We discuss the history and theological significance of the Holy House of Loreto. Pope Francis, in 2019, extended this feast to the universal Church expressing a desire that all the faithful should know of this great miracle and this house of Nazareth - therefore, following the wish of the Holy Father, we preach this sermon on this most important shrine.
For pictures of the city of Loreto and of the Holy House and the Basilica, see this link [here]!
Listen online [here]!
Christmas and Octave Schedule at Corpus Christi!
Regular weekend Masses Dec 23&24.
Sun, Dec 24, Christmas Eve Mass with incense, 4:30pm
Christmas Midnight Mass at 12am Midnight with incense.
Christmas Morning Mass, Mon, Dec 25 at 9am (no incense, no music).
Masses Dec 26-29 all moved to 5:30pm with confessions 5-5:30pm
Saturday Morning Mass, Dec 30, 7am
regular weekend schedule Dec 30&31.
Mary, Mother of God is not a holy day of obligation this year. Jan 1, Mass at 9am.
No Mass, Tues, Jan 2.
Mass on Wed, Jan 3 moved to 5:30pm, no confessions.
There are many important ways to enter into Advent and prepare for the coming of Christ at Christmas. In previous years, we have recommended various acts of penance (prayer, fasting and almsgiving) and these remain so important!
This year, I want to make another recommendation - singing Advent hymns in your home! In this sermon, we look at the importance of hymns in the Church's Liturgy (especially in the Breviary) and consider how two hymns can help us meditate on the way that Advent prepares us for the Day of Judgement and the Second Coming of Christ -- Hark, the Herald's Voice Is Calling (Vox Clara Ecce Intonat, the hymn for Lauds/Morning prayer during Advent) and Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending (written by the protestant Charles Wesley). [text of hymns below]
Listen online, [here]!
Two talks on spiritual reading. First, on daily Scripture reading - both ideas of how to pray with Scripture in daily devotional reading, and also how to study and systematically read the Bible daily.
The second talk is on spiritual reading from the writings of the saints - again, both how to study the faith through the writings of the saints, and also how to use their writings in our daily mental prayer and meditation.
As we come to the end of the Liturgical Year and meditate upon the end of time and consummations of human history, we turn to a reflection on the Day of Judgement and the Second Coming of Christ.
In a mysterious way, this great and final day is prefigured in the Mass.
Listen online [here]!
The day and the hour of the final judgment remain hidden from us, even as the time of our death is unknown to us. However, these are not hidden from God - the Good God knows the time of the second coming, even as he knows the day and the hour in which we will die. We are invited to trust in him -- he is a Good God, and that will be a good day and a good hour if only we are faithful to him.
Listen online [here]!
The greatest and essential pain of hell is for the damned to know that they have forever lost God who is the greatest Good. This is call the pain of loss.
We base this sermon largely on a homily by St Alphonsus Liguori (for the 19th Sunday after Pentecost)
Listen online [here]!
From St Alphonsus:
Thus the damned see that God deserves infinite love, and that they
cannot love him. St. Catherine of Genoa being one day assailed by the devil,
asked him. who he was. He answered with tears: I am that wicked one who
is deprived of the love of God. I am that miserable being that can never
more love God. They not only cannot love God, but, abandoned in their
sins, they are forced to hate him: their hell consists in hating God, whom
they at the same time know to be infinitely amiable. They love him
intensely as their sovereign good, and hate him as the avenger of their sins.
A learned author says, “A miserable thing, to love vehemently, and at the
same time to hate what is loved.” Their natural love draws them continually
to God; but their hatred drags them away from him. These two contrary
passions, like two ferocious wild beasts, incessantly tear in pieces the hearts
of the damned, and cause, and shall for all eternity cause, them to live in a
continual death.
"And call none your father upon earth; for one is your father, who is in heaven." Matthew 23:9
While some attack Catholics for calling priests "father," these same show themselves to be malicious hypocrites by calling their male parent "father" or "dad" or "pop" and even call their parent's male parent "grandfather" or "grandpa" etc. Further, they speak of "teachers" at school.
Clearly, our Lord does not mean that we cannot use the words "father" or "teacher" - but only that we recognize that all true authority comes from God.
We then consider the great gift of papal authority, and how the Catholic should approach all papal teaching.
Listen online [here]!
"You became followers of us, and of the Lord." (1 Thessalonians 1:6)
A sermon in preparation for All Saints Day.
Numerous times, St Paul tells his disciples to imitate the example they have seen in him. Further, he even states that those believers who were most zealous are themselves an example for others. This is a biblical foundation for our devotion to the saints! If we can imitate St Paul and study his example while he is alive, how much more must we do this after he has gained his heavenly reward? And this applies to the other saints as well!
