op-Ed section of the Times since 2009, and has on occasion used that space to write about religion. Douthat is Catholic, and his writings demonstrate a broad interest in religious belief,Continue reading “Breaking the Spell”
The Assumption
It is a very unusual thing not to be celebrating the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time this weekend. Instead, this Sunday the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is unusual because Sundays have a privileged place in Catholic liturgy. Sunday is the Lord’s Day, the first day of the week, the day on which Christ rose fromContinue reading “The Assumption”
Ordo
In the sacristy of every Catholic church there is a little book called an Ordo. Published annually by the Bishops of the United States, the Ordo provides all the information about the liturgy that one needs for every day of the year. It tells us what readings we’re supposed to read at Mass, what prayers we’re supposed toContinue reading “Ordo”
Return
Brandon Vogt is the Senior Content Editor at Word on Fire Catholic Ministries, an organization established by Bishop Robert Barron to provide tools of evangelization for Catholics. Recently, I listened to Vogt speak about his new book called Return: How to Draw Your Child Back to the Church. The book was the fruit of Vogt’s many years of research on the sky-rocketing number of people who were raisedContinue reading “Return”
Building on What We’ve Received
I watch too much YouTube. More often than not, it’s a big waste of time. But sometimes you can come across something interesting there. I recently watched an interview of the film director Spike Lee. He was asked by the interviewer to put together a list of films that he would recommend to anyone interested in film. At one point, he expressedContinue reading “Building on What We’ve Received”
Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi
During a recent conversation with a member of our parish, he told me that over the past few years he has come to a greater love and appreciation for the True Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. He attributed this awakening to his experience of reverence in the liturgy. In particular, he said that attending Eucharistic exposition and benediction,Continue reading “Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi”
The Eucharist in The Times
There was a very interesting article in The New York Times two weeks ago in which journalists Elizabeth Dias and Ruth Graham reported on the Eucharist (“Beyond the Politics of Communion, an Ancient Holy Ritual”, 6/27/21). The impetus for the piece was the recent meeting of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, at which the bishops discussedContinue reading “The Eucharist in The Times”
Finding a Quiet Place
In my mind, July is when summer really begins. The weather starts to get consistently hot, life for most people slows down, and if they’re lucky they can get away for a vacation. This week, I’ll be one of the lucky ones who gets some time away from the routine demands of ordinary life. Every year IContinue reading “Finding a Quiet Place”
New Mass Schedule
A wise priest once told me that there are certain decisions that a pastor must make, even at the risk of his own life. One of them is deciding to tinker with the parish Mass schedule. Last year, after the shutdowns, the unique circumstances required the adjustment of the liturgical schedule. If you recall, prior to the pandemic the Mass schedule was as follows: 4pm vigil (St. Gabriel), 5:30pm vigilContinue reading “New Mass Schedule”
12th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Please click the following link to view the Mass of the 12th Sunday of Ordinary Time on our parish YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/M5qZ90P_8KI posted 6/20/21
Guardians of the Family, Guardians of Truth
On June 11, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, I had the privilege of attending a Mass at St. Mary’s Church in New Haven where Mr. Patrick Kelly was installed as the 14th Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus. The Knights of Columbus are the largest Catholic fraternal organization in the world, with overContinue reading “Guardians of the Family, Guardians of Truth”
R.I.P. Sr. Mary Joseph, O.C.D.
Last weekend I received word that Sr. Mary Joseph, a member of the Carmelite Monastery of Des Plaines, IL., had passed away at the age of 92. Sr. Mary Joseph was an unlikely member of her Carmelite community. Born Ann Russell, she grew up as a wealthy San Francisco socialite whose father was the chairman of Southern Pacific Railroad. She married Richard Miller atContinue reading “R.I.P. Sr. Mary Joseph, O.C.D.”
