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”
A Motherly Heart
I remember reading a biography of St. Maximilian Kolbe in which those who knew him during his life described him as having a “motherly heart.” It sounded like a strange way to describe him, but, based on their accounts, to be in the presence of Kolbe was to be consoled, such that, whatever burdens you were carrying around within you were lifted away – even the terrible burdenContinue reading “A Motherly Heart”
30th Sunday in Ordinary Time
To view this Sunday’s parish Mass on our YouTube page, click the following link: https://youtu.be/oBr4rxhqURM
Freedom in Small Spaces
If you’re looking for good spiritual reading that’s practical and accessible, you might want to try the works of Fr. Jacques Philippe. He has written many books, including one called Interior Freedom, in which he explains: “Every Christian needs to discover that even in the most unfavorable outward circumstances we possess within ourselves a space of freedomContinue reading “Freedom in Small Spaces”
St. John Paul II
Pope John Paul II was the Bishop of Rome for 27 dramatic years. Elected to the Chair of St. Peter in 1978 at the age of 58, he served the Church as the Holy Pontiff until his death in 2005. During a post-Conciliar period that coincided with dramatic cultural upheaval, Pope John Paul II was given the reins of a Church that was suffering through a crisis of confidenceContinue reading “St. John Paul II”
Consumed and Sustained
A friend of mine, some years ago, tried to solve what was a terrible mosquito problem in his backyard by purchasing one of those bug-zapping lights. I’m sure you’re familiar with these things. They glow with a light that bugs find irresistible, to the point that they get so close to it that they are consumed by its blazing heat. Continue reading “Consumed and Sustained”
29th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Please click the following link to view this weekend’s parish Mass on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/zcS06oxeRZs
North American Martyrs
There is a tradition among the various national seminaries in Rome to play in a soccer tournament each year called the “Clericus Cup.” Almost every seminary fields a team, so you’ll have games in which the seminarians from the English College play the seminarians from the French College, or the seminarians who are studying atContinue reading “North American Martyrs”
Let Nothing Disturb You
Today is the feast day of St. Teresa of Jesus, who was a 16th century Carmelite nun from Avila, Spain. She was, by all accounts, brilliant and charming, as well as physically beautiful. She entered the Carmelite monastery at the age of 20. At that time, the monastic life was very lax. There were always people comingContinue reading “Let Nothing Disturb You”
Come, Holy Spirit
There was a priest with whom I used to meet for occasional spiritual direction, named Fr. Mike. During a conversation one day, Fr. Mike told me about a habit that he had developed over the years. Any time he encountered someone whom he sensed was in distress or sad or anxious, or if he passedContinue reading “Come, Holy Spirit”
28th Sunday in Ordinary Time
To view our parish’s Mass for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, please visit our YouTube site at: https://youtu.be/kL8IpsKiu6Y
Pray the Rosary
Patrick Peyton was born in 1909 into a large family of 9 children, and grew up working the family farm in Co. Mayo, Ireland. After considering a vocation to the priesthood as a boy, he later decided to emigrate to America, where he hoped to make his fortune. But it wasn’t long after he arrived to Scranton, PA that he felt aContinue reading “Pray the Rosary”
Martha & Mary
Years ago, when I was going through my period of vocational discernment, there were times in which I felt overwhelmed by the question of what God wanted me to do with my life. I knew there was the possibility that He was offering me the priesthood, but I struggled to accept that and to risk the possibility that the priesthoodContinue reading “Martha & Mary”
27th Sunday in Ordinary Time
For today’s Mass, please click the following link to access our parish YouTube page: https://youtu.be/kB8nINc8pJg posted 10/4/20
Sacramentals
Statues, rosary beads, crucifixes, scapulars, holy cards, miraculous medals, candles, palms, ashes – these are part of the “furniture” of our lives as Catholics. Technically, we call these things “sacramentals.” Sacramentals are different than sacraments in a couple of ways. The sacraments were instituted by Christ Himself as the seven ordinary ways in which He shares His life – His sanctifying grace – with us. As one author puts it: “Sacraments bearContinue reading “Sacramentals”
St. Therese
Today (10/1) is the feast day of St. Therese of the Child Jesus. St. Therese grew up in Normandy, France and entered the Carmelite Monastery in Lisieux at the age of 15, where she joined two of her older sisters who had entered the community before her (her younger sister would eventually join them there too). St. Therese was canonizedContinue reading “St. Therese”
Archangel Michael