We imitate the saints so that we might more perfectly imitate the Lord!
Listen online [here]!
Schedule changes at Corpus Christi for the next two weeks!
November 14-17; no daily Masses or confessions (adoration continues as usual)
Saturday, Nov 18; the usual schedule - 9am Mass, 4:30pm confessions, 5:30pm Mass
Sunday, Nov 19; usual schedule - Masses 9am and 11:30am
Tuesday, Nov 21; 5:30pm Mass
Wednesday, Nov 22; 7am Mass, but no confessions
Nov 23 & 24; no Mass or confessions and no adoration Thanksgiving week.
Saturday, Nov 25; no 9am Mass, but there will be the usual 4:30pm confessions and 5:30pm Mass
Sunday, Nov 26; Masses 9am and 11:30am
Wednesday, November 1st is All Saint's Day! A holy day of obligation for Catholics.
Masses at Corpus Christi are:
Tuesday, October 31st - 5:30pm
Wednesday, November 1st - 7am and 5:30pm (with incense)
All Souls' Day Masses on Thursday, November 2nd are:
7am - Two consecutive Masses
5:30pm - Sung Mass with incense and catafalque
We discuss the Franklin's Tale as the capstone to the "marriage group" and ultimately answering the question of the Wife of Bath's Tale: Who should have the power in a marriage?
We also review some of the tales that are not in our edition: The Tales of the Man of Law, the Friar, the Summoner, and the Squire.
As we have a few month's break until resuming our course series after Christmas, I encourage listening to the Canterbury Tales on LibriVox (especially the tales so far which are not in our printed edition) and reading the Prioress' Tale and the Pardoner's Tale. For additional enjoyment of medieval England, consider reading or listening to Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott -- this would be very helpful!
King Cyrus the Great of Persia is unique as being the only pagan who is spoken of as the Lord's "anointed" -- this word is messiah in Hebrew, or christ in Greek. Cyrus the Great foreshadows Christ Jesus as King of Kings. The example of Cyrus the Great illustrates how God is most powerful in human history, and how he brought about the fulfilment of his will according to his promises.
This sermon is more of a history lesson in ancient civilization, but helps us both to understand the Old Testament and to trust in God's plan for the world today.
Listen online [here]!
We begin by going back to the Clerk's Tale and covering points we missed last week. Then we move on to the Merchant's Tale - especially highlighting the responses of the various pilgrims to the Tales so far, especially the way that the Host (Harry Bailey) speaks about his wife. We only briefly speak of the Franklin's Tale.
There are four "senses" of Scripture: The literal, and the three spiritual senses.
The literal or historical sense does not intend a fundamentalist or literalistic reading - but rather is "literal" in the sense of "literary" and "historical" in the sense of "historical context in which the event occurred or in which the human author wrote". The literal sense is the historical context of the event, and the original intention of the human author in writing.
The first spiritual sense is the allegorical sense: How an event/person/thing points to another or a future event/person/thing.
The second spiritual sense is the tropological or moral sense: What this passage tells us about the human soul, or about the virtues/vices.
The third spiritual sense is the anagogical sense: How an event/person/thing foreshadows the end of time.
We interpret today's parable according to these four senses.
Listen online [here]!
St Luke Brisket Dinner! Wednesday, October 18th! No 7am Mass. Confessions 4:30-5:30. Sung Mass 5:30pm. Dinner at 6:45pm!
We focus mostly on the Tale of the Wife of Bath.
Pope Leo XIII published twelve encyclicals and five apostolic exhortations related to the Holy Rosary! We consider the importance of the Rosary, especially in the Month of October, and give some ideas of how to pray the Rosary.
Listen online [here]!
In this session, we discuss the way that Chaucer develops the idea of the novel, with the various characters (and their stories) interacting with (and against) each other in an over-arching plot line.
Class Schedule
Sept 12 -- Introduction
Sept 19 -- The General Prologue
Oct 3 -- The Knight's Tale, The Miller's Tale, The Reeve's Tale
Oct 10 -- The Wife of Bath's Tale, the Clerk's Tale
Oct 17 -- The Merchant's Tale, the Franklin's Tale
Oct 24 -- Review and looking ahead to the second half
The parable of the two sons (Matthew 21) comes in the last public sermon our Lord gave -- on Tuesday of Holy Week, when Jesus had cleansed the Temple the day before and then spent this whole day preaching in the Temple area.
There are many memorable parables and lessons from this portion of public preaching - and this parable is an invitation to repentance.