Mass of Corpus Christi
Please click the following link to watch our parish Mass for Corpus Christi on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/NARihC7yDV4 posted 6/6/21
The Sacred Heart
In October 1986, Pope John Paul II made a pilgrimage to a place called Paray-le-Monial, a town in eastern France. Paray-le-Monial is called the “City of the Sacred Heart” because it was the home of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, a 17th century religious sister whose visions of Christ led to widespread devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. During an audience, Pope John Paul II saidContinue reading “The Sacred Heart”
Memento Mori
A couple of weeks ago, the New York Times featured a story by journalist Ruth Graham about a young religious sister who spends her days encouraging people to remember not just the dead, but to remember death itself. Sr. Teresa Aletheia, a member of the Daughters of St. Paul, has developed a huge online following by encouraging people to cultivate the daily habit of reflecting on their mortality. Memento mori, in Latin, was a practice of ancient pagan philosophers but has also been part of Christian lifeContinue reading “Memento Mori”
Confirmed in the Spirit
This Wednesday (5/26), Bishop Caggiano will be coming to confirm 23 young men and women of our parish. It’s a lovely thing to have Confirmations so soon after celebrating Pentecost, the great feast on which the Church commemorates the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the world 50 days after Easter. As part of the liturgy of Pentecost, the Church gives usContinue reading “Confirmed in the Spirit”
Together in Person
Last week, the bishops of the three Connecticut dioceses jointly released a statement announcing the reinstatement of the obligation of the faithful to attend Sunday Mass. This obligation to attend Sunday Mass (or Saturday Vigil Mass) in person has its roots in the Apostolic age, when the members of the Church gathered every Sunday to celebrate together the paschalContinue reading “Together in Person”
Receiving the Body of Christ
Last weekend we celebrated First Holy Communions for 44 young members of our parish. First Communions are always one of the best days of the year. As the priest celebrant, I had the special privilege of seeing them approach the sanctuary with deep reverence, and receive the Most Blessed Sacrament with obvious faith. It wasContinue reading “Receiving the Body of Christ”
Month of Mary
May is the month of Mary. In May 2020, when the world was still suffering in the early stages of the pandemic, Pope Francis shared with the faithful his own devotion to the Blessed Mother and encouraged us to pray the rosary each day. “Contemplating the face of Christ with the heart of Mary our Mother will make us evenContinue reading “Month of Mary”
4th Sunday of Easter
Please click the following link to watch our parish’s Mass for the 4th Sunday of Easter on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/ju-GjOlFbQ4 posted 4/25/21
Hearing the Call of the Shepherd
In this Sunday’s gospel, Our Lord refers to Himself as the Good Shepherd, thus inviting us to consider the mystery of vocation. The Second Vatican Council reminds us that there is a universal vocation to holiness, which means that every single person is called to be a saint. For the sake of helping people respond to the universal vocation, we believe the Lord gives aContinue reading “Hearing the Call of the Shepherd”
The Spirit Moves Us
It was my first year in seminary and I was out with my family at a restaurant in Fairfield when we ran into some old friends of ours who had lived in our neighborhood when we were growing up. Jim, the father, was interested in what I was doing and so we talked about how my experience at St. JohnContinue reading “The Spirit Moves Us”
3rd Sunday of Easter
Please click the following link to view the parish Mass for the 3rd Sunday of Easter on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/zWQVkgv91jI posted 4/18/21
Learning the Narrative
You hear sometimes people in politics and public relations talking about “controlling the narrative.” Usually, this means trying to get a jump on a story by being the first to explain what is going on. The hope is that a “narrative” friendly to one’s position will be established in the mind of the public so that adversaries will be at a disadvantage,Continue reading “Learning the Narrative”
Emmaus
We have come to the end of Easter Sunday. Yes, the Solemnity of Easter was a week ago, but we must remember that Easter is such a big deal that the Church gives us eight days to celebrate it properly. We call that eight-day period the “Easter Octave.” The second Sunday of Easter – Divine Mercy Sunday – is the final day inContinue reading “Emmaus”
Easter
Msgr. Luigi Giussani (1922-2005) was an Italian priest and professor of theology, who spent many years teaching in Milan but who is best known as the founder of the Communion and Liberation movement. When he died in 2005, Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (the future Pope Benedict XVI) preached his funeral Mass, saying: “[Msgr. Giussani] understood that Christianity is not an intellectualContinue reading “Easter”
Hosanna
It is part of the human experience that when we do something enough times it becomes second nature to us. When it’s a good pattern of behavior, we call it virtue. It’s it bad, we call it vice. Even things that seem complicated and difficult at first can become, over time, so much a part of us thatContinue reading “Hosanna”
Detox
