The Pope gave a strong message on unity in the Church at the General audience on Wednesday.

What I like most about this video is the size of the audience! This is on a Wednesday, middle of the week and middle of the workday and St Peter’s Square is packed! The unity of this diverse crowd is a great backdrop for the Pope’s message. It also ties in with his homily in Calgari at Our Lady of Bonaria where he says that Our lady will teach us to look out for each other. Here he calls on Christians to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ who are being persecuted for their faith.

There were two videos on Rome Reports on the event. The first is shorter and focuses on the pope and the large audience. The second is longer and includes a reading of the entire message in English by a prelate and an address of welcome to the many English speaking pilgrims in attendance from around the world.

http://en.romereports.com During his weekly general audience, Pope Francis talked about unity within the Church. He explained that having Catholic communities in different cultures and environments is a strength that needs to be nourished and protected. He also warned against the damage that comes with petty gossip.

via Pope’s General Audience: Embrace unity within the Church. Don’t give in to gossip – YouTube.

Here is the longer one with full English:

http://en.romereports.com During his catechesis for Wednesday’s General Audience, Pope Francis explained that unity is the fundamental aspect that defined the Church. The Pope added that the rich diversity of cultures within the Church is an example of how we can overcome differences through the shared belief in our faith. The Pope made a special appeal to pray for Christians under the threat of persecution.

via Audience: Our Church unity and diversity is a God-given gift – YouTube.

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Homily #140506n ( 09min) Play – In the first reading, we hear the account of the first Christian martyr. Fr. Matthias takes the opportunity to reflect over martyrdom, emphasizing that we still live in an Age of Martyrdom, and that not only Catholics are being martyrs, but all Christians. Using a phrase from Pope Francis, “Ecumenism of Blood,” he suggests that the growing persecution of Christians will forge paths towards unity.
Ave Maria!
Mass: Tuesday 3rd Week of Easter – Wkdy – Form: OF
Readings: 
1st: act 7:51-8:1
Resp: psa 31:3-4, 6, 7, 8, 17, 21
Gsp: joh 6:30-35

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The post May 06 – Homily – Fr Matthias: The Ecumenism of Blood first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Homily #140523n ( 11min) Play – Father Matthias  points out the need for the living Magisterium of the Church, and the inherent problems with Protestantism’s “Sola Scritpura”. Then Father highlights some recent comments from Pope Francis about the need to be part of the Church and to think with the Church. The two addresses may be found here, http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-at-mass-we-are-not-christian-without-the-chur, and here, http://www.news.va/en/news/vatican-the-popes-mass-at-santa-marta.
Ave Maria!
Mass: Friday 5th Week of Easter – Wkdy – Form: OF
Readings: 
1st: act 15:22-31
Resp: psa 57:8-9, 10-12
Gsp: joh 15:12-17

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The post May 23 – Homily – Fr Matthias: Pope Francis on the Church first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Homily #141010n ( 05min) Play – Father Matthias comments on the collect for today and on the first reading. He observes that faith has a life, and this life is charity, and good works must flow from this living, loving faith, or they are useless. He offers a further observation about the distinction between “tradition” and “traditionalism.” One is the “living faith of those who are dead” and the other, defined as a zeal for the faith and its traditional expression but without charity or zeal for personal spiritual progress, is the “dead faith of those who are alive.” May we always have this living faith, asking God for support that our faith may not waver through a lack of charity.
Ave Maria!
Mass: St. Daniel and companions – Opt Mem – Form: OF
Readings: Friday in the 27th Week in Ordinary Time
1st: gal 3:7-14
Resp: psa 111:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
Gsp: luk 11:15-26

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The post Oct 10 – Homily – Fr Matthias: May We Not Waver first appeared on AirMaria.com.

MaryCast Specials #230 ( 06min) Play – In the wake of the extraordinary Synod of the Family that resulted in some contentious reactions, Dr. Mark Miravalle points out that with Mary and the Pope the Church will be sure to be united in truth and will be able to proclaim it in the most attractive way possible to our modern world.

To ask questions regarding Mary, email Dr Mark Miravalle: mary@motherofallpeoples.com. For more reading go to Motherofallpeoples.com.

Ave Maria!

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Homily #141112n ( 14min) Play – Father gives us the events leading up to the life of St. Josaphat, his life and work, and finally his death at the hands of belligerent schismatics. He ends by telling us that two things are necessary for lasting Christian union: lives of holiness and a willingness to even lay down one’s life for the unity of the Church.
Ave Maria!
Mass: St. Josaphat – Mem – Form: OF
Readings: 

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The post Nov 12 – Homily – Fr Matthias: An Ecumenical Saint first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Homily #141217n ( 013min) Play – Fr. Matthias comments on Pope Francis’ catechism of December 17th, which was dedicated to the recent Extraordinary Synod on the Family.
Ave Maria!
Mass: Weekdays of Advent – Dec 17 – Form: OF
Readings: 
1st: gen 49:2, 8-10
Resp: psa 72:3-4, 7-8, 17
Gsp: mat 1:1-17

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Homily #150125n ( 22min) Play – Father takes the time to comment on the Church, pulling from Scripture, the Catechism, and recent comments from Pope Francis. He tells us that the world was created for the Church, that one cannot be fully Christian outside of the Catholic Church, that God desires all Christians to live in unity of faith, sacraments, and governance under the maternal care of the Catholic Church, which finds its principle, as St. Therese teaches us, in Charity. Finally, he stressed that the Church is made visible not in buildings but in our lives, and we must testify to it by living the Love of Christ, even our enemies. And the best way to do this is to place ourselves fully under the care of the Immaculate Virgin and allow her to form us into true children of the Church.
Ave Maria!
Mass: 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sunday – Form: OF
Readings: 
1st: jon 3:1-5, 10
Resp: psa 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9
2nd: 1co 7:29-31
Gsp: mar 1:14-20

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The post Jan 25 – Homily – Fr Matthias: Catechism on the Church first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Homily #150208n ( 15min) Play – Father Matthias comments on the 2nd reading, and connects it to the words of St. Paul in Galatians 3, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” How does this fulfill the law of Christ? Because it is the practice of an unconditional love for our neighbor, a love which imitates the love of Christ and one which has Him as its source. Also, if we do this, we become more aware of our own faults and sins. Father gives us the teaching and example of St. Therese and St. Francis de Sales, and gives us a few steps which will enable us to live out this admonition.
Ave Maria!
Mass: 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sunday – Form: OF
Readings: 
1st: job 7:1-4, 6-7
Resp: psa 147:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
2nd: 1co 9:16-19, 22-23
Gsp: mar 1:29-39

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The post Feb 08 – Homily – Fr Matthias: Bear One Another’s Burdens first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Homily #150312n ( 03min) Play – Father comments on the readings of the day, telling us that, although dismissed by many today, the Devil is very real and we ignore him to our own detriment. Also, he tells us we must “gather with Christ” and not “scatter” by the sins of gossip and backbiting.
Ave Maria!
Mass: Thursday 3rd Week of Lent – Wkdy – Form: OF
Readings: 
1st: jer 7:23-28
Resp: psa 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9
Gsp: luk 11:14-23

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The post Mar 12 – Homily – Fr Joachim: Gather with Christ first appeared on AirMaria.com.