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Video – Fr. Peter – The Golden Thread #3: Why a Worldly Life does not Lead to Happiness?

apostolate — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 23:45:39 +0000

The Golden Thread #3 – Fr. Peter gives a Scotistic explanation of the problems of a secular culture. – 9 minutes >>> Play

Ave Maria!

Fr. Peter Damian Fehlner continues his series The Golden Thread on the theology of John Duns Scotus. Here he gives a broad introductory view of the difference between religion and secularity. He explains how Scotus affirms the capacity to perform secular acts, which are morally neutral, and thus simple pleasures are not a sin. Most people would then say, “let’s live our whole life this way.” But Scotus also says such a life cannot lead to happiness. He then discusses why God enables us to do secular acts and how this sheds new light on the famous moral tests in the Bible, Adam and Eve in the Garden and The Rich Young Man in the New Testament. He addresses, concupiscence, original sin, the difference between the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil vs. the Tree of Life, between contentment and happiness, between living to do God’s will vs. striving for new experiences and between human autonomy vs. obligation and so the true meaning of freedom.

Ave Maria!

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Video – Fra Joseph – No Apologies #27: Soul Is Immortal 2

apostolate — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 15:48:23 +0000

No Apologies #27 – “No one has to persuade themselves that they will live on” (4min) >>> Play

Ave Maria!

Man’s natural tendency and desire for everlasting happiness is another argument for life after death. It’s not fulfilled by earthly or temporal goods and so must be fulfilled by our Creator in the next life.

Ave Maria!

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Aug 18 – Homily – Fr Ignatius: Material Wealth & Happiness

apostolate — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 13:45:42 +0000

Homily #080818 ( 10min) Play – “The young man went away sad for his possessions were many” – Mt 19:22. If his possessions were many, shouldn’t the young man be happy? Material possessions in themselves do not provide us happiness. Only a good conscience gives us happiness. Ave Maria! Mass readings +++

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Nov 17 – Homily – Fr Ignatius: St Elizabeth of Hungary

apostolate — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 13:02:30 +0000

Homily #081117 ( 08min) Play – On this feast of St. Elizabeth, Patron of the Franciscan 3rd Order, Fr. Ignatius preaches on how holiness is the key to happiness and generosity.
Ave Maria! Mass readings
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The Greatest of Thanksgivings

Sr. JosephMary f.t.i. — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 19:00:05 +0000

Ave Maria Meditations

The Universal Prayer of Thanksgiving After Mass

(Attributed to Pope Clement XI)

Lord, I believe in you: increase my faith.

I trust in you: strengthen my trust.

I love you: let me love you more and more.

I am sorry for my sins: deepen my sorrow.

I worship you as my first beginning,

I long for you as my last end,

I praise you as my constant helper,

and call on you as my loving protector.

Guide me by your wisdom,

correct me with your justice,

comfort me with your mercy,

protect me with your power.

I offer you, Lord, my thoughts: to be fixed on you;

my words: to have you for their theme;

my actions: to reflect my love for you;

my sufferings: to be endured for your greater glory.

I want to do what you ask of me:

in the way you ask,

for as long as you ask,

because you ask it.

Lord, enlighten my understanding,

strengthen my will,

purify my heart,

and make me holy.

Help me to repent of my past sins

and to resist temptation in the future.

Help me to rise above my human weaknesses

and to grow stronger as a Christian.

Let me love you, my Lord and my God,

and see myself as I really am:

a pilgrim in this world,

a Christian called to respect and love

all whose lives I touch,

those in authority over me

or those under my authority,

my friends and my enemies.

Help me to conquer anger with gentleness,

greed by generosity,

apathy by fervor.

Help me to forget myself

and reach out toward others.

Make me prudent in planning,

courageous in taking risks.

Make me patient in suffering,

Unassuming in prosperity,

Keep me,Lord, attentive at prayer,

Temperate in food and drink,

diligent in my work,

Let my conscience be clear,

my conduct without fault,

my speech blameless,

my life well-ordered.

Put me on guard against my human weaknesses.

Let me cherish your love for me,

keep your law,

and come at last to your salvation.

Teach me to realize that this world is passing,

that my true future is the happiness of heaven,

that life on earth is short,

and the life to come eternal.

Help me to prepare for death,

with a proper fear of judgment,

but a greater trust in your goodness.

Lead me safely through death

to the endless joy of heaven.

Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Thanksgiving Prayer after Holy Communion:

The Anima Christi

Soul of Christ, sanctify me

Body of Christ, save me

Blood of Christ, inebriate me

Water from Christ’s side, wash me

Passion of Christ, strengthen me

O good Jesus, hear me

Within Thy wounds hide me

Suffer me not to be separated from Thee

From the malicious enemy defend me

In the hour of my death call me

And bid me come unto Thee

That I may praise Thee with Thy saints

and with Thy angels for all eternity.

Amen

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Dec 25 – Special Homily – Fr Ignatius: Christmas Eve Mass

apostolate — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 04:07:21 +0000

Homily #081224s ( 05min) Play – “On earth peace to men of good will.”