The first reading for today’s Mass is from the Book of Numbers (21:4-9). Numbers is one of the first five books of the Bible, which together are called the Torah. Numbers tells the story of the Israelites after their liberation from slavery in Egypt, during their 40-year period of wandering in the desert before entering the Promised Land. In those days of wandering, theyContinue reading “Detox”
Veiled Images
There’s an old saying that “the early bird catches the worm.” In some cases, however, the early bird is just early. I thought of that last weekend when I realized too late that I had our volunteers veil the images in our churches too early. My apologizes for putting a damper on your Laetare Sunday! Traditionally, the properContinue reading “Veiled Images”
The Mysticism of St. Patrick
As saints go, St. Patrick is underrated. I think that’s especially true at this time of year when we see him everywhere, advertising green beer and corned beef sandwiches, waving the tri-color while holding his shamrock-covered crozier. The real St. Patrick, who was responsible for the fifth century spread of Christianity in Ireland, was one of the greatest missionariesContinue reading “The Mysticism of St. Patrick”
From the Ruins
Last weekend, perhaps overshadowed by the media coverage given to Oprah Winfrey’s interview of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Pope Francis made a historic pilgrimage to Iraq, becoming the first pope to visit that country. The images from the visit are remarkable, especially the Holy Father’s visit of the city of Mosul. Mosul is the second-largest city in Iraq, and was theContinue reading “From the Ruins”
Fr. Emil Kapaun
Fr. Emil Kapaun was a Catholic priest from Kansas who served as a U.S. Army chaplain in both World War II and the Korean War. During his service in Korea he was taken prisoner and died in a Korean prison camp in 1951 at the age of 35. In 2013, he was awarded the MedalContinue reading “Fr. Emil Kapaun”
3rd Sunday of Lent
Please click the following link to watch the Mass for the 3rd Sunday of Lent on our parish YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/kYVztRqCLk0 posted 3/7/21
True Aid in Dying
The Connecticut state legislature is debating once again a bill that would legalize physician-assisted suicide, calling it an “Aid in Dying” law. Below is part of an essay by Dr. Michael Brescia, the founder of Calvary hospice, that helps us to understand the true needs of those facing terminal illness. Not poison, but presence, love, and compassion. People ask for physician-assisted suicide because of suffering,Continue reading “True Aid in Dying”
Understanding and Misunderstanding
I’ve been re-reading a book by Caryll Houselander called The Reed of God, which is a really beautiful book filled with great insights into the spiritual life, with the Blessed Mother held up as the spiritual master par excellence. In the chapter entitled “Fiat,” Houselander writes about the effect of our surrendering ourselves to the will of God, noting that it simultaneously brings both greater understanding and greaterContinue reading “Understanding and Misunderstanding”
2nd Sunday of Lent
Please click the following link to view the parish Mass for the 2nd Sunday of Lent on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/9iUZIq-a3Go posted 2/28/21
The Search
Everyone likes a good movie/show recommendation. In that spirit, I’ll share one with you. It’s a series called The Search, which was produced by the Augustine Institute and which is available to our parishioners for free through our online FORMED account (you can access it through our parish website). Released last spring, The Search is well worth your time. It is a 7-part video series hosted by Chris Stefanick, with eachContinue reading “The Search”
Changed by Asking
When pagans wanted something, they always turned to their gods. The pagan gods, of course, were fickle. It was very easy to fall out of favor with them, which meant disaster. So, the pagans would present their petition to the god or goddess they thought was most interested in the thing that they wanted, along with anContinue reading “Changed by Asking”
1st Sunday of Lent
Please click the following link to view the Mass for the 1st Sunday in Lent on our parish YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/06d9pE7-IjA posted 2/21/21
Lessons from this Longer Lent
I’m having a longer Lent than usual this year. Most years it begins on Ash Wednesday. This year, however, it started on January 4 when I decided to join a small group of local men, including some parishioners, to participate in a program called Exodus 90, which basically extends Lent from its official 40 days to 90 days (the amount of time experts say it takes to form new habits). So,Continue reading “Lessons from this Longer Lent”
Thoughts on Ash Wednesday
Yesterday was Ash Wednesday, which is typically one of the busiest days of the year in every Catholic parish. This year was no different. We started with our normal 7:30am Mass, which reached maximum capacity (160) under the current COVID restriction, which was really nice. Just after the parish Mass, we had Mass for some of the students at the Catholic Academy of Stamford. Continue reading “Thoughts on Ash Wednesday”
6th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Please click the following link to watch our parish Mass for the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/ghm3e8_93I8 posted 2/14/21
Who Are These People?
The Mass can sometimes feel like this: a few readings from the Bible, a sermon, a collection, the priest saying a bunch of stuff while we kneel down, the Our Father, Communion, announcements, dismissal. If this is our experience of Mass, it might surprise us that the most fascinating part of it actually takes place during the part where the priest saysContinue reading “Who Are These People?”
