An detailed Examination of Conscience based on the Beatitudes, from the iPieta app

Examination of Conscience: The Beatitudes & the Gifts

 

An Examination of Conscience based on the Beatitudes, by Fr Ryan Erlenbush

 

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.

 

Sunday Sermon, January 29 -- The Beatitudes as a Guide for the Christian Life

 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]!

Sunday Sermon, January 22nd -- Preaching is a Parish Priest's First Job

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]!

No Confessions on Wednesday, January 25

 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.

Sunday Sermon, January 15th -- Christ is the Minister of Baptism

 "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]!

Sunday Sermon, January 8th - Transferred Feast of Epiphany - The Magi as an Instruction for Conversion and Perfection

 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]!

Holy Days of Obligation and Days of Penance, 2023

 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 1^st – Mary, Mother of God

Tuesday, August 15^th – The Assumption of Mary

Wednesday, November 1^st – All Saints’ Day

Friday, December 8^th – The Immaculate Conception

Monday, December 25^th – Christmas (although Christmas falls on a Monday, it remains a day of obligation)

Monday, January 1^st, 2024– Mary, Mother of God

 

Epiphany (Friday, January 6^th), Ascension of the Lord (Thursday, May 18^th), and Corpus Christi (Thursday, June 8^th) are all transferred to Sundays. St Joseph, Husband of Mary (Sunday, March 19^th) and Sts Peter and Paul (Thursday, June 29^th) 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 23^rd – Anniversary of Roe v Wade (recommended fasting and abstinence, transferred from    January 22^nd because of the Sunday)

Every Day of Lent – February 22^nd to April 9^th (some penance, Sundays and Solemnities are less penitential)

Wednesday, February 22^nd – Ash Wednesday (fasting and abstinence)

Fridays, February 24^th, March 3^rd, 10^th, 17^th, 24^th, 31^st, April 7^th  – Fridays of Lent (abstinence)

Friday, April 7^th – Good Friday (fasting and abstinence)

Saturday, April 8^th  – Holy Saturday (recommended fasting and abstinence)

 

EMBER DAYS and ROGATION DAYS (recommended fasting and abstinence)

March 1^st, 3^rd, 4^th – Ember Days of Lent

Tuesday, April 25^th – Major Rogation day

May 15^th, 16^th, 17^th – Minor Rogation Days; Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday before the Ascension

May 31^st, June 2^nd, 3^rd – Ember Days of Pentecost (penance is commonly moved to the following week, on             account of the Octave celebration of Pentecost)

September 20^th, 22^nd, 23^rd – Ember Days of September

December 20^th, 22^nd, 23^rd – Ember Days of Advent

 

Penance is not required on the following Friday Solemnities: January 5^th (Epiphany), April 14^th (Friday in the Octave of Easter), June 16^th (Sacred Heart), June 23^rd (Nativity of St John the Baptist), December 8^th (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, 5^th; Ash Wednesday, February 22^nd; Palm Sunday, April 2^nd; Easter Triduum, April 6^th-8^th

Easter Sunday, April 9^th; Ascension Thursday, May 18^th; Pentecost, May 28^th

Corpus Christi Thursday, June 8^th; Sacred Heart, June 16^th

First Sunday of Advent, December 3^rd  

 

 

 

 

Epiphany Dinner - Friday, January 6th

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!)

New Year's Sermon, January 1st -- The Octave Celebration of Jesus' Birth (Feast of Mary, Mother of God)

 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]!

Christmas Sermon, December 25th -- Christmas Reflections from Fulton Sheen

 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]!

Sunday Sermon, December 18 -- The Mystics On the Infancy Narratives

 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]!

Sunday Sermon, December 11 -- St John the Baptist was Faithful in Trials

 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]!

December 8th Sermon, The Dogma of the Immaculate Conception

 Listen online [here]!