Feed My Lambs

final show

2011-09-27T10:14:00.002-04:00

My radio show, feed my lambs, is now a part of history. In the forseeable, there will not be any more new shows, either by myself or with Paula K. I began on the first Sunday in October, 2008, and finished on the last Sunday in September, 2011. Three full years of trying to explain Catholic themes and Scripture. It has been a lot of fun, and I really learned a lot, especially from Paula, on how to be on radio. Maybe sometime in the future some of my old shows will reappear on a different radio station, and maybe, if God wills, some new shows with Paula to go deeper on some of the topics we discussed. These last three weeks in September, we did a new three part series on prayer, delving deeper on this topic and how to see how suffering can sometimes be God's answer to your prayer. Fr Tom Dubay, SM, has a wonderful book on prayer called Deep Conversion, Deep Prayer, and Fr Henri Nouwen has a book called With Open Hands. Of course, you can never go wrong with the spiritual masters like St Theresa of Avila and St John of the Cross. And Pope Benedict XVI encourages the Benedictine discipline of lectio divina. Others may find St Ignatius of Loyola's spiritual exercises more of your liking. Prayer, though, is really about being in relationship with God and learning to accept his will in your life. If you were a sponsor of my radio show, feed my lambs, thank you for your support. You are in my prayers. God bless.

Holy Name of Mary

2011-09-13T11:32:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, Spetember 12th, the Church celebrated the feast of the Holy Name of Mary. I have been reflecting on Mary lately, and I find it very comforting that the feast of her holy name falls immediately after the commemoration of the events of 9/11. It will be Mary who helps bring about peace for she is the mother of Peace, Jesus Christ. Mary is honored and revered in the Islamic religion, and her apparation at Fatima, Portugal is a reminder of that, for Fatima is the name of Mohammed's daughter. Mary, Queen of Peace, through our prayers, will bring about a conversion of hearts and will point us to the way of her Son. There is always hope after a terrible and horrific act. Our country came together after those horrible events ten years ago; we put aside our partisanship and we came together with brotherly love and good will. Despite the fact that our politicians have returned to demonizing each other and becoming even more partisan than any other time in our nation's history, I do find that the citizens of the United States, for the most part, look back on those events and realize that for peace to reign in our hearts and in our lives, we must come together and fight evil. The evil is not from a religion but from the hearts of people who seek to destroy. This destruction of human life will continue, especially in the Middle East, until the people in the Middle East find Jesus Christ. Only Jesus Christ is the answer for the Middle East. Mary, His mother and ours, will point the way to her Son. In the meantime, lest we forget, we honor our fallen heroes and the victims of the terrorist attacks on 9/11. And we pray for the terrorists, those who perpetrated these crimes and those who still believe that killing innocent people is what God wants, that they open their hearts to receive the mercy of Jesus Christ and the love of Jesus Christ, and they repent of their evil ways and believe in the one, true God and Him whom He sent, Jesus Christ our Lord. It is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, and the God of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who is the all compassionate and merciful one. It is this God, who became incarnate and died on a cross, so that we may have eternal life. Mary, our queen and our hope, pray for the victims of terrorism and pray that our brothers and sisters in the Middle East will come to know your Son as their Lord and Savior.

The month of the Angels

2011-09-06T10:31:00.002-04:00

Now that September has begun and summer is ending, we can look to the role of the angels in our lives. It is in September that we celebrate the feast of the Archangels, Sts. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. They are named in the Sacred Scriptures, and they belong to one of the nine choirs of angels in our Catholic tradition. There are plenty of places on the internet for you to find the history and the traditions associated with each of the angels, especially St Michael. But as we move forward in our own lives of holiness, or at least trying to live a life of holiness, how do you find the angels, especially your Guardian Angel, to be helping you in your life? Has St Michael helped ot protect you against the devil? Do you pray to him for that intercession? St Gabriel is the one who announced the Good News to the Blessed Mother at the Annunciation. Do you ask him to bring to you the Good News of salvation as well? Many people have prayed through St Raphael's intercession for a spouse or for healing. These archangels, like the other choirs of angels, sing God's praises in the heavenly realm, and they teach us to also sing those praises. One effective way for us to unite with the angels in our lives is to lift our voices with theirs at Mass, especially at the consecration. When the priest lifts the chalice up, it is a good time to ask your guardian angel and the archangels to protect you from evil and to protect those you love from evil as well.