Learning Our Prayers
Priests have the privilege of being with people as they near the ends of their lives. Some of the people I’ve helped prepare for death spent their whole lives active in the Church, some were less active, and a few were resistant to the idea of seeing a priest and receiving the sacraments. I remember one gentlemanContinue reading “Learning Our Prayers”
5th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Please click the following link to watch the Mass for the 5th Sunday of Ordinary Time on our parish YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/xdMNZcbPk48 posted 2/7/21
Singing Our Prayers
Music matters in liturgy. Ever since the resumption of public Masses last summer, however, we have been using a different style of music in the parish than what we were accustomed to hear prior to the COVID shutdowns. We can’t use the popular hymns that we’d otherwise hear at Mass because the current health protocols prohibit congregational singing during liturgies in order to prevent the spread of Coronavirus. Because the musicContinue reading “Singing Our Prayers”
St. Blaise
February 3 (tomorrow) is the Feast of St. Blaise, a feast that always brings back memories from my days as a student at St. Theresa School in Trumbull. It seems like every year the sisters would walk us across the parking lot from the school over to the church for Mass on the Feast of St. Blaise, and we were kind of excited because we knewContinue reading “St. Blaise”
4th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Please click the following link to watch our parish Mass for the 4th Sunday of Ordinary Time on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/x6IAxmGvVC8 posted 1/31/21
Holy Smoke
A priest friend of mine once shared with me his take on the secret to a life well-lived: “Moderation in all things,” he said, “except incense and orthodoxy.” I have always found his advice compelling. You certainly can’t be too orthodox in matters of the faith, with orthodoxy being openness and adherence to all that is true and good as solid ground on which to stand, and solidContinue reading “Holy Smoke”
Entrusting Ourselves to Him
Yesterday I came across an article by Msgr. Charles Pope, who is a priest of the Archdiocese of Washington, DC. In it, he gives a summary of the Letter to the Hebrews, which we have been reading over the past week or so at Mass. The Letter to the Hebrews, as its name indicates, was addressed toContinue reading “Entrusting Ourselves to Him”
Expanding the Circle
In today’s gospel (Mk 10:1-9), Jesus sends out 72 of His followers to prepare the way for His visits to local towns, telling them to proclaim that “the Kingdom of God is at hand.” They are sent out “like lambs among wolves,” with no money or extra gear. It almost seems irresponsible of Jesus to send them out that way,Continue reading “Expanding the Circle”
3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time
Please click the following link to watch our Mass for the 3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time on our parish YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/wn048oM4HS4 posted 1/24/21
Conversion through Beauty
Elizabeth Lev is an art historian in Rome and a highly sought-after tour guide to the Eternal City. In her book How Catholic Art Saved the Faith, she writes about the tumultuous period the 16th century. The Protestant Reformation was in full swing and Gutenberg’s printing press made it possible to disseminate information on a scale previously unimaginable. An overwhelming amount of polemical literature appeared, usually containing new and unfamiliarContinue reading “Conversion through Beauty”
Healing Division
It’s a cliché, but by all measures we are a nation divided. Our culture and our politics are sick, and it’s been that way for a long time. The election last November is just the most recent in a series of presidential elections that have taken on an apocalyptic tone, exaggerating the role of electoral politics in our lives beyond what itContinue reading “Healing Division”
2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time
Please click the following link to watch our parish Mass for the 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/b0NADXai90w posted 1/17/21
Baptism into Ordinary Time
This weekend we celebrate the 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time. If you’ve been paying attention, you might be wondering what happened to the 1st Sunday. In her wisdom, the Church makes the transition from the Season of Christmas into Ordinary Time with the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord, which we celebrated last Sunday. This is certainly fitting, because baptism isContinue reading “Baptism into Ordinary Time”
Psalm 95
“Come, let us sing to the Lord, and shout with joy to the rock who saves us./ Let us approach Him with praise and thanksgiving and sing joyful songs to the Lord./ The Lord is God, the mighty God, the great king above all the gods./ He holds in His hands the depths of the earth and the highest mountains as well./ He madeContinue reading “Psalm 95”
Baptism of the Lord
Please click the following link to view on our YouTube channel the Mass for the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord: https://youtu.be/IRrtGggc0SM posted 1/10/21
Vaccines
