Ave Maria!

Is it true that one religion is no better than the other? How is Christ unique?

All founders of religion claim that they teach the truth about God. In this episode, Raymond de Souza discusses the unique claims Christ made as the founder of Christianity. Has any other founder of a world religion claimed to be one with God? Was the birth of any other religious founder pre-announced hundreds of years beforehand by various men living in different ages? Has any other founder of a religion performed miracles as proof of the words he spoke?

Raymond also talks on contraception in our day, and on how post WWII Europe, and the western world en masse, is contracepting and aborting itself to death. He mentions the main facets identifying the de-Christianization of Europe: politics without God, law without God, and economy without God. Raymond also speaks on how a non-childbearing Europe will fare with its increase in Muslim immigrants, and he adds this pearl as a postmark: “Between certitude (Islam) and weakness (European Christianity), certitude will win at the end of the day.?? He ends the episode with a fascinating story on the fruit of contraception and childlessness in Japan, where elderly couples pay to be visited by a younger couple (with one child) who pretend to be the children (and grandchild) of the elderly couple. The cost is $2,000 US dollars for a two-hour visit.

Ave Maria!

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Homily #120725m ( 16min) Play – Ave Maria!

Fr. John Joseph reflects on Dom Prosper Gueranger’s commentary on today’s feast. In the battle for Spain, we see that the Spanish were all but eliminated from Spain as the Islamic Moors tried to establish a foothold from which to move into the rest of Europe. From the small remnant that survived, the Spanish slowly pushed the Moors out of Spain over the course of 700 years.

Likewise, Catholics are again being reduced to a remnant by hostile and powerful forces such as Islam and secularism. Unless Catholics are generous in their faith, their family size, and in offering their children to the service of God, there will not be future generations to keep the churches open, to populate the ranks of clergy and religious, and to continue to proclaim the Gospel to all nations.

Above all, we must pray and make sacrifices. And, as the Spanish did, let us have recourse to St. James, Son of Thunder, that he may aid us with his prayers and deliver us from our foes.

Mass: St. James the Greater, Apostle – 2nd Cl – Form: EF, Mihi Autem
Readings: 
1st: 1co 4:9-15
Gsp: mat 20:20-23

Audio (MP3)

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Here is the interview with Ingrid and an excerpt from Dawn Eden’s article followed by excerpts from Msgr. Pope’s:

Ingrid Loyau-Kennett, the mother of two and former Scout leader who calmly confronted the Woolwich killers in hope of preventing further bloodshed, credits her heroic actions to her Catholic faith. The Telegraph reports:

Around her neck, she wears a small gold cross, encrusted with rubies and diamonds. She is a practising Catholic and partly credits her faith for how she acted. “I live my life as a Christian,” she explains. “I believe in thinking about others and loving thy neighbour. We all have a duty to look after each other. A whole group of people walking towards those guys would have found it easy to take those weapons out of their hands. But me, on my own, I couldn’t.” [Read the full interview.]

Her Catholic values also come through in the video interview above, when she is asked why she wasn’t scared to confront the murderers. Her answer: “Better me than a child.”

more at: My Catholic faith inspired my actions, says Ingrid Loyau-Kennett, heroine who faced Woolwich attacker.

I have often heard that Muslims hold our Blessed Mother Mary in high regard. This reverence may stop short of devotion but there is said to be a respect for her in the Muslim tradition.

Now, I first learned this from the great Archbishop, Fulton Sheen in his book, The World’s First Love. I read it 25 years ago and have pondered it ever since. I would like to present excerpts from the chapter entitled “Mary and the Moslems” [sic], reflect on its significance and ask a few questions. Please note that the book was written in 1952 and therefore some of the spellings are not the modern ones. Here are the excerpts:

The Koran, which is the Bible of the Moslems, has many passages concerning the Blessed Virgin. First of all, the Koran believes in her Immaculate Conception, and also, in her Virgin Birth…..The Koran also has verses on the Annunciation, Visitation, and Nativity. Angels are pictured as accompanying the Blessed Mother

More at:  “Mary and the Muslim World: Is She the Key to Evangelization?”

Msgr. Pope not only connects the many reference to Mary in the Koran but also how she appeared at Fatima a town in Portugal named after the other woman who is highly revered in Islam, the daughter of Muhammad. He also relates this to how Mary was so instrumental in the greatest conversion process in history at Mexico with Our Lady of Guadalupe.

He adds a touching finale with this video on the Ave Maria in Arabic:

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Homily #130710 ( 04min) Play –  Fr. Benedict preaches over the martyrdom of Bl. Emmanuel Ruiz and how he powerfully shows us that the priestly vocation is a vocation to victimhood. Let us pray for many holy and generous vocations to the priesthood.

