The post A Crown of Thorns for the King of Love first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Jesus, Man of Sorrows, those drops of Blood that flow down Your Face, those deep gashes caused by the thorns that cir­cle Your holy head, make You dearer to me than if Your forehead shone with pre­cious stones. Such signs remind me of the Divine love that burns in Your Heart for me. I love the noble, sorrowful maj­esty of Your holy Face. You reject the crown of gold and the rich robes of royal state, and accept instead a crown of thorns and the purple rags of mockery and scorn.

You consent to be a mock-king, a king of fools, only to be the real King of my soul. My thorn-crowned King,  I adore You as my very God.  I subject myself entirely to Your Divine Kingship of love. I would rather be a fool in the eyes of men for Your sake and have You reign over me, than be king of the world and be the slave of the prince of darkness.  I adore You as the Conqueror of hearts, whose Kingdom is not of this world, but of heav­en.

Fr. Lawrence Lovasik

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The post Sainte-Chapelle, Paris – YouTube first appeared on AirMaria.com.

In the homily for the memorial of St. Rita of Cascia (May 22, 2019), Fr. Maximilian explains Jesus’ teaching about the “vine and the branches” (Gospel, Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter). Our Lord “prunes” us by allowing us to suffer. The fruits he desires are those of redemption. Apart from the Vine, we cannot attain salvation, nor can we contribute to others’.

St. Rita of Cascia understood this and dedicated her life to suffering with Our Lord, with the mystical Thorn from the crown of his Passion.

Ave Maria!

Mass: St. Rita of Cascia – Opt Mem

Readings: Wednesday 5th Week of Easter
1st: Act 15:1-6
Resp: Ps 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5
Gsp: John 15:1-8

More on the Readings: http://dev.airmaria.com/r?m=1076&r=1716, and http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/052219.cfm

Also on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/90378558559/videos/2153287444790382
and YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0zCAJPQyuE

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The post Branches Pruned by Suffering, Fruits of Redemption – May 22 – Homily – Fr Maximilian W first appeared on AirMaria.com.

The Life of St. Humilis of Bisignano, Confessor, First Order (d. 1637) for the Franciscan Saint of the Day for Nov 29. St. Humilis of Bisignano was born in Bisignano, Italy, and was a pious, studious boy. He entered the Franciscans as a brother but then had to delay for 9 years. He grew in humility and love of poverty. God gave him extraordinary wisdom so he was sought for advice by two successive popes. He was known as a mystic and wonderworker

Reflection is on love of the Sacred Heart
Flames of fire is the love of God for humanity
The heart has thorns, Christians weave these, heathen wove crown on his head
The humility of Christ’s heart, “I am meek and humble of heart”

For more on St. Humilis of Bisignano
– https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humilis_of_Bisignano
– https://www.roman-catholic-saints.com/blessed-humilis-of-bisignano.html
– https://stevenwood.com/reflections/franciscan/1125-43.htm

Also on Youtube: https://youtu.be/LgtF0ZXjqvE

Read by Fr. Ignatius Manfredonia, FI from Marion Habig’s ‘The Franciscan Book of Saints’ Revised Edition, Franciscan Herald Press, ISBN: 978-0819907516

Playlist of Franciscan Saints: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TxcAETrU_k&list=PLejh_e0-LN4wErRczZGry4TXytCZFiLCm

Ave Maria!

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The post Nov 29 – St. Humilis of Bisignano – Franciscan Saint of the Day first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Fr Josemaria gives the homily at Griswold, CT, on Apr 03, 2026, urging frequent meditation on Christ’s Passion and wounds as unshakable proof of His merciful love and forgiveness, especially when doubting His words, and calls for standing with Mary at the foot of the cross to enter His wounds.

In his Good Friday homily, Fr. Josemaria encourages everyone to think often about Jesus’ suffering on the cross. This helps us love God more, hate sin, and carry our daily crosses better. Jesus told St. Faustina to remember His Passion, and if we don’t trust His words like “your sins are forgiven,” we can at least trust His wounds—they’re real proof of His love. Even after rising from the dead, Jesus kept His wounds to show doubting apostles like Thomas. On this day, we gaze at the cross and unite with Mary to feel the full depth of Christ’s love for us.

USCCB – Christ loves own to end – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/13?1
Catholic Catechism – Christ’s freely willed Passion – http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/571.htm
Catholic Catechism – Wounded for our transgressions – http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/616.htm
Catholic Catechism – Mary at Passion’s foot – http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/964.htm
USCCB – Thomas touches Jesus’ wounds – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/20?27
USCCB – Mary stands by cross – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/19?25
USCCB – Dimensions of Christ’s love – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ephesians/3?18
Catholic Answers – Meditate on Christ’s Passion – https://www.catholic.com/qa/why-meditate-on-the-passion-of-christ

00:00 – The Significance of Good Friday
00:48 – Meditating on the Passion
01:26 – Believing the Wounds of Christ
02:20 – Finding Hope in Times of Spiritual Dryness
03:19 – The Wounds as an Apologetic for Mercy
04:19 – The Risen Lord and His Wounds
05:11 – Standing with Mary at the Foot of the Cross

Ave Maria!
Mass: Good Friday – Wkdy – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Friday
Readings:  – http://usccb.org/bible/readings/040326.cfm
1st: Isaiah 13, 53:12
Resp: Psalms 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-16, 17, 25
2nd: Hebrews 14-16, 5:7-9
Gsp: John 1, 19:42

More on the Readings: http://dev.airmaria.com/r?m=1776

Also on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXvB_fQK2ys

The post Meditate Frequently on Christ’s Passion for Spiritual Growth – Apr 03 – Homily – Fr Josemaria first appeared on AirMaria.com.