Guest Homilist Fr. Ben Luedtke gives the homily at Bloomington, IN for a retreat on Jun 23 on how we should reflect on the shortness of life and be prepared for death that will inevitably come. We should then attend to our religious exercises as if this is our last day to do them, including going to Mass and participating in a retreat. He weaves this theme around the life of Christ and His Mother Mary.

Ave Maria!

Mass: Saturday 11th Week of Ordinary Time – Wkdy
Readings: 
1st: 2ch 24:17-25
Resp: psa 89:4-5, 29-30, 31-32, 33-34 0
Gsp: mat 6:24-34

More on the Readings: http://dev.airmaria.com/r?m=1630

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Fr Mahan gives the homily at Bloomington, IN on Dec 01 on the Canticle of Simeon called the Nunc Dimittis and how this song helps us to prepare for Advent and Christmas. It is the song that Simeon sings (Luke 2:29-32) when Jesus is presented in the Temple, fulfilling the promise from God that he would not pass away in his old age before seeing the Messiah. As such, it is very fitting talk on the end of the old liturgical season and the beginning of the new season starting with Advent.

Canticle of Simeone: http://www.usccb.org/bible/luke/2#50002028

• Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word – We should be always vigilant for the coming of Christ, primarily the coming of the end of our life when we finally meet Christ and how this relates to receiving Christ in the Eucharist and sing our own canticle.
• for my eyes have seen your salvation,
• which you prepared in sight of all the peoples,
• a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
• and glory for your people Israel.

Ave Maria!

Mass: Saturday in the 34th Week in Ordinary Time – Wkdy
Readings: 
1st: rev 22:1-7
Resp: psa 95:1-2, 3-5, 6-7 0
Gsp: luk 21:34-36

More on the Readings: http://dev.airmaria.com/r?m=1008

This homily is the second talk of Fr. Mahan for the Advent Day of Reflection “Entering into the Mystery of the Incarnation with St. Luke” by reflecting on the three Gospel Canticles all found in the Gospel of Luke which itself provides so many details on the coming of Christ and His early life. As such, they provide a great preparation for Advent and Christmas. The day of reflection took place at the Mother of Redeemer Retreat Center in Bloomington, IN, on December 1, 2018.

Mother of Redeemer Retreat Center in Bloomington, IN: http://www.maryschildren.com/

For all the talks from this day of reflection: http://dev.airmaria.com/tag/advent-day-of-reflection-2018/

Fr Mahan is pastor of St. John the Evangelist in Bloomington, IN and St. Jude the Apostle in Spencer, IN

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and YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mxo-SV8XHwc

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Ave Maria Meditations

The presentation of Jesus in the temple: it is for Joseph and Mary, for both of them, that Simeon proclaims his joy. Yet afterwards, having blessed them both, he looks at Mary alone and reveals to her: “Behold, this Child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against and a sword shall pierce through your own soul also that the thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed.” 

Joseph is a witness to this prophecy concerning the Child and His Mother. He receives it in his heart, for if it is for Mary it is also for him. He must make use of this prophecy, not only to see Mary in a new light, but also to live with her the same mystery and to see Jesus in the same way that she does. Thanks to this prophecy, Joseph discovers that Mary is intimately bound to her Son and His mission: the Mother must live what the Son must live. If the Son is to be “a sign that will be spoken against,” she herself must accept that a sword, the sword of the Father’s will for His Son, pierce her own soul.

From now on Joseph looks upon her with an even greater love, discovering her greater vulnerability, for through this prophecy he is forewarned of all that she will suffer. Without knowing the details of her sufferings, he has a foreboding of their intensity and depth. He lives in a prophetic way all that she will live at the cross, and he accepts this mysterious will of the Father. 

Fr. Marie-Dominique Phillipe, OP

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Ave Maria!

Come pray the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary with us!

Recorded voices of 70 people gathered for a retreat at the Mother of the Redeemer Retreat Center.

The Mysteries:

1. The Annunciation
2. The Visitation
3. The Nativity
4. The Presentation in the Temple
5. The Finding in the Temple

Other mysteries will be coming in future videos soon.

Also on YouTube: https://youtu.be/swNPKfop5vk

Some images from Fr Lawrence Lew, OP at https://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/

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Fr Terrance gives the homily at Bloomington, IN on Feb 02, 2021, the Presentation of the Lord in the temple on how Jesus is a heavenly present that she is presenting to the one who gave him to her and he relates this to the Old Testament Passover lamb and the ransoming the firstborn males of all Israelites which is fulfilled in Christ, the Lamb of God.

Ave Maria!

Mass: Presentation of the Lord – Feast
Readings:  – http://usccb.org/bible/readings/020221.cfm
1st: mal 3:1-4
Resp: psa 24:7, 8, 9, 10
2nd: heb 2:14-18
Gsp: luk 2:22-40

More on the Readings: http://dev.airmaria.com/r?m=1026

Also on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/90378558559/videos/859340207969760
and YouTube: https://youtu.be/Q5uk8tcl-EI

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The Messiah came to the temple in His Mother’s arms. No one would’ve paid much attention to the young couple who are taking a little child to present Him to the Lord…

The time will come when Jesus will not be offered in the temple nor in the arms of Simeon, but outside the city walls on the arms of a Cross. The time will come when He will not be ransomed with money but will Himself redeem others with His own Blood, for God the Father has sent Him as a ransom for His people. 

The suffering of His Mother, the sword that will pierce her soul, will have as its only cause the agony of her Son, His persecution and death, the uncertainty about when these things will happen and the resistance to the grace of the redemption, which will be the ruin of many. Mary’s destiny is bound up with that of Jesus in its operation and without any other possible reason. 

The joy of the redemption and the pain of the Cross are inseparable in the lives of Jesus and Mary, as if God through His most beloved creatures in the world wished to show us that happiness is to be found close to the Cross. Right from the start then, the lives of our Lord and of His Mother are stamped with the sign of the Cross… Mary’s suffering has an especially suitable meaning and is related to the sins of mankind. It is a co-redemptive suffering and that is why the Church gives to the Blessed Virgin the title of Co-redemptrix…The holy Mass is the most suitable moment for offering all that is most painful in our lives. And there we will encounter Our Lady. 

From “In Conversation with God” by Fr. Francis Fernandez  

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