Homily #140218 ( 00min) Play – Blessed are those who persevere in temptation. Temptations are ordinary. We all encounter temptations. Temptations themselves are not sinful but to give in to temptation is sinful. Temptations are allowed by God but He is not the cause of them. If one suffers no temptations it is that the evil one has already a firm grip. Let us pray and resolve to overcome temptations and grow in virtue. Ave Maria! Mass: Tuesday 6th Week of Ordinary Time – Wkdy – Form: OF Readings:  1st: jam 1:12-18 Resp: psa 94:12-13, 14-15, 18-19 Gsp: mar 8:14-21 Audio (MP3) +++

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Homily #141024n ( 18min) Play – Fr. Mattias comments briefly on the life of St. Anthony Mary Claret who was a demanding and rigorous pastor, but because of his zeal and charity, the faithful were happy to live up to the demands of the Christian life. Moving from this example of episcopal zeal, Father comments on the closing address of Pope Francis to the Extraordinary Synod on the Family. First he looks at three canons the Holy Father alluded to, and then presents Pope Francis’ comments on some of the modern temptations that pastors may fall into. The Holy Father ends by directing the pastors of the Church not just to welcome the lost sheep, but to proactively search for them. Let us too take this advice and ask for the apostolic zeal ad charity of St. Anthony Mary Claret.
Ave Maria!
Mass: St. Anthony Mary Claret – Opt Mem – Form: OF
Readings: Friday in the 29th Week in Ordinary Time
1st: eph 4:1-6
Resp: psa 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
Gsp: luk 12:54-59

Audio (MP3)

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Fr. Ignatius reflects on the Fall of Adam and Eve and the need to be watchful and prayerful so that we do not give-in to the temptations of the Devil.

Ave Maria!

Mass: Friday 5th Week of Ordinary Time – Wkdy
Readings: 
1st: gen 3:1-8
Resp: psa 32:1-2, 5, 6, 7 0
Gsp: mar 7:31-37

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Fr Terrance gives the homily at Bloomington on Jun 08, Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, on how the Sacred Heart was formed when the Son of God became man. As such, He experienced human life and thus can relate to our sufferings and look on us with mercy, for He is meek and humble of heart.

Ave Maria!

Mass: Sacred Heart of Jesus – Solemnity
Readings: 
1st: hos 11:1, 3-4, 8-9
Resp: isa 12:2-3, 4, 5-6
2nd: eph 3:8-12, 14-19
Gsp: joh 19:31-37

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CCC # 2725-2733 – Fr. Mahan continues his Tour of the Catechism of the Catholic Church where it teaches on the difficulties and obstacles of the prayer life including misconceptions of what prayer is and how to do it, as well as distractions, pride and temptations

Part Four – Christian Prayer
– Section One – Prayer in The Christian Life
– – Chapter Three: The Life of Prayer
– – – Article 2: The Battle of Prayer – # 2725 – http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p4s1c3a2.htm
– – – – I. Objections to Prayer
– – – – II. Humble Vigilance of Heart
– – – – – Facing difficulties in prayer
– – – – – Facing temptations in prayer

“Tour of the Catechism of the Catholic Church” is given by Fr. Daniel J. Mahan, S.T.L., pastor of St. John the Apostle Catholic Church in Bloomington, Indiana, and St. Jude the Apostle in Spencer. He will cover the entire Catechism in about 80 videos, giving an outline of the content along with clear easy to follow explanations. It will be based on the 2nd Edition of the Catechism.

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The Life of St. Angela of Foligno, Widow, Third Order (1248-1309) for the Franciscan Saint of the Day for Jan 7. Angela was born in Italy and lived a dissolute youth until her time of conversion when she started to practice penance and devotion and after the death of her husband and many of her family and entered the third order. She had a great devotion to the sufferings of  Christ and grew in virtue, overcoming many temptations to turn away from virtue.

Reflection is on the benefit of temptations to grow in holiness.

For more on St. Angela of Foligno
– https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angela_of_Foligno
– https://www.roman-catholic-saints.com/blessed-angela-of-foligno.html

Also on Youtube: https://youtu.be/WJkgz0Oz8jk

Read by Fr. Ignatius Manfredonia, FI from Marion Habig’s ‘The Franciscan Book of Saints’ Revised Edition, Franciscan Herald Press, ISBN: 978-0819907516

Playlist of Franciscan Saints: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TxcAETrU_k&list=PLejh_e0-LN4wErRczZGry4TXytCZFiLCm

Ave Maria!

