Forever I am changed by your LOVE in the presence of YOUR MAGESTY. Prepare for Christ the KING PrepareForMass #catholic4 days ago
Many who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake some shall live forever others shall be an everlasting horror & disgrace. PrepareforMass 5 days ago
Next Sunday is the Solemnity of Christ the King Year B
BENEDICT XVI
ANGELUS
Saint Peter's Square
Sunday, 26 November 2006
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
On this last Sunday of the liturgical year we are celebrating the Solemnity of Christ the King. Today's Gospel proposes to us anew part of the dramatic questioning to which Pontius Pilate subjected Jesus when he was handed over to him, accused of usurping the title, "King of the Jews".
Jesus answered the Roman governor's questions by declaring that he was a king, but not of this world (cf. Jn 18: 36). He did not come to rule over peoples and territories but to set people free from the slavery of sin and to reconcile them with God. And he added: "For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice" (Jn 18: 37).
But what is the "truth" that Christ came into the world to witness to? The whole of his life reveals that God is love: so this is the truth to which he witnessed to the full with the sacrifice of his own life on Calvary.
The Cross is the "throne" where he manifested his sublime kingship as God Love: by offering himself in expiation for the sin of the world, he defeated the "ruler of this world" (Jn 12: 31) and established the Kingdom of God once and for all. It is a Kingdom that will be fully revealed at the end of time, after the destruction of every enemy and last of all, death (cf. I Cor 15: 25-26). The Son will then deliver the Kingdom to the Father and God will finally be "everything to everyone" (I Cor 15: 28).
The way to reach this goal is long and admits of no short cuts: indeed, every person must freely accept the truth of God's love. He is Love and Truth, and neither Love nor Truth are ever imposed: they come knocking at the doors of the heart and the mind and where they can enter they bring peace and joy. This is how God reigns; this is his project of salvation, a "mystery" in the biblical sense of the word: a plan that is gradually revealed in history.
The Virgin Mary was associated in a very special way with Christ's kingship. God asked her, a humble young woman of Nazareth, to become Mother of the Messiah and Mary responded to this request with her whole self, joining her unconditional "yes" to that of her Son, Jesus, and making herself obedient with him even in his sacrifice. This is why God exalted her above every other creature and Christ crowned her Queen of Heaven and earth.
Let us entrust the Church and all humanity to her intercession, so that God's love can reign in all hearts and his design of justice and peace be fulfilled.
Thursday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time. Jesus reminds us in the Scriptures that yes we are all sinners, but with acknowledgement of that fact and sincere repentance we can enter God's glory. (Preached on Thursday, November 5th, 2009, 12:15pm, St. Malachyâs Church, Broadway and 49th, Times Square, New York City.)
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time. We are inspired today by the Scripture story of Bartimaeus, the blind man who ended up showing us the way, to Jesus. (Preached on Sunday, October 25th, 2009, 6:00pm, St. Malachyâs Church, Broadway and 49th, Times Square, New York City.)
A listener calls in with what is probably a common question, but one not often easily resolved: How do I get my kids to like church? (Originally aired: 10/15/09)
Father dave talks with the incredibly talented author, Anne Rice! One of America's most read and celebrated authors, Anne Rice is known for weaving the visible and supernatural worlds together in epic stories that both entertain and challenge readers. Her books are richly filled with history, belief, philosophy, religion, and compelling characters that […]
The CatholicTV Network's online Mass celebrated Friday, November 20, 2009 by Father John Carmichael. From the Catholic web site, CatholicTV.com, our online masses are available every day of the week....
In our first reading today from 1 Maccabees 6, we see a king who knows the score in his life. King Antiochus had done some dastardly things. He began to undergo great misfortune and was soon to die. And near the end, he realized that he was being punished for the terrible things he had [...]
In the first reading today from 1 Maccabees 4, we read about the origins of Hannukah. Do you know what that Jewish feast, celebrated to this day, is all about? Read and find out! In the Gospel reading from Luke 19, we see Jesus throwing the merchants out of the temple area. The big shots [...]
