Great Catholic Homilies

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

Archive for the ‘Saints’ Category

Flying cows and the challenge of friendship

Friday, January 28th, 2011

Bio of Kevin BanetFeast of St. Thomas Aquinas, Jan. 29, 2011
Homily reflection by Kevin J. Banet

Kevin’s take: Our daily Mass goers are usually a quiet group, but today the sermon by Fr. Jason Welle, O.F.M., elicited a few chuckles from the pews. Father told a story about Thomas Aquinas, who was known by his fellow students as a very smart boy. “No one likes a smarty pants,” Fr. Jason offered. So his friends decided to play a trick on him. When Thomas was in the classroom, they looked out the window and cried out, “Look, the cows are flying!”

Thomas scurried over to the window, and of course, the cows were not flying. His school chums laughed in derision, having fooled the most intellectually gifted among them. But Thomas had a quick comeback: “I would rather believe that cows could fly than my friends lie to me.”

Blessed Virgin Mary of MercyThe many allurements and problems of our modern world hold many Christians captive from knowing and practicing their faith. Help those whose faith is in danger. Become a Mercedarian friar. Visit Fr. Joseph Eddy’s Facebook page, or the website of the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy.

Purgatory is Heaven’s porch

Wednesday, November 3rd, 2010

All Souls’ Day, Nov. 2, 2010
Fr. Richard Simon
Gospel: John 11:17-27. “I am the Resurrection and the life.”
MP3 Audio

Summary: The things for which we live are not able to be seen. Life is short, and eternity is forever. The saints, angels and those in purgatory are closer to us than we imagine. Purgatory is not the back porch of hell, but the front porch of heaven.

This homily is brought to you by Questions For God Books, which offers a children’s book series and DVD that will help children three years old and older learn about God’s plan for salvation and everlasting life.

St. Maria Goretti and the Forgiveness of a Murderer

Monday, July 12th, 2010

15th Sunday in ordinary time, July 11, 2010
Fr. Anthony Brankin
MP3 Audio Gospel: Luke 10:25-37 The good Samaritan

Summary: St. Maria Goretti was a girl in Italy who was murdered by a man named Allesandro, who had given himself over to the devil. And yet, Allesandro repented, and at the age of 50 begged Maria’s mother for forgiveness, which she granted him.

Satan is the default mechanism in the life of a Christian when we don’t pray. We can’t play footsie with the devil. We should severely limit, or eliminate, our viewing of TV, movies, the internet, texting and blackberrying.

This homily is brought to you by the Georgetown Visitation Sisters in Washington, D.C. Saint Francis de Sales’ “little virtues” of gentleness, kindness, humility, and cheerful optimism shape monastic life for these sisters.

IL Catholic Prayer Breakfast — Credible witnesses to Christ

Monday, May 3rd, 2010

Pope St. Pius VI. April 30, 2010
Most Rev. Thomas J. Paprocki
Mass Homily
Click for audio MP3 Audio. 5 min.

Summary: The life of St. Thomas More shows the importance of a credible witness in a courtroom. We are called to be credible witnesses to the Resurrection, and to Jesus as the way, the truth and the life.

St. Anselm, and why we need to study our faith

Wednesday, April 21st, 2010

Daily Mass. April 21, 2010. Feast of St. Anselm
Fr. Anthony Brankin
Gospel: John 6:35-40. The bread of life, and eternal life
Click for audioMP3 Audio. 4 min.

Summary: Belief and love get us to heaven. Intelligence alone won’t make it. And yet we must learn our faith to understand it, and to explain it to others. St. Anselm was a bishop and philosopher who lived in England one thousand years ago. His proof for the existence of God, the ontological proof, is still used today. Everything was caused by something else; every effect has a cause, except for God. Thank God for the gift of intelligence.