The angels are present to you. One caution, though, is the naming of your angel. The Catholic Church does not encourage you to name your guardian angel. Nor does the Church accept any revelation that purports to know other angels' names. The only angels that we know by name are those in Sacred Scripture. It is enough to ask your guardian angel to protect you and to pray for you. Also recommended is the St Michael Chaplet, a chaplet of beads that honors all nine choirs of angels, your guardian angel, and Sts Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. There is much evil in our world today, and a devotion to the angels is a big help to fight against the evil in your spiritual life.

World Youth Day

2011-08-23T14:14:00.004-04:00

Pope Benedict just finished another successful World Youth Day, this time in Madrid, Spain. There have been countless articles and pictures on other websites for you to enjoy, but one place you will never find the information is in the secular press. The secular media, whenever it did mention World Youth Day, focused on the small group of protesters, instead of on the message of hope that Pope Benedict brought to the young people and to Europe as well. It's fascinating that even when the pope talks of the faith and hope and seeking the values of truth in an ever-changing world, always focusing on Jesus Christ, the media like to think that he is talking about homosexual marriage or abortion, the secular media's sacraments, and how evil the pope is for not changing with the times and allowing homosexual marriage or abortion. How could the Vatican be so backwards? The message of Jesus Christ is one of hope and love, yet the secular media would like you to think that homosexual marriage and abortion are the remedies for all the social ills in the world and that people in these relaitonships and women who have had abortions are the happiest people in the world, yet study after study continue to show people stuck in these relationships and women who have had abortions are miserable, hurting, depressed, joyless, and guilt-ridden. This does not come because of the Vatican. It comes because people are living contrary to God's laws. True happiness, founded on the virtues of faith, hope and love is found in the person of Jesus Christ and His bride, the Church. Yet, no matter how many times Pope Benedict, and Pope John Paul II before him, speaks of Christ and truth, the secular media bring up issues not even mentioned by the pope. And let us not forget that the media, when they focus on the protesters, will never interview a young person of faith who finds joy in living the teachings of the church and supports these teachings wholeheartedly. In fact, the media does not know how to respond to the man or woman of faith who loves the church and accepts the "controversial" teachings; and that is the remedy we have as faithful Catholics. Keep showing the media that there is joy in following Jesus Christ and his bride, the Church.

glimpse of heaven part II

2011-08-15T12:10:00.003-04:00

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, when she was assumed, body and soul, into Heaven. Usually a Holy Day of Obligation in the US, this year, since it falls on a Monday, the obligatory nature of attending Mass does not exist, as decreed by the US Bishops. But, if you were to attend Mass, you would hear from the Book of Revelation the wonderful passage about the woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under feet and upon her head twelve stars. She is the Ark of the Covenant, for she is the woman who carried in her womb the Savior, and as understood by the Church Fathers, her womb is the new Holy of Holies. Because she is the Mother of our Lord, it is only fitting that she receive certain privileges, i.e. the Immaculate Conception, the gift of perpetual virginity, and her role as mediatrix of all graces. But it is though the love her Son has for her that she was given the privilege of entering Heaven, body and soul. Scott Hahn, the Catholic biblical scholar, makes the point that Jesus fulfills the law perfectly, so if this is true, then Jesus fulfills the fourth commandment perfectly, where he would honor is father and mother. It is an honor that he bestows upon her by glorifying her with the glory that we are all destined to receive, as St Paul writes in his letters. If we are all created for the sole purpose of glorifying God on earth so that we may attain the glory of God for all eternity, or as the Balitmore Catechism states, we were created to know and love God on earth so that we may live with Him for all eternity, and we believe that we will one day be with God body and soul ourselves, then why do some people have an issue with this doctrine and the privilege that God bestows on the Mother of His Son? Would not God bring Mary to Heaven just as He desire to bring us to Heaven as well? Mary knew no defilement in her life on earth, free from all impurity, so again it is only fitting that she would be brought to Heaven before any defilement touched her body in death. We have a mother in Heaven who though ehr role as mediatrix of all graces, also prays for us and leads us to her Son in the Holy Eucharist. On this Solemnity of the Assumption, let us pray for Mary's intercession that we will glorify our bodies through purity and modesty and temperance. Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. LIve as in daylight and put away the deeds of darkness. Our Lady of the Assumption, pray for us.