We also see that the conversion of others should lead us to a deeper conversion, even as our own personal conversion is the best witness to bring others to the Church.
Listen online [here]!
No 7am Mass on Thursday, October 5th -- Mass moved to 5:30pm followed by 6:30pm parish dinner to celebrate Jess entering Carmel!
No 7am Mass on Wednesday, October 18th -- Mass moved to 5:30pm (solemn Mass with incense) followed by 6:45pm parish dinner for our patronal feast of St Luke!
No 5:30pm confessions on Thursday, October 19th; no Mass or confessions on Friday, October 20th; no 9am Mass on Saturday, October 21st --- diocesan meetings in Billings.
Parish schedule change:
No Mass on Tuesday, September 26.
No Mass or confessions on Wednesday, September 27.
Mass on Thursday, September 28 is moved to 5:30 pm after 4:30pm confessions.
(Adoration schedule remains the same)
We discuss the various Canterbury "tellers" and the general plot of the Tales. We see the clever irony of Chaucer, as well as the first taste of his genius.
Listen online [here]!
Today is the feast of St Hildegard of Bingen! I'll post my sermon tomorrow, but here is a movie on her life (German with English subtitles).
Here is a website with more information about St Hildegard's music.
http://www.hildegard-society.org/p/music.html?m=1
And here are links to a few of her hymns!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3HSoU1Ds6Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXRJY9P3Lhc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fRN7Czrs8Q
What is the goal of this course?
I hope that we will see why Chaucer and his Canterbury Tales are so important. More than that, our goal is to enjoy reading the Tales and further our enjoyment of all great literature. And, most of all, I want us to see the Catholic Vision presented in the Canterbury Tales.
Conference talks discussed the life and ministry of St Francis de Sales, his theology, his writing style, Introduction to the Devout Life and Treatise on the Love of God, and his encouragement for spiritual friendships.
Outline of the later Pauline Epistles (Philippians, Philemon, Colossians, Ephesians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, Hebrews)
Outline of the
chronologically first Pauline Epistles (1 and 2 Thessalonians, Galatians, 1 and
2 Corinthians, Romans)
Was St
Paul a priest? Answer: Yes, most
certainly; because as an Apostle, he is a bishop and more than a bishop.
Romans
15:15-17. But on some points I have
written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by
God to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of
the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable,
sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud
of my work for God.
In this
passage, St Paul speaks of himself as a “minister of Christ Jesus” and states
that he is “in the priestly service of the gospel of God.” Further, he speaks
of the “offering of the Gentiles” using the Greek word that commonly referred
to a sacrificial priestly offering.
Scope and Goals of this Course
What are “Mass intentions?” Why
do Catholics offer $10 stipends for Mass intentions? How do I have a Mass
offered for a particular intention?
Listen online [here]!
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Holy Day of Obligation - The Assumption of Mary! Tuesday, Aug 15!
At Corpus Christi, Great Falls - Masses are Monday, Aug 14 at 5:30pm; and Tuesday, Aug 15 at 7am and 5:30pm.
No Mass or confessions on Wednesday, Aug 16 or Thursday, Aug 17. Mass on Friday, Aug 18 is moved to 5:30pm after the 4:30pm confessions.
(Adoration continues as normal through the week!)
Changes to the Corpus Christi Parish schedule for the next two weeks! Daily Masses all at different times, and some changes to confession times!
Do daily Mass or confessions, Tuesday to Friday, July 11-14 and no morning 9am Mass on Saturday, July 15.
Adoration continues as usual
Corpus Christi Parish Schedule Update!
As Fr Ryan will be in Billings to help with the Eucharistic Revival conference this Friday/Saturday, the following changes are made to the parish schedule:
(Note: Adoration continues as usual through till Saturday afternoon)
Thursday, May 4th
Mass, 7am
Afternoon confessions cancelled.
Friday, May 5th
Mass and afternoon confessions cancelled.
Saturday, May 6th
No morning Mass.
Father Cory will hold 4:30pm confessions and 5:30pm Mass.
Sunday, May 7th
Fr Ryan is back for Masses at 9am and 11:30am.
A reminder that Saturday morning Masses are moved back to 9am through summer and fall till next Advent!
Also, extra confessions this week in preparation for Divine Mercy Sunday. Wednesday through Friday, April 12-14, 4:30 to 7pm; and Saturday, April 15, 4:30 to 5:30pm.
The Third Sunday of Lent is called "Oculi Sunday" after the Introit, but also "Scrutiny Sunday" because of the ancient tradition of beginning the scrutinies on this Sunday. The scrutinies were several steps/investigations/blessings which the catechumens underwent as they progressed towards baptism at the Easter Vigil.