Ave Maria!
Mass: Bl. Emmanuel and Comp. – 3rd Cl – Form: EF, Propter te
Readings: 
1st: 1pe 4:13-19
Gsp: luk 12:1and 4-9

Audio (MP3)

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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

Audio (MP3)

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The post Jul 27 – Homily – Fr Matthias: Islam and Providence first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Homily #140829n ( 15min) Play – Father Matthias comments that today’s liturgy calls martyrdom a “privilege.” He comments on the continuing horrors in the Middle East, its potential to spread to the West, and the place of violence in Islamic theology and history. We must look to the example of constancy that our brothers in the Middle East are giving, and strive to spiritual prepare for the possibility of being asked to do the same. Finally, let us have recourse to the Rosary, for “Rosary Crusades” have proved themselves as a decisive weapon in the fight against the forces of darkness.
Ave Maria!
Mass: The Beheading of St. John the Baptist – Mem – Form: OF
Readings: Friday in the 21st Week in Ordinary Time
1st: 1co 1:17-25
Resp: psa 33:1-2, 4-5, 10, 11
Gsp: mat 25:1-13

Audio (MP3)

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Homily #140930n ( 05min) Play – Father Maximilian comments on the Gospel, and tells us that we are not to call down curses on our enemies, but to call down God’s graces through prayer. And as Our Lady has asked repeatedly, by the prayer of the Rosary. By this meditative prayer over the mysteries of Scripture, we learn our faith “through our knees” and call down the peace of God. Father also announces that Our Lady’s Chapel in New Bedford, Mass. will have a special Rosary for Peace (especially in response to the tensions over Ukraine and the growing threat of Islamic violence) followed by Benediction every night at 7:00pm (6:00pm on Sunday) for the month of October, the month of the Rosary. We invite all to come and pray with us, or to unite your prayers to ours from afar if you are not able to join us.
Ave Maria!
Mass: St. Jerome – Mem – Form: OF
Readings: Tuesday in the 26th Week in Ordinary Time
1st: job 3:1-3, 11-17, 20-23
Resp: psa 88:2-3, 4-5, 6, 7-8
Gsp: luk 9:51-56

Audio (MP3)

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Homily #141114n ( 11min) Play – Father Matthias comments on the account of the martyrdom of today’s saints, Ss. Nicholas Tavelic and companions, who preached the Gospel to the Muslims in Jerusalem and sealed their witness with their blood. Against the swords of the Muslims, they brought the Truth of Christ and the words of Sacred Scripture. Father quote the words of Pope Benedict XVI, ““I would say that the Christian can afford to be supremely confident, yes, fundamentally certain that he can venture freely into the open sea of truth, without having to fear for his Christian identity.” We must be confrontational, and challenge others, not with violence, but with a challenge to think about what they believe, to also “venture freely into the open sea of truth” so that by speaking to their intellect and will, we may introduce them to the one who is Truth Himself.
Ave Maria!
Mass: St. Nicholas Tavelic and companions – Mem – Form: OF
Readings: Friday in the 32nd Week in Ordinary Time
1st: 2jo 1:4-9
Resp: psa 119:1, 2, 10, 11, 17, 18
Gsp: luk 17:26-37

Audio (MP3)

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Christ’s beloved disciple John writes “against those who would deceive” us, teaching that “whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ” is “the liar,” and “whoever denies the Father and the Son… is the antichrist.” Once-Christian nations today are beset with the onslaught of an “antichrist” religion that seeks to impose itself on everyone. Fr. Alan exhorts us to remember the words of St. John and to pray for the conversion of those under the deception, and for the strengthening of Christians persecuted by them.

Ave Maria!

Mass: Sts Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen – Mem

Readings:

1st: 1 Jn 2:22-28
Resp: Ps 98:1, 2-4
Gsp: Jn 1:19-28

More on the Readings: http://dev.airmaria.com/r?m=1010

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The post Antichrist on Rise: Denies Father & Son – Jan 02 – Homily – Fr Alan first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Ave Maria!  I found an interesting and entertaining article this morning about how a Lebanese judge sentenced 3 Muslim men who insulted the Virgin Mary to memorize verses from the Quran praising her and Jesus.  The story went viral and the Lebanese public and government praised the judge.

A Lebanese judge ordered three Muslim young men who insulted Christianity to memorize verses from the Quran’s Al-Omran surah which glorifies Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ.

Instead of handing down a prison sentence over their contempt of religion, Joceline Matta ordered the men to memorize the verses to be released.

While reading out the verdict in court in Tripoli, North of Lebanon, last week, Matta noted that her decision aims to teach the young men about Islam’s tolerance and love for Virgin Mary.

“The law is a school and not just a prison,” she said. Prime Minister Saad Hariri commended the move on Twitter and saluted Matta for her decision which reflects justice and teaches mutual concepts between Muslims and Christians.

State Minister for Combating Corruption Nicolas Tueni also praised Matta and said her decision paves way towards innovative judicial approaches that help resolve social problems and religious intolerance.

Source: Lebanese judge orders 3 Muslims to memorize Quran verses hailing Mary, Jesus – Al Arabiya English

The post Lebanese judge orders 3 Muslims to memorize Quran verses hailing Mary, Jesus – Al Arabiya English first appeared on AirMaria.com.