Ave Maria!

We apologize for the delay in getting this episode of “No Apologies” on the air. The Airmaria production team was on a field trip last week to Steubenville, Ohio, and Bloomington, Indiana, and with limited internet access during this time, we were unable to post this episode.

Fra Joseph is also recovering from a bout of Lyme’s disease and is in St Raphael’s Hospital in New Haven for the next week, so we will be unable to post the next episode of “No Apologies” for another two weeks – one thing for sure, these episodes are worth waiting for and in this episode Fra Joseph again skillfully explains the Perpetual Virginity of the Blessed Virgin Mary using Sacred Scripture, Church Tradition, and the writings of the Early Church Fathers.

Ave Maria!

The post Video – Fra Joseph – No Apologies #12: The Perpetual Virginity of the Blessed Virgin Mary first appeared on AirMaria.com.

The biblical basis for Immaculate Conception of Our Lady and Church Fathers on the Immaculate Conception.

The post The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Homily #130831 ( 04min) Play – Fr. Ignatius shows how the Church has called the Blessed Virgin the New Eve, True Mother of the Living, from the early Church to our own day with the Second Vatican Council.
Ave Maria!
Mass: Blessed Virgin Mary on Saturday – Form: OF
Readings: 
1st: Gen 3:9-15,20
Resp: psa 44:11-12,14-17
Gsp: Lk 1:26-38

Audio (MP3)

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Homily #141105n ( 05min) Play – Drawing from today’s reading and the Father of the Church, Fr. Matthias tells us we cannot “coast” in the spiritual life. Either we are advancing or moving backwards, we are either being faithful to the grace of God and to His Will, or we are being unfaithful. Finally, Father suggests we look to the prayers of the Liturgy with their constant supplications for grace, and incorporate that awareness of our need for God’s grace in our own prayers.
Ave Maria!
Mass: Wednesday in the 31st Week in Ordinary Time – Wkdy – Form: OF
Readings: 
1st: phi 2:12-18
Resp: psa 27:1, 4, 13-14
Gsp: luk 14:25-33

Audio (MP3)

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Fr. Matthias explains that St. Ignatius of Antioch was one of the Apostolic Fathers – which means he was a disciple of the Apostles themselves. It is from them that he received the teaching of Our Lady’s Virginal Maternity, which at the same time is a sign that Her Son is truly the Son of God.

Allow us to praise You, O Most Holy Virgin!

Ave Maria!

Mass: St. Ignatius of Antioch – Mem

Readings:

1st: Eph 2:1-10

R: Ps 100:2, 3, 4, 5

Gsp: Lk 12:13-21

Audio (MP3)

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Although the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary isn’t recorded in the Sacred Scripture, there are good reasons for believing in this event, which is recorded in other hagiographical and apocryphal writings. Father uses the logic of Blessed John Duns Scotus to argue that it is indeed correct to celebrate the Presentation of Mary.

Ave Maria!

Mass: Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Feast

Readings: Tuesday 33rd Week of Ordinary Time
1st: 2 Macc 6:18-31
Resp: Ps 3:2-3, 4-5, 6-8
Gsp: Lk 19:1-10

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On the Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (Jul 16, 2019), Father Andre explains how the English translation of today’s Gospel (“Your mother and your brothers are standing outside”- Mt. 12:47) is reconciled with the dogmatic teaching that Mary is the Ever-Virgin mother of only one Son: Jesus Christ.

In the second part of the homily, Father instructs on the value of the Brown Scapular, a unique means of grace sufficient for obtaining eternal salvation. Many cases are known of the grace of final contrition and sacramental reconciliation being given, against all odds, to persons visited by death while faithfully wearing the scapular.

Ave Maria!

Mass: Our Lady of Mount Carmel – Opt Mem

Readings:
1st: Zec 2:14-17
Resp: Lk 1:46-47, 48-49, 50-51, 52-53, 54-55
Gsp: Mt 12:46-50

More on the Readings: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/0716-memorial-our-lady-mount-carmel.cfm

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Fr John Lawrence gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Dec 04, 2023, on the life and theological contributions of St. John Damascene, an Arab Christian monk and theologian.

St. John Damascene was born in Damascus under Muslim rule, St. John initially worked for the Caliph before becoming a monk and dedicating his life to theology. He gave a rigorous and thorough defense of the veneration of religious images during the iconoclast controversy. He argued for the legitimacy of religious images based on the Incarnation, stating that since God has been seen in the flesh, it is now permissible to depict Him. St. John also wrote a comprehensive work on Christian theology, including criticisms of Islam and a detailed summary of Christian beliefs. He wrote homilies on the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, emphasizing her role and significance in Christian theology. St. John Damascene was declared a doctor of the Church in 1890 by Pope Leo XIII.