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Archangels – St. Michael, St. Gabriel, and St. Raphael. In my last posting I wrote about St. Gabriel, whose name means: “God is my strength.” Today, I’d like to consider briefly the Archangel Michael. For the past several years, according to the express wishes of Bishop Caggiano, we pray theContinue reading “Archangel Michael”
26th Sunday of Ordinary Time
If you have a hard time accessing this video, you can watch it on our YouTube channel at: https://youtu.be/mDXdrsWQp10
Archangel Gabriel
This Tuesday is the feast day of the Archangels, among whom is our co-patron St. Gabriel. Gabriel, whose name means “strength of God,” was the great and powerful spirit charged with bearing the message of God’s favor to the lowly Virgin Mary in the town of Nazareth, 2000 years ago. After greeting her, Gabriel tells Mary ofContinue reading “Archangel Gabriel”
First Communion
This Saturday, as we did last Saturday, we will celebrate Masses of First Communion in our parish. These Masses almost always happen at the beginning of May, but because of the shutdown we had to move them to September. In every parish, First Communion is one of the best days of the year, and I’m veryContinue reading “First Communion”
The Healing Power of Christ
When You heal, everything comes back to life, even in the past, and You give fruits to the one who has not known how to flower. – Maurice Blondel I recently came across the above quote from the French philosopher, Maurice Blondel. It appears to be a statement addressed to God. It expresses the sovereignty of the Lord GodContinue reading “The Healing Power of Christ”
St Matthew
posted 9/19/20 This Monday, 9/21, is the Feast of St. Matthew the Apostle. St. Matthew is not just one of the 12 Apostles, he also the author of one of the Gospels, and he includes his own conversion story in his account of the life of Christ. We know that before encountering Christ, St. Matthew worked as a tax collector for the Roman Empire. Since it wasContinue reading “St Matthew”
Holy Matrimony
posted 9/17/20 The Church of the Holy Sepulcher is one of the most remarkable places in the world. The current church dates back to the 11th century, and is built on the ruins of one that dates back to the 4th century. Within this church are the sites of Our Lord’s death, burial, and resurrection. I remember the first time I wentContinue reading “Holy Matrimony”
Holy Orders
posted 9/15/20 What is a priest? A priest is one who offers sacrifices on behalf of a group as an act of worship to God. As long as human beings have roamed the earth, there have been priests. We see them in the most ancient days of the Old Testament. Adam was a priest, as were the PatriarchsContinue reading “Holy Orders”
Embracing the Holy Cross
posted 9/12/20 The Cross is the most distinctive sign of Christianity. This is because, as we say to Our Lord during the Stations of the Cross devotion, “by Your holy cross You have redeemed the world.” I remember the beautiful bronze Stations of the Cross that we had in seminary. The first station, of course, depicts Pilate’s condemnation of Jesus. There wasContinue reading “Embracing the Holy Cross”
Anointing of the Sick
posted 9/10/20 The other day I was perusing my bookshelf and rediscovered a book that I hadn’t picked up in a while. It’s called The Faith Explained by Fr. Leo Trese, a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit and a best-selling author who died in 1970 at the age of 68. Leafing through it, I was reminded how well Fr. TreseContinue reading “Anointing of the Sick”
Confession
posted 9/8/20 If you ever visit a seminary you will find that they are places where there is much laughter. I really enjoyed the comradery I found among my classmates, which was healthy and joyful. While most of our formation sessions involved moments of levity and laughter, there was one particular experience that I remember we took with absolute seriousness, and that wasContinue reading “Confession”
Litany of Humility
posted 9/5/20 Rafael Merry del Val was a very influential figure in the Catholic Church in the beginning of the 20th Century. Born into a family of Spanish nobility in 1865, he spent much of his childhood in England before moving to Rome to study for the priesthood, to which he was ordained in 1888. From there he began serving in theContinue reading “Litany of Humility”
The Most Blessed Sacrament
posted 9/3/20 We have come to the third “Sacrament of Initiation,” which is the Most Blessed Sacrament, the Eucharist. While Baptism is the first Sacrament and the doorway to the supernatural life of grace, the Eucharist is the greatest of the Sacraments. Indeed, the Second Vatican Council refers to the Eucharist “the source and summit of the Christian life…. For inContinue reading “The Most Blessed Sacrament”
Why Confirmation?
posted 9/1/20 What is the sacrament of Confirmation? What does it do? When Bishop Curtis confirmed me many years ago, I don’t think I would have been able to give a good answer to those questions. I knew Confirmation had something to do with the Holy Spirit. Even better, it meant you got presents AND you didn’t have to go to religiousContinue reading “Why Confirmation?”