a glimpse of heaven

2011-08-11T16:22:00.003-04:00

In the midst of the bad news concerning our economic situation, it's always good to remember that Heaven is a present reality. We are all destined for Heaven, which is our true home, and where Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us, but Heaven also is a reality in our lives here, when we go to receive our Lord at Holy Communion. The celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is a foretaste of the heavenly banquet that we are preparing for, so when we attend Mass, we are being lifted into the heavenly realm. And as we receive our Lord's body, blood, soul and divinity, we bring our Lord into our soul and into our body. Normally, when you eat something, you change the substance into nutrients for your body, but when you receive our Lord, he begins to change you into himself. His divinity will transform you so that you will eventually become divinized. In the midst of the economic crisis, there is a larger crisis that is affecting our country, and it is the crisis of faith and the crisis of so many who are not aware that Jesus is giving himself to us every day in Holy Communion. Heaven is within our grasp when we attend Mass, when we receive our Lord, when we become more Christlike in our attitudes and our outlook. The Kingdom of Heaven is that precious treasure that you find in a field. The Kingdom of Heaven is in your heart when you show mercy, love and forgiveness to those who have hurt you. Last week we celebrated the Transfiguration, when Jesus reveals himself to Sts Peter, James and John in his glorified body. They glimpsed Heaven that day, but you will glimpse Heaven every day, for that same glorified body of Jesus on the top of Mount Tabor is the same glorified body that we recieve in Holy Communion, that the priest holds up at the consecration. When you see with the eyes of faith, you will see Jesus in his glory and like St Peter, you can say, "Lord it is good for us to be here." and with St Thomas, "My Lord and my God."

St Alphonsus Ligouri

2011-08-01T22:44:00.002-04:00

My connection with this great saint happened on October 18th, 2007. I was privileged to be able to celebrate Mass at St Alfonsus Church in Rome, where the icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help hangs over the main altar. To be able to celebrate Mass under this icon was a special moment in my life and my friend's, who was able to attend Mass with me. St Alphonsus is a bishop and doctor of the church, and his writings are filled with many references to other great saints. He is also the patron saint of confessors. His writings on the Blessed Mother is a great sourcve for meditation, as is his writings on the Holy Eucharist. In fact, he composed a beautiful prayer for a spiritual communion if you are not bale to receive phsyically the Body and Blood of our Lord. The wonderful aspect of spiritual communions is that you can make as many as you like during the course of the day, and if made in good faith, you will receive the same graces and blessings. This was the "secret" of so many of our great saints and their growth in holiness, for they would make a spiritual communion often throughout their day. There is great power in the Eucharist, yet so many people do not truly understand the Catholic teaching of the Eucharist. There are also many devotions surrounding the Eucharist that help build your faith in the Real Presence. For example, when the priest consecrates the bread and elevates the host to show you that it is no longer bread but is not our Lord's body, traditionally, many people would say, "My Lord and my God." Repeating these words of St Thomas the Apostle, you make an act of faith and an act of love that pleases God. After all, the Eucharist is God's gift to you, and it is the most sublime of all his gifts, for it is his very divine life that is now present in the host and which we will be receiving. Jesus, I believe that you are truly present in the Holy Eucharist and that it is your body, blood, soul and divinity. Even though I am not able to receive you physically, I ask for you to come into my heart and my soul that I may receive your blessings spiritually.

carrying his yoke

2011-07-14T12:04:00.002-04:00

It can be very difficult to understand why there is so much suffering in the world and in your own life. But suffering is so much a aprt of life that to fight it will bring frustration but acceptance of suffering will bring joy, not so much an enjoyment of the suffering, but a joy that comes in knowing that Jesus is carrying your yoke upon his shoulders just as you place his yoke upon your shoulders.

One such sorrow that is attacking so many devout Catholics is the Fr Corapi situation. There are many other commentaries on the internet and other blogs about what to make of Fr Corapi and so forth, that I do not want to speak about it here. But one thing that does need to be said, and I think Fr Z mentions it well on his blog, is that prayer is needed because Satan is prowling like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Priests need your prayers. Satan wants nothing more than to destroy your fatih and the best way to destroy your faith is to place before you weak, sinful priests. How many times have you heard someone say that they left the church because of the behavior of some of the priests? And especially if Satan can attack the priests with a reputation of holiness, and orthodoxy, someone with the charisma to bring others to Christ, well that is a feather in the cap of the devil. It is a sad situation in our church when we see what we thought were faithful and holy priests fall into a life of sin and leave the priesthood. But as we help each other carry each other's burdens, let us lift each other up in prayer and ask especially to entrust our prayers to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

