Sunday Sermon, December 8th -- The Immaculate Conception and the Season of Advent

 Reflecting upon the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in relation to the season of Advent, we are able to appreciate each mystery more fully.  After discussing the theology of the dogma and what the Church really means in teaching us the Mary is conceived without original sin; we then consider three ways that this dogma relates to Advent season. First, Mary's Immaculate Conception is immediate preparation for the coming of the Messiah, it is like an Advent. Second, looking at the child conceived, we see how Mary was praying for the coming of the Christ even while in the womb - and we see that Jesus himself was looking forward to his birth and interceding for us from the womb of his Mother.  Lastly, we see that the Immaculate Conception was a prevenient grace given in advance before the Cross; and we in this season are joining the men and women of the Old Testament knowing that are prayers were known to God in advance.

Listen online [here]!

Sunday Sermon, December 1st -- The History of the Advent Season

 In this educational sermon, we consider the historical development of the season of Advent in the life of the Church. The history of this liturgical season can help us understand and appreciate many of the practices and themes of Advent today!  We conclude by looking at St Thomas Aquinas' mystical understanding of the significance of the four Sundays of Advent.

Listen online [here]!

Sunday Sermon, November 24th-- Christ the King -- Two Sermons: Advice for Advent, and Why We Need the General Judgment

 In our first sermon, we go over again points of advice on how to have a holy and fruitful Advent. We must remember that Advent is a penitential season to prepare us for a holy Christmas -- Let Advent be Advent! And practice some prayer, fasting, and almsgiving so as to be prepared to receive your newborn King!

In the second sermon, we explain why it is necessary that there be a General Judgment at the end of time, even after each of us has received our own particular judgement.

Listen online [here]!

Pre Advent Retreat Talks -- November 23rd, Second Talk -- St Thomas' Sermons and Spiritual Insights

 In our second talk for this morning of reflection, we look at some of St Thomas' spiritual reflections especially as found in his sermon on the Angelic Salutation (the Hail Mary) and his sermon for the First Sunday of Advent.

Pre Advent Retreat Talks -- November 23, First Talk -- St Thomas Aquinas, Spiritual Master

 We introduce the theme if this morning of reflection: St Thomas Aquinas as a Spiritual Master or Master of Spiritual Theology. 

Adult Faith Formation, Understanding St Thomas Aquinas -- November 23rd, St Thomas' Hymns -- Pange Lingua

 We conclude our study of the hymns of St Thomas Aquinas and our series of courses on Understanding St Thomas, with what is undoubtedly his greatest hymn: Pange Lingua. It is from this hymn that take the famous Tantum Ergo.

Sunday Sermon, November 17th -- Jesus Knows the Day of Judgment, We Must Look Forward to that Day

 "But of that day or hour no man knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."

As we near the end of the Liturgical Year, we reflect upon the second coming of Christ. It is actually a heresy to claim that Jesus did not know the day and the hour of judgement - we consider the errors of agnoeticism and also why it is important to maintain that our Lord does know the day of judgment.

Finally, we consider how we should look forward to the second coming with hope!

Listen online [here]!

 

Adult Formation Series, Flanner O'Connor, Wildcat -- Session 5, Wildcat and A Good Man is Hard to Find

 In our final class before watching the film Wildcat, we discuss two of Flannery O'Connor's short stories: Wildcat and A Good Man is Hard to Find.

Sunday Sermon, November 10th -- The Sacrifice of the Mass is Not a Multiplication of Sacrifices

 St Paul says, in the Letter to the Hebrews, "So also Christ was offered once to exhaust the sins of many."

Although the sacrifice of the Cross is once and for all, yet it is renewed daily on the altars throughout the world in the sacrifice of the Mass.

Listen online [here]!

All Saints Day Sermon, November 1st -- All Are Called To Be Saints

 Sermon for All Saint's Day. Words of encouragement that we must all believe that we can become saints!

Adult Faith Formation Series, Flannery O'Connor, Wildcat -- October 29th, Session 4 -- Good Country People and The Life You Save May Be Your Own

 We reflect on two stories of Flannery O'Connor which are highlighted in the film Wildcat: Good Country People and The Life You Save May Be Your Own.

Sunday Sermon, October 27th -- Sts Simon and Jude, Apostles

 As the feast of Sts Simon and Jude is Monday, October 28th - we preach about these two apostles in the Sunday Sermon. 

Simon is called the Zealot - because he was filled with much zeal for the Gospel. Simon was martyred by being sawn in half.

Jude is called Thaddeus - because he was "big of heart" and still has much compassion for those in hopeless cases. He is the brother of James the Less and a cousin of Jesus by way of St Joseph (his uncle).