Brain Heart World
posted 8/29/20 Recently, I watched a 3-part documentary series called Brain, Heart, World. It was produced by an organization called “Fight the New Drug,” which describes itself on its website as: a non-religious and non-legislative organization that exists to provide individuals the opportunity to make an informed decision regarding pornography by raising awareness on its harmful effectsContinue reading “Brain Heart World”
Why Baptize?
posted 8/27/20 Baptism is the first sacrament. Typically, within a couple months of a child’s birth, the family will bring the baby to the church, and the priest (or deacon) will pour water over the child’s head while saying the words: “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of theContinue reading “Why Baptize?”
Do the Right Thing
posted 8/25/20 On June 3, 2017, Archbishop Allen Vigneron of Detroit celebrated a Mass during which he attempted to ordain five new priests, but failed to do so. Only four of the five men were actually ordained that day, since one of them, Fr. Matthew Hood – a young man who had just spent 6 years in seminary formationContinue reading “Do the Right Thing”
Regaining Hope
posted 8/22/20 Several years ago, someone gave me a book called Regaining Sight. It is a compilation of articles from a magazine called Imprint, published by a religious community, the Sisters of Life. The articles are stories about different people, the challenges they face, and how their relationship with God helped them through a particular struggle. They feature people like the late Steven McDonald, who was aContinue reading “Regaining Hope”
Struggling with Sadness
posted 8/15/20 In the gospel this coming Monday we hear about a rich young man who approaches Jesus, asking Him: “what good must I do to gain eternal life?” Our Lord instructs the young man to keep the commandments. When the young man tells Christ that he already observes them, He responds: “If you wish to be perfect, go,Continue reading “Struggling with Sadness”
St. Maximilian Kolbe, Missionary
posted 8/13/20 Tomorrow (8/14) is the feast day of St. Maximilian Kolbe. Kolbe was a Polish Franciscan priest who is best known for volunteering to die in place of another prisoner at Auschwitz in August, 1941. He was canonized a saint in 1982 by Pope John Paul II, who declared him a “martyr of charity” for offering his lifeContinue reading “St. Maximilian Kolbe, Missionary”
Deliver Us from Evil
posted 8/11/20 I have a cousin named Ray who is about 6-7 years older than I am. Being a really nice kid, Ray was happy to play with his little cousins, even though we were much younger than he was. When our families got together, there would be major wrestling matches going on in the family room as theContinue reading “Deliver Us from Evil”
Sick of Coronavirus
posted 8/8/20 I don’t know about you, but I’m kind of sick of Coronavirus. And when I say sick, I don’t mean I have Coronavirus, but that I’m tired of it. I hate how it has forced us to live. I dislike wearing masks and social distancing. The plexiglass barriers at every cash register, the closed storefronts. In darker momentsContinue reading “Sick of Coronavirus”
Lead Us Not into Temptation
posted 8/6/20 In the first installment of The Lord of the Rings, there is a scene in which Frodo Baggins, who has been entrusted with the task of bearing the Ring of Power to Mount Doom in order to destroy it, has a conversation with the powerful Elven Queen Galadriel (non-fans, please bear with me). The burden ofContinue reading “Lead Us Not into Temptation”
Forgive Us Our Trespasses
posted 8/4/20 In my last assignment there was a women’s group in the parish that would host a brunch each year to which they would invite a speaker. One year they invited a woman named Jennifer Hubbard. Jennifer is from Newtown, CT and in December 2014 her daughter Catherine Violet was murdered along with 19 other children and 6 staffContinue reading “Forgive Us Our Trespasses”
Keeping the Lord’s Day Holy
posted 8/1/20 It was on March 16, 2020 that Bishop Caggiano, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, issued the decree that temporarily suspended all public celebration of Masses in the presence of the lay faithful throughout the Diocese of Bridgeport. Thankfully, the suspension ended on May 21st, and it has been great to see people beginning to return toContinue reading “Keeping the Lord’s Day Holy”
Thy Daily Bread
posted 7/30/20 There’s a reality television show on cable called Hoarders, which depicts the struggles of people who suffer with Compulsive Hoarding Disorder, which leads them to pack their homes with things such as newspapers, cans, books, and clothes. Their compulsion makes their living situation unhealthy and unsafe and causes great distress to their families. The show brings psychologists and counselors to speak with people who are dealing with theContinue reading “Thy Daily Bread”