We discuss the historical significance and development of the scrutinies, especially in relation to the minor exorcisms which are essential to the rite. We recognize that we are in the midst of spiritual warfare against Satan and his demons - and we are battling for the souls of pagans and lost secular people around the world. The story of the woman at the well shows the love and compassion we should show for these poor lost souls!
Listen online [here]!
We discuss the historical context of the Transfiguration - occurring eight days after Our Lord had name Simon Peter and promised to establish his Church upon this Rock, and also after Jesus had made the first prediction of the Passion.
The Transfiguration was meant to strengthen the Apostles so that they would stay true and strong during our Lord's suffering and death - this Sunday also helps us to persevere through Lent until we come to the glory of Easter.
Finally, we consider the significance of the presence of Moses and Elijah on Mount Tabor.
Listen online [here]!
We discuss the importance of the Lenten Fast, which the foundation of both prayer and almsgiving. The fast has traditionally been much more significant than it is at present - including abstaining from meat, eggs, and dairy every day of Lent (even Sundays!), and fasting every day except Sundays.
We also discuss the sin of gluttony which St Thomas Aquinas points out can be committed in five ways: Eating too much, too fast, too fine, too picky, or at the wrong time.
Finally, we consider what St John of the Cross calls "spiritual" gluttony.
Listen online [here]!
After reviewing certain points about the historical development of the Sacrament of Confession as well as what is required for a valid confession, we then consider certain recommendations to make confession more fruitful.
Listen online [here]!
First we discuss the Old Testament teaching "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" - explaining why self defense, just war, and even the death penalty are objectively permitted (and that the Church cannot ever change her teaching on these). However, even if objectively permitted, these practices are all dangerous - and we should be cautious about promoting them. Furthermore, it is prudent and wise of the Church to caution against the death penalty, and to teach that the death penalty should not be used in modern society (because modern society has become rather anti-christian and pagan).
Then we consider how the saints have fulfilled these teachings of our Lord to "turn the other cheek" etc. Finally, we see why love of enemies is the key to spiritual perfection.
Listen online [here]!
"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law and the Prophets."
Our Lord has fulfilled the Law in such a way that the old rites have passed away, but the moral precepts remain. The ceremonies of the Law pointed to the coming of Christ, and now that he has come these old rites are fulfilled.
This is why Catholics do not practice the rites of the Old Testament - however, we still keep new rites, new ceremonies and new feasts which correspond to the New Testament given in Christ Jesus.
Listen online [here]!
We discuss the place of the Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of Matthew, and in relation to the call of the twelve Apostles. We then consider the various insights gained through the words of our Lord, "You are the salt of the earth."
Listen online [here]!
Examination of Conscience: The
Beatitudes & the Gifts
Examination
of Conscience based on the Beatitudes
This
examination could be used in preparation for the sacrament of reconciliation or
also in one’s daily examine.
Each of the beatitudes was
fulfilled perfectly in our Lord Jesus Christ, and we should always begin by
reflecting on how he is the perfect model which we imitate.
The “corresponding Virtues and
Gifts” listed with each beatitude follow the schema of St Thomas Aquinas, and
refer to the seven Theological and Cardinal Virtues as well as the seven Gifts
of the Holy Spirit – of course, there are more virtues which relate to each
beatitude but all the virtues are related back to these.
The Sermon on the Mount begins with the Beatitudes, which can be seen as a guide for the pursuit of holiness and Christian perfection. Christ Jesus is the Man of the Beatitudes - he perfectly exemplifies them in his own life.
Further, the beatitudes can be used as a quasi examination of conscience. We provide two sample examinations based on the beatitudes in follow up posts!
Listen online [here]!
There are many different ideas about what a homily should be and what makes a good sermon. We look at what the Church herself has actually said about preaching, and especially the primary importance of preaching for the priest who is a pastor of a parish.
Finally, we discuss why it is usually helpful for the priest to preach long sermons, and why it is so harmful to Catholic preaching when emphasis is put on short homilies.
Listen online [here]!
Because of a special Mass with the bishops at St Ann's which Father Ryan is concelebrating, there are no confessions on Wednesday afternoon, January 25th.
"I did not know him" - How can John the Baptist say he didn't know the Lord? Clearly he knew him! Jesus was his relative, and he had recognized the Lord from the womb. Further, as soon as John saw Jesus, he readily stated that "I ought to be baptized by you!" Further, he knew Jesus would institute a new baptism, in the Holy Spirit. Additionally, he even knew that Jesus was God - "He existed before me."