Hosted by Marcus Grodi with guest Sr. Anne-Lise Strøm: Enjoy lutefisk this week as the Journey Home travels to Norway. Sr. Anne-Lise Strøm, OP, Prioress of Our Lady of the Annunciation in Oslo, Norway shares with us her journey home and her call to the religious life. Sr. Strøm dedicated her consecrated life to the reunification of Christians and prays ferve […]
Hosted by Fr. Mark, Doug Barry with guest Dr. Bill Thierfelder: Dr. Thierfelder, President of Belmont Abbey College, shares with the Rock House what's going on with the EOC's attack on the Catholic identity of the Benedictine college. Where this goes, will decide a lot in terms of whether our legal system will respect conscience or not. He and a co […]
Hosted by Doug Keck with guest Carmen Marcoux: Carmen Marcoux's novels about young love, the challenges of chaste relationships, and the heartaches and rewards involved in living the Gospel message without compromise, are simply too good to put down. Doug and Carmen discuss how she began writing, why she writes for young people, and what her novels teac […]
Hosted by Raymond Arroyo with guest Jim Caviezel, Rob Gasper and Bishop Morlino: Jim Caviezel, star of the Passion of the Christ, on the occasion of our 1st show on the brand new World Over set. Rob Gasper and Michael Hichborn with the Reform CCHD Coalition on their research into the sometimes controversial Catholic Campaign for Human Development. Bishop Rob […]
1 Maccabees 6: 1 - 13 1 King Antiochus was going through the upper provinces when he heard that Elymais in Persia was a city famed for its wealth in silver and gold. 2 Its temple was very rich, containing golden shields, breastplates, and weapons left there by ...
1 Maccabees 4: 36 - 37, 52 - 59 36 Then said Judas and his brothers, "Behold, our enemies are crushed; let us go up to cleanse the sanctuary and dedicate it." 37 So all the army assembled and they went up to Mount Zion. 52 ...
1 Maccabees 2: 15 - 29 15 Then the king's officers who were enforcing the apostasy came to the city of Modein to make them offer sacrifice. 16 Many from Israel came to them; and Mattathias and his sons were assembled. 17 Then the king's officers ...
Acts 28: 11 - 16, 30 - 31 11 After three months we set sail in a ship which had wintered in the island, a ship of Alexandria, with the Twin Brothers as figurehead. 12 Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there for three days. 13 ...
1 Timothy 5: 3 - 10 3 Honor widows who are real widows. 4 If a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn their religious duty to their own family and make some return to their parents; for this is acceptable in the sight of God. ...
1 Maccabees 1: 10 - 15, 41 - 43, 54 - 57, 62 - 63 10 From them came forth a sinful root, Antiochus Epiphanes, son of Antiochus the king; he had been a hostage in Rome. He began to reign in the one hundred and thirty-seventh year of the ...
Daniel 12: 1 - 3 1 "At that time there shall arise Michael, the great prince, guardian of your people; It shall be a time unsurpassed in distress since nations began until that time. At that time your people shall escape, everyone who is found written in the book. ...
Wisdom 18: 14 - 16; 19: 6 - 9 14 For while gentle silence enveloped all things, and night in its swift course was now half gone, 15 thy all-powerful word leaped from heaven, from the royal throne, into the midst of the land that was doomed, a ...
Wisdom 13: 1 - 9 1 For all men who were ignorant of God were foolish by nature; and they were unable from the good things that are seen to know him who exists, nor did they recognize the craftsman while paying heed to his works; 2 but ...
Wisdom 7: 22 -- 8:1 22 for wisdom, the fashioner of all things, taught me. For in her there is a spirit that is intelligent, holy, unique, manifold, subtle, mobile, clear, unpolluted, distinct, invulnerable, loving the good, keen, irresistible, 23 beneficent, humane, steadfast, sure, free from anxiety, all-powerful, ...
From the inception of his pro-life work, Fr. Frank Pavone of Priest for Life has been urging the mass media to show the American people what an abortion is. Abortion is a reality which is so horrific that words alone can never convey its meaning. Warning - This video is very graphic.
