Homily #121009b ( 05min) Play – Fr. Ignatius preaches on the Evangelical nature of the Church relating his recent experience with some young Protestant Christians who asked about the Church and then to the opening address by Pope Benedict at the Synod for Evangelization which started in Rome a few days ago.
Ave Maria!
Mass: St. John Leonardi – Opt Mem – Form: OF
Readings: Tuesday in the 27th Week in Ordinary Time
1st: gal 1:13-24
Resp: psa 139:1-3, 13-14, 14-15
Gsp: luk 10:38-42

Audio (MP3)

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Homily #140327n ( 11min) Play – Father Matthias comments on the confusion regarding the possibility of a change in the Church’s teaching on admitting the divorced and remarried to Communion, and clarifies that, despite questions and suggestion from certain Cardinals, the teaching on the indissolubility of marriage cannot and will not change.
Ave Maria!
Mass: Thursday 3rd Week of Lent – Wkdy – Form: OF
Readings: 
1st: jer 7:23-28
Resp: psa 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9
Gsp: luk 11:14-23

Audio (MP3)

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Homily #141005n (26min) Play – In this hard-hitting homily, Father tells us that at various times, the forces of hell have raged against Christ and His Church with particular ferocity. One such time was the mass rebellion against the Church’s teaching on birth control, and we are in the midst of another when they are raging against the Christian Family. In order to firmly plant our understanding of marriage and the family on the Rock of Jesus Christ, Father comments on the teachings of the Catechism of the Catholic Church on marriage and the family, showing that the love of spouses is the form of human love that–though dimly–reflects the love of Christ for His Church and for each one of us. For marriage to be Christian it must be built on the Rock of Christ, and though this is demanding, God gives the grace to the spouses through His sacramental blessing on their union. Marriage without Christ or His Cross is doomed to fail, since it is only through the grace of the sacrament of marriage that human love can be elevated to faithfully reflect the love that God has for humanity. In this context, we see that the fidelity and self-sacrifice of spouses is intrinsically linked to the faith love of God for humanity. And it is in this context we can see how divorce is alien to a truly Christian understanding of marriage. And for those in difficult situation, whether through their fault or not, peace and joy can only be found by remaining faithful to the teachings of Christ and the requirements of revealed truth and divine love.
Ave Maria!
Mass: 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sunday – Form: OF
Readings: 
1st: isa 5:1-7
Resp: psa 80:9, 12, 13-14, 15-16, 19-20
2nd: phi 4:6-9
Gsp: mat 21:33-43

Audio (MP3)

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The post Oct 05 – Homily – Fr Matthias: Christ, the Rock on Which the Family Stands first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Ave Maria!

The Synod of the family has discussed the issue of the divorced and re-married couples and has upheld the doctrine of the indissolubility of marriage. No surprises.

On Thursday, Bishops started discussing the issue of divorced and re-married couples. Specifically whether they should be allowed to receive Communion.

Bishops agreed that marriage within the Church is indissoluble. They’re discussing what to do when a marriage cannot be annulled and also how to move forward with annulments in cases that are indeed eligible.

via Synod: Bishops start discussing divorced and re-married couples.

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On the fifth day of the Synod, several more married couples and experts, almost all lay people, addressed the bishops.

Couples who have spent most of their lives together, like Pilar and Luis Jensen, shared their experience and made a special request to the Pope.

PILAR AND LUIS JENSEN

“Our youngest daughter is getting married next month. We ended our testimony by asking the Pope for his blessing because she sent him an invitation to her wedding.”

They also discussed how the Church needs to be present in the lives of couples and communicate its message effectively.

via Day 5 of the Synod.

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For many, the midterm report on the Synod came as a big surprise. Especially the wording used when referring to homosexuality. Some bishops expressed concern, fearing that the language left a lot of room for confusion.

CARD. WILFRID NAPIER

Archbishop of Durban, South Africa

“In some ways, is the misinterpretation reflecting what people would like to see happening rather than what is happening or is going to happen.”

Some bishops claim the description doesn’t fully reflect what’s been discussed in the debates.

via The Synod’s Report and Homosexuality: It’s a work in progress that doesn’t change Church Doctrine.

The post The Synod’s Report and Homosexuality: It’s a work in progress that doesn’t change Church Doctrine first appeared on AirMaria.com.

“What can you do in this situation? The first thing is conversion. But then it is difficult to ask these men to just leave all their wives… Who is going to provide for their children? Or are they, so to say, ‘second-class’ children? That’s why the pastoral problem with polygamy is so complicated.”

African bishops taking part in the Synod oppose the fact that some NGOs want to impose birth control and abortion in Africa as a way of tackling its widespread hunger and poverty. However, Cardinal Turkson believes Africa has the capacity of providing food for all its people.

via Cardinal Turkson: We need food, not birth control.

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CARD. LLUIS MARTINEZ SISTACH

Archbishop of Barcelona (Spain)

“Yes, I would say that as a whole, the document has been recieved. But having said that, without a doubt there have been changes. In virtually every chapter, ammendments have been made.”

The confusion was triggered on Monday, when statements made about homosexuality and co habitating couples were released in the document.

via Synod’s Midterm Report: Modifications have been made to the wording of document.

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Cardinal George Pell discusses the ongoing debate inside the synod on the family.

via Cardinal: Synod says no to ‘secular agenda’ – YouTube.

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At the close of a truly extraordinary, sometimes explosive fortnight, here below is the English text of the just-released final message of the Synod, said to have been approved by a “wide majority” (later said to be 158 of 174 voting members).

Alongside the following text, the 174 Synod Fathers are slated to vote later today on a considerably more extensive final report summarizing the discussions, the publication of which rests in the judgment of the body’s president – the Pope.

via Whispers in the Loggia: To Every Family, “We Stand At the Door and Knock” – The Synod’s Last Word.

The post Whispers in the Loggia: To Every Family, “We Stand At the Door and Knock” – The Synod’s Last Word first appeared on AirMaria.com.