Great Catholic Homilies

"Faith comes by hearing, and what is heard is the Word of Christ."

Archive for the ‘faith’ Category

No-cost Catholic schools – we can do it

Sunday, January 29th, 2012

Go to Fr. Brankin's bio4th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Jan. 29, 2012
Fr. Anthony Brankin
Gospel: Mark 1:21-28 “He taught them with authority.”

Free Audio MP3

Sermon summary: In the two cities surrounding this parish, we are educating only 2,000 children of grammar-school age with the faith through our CCD and grammar school programs. But that leaves 42,000 school-age children in the area not being educated in the Catholic faith.

Click for Visitation Spirit website

Speak Softly and Carry a Benevolent “Stick”

The great doctor of the Church, St. Francis de Sales, advises us to “live gently with a valiant spirit.” Do you have a burning desire to grow holy, in union with God? Gentleness and strength of spirit are part of the Salesian spirituality, practiced by both religious and laity alike.

Learn more on Visitation Spirit. Read “Salesian Spirituality is Strong and Growing.”

If we lose our faith, we lose our families. If we lose our families we lose our souls. The life of our country, our society, depends on the strength of families. The Catholic school system is the alternative by which we escape the slavery and brainwashing, which is part and parcel of the public – or government – school system. Continue Reading…

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The 60’s hit us — but we are still the one, true Church

Sunday, January 15th, 2012

Photo of Fr. Brankin. Go to Fr. Brankin's bioSunday, Jan. 15, 2012
Fr. Anthony Brankin
Gospel: John 1:35-42 “Look, there is the Lamb of God.”

Sermon summary: Years ago we were taught that the Catholic Church was the one true Church, and no other group was the true Church founded by Christ. The Church is not just a group who gathers in the Church who believe in Jesus Christ.

Go to the Georgetown Visitation.

The Bean Queen of Georgetown Rules

The bean, or Epiphany Queen, of the Georgetown Visitation can request special things. Whichever sister finds the bean or medal in her piece of cake after supper is Queen-for-a-Year and is treated in a special way. Go to our Live + Jesus blog and read about what Sr. Mary Philomena got to wear that day.

Are you called to a life of the “little virtues” of gentleness, humility, and cheerful optimism? Consider the Sisters of the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary, Washington, DC.

When the Pope, or the Pope and bishops in union with him give us a teaching, it is the authority of God himself. The Church teaches us about the Bible, about how to get along. It teaches with the authority of God. Continue Reading…

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Born a pagan, St. Ambrose embraced Christianity and its joys

Wednesday, December 7th, 2011

Photo of Fr. Brankin. Go to Fr. Brankin's bioWed., Dec. 7, 2011
Fr. Anthony Brankin
Gospel: Matt. 28: 11-13 “Take my yoke upon you”

Homily summary (Mass for grammar school children): Today is the feast of St. Ambrose. St. Ambrose was born into a pagan family. Imagine not being brought up in a Catholic home, but a pagan one. The Roman, Greek and Aztec gods were not nice gods. People lived in fear of them. They would pray, “Please don’t hurt me.”

Picture of St. Jane de Chantal. Click and go to Visitation website.Candor and true purity were virtues that St. Jane de Chantal spoke to her sisters about concerning making preparation for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Dec. 8. Learn more about this on the website Visitation Spirit by reading “Advent with St. Jane—Day 12 .”

But Ambrose became a Christian. We, like him, pray that Jesus blesses us and helps our families. If we don’t believe in the true God, we will believe in false gods. We will believe all kinds of things, such as in newspapers. Don’t believe them — they don’t know more than we do.

People still talk about St. Ambrose seventeen hundred years later. You must treasure your faith. It is fragile. Go to church. Otherwise you will lose your faith, and lose your soul. Then the world will collapse. You must believe in God; lead a good life. Then you will go to heaven.

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St. Teresa’s life is an example: “Keep the faith”

Saturday, October 15th, 2011

Read Fr. Baldeon's bioSat., Oct. 15, 2011 – Feast of St. Teresa of Avila
Fr. Elvio Baldeon
Gospel: Luke 12:8-12 The Holy Spirit will teach you

Homily summary: Today’s Gospel is a warning about persecution. It is a message of perseverance — be faithful. Even if it’s jail or death — be faithful. Jesus says that there are angels in heaven and my Father will recognize you.

Today is the Memorial of St. Teresa of Avila.  She was a great witness. She didn’t deny Jesus Christ. She showed us a way of perfection. She wrote wonderful books to help us become holy. She never denied Jesus Christ, although her own community and family denied her. Because of St. Teresa, there was a reformation of the Carmelite order. Today, we are blessed with Carmelite nuns who pray for the pope and the people.

The Gospel today says, “Do not give up. Be faithful always.” At the end, God will give us happiness, eternal life.

Posted in Fr. Baldeon, Saints, faith, suffering | Comments Off

When we must mix our blood with His

Tuesday, October 4th, 2011

Go to Fr. Brankin's bio26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Fr. Anthony Brankin
Gospel: Matt. 21:28-32 Parable of the two sons

Full homily text: I surely hope that no one is put off by our discussions of “feast days.” I know that for the past 40 years we have become accustomed to hearing homilies based on the readings of the day. A homily is a wonderful thing, but I think it is most effective on a big feast day when the readings relate directly to that which we are celebrating.

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.

Lately, however, even the Bishops have come to understand that the old style instructional sermons helped to keep us all catechized—and may sometimes be more effective than homilies. As well—if nothing were said on Sundays about all the feasts that take place every day in the life of the Church, it would seem to be a great loss to the Catholic people who can no longer go to Church every day. So to discuss on Sunday the feast day of a saint is still a celebration of Christ and a lesson to us— from that saint—on how we relate to both Christ and to the world He saved. Continue Reading…

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