Homily #140706n ( 21min) Play – Father expounds on the theme found in today’s reading: humility.  First, he weaves together the three readings which show that God only reveals Himself to the humble, and that our humility must have the same form as that of Jesus: total fidelity to the will of the Father especially in the midst of suffering. Finally, Father focuses on humility itself, and reminds us that for God to work mightily in us, it requires us to acknowledge the truth of our misery and of God’s greatness, and then accept God’s Will and strive to be faithful to it with great prayer and joy in our sufferings. All that is necessary is union with God, let us pray for it, and then go out and LIVE IT!
Ave Maria!
Mass: 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sunday – Form: OF
Readings: 
1st: zec 9:9-10
Resp: psa 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13-14
2nd: rom 8:9, 11-13
Gsp: mat 11:25-30

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Homily #140723n ( 06min) Play – Father Maximilian comments on the life of St. Bridget of Sweden, and focuses on her intense meditations on the passion of Jesus. He asks why we give so much focus on what looks like a altogether unfortunate event? The answer is that the Sufferings of Jesus are the greatest sign of Love offered to us by God, and that  by meditating on the sorrows of Jesus, we learn how to accept and benefit from our own sufferings which Father compares to the plowing which prepares the soil of our souls for the grace of God. Let us welcome the action of God in our lives as He prepares and purifies us for eternity.
Ave Maria!
Mass: St. Birgitta – Opt Mem – Form: OF
Readings: Wednesday in the 16th Week in Ordinary Time
1st: jer 1:1, 4-10
Resp: psa 71:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 15, 17
Gsp: mat 13:1-9

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Homily #140727n ( 18min) Play – Father reminds us that “that all things work for good for those who love God,” and that this presupposes Faith in Providence (a.k.a. God’s loving plan for everything) and Love of God. As an example, Father turns our attention to the tribulation Iraqi Christians are currently undergoing and gives a short commentary on Islam and how we all can defend against it by living lives strongly founded on Christian Faith. For an example of strong and courageous faith, we can take the example of our Iraqi brethren and, in particular, the example of Patriarch Sako in his exhortation to the Christians in Iraq. Father asks us to examine ourselves, if we aren’t ready to practice our faith in peace, how will we be ready when persecution comes to us?

The pastoral address quoted by Father may be found here: http://saint-adday.com/permalink/6326.html .
Ave Maria!
Mass: 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sunday – Form: OF
Readings: 
1st: 1ki 3:5, 7-12
Resp: psa 119:57, 72, 76-77, 127-128, 129-130
2nd: rom 8:28-30
Gsp: mat 13:44-52

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Homily #140820n ( 05min) Play – Father Maximilian asks us whether God is unjust, and then answers, no, He is not, even if He does seem to favor some over others. In reality, He owes us nothing, has already given us all we have, and the very fact we exist is proof of His continual loving concern. Even suffering is a sign of His love, it is not so naturally, but since He became Man and suffered for us, we can find Him in the midst of our own suffering, and by accepting and embracing the cross, manifest our love for Him. He does love us, how much do we love Him in return.
Ave Maria!
Mass: St. Bernard of Clairvaux – Mem – Form: OF
Readings: Wednesday in the 20th Week in Ordinary Time
1st: eze 34:1-11
Resp: psa 23:1-3, 3-4, 5, 6
Gsp: mat 20:1-16

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The post Aug 20 – Homily – Fr Maximilian W: Is God Unjust? first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Homily #140913n ( 07min) Play – Father comments on the foundation of a spiritual life: faith, much prayer, and profound suffering. In order to be saints, we must be in an intimate relationship with God and self-sacrifice, giving all to God and for God. With this foundation, we are constructed into a spiritual temple, the New Jerusalem.
Ave Maria!
Mass: St. John Chrysostom – Mem – Form: OF
Readings: Saturday in the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time
1st: 1co 10:14-22
Resp: psa 116:12-13, 17-18
Gsp: luk 6:43-49

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The post Sep 13 – Homily – Fr Maximilian W: Much Prayer and Profound Suffering first appeared on AirMaria.com.