sowing the seeds of love

2011-07-10T20:26:00.002-04:00

This is a song from Tears for Fears, but it comes from today's Scripture parable from Jesus about the seed falling on rocky ground, and in the thorns and on fertile soil. But, as Tears for Fears sings, it is really about sowing the seeds of love, for it is the seed of God's grace that Jesus speaks about, and the seed is God's word. Jesus, God's word made flesh, comes into your soul, the place where your soil is either rocky, filled with thorns or is fertile for his love. So many times, you may find yourself full of zeal when things are going well, but once that struggle occurs, once that sorrow and pain return, once your lack of faith leads to despair or plain indifference, your soil, your soul, your love for the Word made Flesh, dries up and love itself begins to fade. But if you have a soul that allows the seed of God's love to die, as that grain of wheat does, so that through death, the wheat may grow, then you will have thirty, or sixty or hundredfold of graces. How do you, then, once the fruit of love begins to blossom, how do you share that love, share that fruit, so that others may also experience God's love even in the face of sorrow? We sow the seeds of love when we live the fruits of the Holy Spirit, mercy, gentleness, love, patience, kindness, chastity, modesty, generosity, forgiveness, joy and peace.

long break

2011-06-07T16:07:00.003-04:00

There was a long break between posts and a lot has happened since then, in the church and in the world. One thing is certain; no matter what happens, a relationship with Jesus Christ will bring peace into your life. Many people lost homes and lives with all of the natural disasters. Many soldiers continue to die in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Many people fell for the false preacher and the rapture that never occurred on May 21st. Our politicians continue to show that they are morally weak. Our priests and bishops continue to preach the Good News despite the culture in our country that wants to keep them silent. And in the midst of all of these things, we are called to believe in a Father God who loves us and is taking care of us. Jesus asks His Father to glorify us. And as we heard in the Gospel of John last Sunday at Mass, the glory of God is connected to the glory of Jesus Himself, but as St Peter reminds us in his letter, the glory that is from God is a glory that is connected to the Cross. When God gives you a cross to carry, it is because He loves you and wants you to experience true freedom. That's the paradox; true freedom in your life comes from suffering and carrying your cross. When you reject a cross and try to live oyur life apart from God, you will inevitably have to carry a heavier cross. If you want to live in true freedom, embrace your cross and ask Jesus to help you carry it. Don't run from it. The glory of God is in that cross.

conversions part II

2011-04-11T13:18:00.004-04:00

Once you fall in love with Jesus Christ, it is so easy to change your lifestyle. You begin to see that those things that you are attached to bring emptiness, or better, leave you empty. Life is about love, and for many people, love means sex, love means power, love means getting what you want. But the one thing that I find most people have trouble understanding is love is sacrifice. Love is about others. Love is wanting others to know joy. Not happiness, because happiness is fleeting. But joy, a deep, profound joy that allows you to experience the love fo Jesus Christ even in the midst of sorrow. That is the prupose of Laetare Sunday in Lent. It is also the joy that comes from giving your heart to another. That brings with it the danger of vulnerability, but being vulnerable is a prerequisite for love and love never fails.

conversion

2011-04-07T21:05:00.007-04:00

There is much talk about conversions in the Scriptures during Lent. I had a conversion that changed my life. The lyrics of Drifter by Decemberadio, spoke to my heart. I started to realize that the music I was listening to, secular rock and roll, pop, blues, hard rock, folk rock, and southern rock, left an emptiness in my life. I used to rationalize, especially when it came to blues and southern rock, that this music spoke to me and had a spiritual dimension to it. How can you doubt that Clapton, Dylan, Allman Brothers, Santana, Skynyrd, et al, could lift your spirits? So I would fight Christian rock and pop on that basis. After my conversion, I left all that music behind me, for a variety for a variety of reasons. The lyrics were not always uplifting. When I was introduced to Decemberadio, Third Day, Mercy Me, Todd Agnew, Building 429, et al, I finally was convinced how Christian music was a way of praying, of praising God, of putting healthy lyrics into my mind. It was really about putting new wine into new wineskins. My whole life needed to change, and music, which is a very important part of my life, needed to be transformed. Check out contemporary Christian music. You can always find it at http://www.positive.fm/.

Bartimeaus

2011-04-04T16:47:00.002-04:00

To be born blind. To live in blindness. Yet, even though some believed that Bartimeaus' blindness was caused by sin, he is willing to seek the one who is to come, the Messiah. It is only a physical blindness that he suffers from, but for many people, spiritual and moral blindness rule the day. We can continue to put our head in the sand, to make excuses, to justify our living in a spiritual vacuum, or we can take ownership of our sufferings, of our failings and of our sins and seek the grace and love of the one who has come to save us, Jesus Christ. It is never too late, for, as he shows us in this sign from the Gospel of John, he mixes his saliva with sand to make clay and rub it in the eyes of Bartimeaus. This recalls the act of creation by God in Genesis, forming man from the dust. Jesus is re-creating by healing Bartimeaus of his blindness. He is our Creator, our Redeemer and our Sanctifier, for he is God. The Apostle John is very clear in that when he says that Bartimeaus worshipped him. Only God is worshipped. Jesus, the divine, only begotten Son of the Trinity, has been sent to perform the works of the Father. When you seek a relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, you are seeking to be cured from your spiritual and moral blindness. What is causing you to be blinded? What are you attached to? And are you willing to be sent by Jesus so that he can cure you and bring you healing? Do not live in the deeds of darkness but live in the light. In all you do, give glory to God. God is glorified when we become images of His Son. Are you giving glory to God when you live in the deeds of darkness, whatever they may be?

