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Jesus has become the cornerstone of salvation

Friday, April 27th, 2012

Fr. Joseph Eddy. Go to Fr. Joseph's bio.Third Sunday of Easter, Apr. 29, 2012
Fr. Joseph Eddy, O.de M.
Gospel: John 10:11-19 “There shall be one flock, one shepherd”

(Full text of sermon) As a child, one of my favorite things to do was to build towers. Give me a few blocks and I would immediately start on the Empire State Building. As I got older, I graduated to more mature ventures such as making towers with dominos and cards. Ultimately, though, towers are made to be “knocked down” (sometimes by us and other times by onlookers).

Deacon Scott Brentwood

Ecce homo! This man attends classes taught in Latin

Think it’s difficult being taught in Latin or Italian? Read about the Mercedarian Deacon Scott Brentwood as he muses about his experiences in his priestly training in Rome. Click for his Rome update.

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

There are many ways that we can go about this demolition project: hit it high, hit it low, or pull one the objects out. The thicker the material the harder it is to knock down all at once. If we hit it too high, then often the foundation is left. But, take the cornerstone out and the whole tower goes toppling to the ground. Continue Reading…

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Divine Mercy Sunday sheds light on captivity and mercy

Friday, April 13th, 2012

Fr. Joseph Eddy. Go to Fr. Joseph's bio.Divine Mercy Sunday, April 15, 2012
Fr. Joseph Eddy, O. de M.
Gospel: John 20:19-31 He said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

Full sermon text: Today is Divine Mercy Sunday. It is based on a private revelation of Jesus to a Polish religious sister before World War II. The private revelation was accepted by the Church and the devotion has rapidly spread throughout the world. Christ appeared to Sr. Faustina over a period of several years and taught her to pray for an outpouring of Divine Mercy on sinners throughout the world.

Deacon Scott Brentwood

Classes in Latin for deacon in Rome

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.

One of the most popular aspects of the devotion is the Image of Christ with white and red rays bursting forth from his wounded side. The Doctrine of God’s Divine Mercy expressed in St. Faustina’s diary is not a new teaching, but only a reminder to the world of God’s greatest attribute, His mercy. Continue Reading…

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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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Palm Sunday — our sins play a part in this Passion Play

Friday, March 30th, 2012

Fr. Joseph Eddy. Go to Fr. Joseph's bio.Palm Sunday, March 31, 2012
Fr. Joseph Eddy, O. de M.
Gospel: Mark 15:1-39 The Passion of Jesus Christ

(Full text of sermon) Each Palm Sunday we take Palm branches into our hands and hold them up as the priest walks through the aisle toward the sanctuary. We follow along in the missal taking the part of the crowd which is proclaiming Christ to be a king: “Hosanna!” “Hosanna in the Highest!” The Liturgy reminds us that we are part of this Passion Play. We must come face to face with the personal and communal nature of sin.

Deacon Scott Brentwood

Classes in Latin and Italian, and visits to museums in Rome

Deacon Scott Brentwood, who was ordained earlier this year, muses about his experiences in his priestly training as a Mercedarian in Rome. He was invited by the General of the Mercedarians for lunch and they had an interesting conversation. Read all about it in his letter, the March 25 Rome update.

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

Yes, we see Judas, St. Peter, the Chief Priest, and Pilate sin personally and grievously in denying and condemning the innocent Lamb of God.  But what of the crowd? At first, the crowd is saying “Hosanna” proclaiming Jesus the Messiah, but they quickly disappear as the situation gets worse. Later, the crowd calls for and even insists on the death of this Jesus, saying “Crucify him!” “Crucify him!” We cannot blame one person or group for the crucifixion of Our Lord. It was the sins of the world that made it necessary for Him to die. This means all our sins, both personal and communal. Continue Reading…

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We must fast and pray that religious freedom may be protected

Saturday, March 24th, 2012

Fr. Joseph Eddy. Go to Fr. Joseph's bio.5th Sunday of Lent, Mar. 25, 2012
Fr. Joseph Eddy, O. de M.
Gospel: John 12:20-33 “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone.”

(Full sermon text) The reading for this Sunday reveals to us that the Church is preparing herself for the entrance into the Paschal Mystery. Jesus sets his sights on Jerusalem. He knows that the time is short as He draws ever closer to making the ultimate sacrifice on Calvary. Our Lord is deeply troubled at the thought of it. Jesus tries to get his disciples to understand that their understanding of the coming kingdom is not correct. Earthly glory does not await Jesus. The Father will be glorified in his Son, but not in the way that the disciples expect.

Click for Fr. Eddy's Facebook page

The drinking water is good, and so is the river of life

Tamil Nadu, in the very southern tip of India, is a poor area. But since it’s near the River Cauvery, the drinking water is good. The three Mercedarian religious friars seem to be happy, Fr. Vincent reports, even though they are sleeping in rather poor quarters in the older of the two chapels.

Ninety Catholic families of good tradition live under the Mercedarians’ care here. The Faith has taken root. Go to the friars’ website and read the entire story, “The Order’s New Mission in India.”

Is God calling you to become a Mercedarian friar? Visit Fr. Joseph Eddy’s Facebook page.

To explain things to His disciples, Jesus uses the analogy of the “grain of wheat.” The society that Jesus lived in was very much an agrarian culture. Every person would have had an understanding of how seeds turn into crops. For many of us living in a country with mass produced food, the analogy may not be as helpful. Continue Reading…

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