Today’s the feast of the North American Martyrs, French Jesuits who evangelized North American in the 17th century, including in New York. Although they were viciously persecuted, they did not give up their drive to bring Jesus to people. I find them great heroes of the faith.
(more…)This week I had the funeral Mass for New York Yankee Whitey Ford. Baseball is very comparable to the journey of life with our faith. Baseball’s goal is to get to home plate. In our faith, our sacred responsibility is to get to our true and eternal home with God in Heaven.
(more…)There is a litany of prayer I say every morning that I’d like you to join me in saying. I think of it today on the feast of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque to whom Jesus revealed His Sacred Heart to. We should put all our trust in the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
All for Thee, Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in Thee.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I believe in your love…
Do you remember when we celebrated the feast of Saint Therese, the Little Flower? Today we celebrate the feast of Saint Teresa of Jesus, also known as Saint Teresa the Great? She went through a lot of setbacks in her life, but loved Jesus with her whole heart and soul.
(more…)Since the re-opening of our churches last Summer, I’ve made it a point to visit, unannounced, various parishes, in order to celebrate Mass and spend some time with parishioners. At each visit, I am not allowed to enter the church until my temperature is taken; ushers are there to distribute facemasks to anyone who has left theirs at home. Hand sanitizing stations are located around the church, and social distancing and crowd limitations are enforced. When Mass is over, I slip back into the church, and always find eight or so parishioners already hard at work, scrubbing and sanitizing the pews, door handles, and altar area…
While it’s not the feast of Our Lady of Fatima, today is the anniversary of the last day of her apparitions. That day she called us back to the Gospel and invited us to a conversion of heart. While there may be tough times ahead in our world, we can always turn to Jesus.
(more…)Sunday is central to our Catholic faith. For many, Monday just means back to work. I like to think of Monday as the day we put Sunday into practice. When our routines kick in, that’s when we should live our faith and Gospel values.
(more…)Although it falls on a Sunday this year, October 11 is the feast day of Pope Saint John XXIII. Saint feast days normally mark the day they died – their “birthday in heaven” For John XXIII it’s the day the Second Vatican Council opened, his greatest legacy
(more…)Have you read the encyclical from Pope Francis? It’s on fraternity & friendship. The point is we’re all brothers & sisters who should treat each other with immense dignity and respect. Can you imagine the implications if we really believed that? I’ll talk more about that tomorrow.
(more…)Today’s the feast of the Holy Rosary. I hope you love the Rosary, I sure do. It’s meant as an aid to prayer and a means to an end, the end being union with God in prayer.
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