[This is an actual sermon, by an actual priest. He graciously allowed us to publish it on our web site. Please keep in mind that it was written to be communicated orally, not in print. The standards of citation reflect that. The priest who gave the sermon is especially indebted to Fr. Philip Wolfe, FSSP¹]

By the authority invested in my own mind, I am declaring this Sunday to be “back to school Sunday.” And so, let’s all go back to school. Read More »

As usual Monsignor Pope brings up some excellent matter for Catholic reflection. Ours is an Incarnational religion. This was a major theme of all of Father Feeney’s preaching and teaching and Msgr. Pope beautifully expounds upon this truth, so necessary for our salvation.

Washington DC Archdiocesan website: At Christmas we celebrate the fact of the Word becoming Flesh. But what does this mean for us today? Fundamentally what it means is that our faith is about things which are very real and tangible. As human beings we are persons with bodies. We have a soul that is spiritual but it is joined with a body that is physical and material. Hence it is never enough for our faith to be only about thoughts or philosophies, concepts or historical facts. While all these things our true, their truth in us ultimately must touch the physical part of who we are. Our Faith has to become flesh, it has to reach and influence our very behavior. If this is not the case the Holy Spirit speaking through John has something to call us: Liar! Read more here.

This is a very good post from the website of the diocese of Washington DC. It is written by Monsignor Charles Pope who often offers challenges to arouse the lukewarm from their lethargy. In this summons the Monsignor isn’t just giving a suggestion. He makes it clear from the last words of our Savior that we are all called to “Go,” make disciples, and teach the Faith. “All of us have to do this,” he says, “all of us must obey.”

Monsignor Pope: This is often called the “Great Commission” in the sense that it is the overarching mission, job one, the standing orders for the Church, for any Catholic. There is nothing ambiguous about it either. Jesus says go! But where Lord? Everywhere! Every nation, every person. And Do what? Make disciples of them by drawing them into the sacramental life of the Church through baptism and teaching them everything I have commanded. Finally He bids us have no fear of this for he is with us to the end. Read full article here.

For his noon day Angelus from Castel Gandolfo Pope Benedict discoursed on Our Lord’s words to Saint Martha in Sunday’s Gospel:

Zenit reports: Dear Friends, as I said, this Gospel passage is very important at vacation time, because it recalls the fact that the human person must work, must involve himself in domestic and professional concerns, to be sure, but he has need of God before all else, who is the interior light of love and truth. Without love, even the most important activities lose value and do not bring joy. Without a profound meaning, everything we do is reduced to sterile and disordered activism. And who gives us love and truth if not Jesus Christ? So let us learn, brothers, to help each other, to cooperate, but first of all to choose together the better part, which is and will always be our greater good. Read more here.

“Be not affrighted: you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen: he is not here” — Mark XVI:6.

I hope, my dear Christians, that, as Christ is risen, you have, in this holy paschal time, gone to confession, and have risen from your sins. Read More »

(From the Housetops is indebted to Father Martin, the superior of the Franciscans of the Immaculate in New Bedford, Massachusetts, for his permission to publish the following conference of St. Maximilian Kolbe in our magazine. It has been transcribed exactly as it appears in the book Roman Conferences of St. Maximilian Kolbe, published by the Academy of the Immaculate.) (The Editor) Read More »

(St. Leo the Great D. 461)

The Voice of Peter

The truths that belong to this day’s solemnity are truly well known to you, Dearly Beloved, and you have frequently been in­structed in them. But just as this visible light delights in the healthy eye, so the heart that is healed there comes to joy without end from the Birth of the Savior, which we must not pass over in silence, though it can never be spoken of in a manner that is worthy of it. Read More »

I. The Coming of the Holy Ghost with the Gift of Tongues foretells the Unity of the Church throughout all peoples.

This is a solemn day for us, because of the Coming of the Holy Ghost; the fiftieth day from the Lord’s Resurrection, seven days multiplied by seven. But multiplying seven by seven we have forty-nine. One is then added: that we may be reminded of unity. Read More »

Peace Be To You, The Mystical Body

Jesus stood in the midst of them, and saith to them: Peace be to you

I. The Heresy of the Manicheans. Read More »

In Mary we praise that which places her above all others, that is, fruitfulness of offspring together with virginity. For never has it been known in this world that anyone was at the same time mother and virgin. Read More »