St Patrick and the Irish Church

2011-03-17T11:10:00.002-04:00

St Patrick was a man with passion and intensity, a man of character and virtue, a man who knew who he was, a son of God and a son of the Roman Church. When he returned to Ireland after being a slave there for many years, he returned as a missionary, and a bishop. He brought the Catholic faith to the island and converted most of the people to Catholicism and to a love for Jesus Christ. The Irish people have for over fifteen hundred years continued in their love and passion and intensity for the true faith. But, as we have seen this past year, the scandals that have rocked our Church here in Boston had also rocked the Church in Ireland. Satan is alive and well and has tried to destroy the Catholic faith since the very beginning, and what better way to destroy the faith of the people than to have priests and bishops commit horrible crimes against the most vulnerable, crimes that call out for justice but as we have seen justice was thrawted. When a priest violates his vow with an adult, it is sinful. When he violates his vow and the virtue and innocence of a young person, it's not only a sin but a crime. St Patrick, a bishop with zeal and virtue, would not have stood for this behavior. Let us pray for the people of Ireland, the Church in Ireland, and the bishops and priests in Ireland, that God may bring healing and mercy, comfort and consolation to His people, and that our people, especially our bishops and priests, would be models of holiness and virtue once again. St Patrick rid the pagans of Ireland of their attachment to sorcery and witchcraft and other dark magic. Through his intercession may he also help rid our current church of the dark magic and evil that has infiltrated our parishes.

St Joseph

2011-03-03T17:17:00.003-05:00

March is the month of St Joseph, the foster father of our Lord, Jesus Christ. St Peter Julien Eymard has some wonderful reflections on St Joseph. One reflection is that he in the line of the kings. We think of St Joseph as a poor carpenter in Nazareth, but if the line of kings still existed in Jerusalem, the royal blood coursed through his veins. He is, according to Sacred Scripture, a king, even though his kingship was interrupted through historical events, not the least the fact that the Romans were the rulers of Jerusalem. When we think that St Joseph was indeed a king, then, it really is amazing that as a king, he spent his life in poverty, obscurity and humility. He, a leader of God's Chosen People, spent his "kingship" in taking care of the child of his bride, Mary, a child destined to be the downfall and rise of many. He spent his leadership in preparing his Son to take his rightful position as the true King of Israel. And in the time he had with his Son, he tauht him the value of servant leadership. Of course, since Jesus is God, St Joseph was picked from the beginning of time to be the one who would care for God's only begotten Son and the woman who would carry God's Son in her womb, Mary most Holy. There can be no greater leader than St Joseph who exhibited not only humility but also chastity in caring for the King of Kings and the Queen Mother. Let us pray to St Joseph that more leaders will come forward in true servant leadership to help all of us to grow in holiness.

love

2011-02-20T21:26:00.002-05:00

"You have heard it said love your friends and hate your enemies, but I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." These words of Jesus Christ in the Sermon of the Mount in the Gospel of St Matthew are challenging to all of us. The easiest thing for us to do is to hate someone else, or to allow our anger to control us. It is easier to hate than to love. Yet, we are called by Jesus Christ to overcome our human nature and to allow his grace to transform us so that we can actually love those who hate us. St Augustine says that we should pray for our enemies so that one day they may become our brothers. Why do we allow our feelings and our emotions to control us? Why are we so afraid to pray for and love those who hate us? And our enemies are close. This is not about our enemies half way across the globe, like those in the Middle East who hate Christians and want to kill us. But our enemies may be those in our family, at work, or even in the church. Hate speech occurs among Christians and in politics. Is it any wonder that so many people reject Christianity when they see so many Christians not living the gospel of Jesus Christ? No one has ever converted to the love of Jesus Christ because an angry and hateful man spoke angry words to him. It really is all about transformation and conversion of life. And all of us are in the need for ongoing conversion. This comes through prayer, humility, and the reception of the sacraments, especially the Holy Eucharist. Who have you been angry with and hated recently? Have you tried to reconcile? Have you prayed for that person? Will you heed the words and challenge of Jesus Christ?