St. Elizabeth of Hungary showed how hungry she was for heaven when she found the pearl of great price, the Gospel, and put aside all she had. St. Elizabeth, Widow - Mass: EF, Cognovi - Readings: 1st: 1ti 5:3-10 - Gsp: mat 13:44-52 Ave Maria! To Download Audio go to http://airmaria.com?p=8504
We will share in the sufferings of Christ but by offering up these sufferings in union with His, then we will do much spiritual good for ourselves and others. Ave Maria! St. Felix of Valois, Confessor - Mass: EF, Common of a Confessor not a Bishop II, Iustus Ut Palma - Readings: - 1st: 1co 4:9-14 - Gsp: luk 12:32-34 To Download Audio go to http://airmaria.co […]
Fr. Ignatius reminds us to keep our eyes on our goal, that is, heaven, and so be able to endure the many trials of life. Ave Maria! Readings EF - Common of the Dedication of a Church, Mass: Terribilis - 1st: rev 21:2-5 - Gsp: luk 19:1-10 To Download Audio go to http://airmaria.com?p=8467
The tax collector must have been just as surprised as the Pharisees at Jesus’ calling. Who am I but a lowly tax collector? What do you want with me? Go find someone else who is more holy. Matthew’s choice to follow Jesus speaks to how we should follow Jesus’ call even though we may not live in monasteries or convents. As we listen to his call, we ask him to teach us his ways. During our everyday lives, we have responsiblities that require us to make sacrifices. These sacrifices are holy offerings we make and we need to pray that his will be done through these deeds. We sometimes ignore God in our life because we want to live normal lives and be good people. Being good people for what reasons? Are we doing good deeds for our own self worth? Praise him daily. Not just in church. There is work to be done. Praising him doesn’t always mean silence in front of the monstrance in Eucharistic Adoration, although that is always a good and holy thing to do. We give him praise and worship him when we do it for him and not for only me.
Is 58:1-9 tells us about fasting. It explains how our fasting leads to quarrelling and fighting. True fasting is done with a contrite heart. A heart that is contrite and humbled is well suited to offer sacrifice. Offer penance, feed the hungy, clothe the naked. “Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer, you shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am!”
Jesus as bridegroom depicts a mystical marriage with us. When the bridegroom was on earth, the disciples of Jesus didn’t fast. There was no real need of fasting. “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.” The wedding will take place in heaven. All are invited.
Loving people who are easy to hate is difficult. When we do, we see the value in every human life. Loving life is not easy. Jesus showed us how difficult it would be. He loved with an everlasting love. A perfect love that only God knows. His Love was not very popular to the social elite of his day to the point where he suffered on a cross and died. We may not have to suffer from a death on the cross. Many of the saints suffered martyrdom. We may not have to suffer a martyr’s death. But, we may have to suffer a white martyrdom. Our crosses in life come in many forms. There are disappointments, challenges, illnesses, and other troubles we face regularly. Loving life through all of this means picking up your cross and coming after Jesus. If you say you are pro-life, that statement goes beyond the cause for advocating the life of the unborn which is a very worthy cause. It extends to all life, even those people whose actions result in a great trial for us. All in all, choose life, love life, pick up your cross, get to know Jesus and follow after Him.
On Ash Wednesday, together we fast, call to mind our mortality, repent of our sins and ask God to change our hearts. Lord, spare your people and have pity on us. Today and Good Friday are days that we fast as a community. Pope Benedict reflects on fasting in his Lenten Message and how voluntary fasting helps us to open our hearts to love God and our neighbor
The first reading from Joel 2 12-18 puts us in the frame of mind. PRAY…FAST…GIVE ALMS. We pray to connect with God, to understand where he’s coming from and know what he wants us to do. Praying is also requires a lot of listening. We fast. The body and soul are one. When we fast, we get an empty feeling in our stomachs and we look to fill up our bodies and souls with spiritual nourishment.
We might hear God say Return to Me…
Joel 2:12-13 – Yet even now, says the LORD, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the LORD, your God. For gracious and merciful is he, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and relenting in punishment.
Ash Wednesday – Bob Carlton
YOU ARE GOD ALONE
Responsorial Psalm says to “be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned”…
