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May 30 – Special Homily – Fr Ignatius: Sacred Heart Evening

apostolate — Sat, 31 May 2008 01:02:57 +0000

Homily #080530s ( 06min) Play – Solemnity of the Sacred Heart, Evening Mass. All things are centered toward Christ and the center of Christ is his Sacred Heart. And, since God is love, the Sacred Heart is the symbol of Love itself. St. Margret Mary Alacoque saw this love in the form of flames surging from the Lord’s wounded Heart that demand a loving response from us.

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Jun 05 – Homily – Fr Bonaventure: Love of God & Neighbor

apostolate — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 11:45:27 +0000

Homily #080605 ( 08min) Play – Fr. Bonaventure teaches us the meaning of our Lord’s words with regards to loving God with our whole being and love of neighbor and our concern for the salvation of our souls.
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Jun 06 – Homily – Fr. Bonaventure: Rule through the Cross

apostolate — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 11:45:56 +0000

Homily #080606 ( 08min) Play – Our Lord came not to rule in human terms but in love, through the cross, which is a stumbling block to the chosen people.
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Jun 16 – Homily – Fr Bonaventure: Patience not Pacifism

apostolate — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 11:53:25 +0000

Homily #080616 ( 08min) Play – In today’s Gospel Our Lord tells us to turn the other cheek when we are struck. Fr. Bonaventure explains that this does not mean that we should be pacifists, doormats, that should compromise everything, even truth, rather than defend ourselves but rather that we should put away the old natural law of vengeance and replace it with patience out of love of neighbor.
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Jun 17 – Homily – Fr Bonaventure: Love your Enemies

apostolate — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 12:02:26 +0000

Homily #080617 ( 07min) Play – Love your enemies by praying and working for their salvation even to the shedding of your blood just as Jesus did.
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No Age Requirements for Holiness: St. Maria Goretti

Sr. JosephMary f.t.i. — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 02:10:19 +0000

ST. MARIA GORETTI (1890-1902) FEAST DAY IS JULY 6TH

At the tender age of 12 this pious and hardworking young girl was attacked by a 19 year old man who wished to rape her. She fought him off, telling him this was a sin and he could go to hell. He began to stab her, and would stab her 14 times. She would survive for 2 days in the hospital and died after having forgiven him and asking God to forgive him. Holding a Crucifix and a medal of Our Lady, the holy young girl gave her soul to God.

The man was convicted of this terrible crime and spent years in prison. For many years unrepentant, he later saw a vision of Maria that led to his conversion. He would be there in person when she was canonized in Rome in 1950. The girl’s mother was also there and following Maria’s example, she also forgave her killer.

Maria was not quite 12 when she died to preserve her purity. How we need her prayers for our young people today!

It is well known how this young girl had to face a bitter struggle with no way to defend herself. Without warning a vicious stranger burst upon her, bent on raping her and destroying her childlike purity. In that moment of crisis she could have spoken to her Redeemer in the words of that classic, The Imitation of Christ: “Though tested and plagued by a host of misfortunes, I have no fear so long as your grace is with me. It is my strength, stronger than any adversary; it helps me and give me guidance.” With splendid courage she surrendered herself to God and his grace and so gave her life to protect her virginity.The life of a simple girl – I shall concern myself only with highlights – we can see as worthy of heaven. Even today people can look upon it with admiration and respect. Parents can learn from her story how to raise their God-given children in virtue, courage, and holiness; they can learn to train them in the Catholic faith so that, when put to the test, God’s grace will support them and they will come through undefeated, unscathed, and untarnished.From Maria’s story carefree children and young people with their zest for life can learn not to be led astray by attractive pleasures which are not only ephemeral and empty but also sinful. Instead they can fix their sights on achieving Christian moral perfection, however difficult that course may prove. With determination and God’s help all of us can attain that goal by persistent effort and prayer.

Not all of us are expected to die a martyr’s death, but we are all called to the pursuit of Christian virtue.

