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Archive for the ‘Easter Season’ Category

We believe in the Resurrection, but don’t need to understand

Sunday, April 8th, 2012

Easter Sunday, Apr. 8, 2012
Rev. Msgr. Richard Saudis
Gospel: John 20:1-9 “He must rise from the dead”

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(Summary of sermon) Peter, John and Mary Magdalene came looking for Jesus. Mary had a feeling of loss. None of the three understood.

We believe, but don’t need to understand. Our society is secular; it doesn’t admit to belief in God. It believes that it is only matter that matters. But God is spirit. On this Easter day, we join Peter, Mary and John as we come to look for Christ.

Read the homilies of Msgr. Saudis.

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Like spring flowers, Easter marks the beginning of new life

Saturday, April 7th, 2012

Fr. Joseph Eddy. Go to Fr. Joseph's bio.Easter Sunday, Apr. 8, 2012
Fr. Joseph Eddy, O. de M.
Gospel: John 20:1-9 “He must rise from the dead.”

(Full sermon text) The symbolism of the Easter Vigil Mass expresses with both subtlety and strength the mysteries contained in our faith. Here we begin in darkness with just a glimmer of light from the paschal candle. What a joy it is when finally that light is spread to each person! The joy increases throughout the liturgy as the lights are slowly turned on. Once all the lights are turned on and the candles are lit, we notice that things have changed in the church. Good Friday left our church stripped and in darkness, with only the crucifixion and our memories of how our Lord suffered for us.

Deacon Scott Brentwood

Classes in Latin, and visits to museums

Think it’s difficult being taught in Latin or Italian? Read about Deacon Scott Brentwood, who was ordained earlier this year, as he muses about his experiences in his priestly training as a Mercedarian in Rome. Read his March 25 Rome update.

Is God calling you to become a Mercedarian friar? Visit the Mercedarians’ Facebook page.

Now with the new day we see our church is bursting with colors! Flowers are all around. These flowers are a symbol of the new life that comes to us in Christ. Flowers have humble beginnings as seeds tossed or blown to the ground. These seeds are nothing to look at. In fact, they are barely visible as they slowly seep into the darkness of the earth. Continue Reading…

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Not politicians, not Batman — Jesus is the only Messiah

Wednesday, June 1st, 2011

Go to Fr. Brankin's bioFifth Sunday of Easter, 2011
Fr. Anthony Brankin
Gospel: John 14:1-12 “I am in the Father and the Father in me”

Full homily text: If you want to know why they put Jesus up on a cross—just look at today’s gospel. There it is plain as day. Jesus is equating Himself with God the Father. He says the Father is in Him, and He is in the Father—and He means this in a far deeper and more meaningful way than you and I might talk about grace. “Yes I have God in my soul, and that inspires me to do good things.”

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. Are you searching for God’s calling? Consider a life with the Sisters of the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary, Washington, DC.

No. Jesus here is claiming a special relationship that is way beyond what we have with God. He is in fact claiming He is God—that He and the Father are one. If you look at Jesus, you are looking at the Father—though it is obvious that they are two distinct Persons.

Continue Reading…

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We follow Jesus’ Resurrection in soul and body

Sunday, May 8th, 2011

Read bio Fr. Joseph EddyThird Sunday in Easter, May 8, 2011
Fr. Joseph Eddy, O. de M.
Gospel: Luke 24:13-35 He became known to them in the breaking of the bread
(Sorry, no audio)

Full  homily text: In today’s Gospel we have the spiritual image of walking along “the Way.” We travel on many journeys during our life. We go from dependant infants to children experiencing the world. Then, we go from adolescence to young adults. The journeys go on throughout our life, until we go on the ultimate journey that leads from this life to the next. At each stage, there is a danger of being lost. Of losing our bearings along “the Way.” We need guides. We need figures to walk with us. Parents, relatives, and friends often act as these guides.  They walk with us on “the Way” helping us to understand what life is all about and how to make it through safely.

Blessed Virgin Mary of MercyFr. Joseph Eddy is the vocation director of the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy, founded to redeem Christians whose faith is in danger. The Order’s student house in the U.S. is in Philadelphia.

Is God calling you to become a Mercedarian friar? Visit Fr. Joseph’s Facebook page, or the website of the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy.

But, it is Jesus who is the hidden guide that instructs us through the Scriptures and tradition of the Church. But he is not just present with us in an obscure way; the Risen Lord walks with us tangibly. His Holy Spirit dwells within us at Baptism and is strengthened within us through the gifts at Confirmation.
Continue Reading…

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The wicked hate Christianity — but we must convert them

Wednesday, May 4th, 2011

Fr. Anthony BrankinWednesday, May 4, 2011
Fr. Anthony Brankin
Gospel: John 3:16-21 Men loved darkness rather than the light

Homily summary: In today’s reading the Apostles were arrested for preaching about the new way. The reading shows that there is a tremendous bitterness toward Christians. Pagans wouldn’t have minded about Christianity. But Jewish people resented Christ.

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.

As today’s Gospel says, everyone who is wicked hates the light. These people are not content to just ignore Christians, but do everything possible to persecute them. You don’t see it, but it is going on in the world. A month ago, muslims killed one thousands Christians. You didn’t see it in the news.

What we can do is to get these people to love Jesus, to convert. Muslims, Jews, atheists, and pagans need to be converted to Christ — to the light. There will thus be much more peace in the world. Then the world can be saved.

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