April 7th, 2012
(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.
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…
Tags: Easter, Good Friday, growth, new life, resurrection, springtime
Posted in Easter Season, Fr. Eddy, Texts of talks | Comments Off
April 3rd, 2012
(Summary of sermon) Every year the Church invites us to go to a deep understanding of this mystery. Jesus saved our lives. Only a few people opened their hearts and minds to be changed by Jesus Christ. We have the opportunity to do the same.
We think our way is the only way to do things, and thus we judge others. It is hard for us to forgive, because we forget that we have been forgiven by God. May we follow Jesus Christ and learn from him.
Tags: change, Palm Sunday, save
Posted in Audio homilies, Fr. Baldeon, Lent | Comments Off
March 30th, 2012
(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.
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…
Tags: Gethsemane, guilt, sins, sorrow
Posted in Fr. Eddy, Lent, Texts of talks | Comments Off
March 25th, 2012
5th Sunday of Lent, Mar. 25, 2012
Fr. Anthony Brankin
Gospel: John 12:20-33 “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone.”
Our Lord said, “Before Abraham came to be ‘I Am.’” The people were so outraged, that he hid himself. So we cover him and his friends up by covering up the statues in church at this time, so his enemies won’t get to him.
Live Gently With a Valiant Spirit
Would you like to 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.”
Today is Passion Sunday. But the word passion does not have the same meaning as our modern society has given it. It is not some animal mating need. It means suffering. The Latin, passus est, means “he suffers.” Jesus suffers because of his love for us, enough to die on the cross. The true definition of passionate love is the love parents have, who would do anything for their children.
Go to all of Fr. Brankin’s sermons
Tags: brankin, Lent, love, Passion, Passion Sunday
Posted in Audio homilies, Fr. Brankin, Lent, suffering | Comments Off
March 24th, 2012
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.
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…
Posted in Fr. Eddy, Lent, News, Texts of talks | Comments Off