So let us all, with God’s grace, strive to reach the goal that the example of the virgin martyr, Saint Maria Goretti, sets before us. Through her prayers to the Redeemer may all of us, each in his own way, joyfully try to follow the inspiring example of Maria Goretti who now enjoys eternal happiness in heaven.

from a homily by Venerable Pope Pius XII at the canonization of Saint Maria Goretti

St. Maria Goretti Novena Prayer

Child of God,
You who at an early age
knew life?s harshness and toil,
its sorrows and brief joys;
You who were poor, an orphan,
who loved your neighbour tirelessly,
making yourself a humble and attentive servant;
You who were kind and good, without pride,
who loved Love above all else;
You who shed your blood
so as not to betray the Lord;
You who forgave your assassin
wishing him in Paradise;

Intercede and pray for us to the Father,
so that we may consent to his holy will for us.

You who are God?s friend and see him face to face obtain the grace we are seeking from you?

We thank you Marietta, for the love of God and neighbor that you have sown in our hearts.

Amen.

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July 22nd: The Magnificent Magdalene

Sr. JosephMary f.t.i. — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 23:37:23 +0000

I have found Him whom my heart loves…

from the Song of Songs

Said Judas to Mary, “Now what will you do With your ointment so rich and so rare?”

“I’ll pour it all over the feet of the Lord, And I’ll wipe it away with my hair;’

she said, “I’ll wipe it away with my hair.”

“0 Mary, 0 Mary, 0 think of the poor. This ointment, it could have been sold;

And think of the blankets and think of the bread You could buy with the silver and gold;’

he said, “You could buy with the silver and gold.”

“Tomorrow, tomorrow, I’ll think of the poor; Tomorrow;’ she said, “not today;

For dearer than all of the poor in the world is my Love who is going away;’

she said, “My Love who is going away?’

Said Jesus to Mary, “Your love is so deep. Today, you may do as you will.

Tomorrow, you say, I am going away, But my body I leave with you still;’

He said, My body I leave with you still.”

When Mary Magdalen came to the tomb and did not find the Lord’s body, she thought it had been taken away and so informed the disciples. After they came and saw the tomb, they too believed what Mary had told them. The text then says: “The disciples went back home,” and it adds: “but Mary wept and remained standing outside the tomb.”

We should reflect on Mary’s attitude and the great love she felt for Christ; for though the disciples had left the tomb, she remained. She was still seeking the one she had not found, and while she sought she wept; burning with the fire of love, she longed for him who she thought had been taken away. And so it happened that the woman who stayed behind to seek Christ was the only one to see him. For perseverance is essential to any good deed, as the voice of truth tell us: “Whoever perseveres to the end will be saved.”

from a homily by Pope St. Gregory the Great

Collect for St Mary Magdalene’s day:
Almighty God, whose Son restored Mary Magdalene to health of mind and body and called her to be a witness to his resurrection: forgive us our sins, we beseech thee, and heal us by thy grace, that we may serve thee in the power of his risen life; who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen

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Aug 10 – Homily – Fr Angelo: Jesus Walks on Water

apostolate — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 15:52:16 +0000

Homily #080810 ( 28min) Play – On this 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time Fr. Angelo preaches on the miracle of Our Lord walking on the water. Listen as Father explains how Peter’s faltering when he tries to join Our Lord points to the need for us to work on our own faith and sanctity.
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Video – Fr. Pablo: Vote Pro-Life #6: Death Everywhere

Leticia — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 06:00:58 +0000

Fr. Pablo: Vote Pro-Life #6 ( 02min) Play – Fr. Pablo discusses the hallmarks of the Culture of Death. On Nov. 4, we must vote for a civilization of life and of love.

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Oct 26 – Homily – Fr Angelo: Love Thy Neighbor

apostolate — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 15:20:49 +0000

Homily #081026 ( 24min) Play – Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Fr. Angelo preaches on the Gospel’s message that the key to the Law of God is to love one’s neighbor out of a profound love of God. So, we must do the extraordinary like love our enemies, but also show common courtesy, not getting too wrapped up in ourselves, even in our piety.
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