Sunday Sermon, February 18th -- The Historical Development of Lent

 We discuss Lent from the perspective of the history of the Church, from the earliest days to modern times. 

The name "Lent" comes from the Old English word for "lengthen" - indicating the lengthening of the days in the spring season. Easter moves between March 22 and April 25, but is always during spring because the celebration is set on the Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox - which is to say, the Sunday after the first full moon of spring. 

Easter is set for this time according to the calculation of the Jewish Passover (which is at the first full moon of spring) - as the Church desires to show how Jesus' death and resurrection perfectly fulfills the Old Testament prophecies.

From this, we can come to a much more profound understanding of many aspects of Lent and Easter.

Listen online [here]!

Lenten Men's Group

 Lenten Men's Group at Corpus Christi - meeting Tuesdays of Lent from 7 to 8pm.  The parish Mass is at 5:30pm followed by devotions and Rosary.

For the men's group, we will be watching a series about the Eucharist from Formed, called Presence.

Adult Faith Formation, February 13th -- Session 11, The Conclusion of the Canterbury Tales

 In our final class on the Canterbury Tales, we finish our discussion of the Nun's Priest's Tale of Chaunticleer the Rooster. We then turn to the final Tales and especially the Parson's meditation on how all can be saved if only we repent. Finally, we look at the Retractions of Chaucer.

Sunday Sermon, February 11th -- Lourdes and the Miracles There

 After considering the short outline of the history of Our Lady's apparitions at Lourdes, we discuss a few of the many thousands of miracles that have been wrought there.  These miracles prove the truth of the Catholic Church!

Listen online [here]!

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The miraculous healings discussed are those of Catharine Latapie (whose right hand was badly injured) and of Loius Bouriette (who was paralyzed after a train wreck),  both at the time of the original apparitions - March 1858.  Also the most recently approved miracle - that of Sister Bernadette Moriau in 2008. Finally, the wonderful miracle witnessed by Dr Alexis Carrel in which Marie Bailey was cured of a terrible stomach/intestinal disease in 1902!

Sunday Sermon, February 3rd -- The Book of Job and the Problem of Evil

 We discuss the book of Job, why it is rather difficult to interpret, certain historical and textual notes, and finally the problem of evil.  Why is it that bad things happen to good people?

Listen online [here]!

Adult Faith Formation, January 30th -- Canterbury Tales, Session 10 -- Chaunticleer, The Nun's Priest's Tale, part 1 of 2

 We discuss briefly the Monks tale and then, in great depth, the Nun's Priest's Tale of Chaunticleer the rooster.  This tale is a masterpiece of Chaucer and ties together most everything that has come before!

Ash Wednesday Masses and Lenten Schedule Notes

 Ash Wednesday Masses at Corpus Christi -- February 14th -- 7am (concluding by 7:45am) and solemn Mass is 5:30-7pm

Additional Confessions during Lent!

Wednesday and Thursday, 4:30-7pm

Friday, 4:30-5:30 and 6-7pm

Saturday, 4:30-5:30pm

Lenten Stations of the Cross -- Fridays at 5:30pm followed by soup supper

Sunday Sermon, January 28th -- St Thomas Aquinas, Jubilee Celebrations

 The Church is in the midst of a multi year jubilee celebration of the life and legacy of St Thomas Aquinas. 

2023 is the 700th Anniversary of St Thomas' canonization on July 18th, 1223

2024 is the 750th Anniversary of St Thomas' death on March 7th, 1274

2025 is the 800th Anniversary of St Thomas' birth in 1225.

Pope Francis has declared jubilee celebrations in honor of St Thomas Aquinas, with a special plenary indulgence available from July 18th, 2023 to January 28th, 2025. In this time, a plenary indulgence can be gained under the usual conditions by visiting a church, shrine or chapel entrusted to the the Dominican Order with a prayerful reflection on the life and legacy of St Thomas, praying an Our Father and a Cree, as well as a prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary and to St Thomas Aquinas.

In this sermon, we consider a brief overview of the life of St Thomas and some of the reasons why I love the Angelic Doctor.  His is so clear and succinct, he is honest in his argumentation, he has a reverence for the Truth, he shows the union of faith and reason, he manifests the Dominican love of creation and the Creator, his writings are comprehensive and cover nearly every topic and every question in philosophy and theology, and he is universally recommended by the Popes and the saints.

Listen online [here]!

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Listen to an excellent sermon from three years ago, which gives a detailed study of St Thomas' life [here]!