Last November, the pharmaceutical companies Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca announced that they had developed vaccines that effectively prevent infection by the COVID-19 virus. Not long after the announcement, however, questions were raised by many as to the morality of receiving these vaccines. The issue stems from the use of a morally compromised cell line in various phases of the design & development, production, and testing of these new vaccines. This cell line wasContinue reading “Vaccines”
Christ is Master
In the gospel for today (Mk6:45-52) we find the Apostles on the Sea of Galilee in their boat. Jesus had stayed behind on the shore, going up the mountain alone to pray. As evening falls, the weather gets bad, and the Apostles have a hard time rowing to their destination. From His position on the mountain, JesusContinue reading “Christ is Master”
Feast of the Epiphany
Please click the following link to view the parish Mass for the Feast of the Epiphany on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/gujP1qHJcO4 posted 1/3/21
Solemnity of Mary
Please click the following link to watch our parish Mass for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/FMwkAva1efA
End and Beginning
In ancient Roman mythology, Janus was the god of beginnings and transitions. He was depicted as having two faces, one looking ahead to the future and one looking behind to the past. The month January is named after him because it is the time of transition into a new year from the old. As we comeContinue reading “End and Beginning”
Feast of the Holy Family
Please click the following link to watch the parish Mass for the Feast of the Holy Family on our parish YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/bYnmox-KMAs posted 12/27/20
The Creche
The tradition of setting up a Nativity scene dates back to 1223, when St. Francis of Assisi re-created the stable of Bethlehem on the night of Christ’s birth. As this was a novelty, Francis first sought the permission of the pope himself, and was allowed to make the arrangements in a hermitage outside the little town of Greccio, located in the Italian region of Lazio. At midnight,Continue reading “The Creche”
Christmas Mass
Please click the following link to watch the parish Mass for Christmas on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/t3rrbzBMQvk posted 12/25/20
The Magnificat
When the Virgin Mary consents to the news from the Angel Gabriel that God had chosen her to be the Mother of the Savior, the Gospel of Luke tells us that, after the angel departed, she made haste to the hill country of Judea to visit her cousin Elizabeth. Gabriel had told her that her cousin was also miraculously with child. Before this, Elizabeth had beenContinue reading “The Magnificat”
4th Sunday of Advent
Please click the following link to watch the parish Mass for the 4th Sunday of Advent on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/j4F5UWjUgrE posted 12/20/20
Year of St. Joseph
A couple of weeks ago, on December 8, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, Pope Francis declared that 2021 would be a year dedicated to St. Joseph. Since 1870, St. Joseph has been venerated as the Universal Patron of the Church, and the Holy Father decided that this is a fitting moment in history to “go to Joseph”Continue reading “Year of St. Joseph”
Liturgy, Part 5
Pope (emeritus) Benedict XVI is widely considered to be one of the most influential Catholic theologians of the past 100 years. One of his most famous books is entitled The Spirit of the Liturgy, which he published in the year 2000 as Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, five years prior to his election to the papacy. Among the topics that Ratzinger examines in that book is the relationship of the liturgy to timeContinue reading “Liturgy, Part 5”
3rd Sunday of Advent
To watch the parish Mass for the 3rd Sunday of Advent on our YouTube channel, please click the following link: https://youtu.be/R4lyCefB9rg posted 12/13/20
Miraculous Image
During a visit to Mexico City in 2009, then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made an unscheduled stop to the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. After spending a few moments looking at the image of the Blessed Mother on the famous tilma of St. Juan Diego, Clinton turned to her guide, Msgr. Diego Monroy, and asked: “who paintedContinue reading “Miraculous Image”
The Immaculate Conception
The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is the feast in which we celebrate the special grace given to the Blessed Virgin Mary, who was preserved from the stain of Original Sin from the moment of her conception in the womb of her mother, St. Anne. The life of grace begins for you and me atContinue reading “The Immaculate Conception”
2nd Sunday of Advent
Please click the following link to view the parish Mass for the 2nd Sunday of Advent on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/2QTpUdpoS1g posted 12/6/20
St. Nicholas
The Feast of St. Nicholas is tomorrow, December 6. Because it falls on a Sunday this year, we will not be celebrating his feast day at Mass. Nevertheless, since St. Nicholas is a fascinating character, so I thought it a good opportunity to share a few thoughts about him with you in this space. St. Nicholas was born in a port cityContinue reading “St. Nicholas”
St. Francis Xavier
After St. Paul, the greatest of all Christian missionaries was St. Francis Xavier, whose feast day we celebrate today. He was one of the original members of the Society of Jesus, and his passion for bringing the Gospel to the people of Asia was enflamed through the influence of his spiritual mentor, St. Ignatius ofContinue reading “St. Francis Xavier”
