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Archive for the ‘Church history’ Category

War, crime, ruin — the Reformation removed Christ and Church as King (sermon text)

Friday, December 16th, 2011

Go to Fr. Brankin's bioFeast of Christ the King
Fr. Anthony Brankin
Homily: Matt. 25:31-46 As you did it to one of the least of my brethren, you did it to me.

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Full sermon text: Just a few weeks ago in the Latin Mass, we celebrated the Feast of Christ the King. Now interestingly enough, that is the Sunday the Protestants would celebrate Reformation Sunday.

Go to the Georgetown Visitation.The twin apostolates of prayer and the education of young women are pursued by the Visitation Sisters of Georgetown, Washington, D.C.

Are you called to religious life? Consider a life with the Sisters of the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary, Washington, DC.

To show you at what low ebb the church was when I went to the seminary—the 60’s and 70’s—the era of the Spirit of Vatican II—our seminary—at least one year celebrated Reformation Sunday—instead of Christ the King. Continue Reading…

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Why we make Christ, the King of society

Sunday, November 20th, 2011

Go to Fr. Brankin's bioFeast of Christ the King, Nov. 20, 2011
Fr. Anthony Brankin
Homily: Matt. 25:31-46 As you did it to one of the least of my brethren, you did it to me.

Free Audio MP3

Homily summary: The Protestant Reformers dethroned Christ and the Church. But if Jesus Christ is not our king, there will be no one to stand in front of the rich and powerful. No one to say they can’t abuse families and children.

Go to Sister Anna's Facebook page.The twin apostolates of prayer and the education of young women are pursued by the Visitation Sisters of Georgetown, Washington, D.C.

Are you called to religious life?

Consider a life with the Sisters of the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary, Washington, DC.

Martin Luther and Calvin started a movement that not only sent monks and nuns packing, but took the land from the people, and introduced mass poverty. As for me and my family – and you are my family – we will serve the Lord, who is Christ the King.

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Why the “shameful” cross is exaulted

Wednesday, September 14th, 2011

Go to Fr. Brankin's bioFeast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Sept. 14, 2011
Fr. Anthony Brankin
Gospel: John 3:13-17 “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son”

Summary: (Children’s Mass) Children, did you know how they found the true cross upon which Jesus died? After the crucifixion, the cross was buried — Christians were ashamed of it. Three hundred years later the queen wanted to find it. She went with her soldiers to Jerusalem, to the hill where Jesus died. They dug and found three crosses. But they didn’t know which one was for Jesus.

They figured that a miracle would reveal the true cross. So they found a man who was very sick, brought him over, and touched each cross to him to see what would happen. They lowered the first cross and touched him, and nothing happened. They tried the second and nothing happened. Then when they brought the third one, the man was completely healed.

They wanted another miracle, so they found a dead man, and he was brought back to life as well. This was the cross upon which hung the savior of the world. Why do we say that the cross was exalted? Because with our faith, the lowest is brought to the highest.

There are relics of the true cross all over the world. We have one at  our parish, because someone left it here in a basket on the side altar as a gift. We could tell it was an authentic relic.

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The monasteries of old made society humane and happy

Monday, July 18th, 2011

Fr. Anthony Brankin16th Sunday in Ordinary Time, July 17, 2011
Fr. Anthony Brankin
Gospel: Matt. 13:24-43 The righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.

Homily summary: Five hundred years ago, before the Protestant Reformation in England, the Catholic Church owned one-fifth of the land. Monasteries served the people, with the world’s original hospitals, hotels and motels. They met each person, not just as a guest, but as if he were Jesus. They believed they should treat that person as if he was Jesus. That’s how the monks and nuns took care of the guests, and the homeless.

St. Jane de ChantalWalk on the spiritual path along with St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane de Chantal into the Love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Are you a lay person interested in plunging more fully into a way of daily devotion? Or considering a vocation to the monastic Visitandine tradition? Go to Visitation Spirit website.

You could not walk sixty miles without coming upon a monastery. One-fifth of the people in England were monks or nuns. It was a wonderful society, until the Reformation, led by King Henry VIII, closed the monasteries and sent the monks and nuns into the streets. The kings gave the property of the monasteries to their friends. Cities of England swelled with homeless monks and nuns. Continue Reading…

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The Inquisition and St. Turibius — don’t believe what you hear

Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011

Fr. Anthony BrankinSt. Turibius, Mar. 23, 2011
Fr. Anthony Brankin
Gospel: Matt. 20:17-28 The Son of man came not to be served but to serve.

Summary: St. Turibius was born in Spain but helped the native Indians of Peru. There were conquistadors there at the time, and they were sometimes cruel to the Indians, and the Church tried to restore the dignity of these native Americans.

St. Turibius was also a Grand Inquisitor. You may have heard bad things about the Inquisition, but much of what you hear is colored by writers who hate Catholicism, the Spaniards and Italians.

Go to the Sisters' Facebook page.Saint Francis de Sales’ “little virtues” of gentleness, kindness, humility, and cheerful optimism shape the monastic life of the Visitation Sisters. Consider a life of prayer and teaching. Sisters of the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary Washington, DC.

Continue Reading…

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