confession

2011-02-14T21:59:00.002-05:00

One never really knows what is going on in another person's heart, or what happens behind closed doors. You may believe that someone has a wonderful marriage only to be shocked that it ends in divorce. One of the privileges of being a priest is to hear confessions, and I am amazed at the pain and hurt that is being experienced by so many people. Yet, as I have seen so many times, and heard from the penitents, how they feel like a huge burden has been lifted off their shoulders once they have confessed. Confession to a priest is extremely liberating, which is why our Lord instituted this wonderful sacrament. There has been a lot of press recently about the new confession app, and of course, our mainstream media has misinterpreted what the app is for. It was created by a Catholic priest with the blessing of his bishop , as a "how to" on how to make a good confession for Catholics. It doesn't replace confession. It teaches you how to make a good one. Many catholics have not made a confession since their first one when they prepared for their first communion. It all begins with an examination of conscience. One place to start is to go through the ten commandments. Fr John Hardon, SJ, wrote a good examination of conscience for the person preparing for confession. Of course, this requires that you believe that your actions may have been sinful. Sin does exist in our world. But redemption also exists, in the person of Jesus Christ, who died for you so that you may have eternal life.

Visions

2011-01-31T10:07:00.003-05:00

Visions, dreams, locutions, you can call them many different things. St John Bosco had such a vision which has been interpreted as a need for you to stay close to the Eucharist and the Blessed Mother. As our world continues to become increasingly violent, it is important for us turn to Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, and ask him to bring peace to a torubled world. To be instruments of peace ourselves, we will help to bring peace to our families and friends. How do you bring peace into your relationships? St Matthew's gospel presents the Beatitudes. In Jesus' teaching, Jesus turns the values of the world upside down and says that you are blessed when you are poor in spirit, meek, persecuted, when you mourn and are a peacemaker and seek righteousness. To live the Beatitudes will help bring peace to the world, but they are not a "to do" list. You receive the Beatitudes by opening your heart to Jesus Christ. Receive the Holy Eucharist at Mass and pray to the Blessed Mother of God to intercede and ask for God's grace in your life. The Kingdom of Heaven starts in your heart and is fulfilled in the presence of God for all eternity in Heaven.

interesting article on celibacy

2011-01-27T09:11:00.005-05:00

Fr Dwight Longenecker, a convert and married man who became a Catholic priest, has an article on his blog about married priests. It is worth reading his article. You can find it at www.gkupsidedown.blogspot.com/2011/01/married-priests-magic-bullet.html

Bishops

2011-01-26T18:40:00.002-05:00

Today, we celebrate the feast of Sts Timothy and Titus, co-workers of St Paul and leaders of the early church. St Paul wrote letters to each of these, which are recognized as canonical letters in the New Testament. It is a good reminder on this feast day that we need to keep praying for our bishops. A bishop's vocation is demanding and often leads to frustration, especially in today's climate. And bishops can and do make mistakes, as all of us are wont to do. St Paul was confronted with many issues and immorality, not only among the peple in the cities that he visited, but also even among those who were purported to be leaders in the Christian communities. And if you have ever been in a position of leadership, you undoubtedly would have experienced as well all different types of personalities and much criticism from those under you. One good book on leadership is from Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges, called Lead Like Jesus. It's all about servant leadership and gives you the tools to really empower others as a leader so that all of us may thrive together in our work and in our relationships.

Roe v. Wade

2011-01-23T10:24:00.003-05:00

38 years have no passed since the Supreme Court ruled in favor of abortion on demand. This issue is, of course, very polarizing in our political climate, and even within the church, where you will find many people who disagree wiht the church's teaching on abortion. In my own family, I have witnessed a lot of harsh language and vitriol by those who support a woman's right to choose and those, like me, who defend life at the moment of conception. It's not for nothing that you hear people say that politics and religion should not be mentioned at family gatherings. I do think, though, that with the heated debates that have been occurring in our country for these 38 years that neither side will ever win someone to the other side by their arguments. Sure, there are many young girls who are frightened and do not know what to do when their boyfriend leaves them after getting them pregnant, or the young girl who is scared because her parents force her to have an abortion. These girls need our prayers and our support, and they need to know that there are other options out there for them. Ultimately, though, we need to have a change of heart in our country. There is a hardness of heart that leads to a culture of death. And when you are shown the love and mercy of Jesus Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to lead you into life, you will begin to see changes. it is the Holy Spirit, who works through love and mercy, that will bring an end to this sin against our children and usher in the culture of life. Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us.

