Daily Sermons, May 5-9.
Acts of the Apostles, St John, St Stanislaus, St Michael, the Trinity.
May 9, 2015
May 7, 2015
May 3rd -- The Prologue of St. John's Gospel, part 1. Adult Formation on the Gospel of John, session 3
Introduction to the prologue of St John's Gospel, verses 1:1-18.
This is far and away the most important passage of Sacred Scripture.
Overview of the prologue and consideration of certain themes.
Handout is below the audio recording.
This is far and away the most important passage of Sacred Scripture.
Overview of the prologue and consideration of certain themes.
Handout is below the audio recording.
May 6, 2015
Sunday Sermon, April 3 -- Remaining on the Vine, Keeping the Precepts of the Church
Being a good Catholic isn't about "feeling good" but about "doing good", actually living the faith and following the commandments of Christ given through his Church.
To be a good Catholic and a good person, we start with following the "bare minimum" which is the precepts of the Church.
1) Attend Mass every Sunday and Holy Day
2) Confess serious sins at least once a year
3) Receive communion worthily at least once a year during Easter season
4) Following the laws of fasting (Ash Wednesday and Good Friday) and abstinence (Ash Wednesday and every Friday of the year, though on Fridays outside of Lent in the USA we are permitted to substitute some other form of penance)
5) Contributing to the material needs of the Church
6) Following the laws of the Church with regards to marriage
If you want to grow in holiness, start with these precepts and build from there. Just as we know that it is good to receive communion more than once a year (precept 3), we know that we need confession more than once a year (precept 2), and Mass more than just once a week (precept 1), and we should practice penance on more than just Fridays (precept 4). Of course, we should be generous with the Church (precept 5).
Listen online [here]!
To be a good Catholic and a good person, we start with following the "bare minimum" which is the precepts of the Church.
1) Attend Mass every Sunday and Holy Day
2) Confess serious sins at least once a year
3) Receive communion worthily at least once a year during Easter season
4) Following the laws of fasting (Ash Wednesday and Good Friday) and abstinence (Ash Wednesday and every Friday of the year, though on Fridays outside of Lent in the USA we are permitted to substitute some other form of penance)
5) Contributing to the material needs of the Church
6) Following the laws of the Church with regards to marriage
If you want to grow in holiness, start with these precepts and build from there. Just as we know that it is good to receive communion more than once a year (precept 3), we know that we need confession more than once a year (precept 2), and Mass more than just once a week (precept 1), and we should practice penance on more than just Fridays (precept 4). Of course, we should be generous with the Church (precept 5).
Listen online [here]!
May 2, 2015
Question and Answer about the obligation to practice penance on Fridays
Father’s Q&A on
Friday Penance
Following up on the earlier handout
regarding the obligation to do penance on all Fridays of the year, a little
question and answer:
Does the Church really say I have to do penance on Fridays outside of Lent? Yes, if you are over 14, you are obligated to do penance on all Fridays excepting Solemnities. This was re-affirmed and declared to bind under pain of mortal sin by Pope Paul VI (See Canons 1250-1253 of the Code of Canon Law, and "Paenitemini" by Paul VI, 1966)
Do I have to abstain from meat on every Friday? The US Bishops have allowed you to practice some other penance on Fridays outside of Lent. However, the Bishops state the abstinence from meat on all Fridays still holds "first place" among all forms of penance. But Catholics in the USA are permitted to substitute some other form of penance on Fridays outside of Lent, if they so choose. (See Pastoral Statement on Penance and Abstinence, 1966)
Is it a mortal sin to fail to do penance on Fridays? If you are over 14, it would be a mortal sin intentionally to fail substantially to do penance on Fridays. Thus, it would not necessarily be a mortal sin to fail to do penance on any one Friday, but it would be a mortal sin intentionally to fail to do penance on numerous Fridays throughout the year. Obviously, certain exceptional circumstances (like serious illness) can free us from the obligation to practice penance on a particular Friday.
Am I in mortal sin, if I've never heard about this and have never done Friday penance before?! If you truly did not know, but generally seek to follow the teachings of the Church, you are not guilty of committing a mortal sin you didn't know about. However, we all have the obligation to learn and spread the fullness of the Catholic teaching, so we must strive from now on to practice Friday penance.
Why haven't I heard about this before? If it really is an issue of mortal sin, why haven't other priests told me about this?! Sadly, this is one of many areas where many priests and bishops of the past 50 years have failed gravely in their duty to teach the Catholic faith and guide the people to holiness. And this is no small fault or slight oversight -- the fourth precept of the Church demands that we keep the days of fasting and penance as prescribed by the Church. Friday penance is just the bare minimum for being Catholic! (See Catechism of the Catholic Church 2043)
Does the Church really say I have to do penance on Fridays outside of Lent? Yes, if you are over 14, you are obligated to do penance on all Fridays excepting Solemnities. This was re-affirmed and declared to bind under pain of mortal sin by Pope Paul VI (See Canons 1250-1253 of the Code of Canon Law, and "Paenitemini" by Paul VI, 1966)
Do I have to abstain from meat on every Friday? The US Bishops have allowed you to practice some other penance on Fridays outside of Lent. However, the Bishops state the abstinence from meat on all Fridays still holds "first place" among all forms of penance. But Catholics in the USA are permitted to substitute some other form of penance on Fridays outside of Lent, if they so choose. (See Pastoral Statement on Penance and Abstinence, 1966)
Is it a mortal sin to fail to do penance on Fridays? If you are over 14, it would be a mortal sin intentionally to fail substantially to do penance on Fridays. Thus, it would not necessarily be a mortal sin to fail to do penance on any one Friday, but it would be a mortal sin intentionally to fail to do penance on numerous Fridays throughout the year. Obviously, certain exceptional circumstances (like serious illness) can free us from the obligation to practice penance on a particular Friday.
Am I in mortal sin, if I've never heard about this and have never done Friday penance before?! If you truly did not know, but generally seek to follow the teachings of the Church, you are not guilty of committing a mortal sin you didn't know about. However, we all have the obligation to learn and spread the fullness of the Catholic teaching, so we must strive from now on to practice Friday penance.
Why haven't I heard about this before? If it really is an issue of mortal sin, why haven't other priests told me about this?! Sadly, this is one of many areas where many priests and bishops of the past 50 years have failed gravely in their duty to teach the Catholic faith and guide the people to holiness. And this is no small fault or slight oversight -- the fourth precept of the Church demands that we keep the days of fasting and penance as prescribed by the Church. Friday penance is just the bare minimum for being Catholic! (See Catechism of the Catholic Church 2043)
Daily Sermons April 28 - May 2
Daily Sermons for the 4th Week of Easter.
St Louis Marie De Montfort, St Catherine of Sienna, St Joseph, Pope St Pius V, St Athanasius.
St Louis Marie De Montfort, St Catherine of Sienna, St Joseph, Pope St Pius V, St Athanasius.
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