Liturgy, part 4
When we think of the word “sacrifice,” we might think of it as a form of delayed gratification, where we deprive ourselves of something we want now for the sake of enjoying a better thing later on. We might also think of the sacrifices that parents make for their children, or that members of the military make for the protection of our country. ButContinue reading “Liturgy, part 4”
1st Sunday of Advent
Please click the following link to watch our parish Mass for the 1st Sunday of Advent on our parish YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/msA7W8xLh_k posted 11/29/20
Advent
A priest friend of mine recently shared with me an excerpt of a meditation on Advent by Br. Victor-Antoine d’Avila-Latourette, who is a Benedictine monk living in a monastery near Millbrook, NY. Br. Victor-Antoine works on the monastery’s farm and is in charge of cooking for the community, which fosters in him a deep reverence for the differentContinue reading “Advent”
The Gift of Gratitude
Thanksgiving reminds me of my grandmother, Elizabeth. When we were little, our family used to make the trek down from Trumbull to Staten Island where she lived, braving both the BQE and the Verrazano Bridge – which is not for the faint of heart even on the best of days. My grandmother was one of seven children born to the Fallon family in County Longford,Continue reading “The Gift of Gratitude”
Solemnity of Christ the King
To watch the video of our parish Mass for the Solemnity of Christ the King please go to our YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/7Xcw8p1-RcM posted 11/22/20
Giving Thanks in 2020
Thanksgiving is a holiday filled with tradition. Besides 5k Turkey Trots and football games, the most important tradition is to sit at a table with family and friends and share with each other a meal, at which everyone speaks about what they’re grateful for. This year, many are likely to say they’re grateful that it’s almost 2021. The “annus horribilis”Continue reading “Giving Thanks in 2020”
Tough Love
The Book of Revelation is filled with dramatic images of great battles between angels and demons, the Lamb of God and the terrible dragon that vainly tries to destroy the Woman who appears in the sky, “clothed with the sun.” Usually identified with an account of the end of the world, the Book of Revelation is really more than that. It unveilsContinue reading “Tough Love”
Mass of the 33rd Sunday
Please click the following link to access the 10am parish Mass at St. Gabriel Church for the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time: https://youtu.be/eFldX4KUx_M
Bl. Jerzy Popieluszko
Fr. Jerzy Popieluszko was a priest who was active in the Solidarity movement in Poland in the early 1980s. He became well-known throughout Poland when his homilies, which were strongly critical of the communist state, were widely broadcast on the radio. Because he encouraged people to resist the oppressive regime, and to actively protest against it, state officials tried to intimidate him to be silent, but were unsuccessful. Continue reading “Bl. Jerzy Popieluszko”
Conspiracies and End Times
Conspiracy theories abound these days. A conspiracy theory, according to Wikipedia, is “an explanation for an event or situation that invokes a conspiracy by sinister and powerful groups, often political in motivation, when other explanations are more probable.” By nature, conspiracy theories are extremely difficult to disprove, because proponents will use both the presence and the lack of evidence asContinue reading “Conspiracies and End Times”
Glory-Scrolling
“Doom-scrolling” is a new internet expression that seems to be growing in popular usage. It’s defined online as: “the tendency to continue to surf or scroll through bad news, even though that news is saddening, disheartening, or depressing.” I would venture to guess that anyone who has a social media account on Facebook or Twitter has had the experience of lying in bed, scrolling down throughContinue reading “Glory-Scrolling”
Mass of the 32nd Sunday
Please click the following link to watch the livestream of our noon Mass at St. Cecilia Church through our Facebook page (original YouTube video suffered technical difficulties), which will be available as a recording even when the Mass is finished: https://www.facebook.com/stceciliastgabriel/ posted 11/8/20
Litany of Trust
During this time of uncertainty, which can lead us to anxiety and anger, we should renew our trust in God, professing our faith in the reality that He is in control and that He loves us. As an aid, I share with you below a prayer called the “Litany of Trust” which was composed by Sr. Faustina MariaContinue reading “Litany of Trust”
All Saints Day
Please click the following link to watch our Mass for All Saints Day on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/_jfe7oEJDTo posted 11/1/20
Indulgences
The great celebrations of All Saints Day and All Souls Day traditionally come with special opportunities for what are called “indulgences.” Indulgences are a subject fraught with misunderstanding, so it might be helpful to try to give a brief explanation in this space, especially since the pope has expanded the availability of certain indulgences for the sake of theContinue reading “Indulgences”
Loading…
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