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Fr Ignatius gives the homily at Bloomington, IN on May 09, 2022, on the life and example of St. Catherine of Bologna who had many natural talents which she used to bring people to God, including her spiritual writings, the most notable of which is her Seven Spiritual Weapons, to fight against various temptations. He also covers her many, amazing, mystical experiences, including many visions of the importance of the eucharist, a vision of Hell which redoubled her efforts for prayer, and many extraordinary temptations of the devil. Her body is incorrupt.

Ave Maria!

Mass: St. Catherine of Bologna – Opt Mem
Readings: Monday 4th Week of Easter – http://usccb.org/bible/readings/050922.cfm
1st: act 11:1-18
Resp: psa 42:2-3, 43:3, 4
Gsp: joh 10:11-18

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Fr Matthias gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Sep 30, 2022, on the life of St Jerome, who translated the Bible into Latin. He explains the difficulties this saint had with the pleasures that Rome offered to him as a young man, the memories of which hounded him all his life, underscoring the benefits of not falling into sin in the first place.

Ave Maria!

Mass: St. Jerome – Mem
Readings:  – http://usccb.org/bible/readings/093022.cfm
1st: 2ti 3:14-17
Resp: psa 119:9-14
Gsp: mat 13:47-52

More on the Readings: http://dev.airmaria.com/r?m=1167

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Fr Matthias gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Mar 03, 2023, on how the scribes and Pharisees were righteous only on the outside and how this means that we should have control of things that only God can see, namely our thoughts and specifically not consenting to bad thoughts, doubts, and temptations. Fr. then discusses remedies, including avoiding actions and places that lead to bad thoughts in the first place, being vigilant to recognize them when they come, the strength of will, and recourse to God and Our Lady in prayer.

Ave Maria!

Mass: Friday 1st Week of Lent – Wkdy
Readings:  – http://usccb.org/bible/readings/030323.cfm
1st: eze 18:21-28
Resp: psa 130:1-8
Gsp: mat 5:20-26

More on the Readings: http://dev.airmaria.com/r?m=1657

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Fr John Lawrence gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on May 16, 2023, on the life of St. Margaret of Cortona and how her life of repentance gives us hope for our perseverance.

St. Margaret of Cortona, born in 1247, lived in an era rich with Franciscan spirit. After her mother’s death and a decade of mistreatment by her stepmother, she sought love and ended up in a sinful relationship with a nobleman, Arsenio. Despite living luxuriously and having a son, she yearned for a legitimate marriage and religious life, but lacked the will to leave Arsenio. However, his sudden murder forced her to confront her sinful lifestyle and, like the prodigal son, she sought forgiveness from her family and God.

Denied by her stepmother once more, Margaret sought refuge in Cortona. She resisted temptations to return to her sinful life and was inspired to approach the Franciscans. Two devout women took her in, and she confessed her sins to the Franciscan friar, Junta, her future spiritual director.

Margaret spent three years proving her commitment to a virtuous life before becoming a Franciscan tertiary. She dedicated her time to charity, especially the sick, and deepened her relationship with God. Despite diabolical attempts to lead her astray, she found lasting love in God.

Embodying Franciscan principles of prayer, penance, and devotion to Christ, Margaret brought peace to Cortona, a city divided by political factions. She spent her final years as a recluse, passing away in 1297. Posthumously honored as the third light of the Seraphic Order, her penance was seen as a purifying force that earned her a place among the virgins despite her past. In 1728, she was canonized. St. Margaret’s story reminds us that sincere penance can purify us from our sins and lead us back to God.

00:00 – Introduction
00:08 – Early Life of St. Margaret of Cortona
01:35 – Life with Arsenio
02:33 – Arsenio’s Mysterious Death and Margaret’s Transformation
04:00 – Temptations and Decision to join the Franciscans
05:03 – Margaret’s Penances, Charity Work, and Spiritual Experiences
06:37 – Margaret’s Franciscan Spirituality
07:08 – Her Last Years, Achievements, and Death
07:57 – St. Margaret’s Legacy

Ave Maria!

Mass: St. Margaret of Cortona – Mem – http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=234
Readings: Tuesday 6th Week of Easter (Opt 2) – http://usccb.org/bible/readings/051623.cfm
1st: rom 12:9-16
Resp: isa 12:2-6
Gsp: luk 1:39-56

More on the Readings: http://dev.airmaria.com/r?m=646&r=1722

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