Fr. Ignatius explains how the infant Jesus teaches from the manger by coming in humility and so shows us how to find happiness in this life and in the next. Come, let us adore Him!
Ave Maria! Mass readings
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Dec 25 – Homily – Fr Angelo: And the Word Became Flesh

apostolate — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 15:56:45 +0000

Homily #081225 ( 08min) Play – “… and dwelt amongst us.” This is the most beautiful and greatest event that ever took place. This is our joy and our hope for happiness now and forever. Keep the Christ Child, the greatest gift possible, as the source of our generosity to others in this season of Christmas. Glory to God in the highest!
Ave Maria! Mass readings
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The Giving of One’s Life so Another Might Live

Sr. JosephMary f.t.i. — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 17:00:51 +0000

Ave Maria Meditations

St. Gianna Molla

Gianna Beretta Molla (1922-1962)

Gianna Beretta was born in Magenta (Milan) October 4, 1922. Already as a youth she willingly accepted the gift of faith and the clearly Christian education that she received from her excellent parents. As a result, she experienced life as a marvellous gift from God, had a strong faith in Providence and was convinced of the necessity and effectiveness of prayer.

She diligently dedicated herself to studies during the years of her secondary and university education, while, at the same time, applying her faith through generous apostolic service among the youth of Catholic Action and charitable work among the elderly and needy as a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. After earning degrees in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Pavia in 1949, she opened a medical clinic in Mesero (near Magenta) in 1950. She specialized in Pediatrics at the University of Milan in 1952 and there after gave special attention to mothers, babies, the elderly and poor.

While working in the field of medicine-which she considered a “mission” and practiced as such-she increased her generous service to Catholic Action, especially among the “very young” and, at the same time, expressed her joie de vivre and love of creation through skiing and mountaineering. Through her prayers and those of others, she reflected upon her vocation, which she also considered a gift from God. Having chosen the vocation of marriage, she embraced it with complete enthusiasm and wholly dedicated herself “to forming a truly Christian family”.

She became engaged to Pietro Molla and was radiant with joy and happiness during the time of their engagement, for which she thanked and praised the Lord. They were married on September 24, 1955, in the Basilica of St. Martin in Magenta, and she became a happy wife. In November 1956, to her great joy, she became the mother of Pierluigi, in December 1957 of Mariolina; in July 1959 of Laura. With simplicity and equilibrium she harmonized the demands of mother, wife, doctor and her passion for life.

In September 1961 towards the end of the second month of pregnancy, she was touched by suffering and the mystery of pain; she had developed a fibroma in her uterus. Before the required surgical operation, and conscious of the risk that her continued pregnancy brought, she pleaded with the surgeon to save the life of the child she was carrying, and entrusted herself to prayer and Providence. The life was saved, for which she thanked the Lord. She spent the seven months remaining until the birth of the child in incomparable strength of spirit and unrelenting dedication to her tasks as mother and doctor. She worried that the baby in her womb might be born in pain, and she asked God to prevent that.

A few days before the child was due, although trusting as always in Providence, she was ready to give her life in order to save that of her child: “If you must decided between me and the child, do not hesitate: choose the child – I insist on it. Save him”. On the morning of April 21, 1962, Gianna Emanuela was born. Despite all efforts and treatments to save both of them, on the morning of April 28, amid unspeakable pain and after repeated exclamations of “Jesus, I love you. Jesus, I love you”, the mother died. She was 39 years old. Her funeral was an occasion of profound grief, faith and prayer.

“Conscious immolation”, was the phrase used by Pope Paul VI to define the act of Blessed Gianna, remembering her at the Sunday Angelus of September 23, 1973, as: “A young mother from the diocese of Milan, who, to give life to her daughter, sacrificed her own, with conscious immolation”. The Holy Father in these words clearly refers to Christ on Calvary and in the Eucharist.

Gianna was beatified by Pope John Paul II on April 24, 1994, during the international Year of the Family.

Homily of John Paul II

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Pope: The fullness of life lies in radical choices

Carol Girard — Sat, 08 May 2010 09:00:53 +0000

St. Charles’ Square was the setting for Benedict XVI’s meeting with young people in Turin, his first apostolic trip in Italy in 2010. The enthusiasm and joy of the thousands of young people welcomed the Pope, who spoke of happiness and the fullness of life, which is achieved by radical and definitive choices that are lived with fidelity.

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Jun 18 – Homily – Fr Bonaventure: Heavenly Treasure

apostolate — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 11:43:31 +0000

Homily #100618 ( 05min) Play – Fr. Bonaventure preaches on Our Lord’s admonition to not put our hopes in things of this world but to put our treasure in Heaven for we will not find happiness in things of this world and we wil have to give up our earthly treasures anyways.
Ave Maria! Mass readings
1: 2 Kings 11:1-4,9-18,20
R: Ps 132:11-14,17-18
G: Mt 6:19-23

Audio (MP3)

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