Great Catholic Homilies

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Archive for the ‘death’ Category

Ash Wednesday — are we living for heaven or just ashes?

Sunday, February 26th, 2012

Photo of Fr. Brankin. Go to Fr. Brankin's bio.First Sunday of Lent, Feb. 26, 2012
Fr. Anthony Brankin
Gospel: Mark 1:12-15 Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness

Free Audio MP3

Sermon summary: This past Ash Wednesday, we had three thousand people come for ashes in our parish. Priests always wonder why so many people come for ashes. Ashes are a simple reminder of our mortality.

Ashes are the final symbol in our culture, a tradition that is a link with our religion. We ask ourselves, there had better be more than ashes in life. The ashes are a way of reminding us that there is more to life than this life.

It is a way to remember that life is about more than money, things and sex. The world may tell us its own version of what love is, but real love is about sacrifice — giving up things for those we care about, or for those we don’t even know. Ashes make us ask ourselves if what we are doing is getting us to heaven.

See all the homilies of Fr. Brankin.

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Purgatory — where God’s mercy and justice meet

Tuesday, November 29th, 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.

Full homily text: All the time, the Protestants, the sects, the so-called “Christians” will challenge us Catholics and will say to us, “You Catholics believe in a place called Purgatory! Well, where is that to be found in the Bible? Where does Jesus say that there is—besides heaven and hell—a place called Purgatory?”

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Well, of course, there is no use of the word “purgatory” in the Bible. We know that Jesus is not quoted in the Bible as telling us that there is a third place where we go when we die called Purgatory. But that makes no difference, because there are many things that we believe as disciples of Christ that either came from the mouth of Jesus—or under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. These facts of faith were not written down in the Bible but still we must believe them if we are to be true to Jesus. Continue Reading…

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A funeral can be an occasion of grace

Tuesday, June 7th, 2011

Read Fr. Peter Armenio's bioHomily for funeral of Tom Roeser, Chicago radio host and columnist
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Fr. Peter Armenio

(Tom Roeser was a well-respected pro-life and conservative political spokesperson, and a Catholic, in the Chicago area who died recently.)

Homily Summary: This is a bittersweet occasion of grace. We feel sorrow. Jesus wept for Lazarus. But death is a gateway to a greater life. In the Latin chants today we hear the word fear, which is a gift of the Holy Spirit. Tom had fear, not of Jesus as judge. This fear has nothing to do with being afraid of God. It’s an attitude that speaks of prayer, of a life of service to others.

Some time ago, Tom asked Fr. Peter to do his funeral. Death brings us to a halting stop. We must live according to our mission statement, so to speak. Fr. Peter met Tom at a pro-life event in the Chicago area twenty years ago. He said that he wanted to spend the rest of his life pushing the cause of life. Tom used his position as a radio talk show host, a journalist, as one involved in politics, as a platform to push for the right to life. Continue Reading…

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John Paul II: Do not be afraid

Thursday, April 28th, 2011

Monday, April 25, 2011
Fr. Jason Welle
Gospel: Matt. 28:8-15 “Do not be afraid.”

Homily summary: The Mexicans have a custom of displaying a skeleton wearing a tuxedo, or playing a guitar. The idea is that death is something to be mocked, to be laughed at, because it has no power for Christians.

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Jesus Christ said, “Do not be afraid.” Pope John Paul II will be canonized this Sunday, and this was one of his favorite sayings.

The opposite of faith is not doubt, but fear. Jesus came to us to cast out fear, to cast out the fear of what happens to us after we die. Jesus sets us free from the fear of death.

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Making the most of life without the fear of death

Monday, April 18th, 2011

Read Fr. Knab's bio.Sunday, April 17, 2011
Fr. George Knab
Gospel: Matt. 26:14-75 Last Supper and Passion of Christ

Summary: As a hospital chaplain, Fr. Knab knew a 15-year-old boy with lymphoma. One day his windpipe swelled up, and he could not breath. Doctors brought him back, and afterward, the boy  explained that he had the experience of being in a dark tunnel. There was a voice that said, “Are you ready to die?”

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“No, he said. I have too much to live for.” Then the voice said, “Go in peace.”

After that, the young  man went home. Although he died two years later, his mother recalled that during his last years, he was at peace with everything, and that he had no fear of death.

We all have a passover, a journey to make, from this life to the next. God wants us to make this passover without fear. The Church provides a blessing. Holy Week commemorates a passing over to God’s holy presence. If we keep company with him in the Holy Week liturgy, Jesus will keep company with us in our journey.

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