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Jul 08 – Homily – Fr Elias: St. Grassi and the Witnesses to China

apostolate — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 11:35:16 +0000

Homily #150708b ( 10min) Play – Fr.Elias on the Franciscan Martyrs of China, including St. Gregory Grassi and the witness they gave to the Chinese people. Father exhorts us to follow their example and to pray for Christians who are suffering persecutions.
Ave Maria!
Mass: St. Gregory Grassi and companions – Opt Mem – Form: OF
Readings: Wednesday 14th Week of Ordinary Time
1st: gen 41:55-57, 42:5-7, 17-24
Resp: psa 33:2-3, 10-11, 18-19
Gsp: mat 10:1-7

Audio (MP3)

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Jul 08 – Homily – Fr Ignatius: Persecutors Will Be Punished

Griswold Friars — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 12:02:12 +0000

Homily #150708 ( 05min) Play – Today we celebrate the memorial of St. Gregory Grassi and Companion Martyrs. At the interrogation, Bishop Francis, one of Gregory’s companions, wisely reminded his persecutor, “If you put us to death, you will not perpetrate this outrage with impunity.”
Ave Maria!
Mass: St. Gregory Grassi and companions – Opt Mem – Form: OF
Readings: Wednesday 14th Week of Ordinary Time
1st: gen 41:55-57, 42:5-7, 17-24
Resp: psa 33:2-3, 10-11, 18-19
Gsp: mat 10:1-7

Audio (MP3)

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On Martyrdom

Griswold Friars — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 23:12:43 +0000

1. There are times when martyrdom is a sacred duty. Thus the martyrs regarded it. They testified to the words of our Savior: “What does it profit a man if he gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his own soul?” (Matt 16:26). In order to save our soul for eternity, we, too, must be ready to sacrifice blood and life rather than separate ourselves from God and our Faith. “If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He will also deny us” (2 Tim 2:12). — Have you always taken eternity into account?

2. Martyrdom is a great grace. Many of us shudder when we hear an account of the gruesome tortures inflicted on the martyrs, and we ask in fear, “How could they endure it?” But why should we be afraid? On the one hand, God never asks the impossible of us. On the other, when the decisive moment comes, the same good God raises the soul to such heights of love that it cries out with St. Paul: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or persecution, or the sword? But in all these things we overcome because of Him who has loved us” (Rom 8:35-37). — No one, including yourself, has reason to become fainthearted or to despair.

3. Martyrdom brings a superabundant reward. Christ has assured us: “Greater love than this no man has than that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Therefore, making the sacrifice of our life for our best Friend, Jesus, cancels all our sins and all the guilt of sin and takes us at once to heaven. That is why the martyrs said to their torturers, in the words of the Machabees: “You indeed destroy us out of this present life; but the King of the world will raise us up to life” (2 Mac 7:9). — Always keep eternity and the bliss of eternity in mind, and everything will be easy.

from July 8: St. Gregory Grassi and Companions, The Franciscan Book of Saints, Habig.

St. Gregory Grassi and Companion Martyrs with the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary. All from the 120 Martyrs of China.

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Taste True Freedom, Embrace the Gospel – Jul 08 – Homily – Fr Matthias

apostolate — Mon, 08 Jul 2019 13:25:53 +0000

On the occasion of the memorial of St. Gregory Grassi and companions (Jul 08, 2019), Franciscan martyrs killed in the Boxer Rebellion in China in 1900, Fr. Matthias explains how a false fear of God, as an impediment to freedom, actually interferes with real and lasting freedom: “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32).

The path to real freedom entails embracing the Gospel, not rejecting it.

Ave Maria!

Mass: St. Gregory Grassi and companions – Opt Mem

Readings: Monday 14th Week of Ordinary Time
1st: Gen 28:10-22
Resp: Ps 91:1-2, 3-4, 14-15
Gsp: Mt 9:18-26

More on the Readings: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/070819.cfm

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St. Gregory Grassi & Co Martyrs – Jul 08 – Homily – Fr Ignatius

apostolate — Fri, 08 Jul 2022 11:09:59 +0000

Fr Ignatius gives the homily at Bloomington, IN on Jul 08, 2022, on the life and martyrdom of St. Gregory Grassi and companions in China in the year 1900. He outlines how the martyrs responded to their persecutors by reminding them that they will have to respond to Christ’s questions on judgment day.

Ave Maria!

Mass: St. Gregory Grassi and companions – Opt Mem
Readings: Friday 14th Week of Ordinary Time – http://usccb.org/bible/readings/070822.cfm
1st: gen 46:1-7, 28-30
Resp: psa 37:3-4, 18-19, 27-28, 39-40
Gsp: mat 10:16-23

More on the Readings: http://dev.airmaria.com/r?m=671&r=1647

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