The martyrdom of the Virgin Mary, implicit in Simeon’s prophecy, is put before us in the story of our Lord’s passion. That venerable old man, Simeon, said of the infant Jesus: ‘This child is set for a sign that will be contradicted’; and to Mary: ‘A sword will pierce your soul.’

Blessed Mother, a sword did pierce your soul. For no sword could penetrate your Son’s flesh without piercing your soul. After your own son Jesus gave up his life – he was yours in a special sense though he belongs to all – the cruel lance opened his side and would not spare him in death though it could do him no injury and could not touch his soul. But it pierced your soul. His soul was no longer there, but yours could not be set free, and it was pierced by a sword of sorrow. We rightly speak of you as more than a martyr, for the anguish of mind you suffered exceeded all bodily pain.

“Mother, behold your son”. These words were more painful than a sword thrust for they pierced your soul and touched the quick where soul is divided from spirit. What an exchange! John was given to you in place of Jesus, a disciple in place of the Master, a son of Zebedee in place of the Son of God, a mere man in place of the true God. These words must have pierced your loving soul, since just to recall them breaks our hearts, hard and stony though they be. Do not marvel, brethren, that Mary is said to have endured martyrdom in her soul. Only he will marvel who forgets what Paul said of the Gentiles, that among their worst vices was that they were without compassion. Not so with Mary! May it never be so with those who venerate her.

Someone may say: “Did she not know in advance that her Son would die?” Without a doubt. “Did she not have sure hope in his immediate resurrection?” Full confidence indeed. “Did she then grieve when he was crucified?” Intensely. Who are you, brother, and what sort of judgment is yours that you marvel at the grief of Mary any more than that the Son of Mary should suffer? Could he die bodily and she not share his death in her heart? Charity it was that moved him to suffer death, charity greater than that of any man before or since: charity too moved Mary, the like of which no mother has ever known.

St. Bernard

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Homily #141102n ( 15min) Play – Father reminds us that at the moment of death, our fate is fixed. The soul, if it is separated from God by mortal sin, seeks to flee from God in hell, while the perfect soul at once rises to God in heaven, but the imperfect soul which dies in God’s friendship, realizing that is it marred by venial imperfections, turns to purgatory to be cleansed and made worthy to appear before God. We must not forget these souls, for they rely on our prayers. Finally,let us learn from their misfortune by seeking God fully in this life, arriving at that perfect love He desires from us, and going straight to heaven.
Ave Maria!
Mass: All Souls – Solemnity – Form: OF
Readings: 
1st: wis 3:1-9
Resp: psa 23:1-6
2nd: rom 5:5-11
Gsp: mat 11:25-30

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The post Nov 02 – Homily – Fr Matthias: Learn From the Suffering Souls first appeared on AirMaria.com.

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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Homily #141120n ( 04min) Play – “If this day you only knew what makes for peace” We may ask this question ourselves in our war-torn world. The answer comes at the end of the Gospel today, we do not have peace, because “you did not recognize the time of your visitation.” Do we recognize the greatest sign of Love, the Passion and Death of Our Lord? If we do and embrace the Cross of Christ in our own lives, we will find peace.
Ave Maria!
Mass: Thursday in the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time – Wkdy – Form: OF
Readings: 
1st: rev 5:1-10
Resp: psa 149:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 9
Gsp: luk 19:41-44

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The post Nov 20 – Homily – Fr Maximilian W: What Makes For Peace first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Homily #141125n ( 06min) Play – Father comments on the apocalyptic prophesies in today’s Gospel passage, telling us that if we are ready to meet Christ now, whether it be the end of the world or at our death, we have nothing to fear. St. Catherine, today’s saint, lived this readiness, and was willing to give all for Christ when she was asked. We do not know when the end or our end will come, Our Lord is purposefully vague in response to his disciples’ curiosity, but we need not be afraid, but go forward, boldly reaching out to all and proclaiming the Good News.
Ave Maria!
Mass: St. Catherine of Alexandria – Opt Mem – Form: OF
Readings: Tuesday in the 34th Week in Ordinary Time
1st: rev 14:14-19
Resp: psa 96:10, 11-12, 13
Gsp: luk 21:5-11

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