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Archive for the ‘Fr. Brankin’ Category

The myth of self-governance — we are merely bug splatter (sermon text)

Tuesday, January 31st, 2012

Photo of Fr. Brankin. Go to Fr. Brankin's bio.

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Jan. 22, 2012
Fr. Anthony Brankin
Gospel: Mark 1:14-20 “Repent, and believe the Good News.”

Free Audio MP3

Full sermon text: Today is the day that the Bishops of the US have asked all Catholics to make of it—a day of reparation for the sin of abortion—a sin—I might add—that has been committed about 50 million times in almost forty years.

But that number only applies in this country. I read just last night that the world-wide number of abortions approaches one billion! I saw that statistic in a letter to the editor of a Catholic journal; and the author of the letter said that all these abortions—these billion lives that were snuffed out—were lives taken in the so-called “Christian west”. Continue Reading…

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Posted in Audio homilies, Christian witness, Fr. Brankin, Moral life, Pro-life, Social teaching | Comments Off

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.”

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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 myth of self-governance — we are merely bug splatter for the secular elite

Monday, January 23rd, 2012

Photo of Fr. Brankin. Go to Fr. Brankin's bio.Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012
Fr. Anthony Brankin
Gospel: Mark 1:14-20 “Repent, and believe the Good News.”

Free Audio MP3

Click for complete sermon text

Sermon summary: Today’s modern, liberal, secular government was born in 18th century French salons, which said that there is no power above the government; the state is supreme. Today, they brainwash and tell us we are self-governed. But we have misery and poverty. The politicians, financiers, corporations and socialists make the money.

Click for Visitation Spirit website

Live Gently With a Valiant Spirit

Do you have the courage of the Holy Spirit to face everyday life? A burning desire to grow closer to God? Gentleness and strength of spirit are part of the Salesian spirituality. Crafted by St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane de Chantal, this spirituality is practiced by both religious and laity alike.

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

They say we govern ourselves. But were you consulted when the factories here were emptied, and when slaves in China began making things?

Continue Reading…

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The Mysterious Travel of Mother Mary Agreda, and the Three Kings

Friday, January 20th, 2012

Go to Fr. Brankin's bioEpiphany, 2012
Fr. Anthony Brankin
Gospel: Luke 2:1-14 “You will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths”

Complete sermon text: I guess it is somewhat strange, but today—even though it is two days later after the “real” date, we are celebrating the Feast of the Epiphany. And we do this because America is such a non-Catholic, non-Christian, non-religious country. Officially, at least, all our politicians and all our laws, of course, are either against the practice of religion or ignore it entirely.

Now if we lived in a little village in a happily Catholic country, then naturally on the 6th of January—the Twelfth Day of Christmas to be exact—no one would have to go to work—and everyone would go to church; and we would have a beautiful Mass, and three men would dress like the Three Kings, and pass out candy and little gifts to the children; and they would even bake cakes with tiny little figures of the Baby Jesus inside— and whoever found the little figurine would be declared “King!” Continue Reading…

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We slave on Sunday so they can bask at the beach

Thursday, January 19th, 2012

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Wed., Jan. 18, 2012
Fr. Anthony Brankin
Gospel: Mark 3:1-6 Jesus heals on the Sabbath

Sermon summary: In today’s reading, we hear of Christ’s critics. Our Lord healed on the Sabbath, and his critics were over the edge on scrupulosity. You don’t revolve your life around not working.

Deacon Scott Brentwood, prostrate. Click for article.

What stuck with Deacon Scott during his ordination?

The church in Sardinia was breathtaking, and the Mercedarian tradition of 600 years on the island was remarkable. But what impressed Deacon Scott, from Virginia, at his deaconate ordination recently?  Read, “A Mercedarian Journal From Rome.”

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Even in our day, Jews follow the same laws. In Chicago when I was growing up, they would pay a girl five cents to light their stove in the evening so as not to break the Sabbath. Continue Reading…

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