(this sermon is part of a systematic effort to preach on all Apostles from July 2024 to January 2026. The sermons on other Apostles can be found [here]!)

Listen online [here]!

Adult Formation Series, Flannery O'Connor, Wildcat -- October 22nd, Session 3 -- The Enduring Chill and Everything that Rises Must Converge

 In our third session on the stories which are found in the film Wildcat about Flannery O'Connor, we reflect on the Enduring Chill and Everything that Rises Must Converge.

Sunday Sermon, October 20 -- St Luke the Evangelist, His Life and Ministry

 Our Lord told the Apostles that the greatest among them would be the servant of all. St Luke was the great servant of St Paul, his faithful friend and the steadfast worker in the service of the Gospel.

In this sermon, we consider the history of St Luke and his important role in the writing of the New Testament. We also reflect on other traditions related to St Luke, especially that he had painted holy images of the Blessed Virgin Mary, some of which are preserved even to our day.

(this sermon is part of an intention effort to preach on the Apostles and Evangelists from July 2024 to January 2026. The sermons on the other Apostles and Evangelists can be found [here]!)  

Listen online [here]!

Adult Faith Formation Series, Flannery O'Connor, Wildcat -- October 15th, Session 2 -- Revelation and Parker's Back

In this second session in which we read the stories which are presented also in the new film Wildcat, we now look to Revelation and Parker's Back.

Adult Formation Series, Flannery O'Connor, Wildcat -- October 8th, The Biography of Flannery O'Connor

 In our first session on Flannery O'Connor in preparation for watching the movie Wildcat, we discuss the life of this fascinating Catholic writer. 

Sunday Sermon, October 13 -- The History and Message of Fatima

 In the Month of the Rosary and on the anniversary of the Miracle of the Sun of Fatima (October 13, 1917), we consider the events and history of the apparitions of Our Lady at Fatima. The message of Fatima is prayer and penance!

Listen online [here]!

Sunday Sermon, October 6th -- Practical Advice for a Happy Marriage

 In this sermon, we offer practical advice for a happy and holy marriage. One point which cannot be emphasize enough, we must always exercise the virtue of hope! Have true and certain hope that your marriage and family life can be better and even great - in nearly every case, it is not too late to have a happy marriage. And, in even the most difficult cases, you can find holiness through your married life.

We especially encourage reading "The Catholic Marriage Manual" by Fr George Kelly - which can be purchased through Amazon [here].

Listen online [here]!

 

Sunday Sermon, September 29th -- Practical Devotion to Your Guardian Angel

 In preparation for the feast of the Guardian Angels and the month of October which (among other things) is a time to honor the Holy Angels - we offer various points of consideration on the nature and dignity of the guardian angels and specific advice on practical devotion to your angel guardian.

Listen online [here]!

Adult Faith Formation, Understanding St Thomas Aquinas -- September 29, St Thomas' Hymns -- Sacris Solemniis

 At the conclusion of our monthly Eucharistic Procession, we preach a short sermon on St Thomas' hymn "Sacris Solemniis" which concludes with the famous "Panis Angelicus."

Sunday Sermon, September 22nd -- That For Which We Ought To Pray, and A Guide for Mental Prayer

 "You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, that you may consume it on your passions."

We often pray for things which are not proper or at least we pray for things not in the proper order. In this sermon we consider that for which we must pray for most, our salvation! Further, we give a guide for mental prayer.

Listen online [here]!

Sunday Sermon, September 8th -- St James the Less, His Life and Letter

As we read from the Letter of St James in second reading of the Sunday Lectionary, we consider the history of this great apostle who is called the "brother of the Lord."

James the Lesser was shorter than the other James call the Greater, but he was actually his uncle! This James the Less is the son of Alpheus (called Cleophas), the "brother of the Lord" (meaning the cousin of Jesus and the nephew of St Joseph), the brother of St Jude and St Salome the wife of Zebedee, and the first bishop of Jerusalem. St James the Less was called "James the Just" and was most highly respected even by the Jews.

(This sermon is part of an intentional effort to preach on all the Apostles at Sunday Masses from July 2024 to January 2026. The sermons on the other Apostles can be found [here].)

Listen online [here]!

Adult Faith Formation, Understanding St Thomas Aquinas -- September 8th, Session 13 -- The Creation and the Angels

 We conclude our study of the Summa Theologica of St Thomas Aquinas! We now look at the last portions of the Prima Pars, which discusses the creation of the world and also different ways of understanding the "six days" in the book of Genesis. We also briefly discuss the angels and the governance of the world.

We cover ST I, qq. 44-119.  [here]!