Insanity

2011-01-12T09:19:00.007-05:00

With the shooting of the Arizona Congresswoman and the death of six others who were present, our country is being turned upside down. People are so quick to place blame on others that they disagree with that we are missing the most important fact in all of this. The man who pulled the trigger and killed these six people, and seriously wounding many others, including the Congresswoman Giffords is responsible for his own actions. He was not influenced to shoot Giffords because of any incendiary talk. He is a man who is psychologically imbalanced, seeking his fifteen minutes of infamy. This brings us to the question of the problem of evil and how there can be people who are willing to take the life of someone else, but some of the information that ahs been coming out about this man is that he smoked pot regularly, he read the Communist Manifesto and Mein Kampf, and he calls himself an atheist. He allegedly made threats to others in Tucson ever since 2007, and Giffords first caught his attention before the country ever knew who Sarah Palin was. Let's put aside politics and placing blame on those who are on opposite sides of the political spectrum and see this for what it is: a tragedy and an unspeakable act of horror by a man who is clearly not of sane mind. if anything influenced this man to open fire, it was not political talk radio; rather it is the entertainment industry that glorifies violence through Hollywood and through music. If talk radio has that much power through the spoken word, then why are we not talking about the lyrics of one of his favorite songs that glorifies killing? Let us pray for the souls of those who have died in thsi tragedy and for their families that mourn them, and let us continue to keep those who were seriously injured, especially Congresswoman Giffords, in prayer as well.

2011

2011-01-03T21:48:00.002-05:00

It's a new year and new beginnings. Maybe you have decided to attend Mass more often this year. Maybe you promised to pray the rosary every day. Maybe you decided to speak words of love to your beloved and eradicate the negative speech from your conversations. Or maybe you decided that you have ahd enough of politics because you have come to realize that only Jesus can bring transformation to our country. Until we accept his teachings and follow his laws and return to a Christian morality, our country will never rebound. Christ is the answer. King Herod knew that, and he was afraid of the answer, which is why he tried to kill the Christ child. So many of our own politicians are also afraid of Jesus Christ. They try to kill him through legislation that is anti-Christian. More importantly, they try to kill him by placing men and women in positions of power that claim to be Christian, or better yet, a "practicing Catholic," and these men and women refuse to allow their Catholic faith to form their conscience. They keep abortion legal, they support embryonic stem cell research (which kills babies already conceived) and support gay marriage. Let us turn to our Blessed Mother, Mary, the Mother of God and ask her intercession that our Catholic politicians will come to the defense of life. As long as we keep killing babies in the womb, our country will always be morally bankrupt.

Holy Family

2010-12-26T19:04:00.002-05:00

Merry Christmas!. As we celebrate the birth of our Savior, we also remember the Blessed Mother and St Joseph, the Holy Family. Many Catholics used to place JMJ on their assignments when in school, which stands for Jesus, Mary and Joseph. It was with great joy that we honor the Mother of our Lord and the foster father, St Joseph. They lived fully the tenets of what a family is supposed to be. St Joseph was asked by God to be a guardian for His Son, and St Joseph raised Jesus, teaching Him about the Law and the prophets, taking Him to the Temple and loving His Mother. St Joseph lived his fatherhood as a chaste man, someone who sacrificed in order to honor and cherish the Mother of God. And Mary, as weknow from her Magnificat in the Gospel of Luke, lived her motherhood with the joy and the sorrow of knowing that her Son is destined to be the downfall of many nations, as St Simeon prophesied to her.

We ask for their intercession that our families today would understand the essence of sacrifice, as well as the essence of chastity. And this chastity does not begin only at the exchange of vows. Let us ask the Holy Family that our young people would understand the essence of chastity before marriage. It is no coincidence that with an increase in promiscuity and cohabitation, that divorce is on the increase, sexually transmitted diseases are on the increase, abortion is on the increase, and adultery is on the increase. And it is not only the husband who is guilty of adultery. There is an increase in adultery by the wives as well. Our families are being torn apart because men and women have no idea how to be chaste and how to sacrifice for the happiness of the other. There must be mutual love and respect, gentleness and kindness, and a love for purity and chastity, which, far too often, does not exist in the hearts of our husbands and wives.

St Joseph, you are the model of purity for men. We pray through your intercession that our men would be good husbands and providers. Mary, ever Virgin, you are the model of purity for women. We pray through your intercession that our women would be examples of purity and holiness.