Thy Will Be Done
posted 7/28/20 The fourth petition in the Lord’s Prayer is: “Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” What is heaven like? Popular culture often depicts it as a dreadfully boring place filled with clouds and angels quietly playing harps. When we think of heaven, we know it to be the place where God’s will is always done and always done perfectly. Those popularContinue reading “Thy Will Be Done”
The Pilgrimage of St. James
posted 7/25/20 Going on pilgrimage is an ancient Christian practice. There are old texts from Bishops encouraging the practice of pilgrimage among the faithful going back to the 4th century. Pilgrimages are not vacations, but physical journeys that manifest the spiritual journeys of those who desire to encounter God in the places where He has made His presence known in a particular way. The mostContinue reading “The Pilgrimage of St. James”
Thy Kingdom Come
posted 7/23/20 This third petition of the Lord’s Prayer is an expression of longing that God the Father’s reign extend over all things. It’s a curious petition, considering we profess faith in God who is all-powerful, all-knowing, and omnipresent. That means His reign must already extend over all of His creation. Yet, it is obvious that things are not as they should be. You don’t have to beContinue reading “Thy Kingdom Come”
Hallowed Be Thy Name
posted 7/21/20 Familiarity and awe, in tight conjunction, are the mark of Christian prayer. – Fr. Simeon Leiva-Merikakis In this second petition from the Lord’s Prayer, Christ Jesus instructs us to say: “Hallowed be thy name.” It is the expression of a wish that the name of God be treated with reverence, as something holy. It is inContinue reading “Hallowed Be Thy Name”
Good Teacher
posted 7/18/20 Robert P. George is the McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence at Princeton University, where he has taught since 1985. The grandson of immigrants who worked in the coal mines of West Virginia, George is known as one of the nation’s leading conservative intellectuals. As a practicing Catholic who holds views considered “conservative” on many issues, George’s outspoken critiques of abortion, same-sex marriage, euthanasia, pornography, large-scale government welfare programs, and human trafficking often putContinue reading “Good Teacher”
Our Father
posted 7/16/20 I remember like it was yesterday. I was in fourth grade and me and my friends were watching The Empire Strikes Back, which everybody knows is the best of all the Star Wars movies. In the climactic scene, an under-prepared Luke Skywalker has just had an epic lightsaber fight with Darth Vader, who has cornered him and cut off his hand (super-traumatic!). AndContinue reading “Our Father”
The Lily of the Mohawks
posted 7/14/20 Today is the feast day of St. Kateri Tekakwitha, the first Native American to be canonized a saint. St. Kateri was born in 1656, the daughter of a war chief of the Mohawk tribe and a Christian Algonquin mother, near present-day Auriesville, NY. It was in that same area, 10 years earlier, where the French missionaries, St.Continue reading “The Lily of the Mohawks”
St. Benedict
posted 7/11/20 Today, July 11, we celebrate the feast day of St. Benedict, the patron saint of Europe. Benedict was born in the Italian town of Norcia (Nursia) in the year 480. This was a period of serious cultural decline in the waning years of the Roman Empire, and when Benedict was sent by his wealthy father to study in Rome he wasContinue reading “St. Benedict”
Our Birthday
posted 7/4/20 Today we celebrate the 244th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which we recognize as the birthday of our nation. Although the celebrations of this great holiday must be relatively quiet this year, I hope you get to enjoy the weekend with family and friends as best you can. Our nation is obviouslyContinue reading “Our Birthday”
The Paralytic
posted 7/2/20 Today’s gospel is St. Matthew’s account of Jesus’ healing of the paralytic in the town of Capernaum (Mt 9:1-8). The afflicted man is brought to Our Lord by his friends, lying on a stretcher. “When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.’” I wonder if there wasn’tContinue reading “The Paralytic”
St. Junipero Serra
posted 6/30/20 Tomorrow, July 1, is the feast day of St. Junipero Serra. In recent weeks, we’ve seen statues pulled down by activists decrying what they understand to be crimes committed by historical figures. Even prior to his canonization by Pope Francis in September 2015, St. Junipero Serra had been the subject of harsh criticism and the defacement of his image, especially in California,Continue reading “St. Junipero Serra”