Catholic Encyclopedia – Detailed biography of St. John Damascene – https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08459b.htm

Ave Maria!

Mass: St. John Damascene – Opt Mem – http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=66
Readings: Monday in the 1st Week in Advent (Short) – http://usccb.org/bible/readings/120423.cfm
1st: isa 4:2-6
Resp: psa 122:1-4, 8-9
Gsp: mat 8:5-11

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Fr Matthias gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Sep 03, 2024, on how St. Gregory the Great highlighted the importance of understanding Mary’s perpetual virginity, which helps us understand Christ correctly. St. Gregory taught that Mary remained a virgin before, during, and after Jesus’ birth, a belief upheld by the Church to emphasize Christ’s divinity. The homily warns against modern films that misrepresent this event, urging believers to trust the Church’s teachings instead of misleading media portrayals.

Wikipedia – St. Gregory the Great’s biography – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Gregory_I
Catechism of the Catholic Church – Mary’s Perpetual Virginity – http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p122a3p2.htm#499
Isaiah 7:14 – The prophecy of the virgin birth – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/7?14

00:00 – Introduction to St. Gregory the Great
00:18 – St. Gregory’s Monastic Life and Papacy
00:37 – St. Gregory’s Teachings and Mariology
01:30 – The Doctrine of Perpetual Virginity
02:42 – Catholic Doctrine on Virgin Birth
05:20 – The Impact of Modern Media
06:27 – Errors in Portrayal of Christ’s Birth
07:54 – Theological Importance of Virgin Birth

Ave Maria!

Mass: St. Gregory the Great – Mem – http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=54
Readings: Tuesday in the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time – http://usccb.org/bible/readings/090324.cfm
1st: 1co 2:10-16
Resp: psa 145:8-14
Gsp: luk 4:31-37

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Fr Terrance gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Oct 17, 2025, where he discusses St. Ignatius of Antioch’s life, his letters emphasizing how he clearly taught Catholic doctrines like hierarchy, Eucharist, and Roman primacy, and called for Church unity.

Father begins by praising Jesus and Mary, then introduces St. Ignatius of Antioch as an Apostolic Father, convert, and disciple of the Apostle John, who served as Bishop of Antioch starting in 70 AD. He notes Antioch’s mention in the Book of Acts, such as ‘Acts 11:26’, where believers were first called Christians. Father explains Ignatius’s martyrdom in 107 AD and his seven letters, esteemed highly but not scripture. He highlights Ignatius’s eagerness for martyrdom, quoting his plea to Romans not to intervene. He emphasizes themes proving Ignatius’s Catholicity, including the first use of ‘Catholic Church’ in his letter to Smyrna, stressing unity with the bishop as with Christ. He draws from letters to Ephesus and Smyrna, underscoring hierarchy and submission to bishops, presbyters, and deacons. Addressing docetism, Father quotes Ignatius, affirming the Eucharist as Christ’s flesh in letters to Smyrna and Philadelphia. He mentions the Didache’s view of Eucharist as sacrifice and Ignatius’s Eucharistic imagery in his Roman letter. Father discusses deference to the Roman Church, seen as presiding in love, indicating primacy, without admonishing it like others. He concludes with a call for unity, referencing Jesus’s prayer in ‘John 17:20-21’ for believers to be one as the Father and Son are one.

For Further Reading:
Acts 11:26 – NAB – Believers first called Christians in Antioch – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/11?26
John 17:20-21 – NAB – Jesus prays for unity of believers – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/17?20
Catechism of the Catholic Church #1348 – The Eucharistic celebration structure – http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c1a3.htm#1348
Catechism of the Catholic Church #874 – Christ as source of ministry – http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p123a9p4.htm#874
Catechism of the Catholic Church #833 – Particular Churches and universal Church – http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p123a9p3.htm#833
Wikipedia – Ignatius of Antioch – Early Church Father and martyr – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ignatius_of_Antioch
Catholic Answers – The Real Presence – Eucharist as Christ’s body – https://www.catholic.com/tract/the-real-presence
New Advent – Letters of St. Ignatius – Full texts and analysis – https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0109.htm

Ave Maria!

Mass: St. Ignatius of Antioch – Mem – http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=677
Readings: Friday 28th Week of Ordinary Time – http://usccb.org/bible/readings/101725.cfm
1st: rom 4:1-8
Resp: psa 32:1-2, 5, 11
Gsp: luk 12:1-7

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