What John came to understand is that Jesus is always the primary minister of baptism - whosoever baptizes, it is always Christ who baptizes. Jesus gives the sacraments their power, and he is the source of unity in the Church.
Listen online [here]!
The Magi set out for a long journey to come to the Lord in Bethlehem. Their perseverence through many trials and through the dark nights as well as from the darkness of paganism into the light of Christ is a model for Christian conversion and spiritual perfection.
Listen online [here]!
Each year, the Church proclaims the movable feasts on Epiphany! Following this tradition, we present the overview of Holy Days and Days of Penance for 2023
HOLY DAYS OF
OBLIGATION – 2023
Sunday, January 1st
– Mary, Mother of God
Tuesday, August 15th
– The Assumption of Mary
Wednesday, November 1st
– All Saints’ Day
Friday, December 8th
– The Immaculate Conception
Monday, December 25th
– Christmas (although Christmas
falls on a Monday, it remains a day of obligation)
Monday, January 1st,
2024– Mary, Mother of God
Epiphany (Friday, January 6th), Ascension of the
Lord (Thursday, May 18th), and Corpus Christi (Thursday, June 8th)
are all transferred to Sundays. St Joseph, Husband of Mary (Sunday, March 19th)
and Sts Peter and Paul (Thursday, June 29th) are not obligation days
in the USA.
DAYS OF PENANCE
and EMBER DAYS – 2023
Every Friday
throughout the year (abstinence or some penance)
Monday, January 23rd
– Anniversary of Roe v Wade (recommended fasting and abstinence,
transferred from January 22nd
because of the Sunday)
Every Day of Lent – February 22nd to April 9th
(some penance, Sundays and Solemnities are less penitential)
Wednesday, February 22nd
– Ash Wednesday (fasting and abstinence)
Fridays, February 24th,
March 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, 31st,
April 7th – Fridays of Lent (abstinence)
Friday, April 7th
– Good Friday (fasting and abstinence)
Saturday, April 8th
– Holy Saturday (recommended fasting
and abstinence)
EMBER DAYS and ROGATION DAYS (recommended fasting and
abstinence)
March 1st, 3rd, 4th –
Ember Days of Lent
Tuesday, April 25th – Major Rogation day
May 15th, 16th, 17th –
Minor Rogation Days; Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday before the Ascension
May 31st, June 2nd, 3rd
– Ember Days of Pentecost (penance is commonly moved to the following week,
on account of the Octave
celebration of Pentecost)
September 20th, 22nd, 23rd
– Ember Days of September
December 20th, 22nd, 23rd
– Ember Days of Advent
Penance is not required on the following Friday Solemnities:
January 5th (Epiphany), April 14th (Friday in the Octave
of Easter), June 16th (Sacred Heart), June 23rd (Nativity
of St John the Baptist), December 8th (Immaculate Conception). [Friday
of the Octave of Christmas is not a solemnity, therefore penance is obliged.]
* Abstinence means abstaining from meat, and binds from 14
years until death. Abstaining from eggs and dairy as well as from meat is a laudable tradition.
** Fasting means one regular meal and two small snacks, and
binds from 18 until 60.
MOVABALE FEASTS – 2023
Septuagesima, 5th; Ash Wednesday, February 22nd;
Palm Sunday, April 2nd; Easter Triduum, April 6th-8th
Easter Sunday, April 9th; Ascension Thursday, May
18th; Pentecost, May 28th
Corpus Christi Thursday, June 8th; Sacred Heart,
June 16th
First Sunday of Advent, December 3rd
Mass at 5:30pm and dinner at 6:45pm! All are welcome for smoked lamb! (because Epiphany is a solemnity in the universal calendar, we will be eating meat!)
The meaning of an "Octave" from the Jewish tradition, the significance of circumcision on the 8th day with the naming of the boy, and the second celebration of Christmas with a look to the Mother who gave birth.
Listen online [here]!
A Christmas sermon inspired by the reflections of Archbishop Fulton Sheen on the ordering of creation, the descent of God and the exaltation of man.
Listen online [here]!
The private revelations given to the mystics of the Church can help us to understand and appreciate more fully the Infancy Narratives of Matthew and Luke. Today, we look primarily at the portions that relate to the time from the betrothals of Joseph and Mary up to just before our Lord's birth.
Listen online [here]!
We look to the commentaries of the Church Fathers, saints, and Catholic theologians to show that St John the Baptist was not doubting when he sent his disciples to ask our Lord, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?"
St John is a model of faithfulness in trials.
Listen online [here]!