St. Peter & St. Paul
posted 6/27/20 This Monday, June 29, is the Solemnity of St. Peter & St. Paul. These two saints are the patrons of the city of Rome, where they died as martyrs for the Faith. It’s traditionally the day on which new archbishops go to Rome to receive something called the “pallium” from the pope. The pallium is a white piece of woolenContinue reading “St. Peter & St. Paul”
Images of God
posted 6/25/20 When I was a kid, I liked to read the copy of The Children’s Bible, which was first published by Golden Press in the 1960s. Even before I learned to read, the pictures depicting the Bible stories fascinated me, especially those of the Old Testament. In my mind I can still see the picture of the animals entering Noah’s Ark asContinue reading “Images of God”
The Narrow Gate
posted 6/23/20 The first reading for today’s Mass is from the Second Book of Kings (2 Kings 19:9-36). It is an account of the siege of Jerusalem that took place about 700 years before the birth of Christ. The ruler of the Assyrian Empire, King Sennacherib, had already conquered the northern Kingdom of Israel and sent 10 of the Israelite tribesContinue reading “The Narrow Gate”
Immaculate Heart of Mary
posted 6/20/20 Today we celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. There are two references in the Gospel of St. Luke to the heart of Our Lady. The first is the account of the shepherds who visited the place where the newborn Christ was in response to the message they had received from the angels aboutContinue reading “Immaculate Heart of Mary”
Sacred Heart of Jesus
posted 6/19/20 On a hill overlooking the city of Paris is the Basilica of Sacre-Coeur, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It is a modern structure, whose construction began in 1875 and was completed in 1914. Because of the outbreak of the First World War, it was not consecrated until 1917. Probably the most remarkable thing aboutContinue reading “Sacred Heart of Jesus”
Blessed are You
posted 6/18/20 I had a music teacher in high school named Mr. Guzzi who had regular gigs playing piano in a jazz band. During one class one day, he told the story about the trumpeter in his band, who was obsessed with Louis Armstrong. More than anything, he wanted to play the trumpet like Armstrong. So, Mr. Guzzi said,Continue reading “Blessed are You”
Persecuted for the Sake of Righteousness
posted 6/17/20 Blessed Franz Jagerstatter was born in Austria in 1907. As a young man, his Catholic faith wasn’t very important to him, but he later had a profound conversion through the influence of his deeply devout wife. He developed a love for scripture, the stories of the saints, and the Mass. When Hitler annexed Austria in 1938, the vast majority of Austrians were in favor of it. But Jagerstatter wasContinue reading “Persecuted for the Sake of Righteousness”
The Peacemakers
posted 6/16/20 In a world where there are so many differing points of view, what makes for peace? It’s a crucial question because peace is important to Our Lord and His mission. He is, after all, the Prince of Peace who teaches us: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.” Fr. Simeon Leiva-Merikakis writesContinue reading “The Peacemakers”
The Clean of Heart
posted 6/15/20 There was a book that came out in 2006 by Mark Kurlansky, entitled: The Big Oyster: History on a Half-Shell, that chronicled the history of the oyster beds that used to proliferate in New York Harbor. “Before the 20th Century, when people thought of New York, they thought of oysters.” The mollusks wereContinue reading “The Clean of Heart”
Welcome Home
posted 6/13/20 It’s with great happiness that we welcome parishioners back to celebrate the Mass in church this weekend. For now, we will be celebrating our parish Masses at the church of St. Cecilia, but soon enough we will return to celebrating Mass together at the church of St. Gabriel as well. These past several monthsContinue reading “Welcome Home”
The Merciful
posted 6/12/20 On September 6, 2018 a 26-year-old man named Botham Jean was shot and killed in his Dallas apartment by his neighbor, Amber Guyger. Guyger, an off-duty member of the Dallas Police Department, claimed that she entered Jean’s apartment thinking it was her own, and that she mistook Jean for a burglar. Initially charged only with manslaughter, Guyger was later charged and convicted of murder for a crime that had racial overtones, with theContinue reading “The Merciful”
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