Joseph's Lullaby

2010-12-16T17:19:00.002-05:00

Mercy Me has a beautiful Christmas song, called Joseph's Lullaby, which takes the viewpoint of St Joseph as he holds his newborn Son in his arms. St Joseph seems to be the forgotten man during the season, as even our postage stamps have picture sof the Blessed Mother with Jesus, but Joseph was given a great privilege to be the foster father of God's Son, Jesus Christ. You can imagine what must have been going throough his mind as he held Jesus in his arms, and as he watched with love in his eyes how Mary held her Son in her arms as well. Mercy Me captures this in their Christmas song, and it is worth downloading to listen and contemplate on the words put in the mouth of St Joseph. If only our fathers today would be more like St Joseph, a pure, chaste spouse of the Blessed Mother.

reputation

2010-12-15T11:26:00.003-05:00

It seems that people have no problem destroying the reputation of others, including those who used to be friends. Why is it that we feel free to air dirty laundry and frustration about friends with others, in effect destroying their reputation? If you have a problem with another person, then why don't you go to that person and talk with him or her rather than join in the sin of detraction or defamation with others. It all comes down to how we handle conflict, and frankly, many people, including those who call themselves committed Catholics, fail in handling conflict. It is very disappointing to find that some people have no problem throwing away friendships because of misunderstanding, a misunderstanding that could probably be cleared up with some honest talk. But even if you have no desire to reconcile, there can be NO EXCUSE for sharing in the sin of destroying another's reputation. During this Christmas season, let us search our hearts and find if we have failed in this area and seek out confession.

Advent

2010-12-09T16:46:00.002-05:00

We have just celebrated the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception and now we are really moving quickly to the Christmas season. Advcent is this time of preparing for the birth of our Savior. There are many ways to prepare, of course. But the most important way is to approach the sacrament of Confession. Afterall, Christmas is about Christ, and the baby Jesus, laying in a manger, points the way to the day when he will be food for your souls. To truly receive the graces and blessings of our Lord in Holy Communion, a soul purified and cleansed through confession will allow you to experience a closeness with God as you receive communion. Ask the Blessed Mother to pray for you that you may find a good confessor and that you may unburden yourself of any attachment to sin and to free you from any mortal and venial sins you may have committed. Mary always points the way to her Son.

Jesus Christ: The Answer?

2010-12-06T08:43:00.002-05:00

The Prophet Isaiah mentions that when peace comes to Mount Zion, then the lion will lay down with the lamb and the wolf with the kid. It is the peace of Jesus Christ that brings to fulfillment this vision of all the countries living in peace. Yet, today we see so many countries at war with each other. We see even Christians fighting with other Christians. What happened? Why do we fight and spread hate when we claim to have a relationship with Jesus Christ? And with four billion people on this earth rejecting Jesus Christ outright and following other religions or no religion at all, it begs the question whether there is any relevence to be being a Christian. Of course, I believe that answer to be a yes. There is no other name in heaven or on earth that will save us. Jesus is the way to the Father. And for countries to live in peace, for Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Lybia, Syria, Israel, and all the countries of Europe, Asia, the Americas and Africa, then this peace will come only when we all turn to the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, and live by his teachings, and seek the will of the Father in our lives.

Saint Andrew

2010-11-30T22:03:00.003-05:00

St Andrew, the brother of St Peter, our first Pope, was the one who in the Gospel of John brought his brother to Jesus. Any time we have a memorial or a feast of an apostle, it is a good opportunity to remember to pray for vocations to the priesthood. The Spirit is calling men to the priesthood, but many are not listening. For many, it is because of celibacy. It is true that celibacy is demanding, and for many it is a struggle. It would not be a sacrifice of it were not demandning and a cross. To be honest, it is a big cross for me and for other priestst that I know. There are many days that I desire to live the life of a married man with children. And every day, I wake up and once again commit myself to celibacy for the sake of the kingdom. There is much sorrow in celibacy and much sorrow in the priesthood, but there is also much joy in celibacy and much joy in the priesthood. St Andrew, pray for us.

The Pope's condom remark

2010-11-23T20:57:00.004-05:00

There are so many articles coming out on other blogs, including Fr Z's and Amy Welborn's, as well as comments by Janet Smith, Philip Lawler, and Fr Fessio, that I would not even attempt to add my own two cents here. Suffice to say that the mainstream liberal media, as well as the more conservative Fox News, are purposely misrepresenting the Pope's comments. No surprise. The media in the US and Great Britian as well are hostile towards the Church. But even the more liberal Catholic newspapers and periodicals, as well as liberal Catholic groups, are perpetuating a myth of what the Pope actually said. It's basic common sense. The Pope would never say that it is a moral act to engage in any sexual activity outside of marriage, so for the liberal media to claim that the pope said that everyone could use condoms to avoid infection from sexual diseases is a lie. The example used by the Pope is of a male prostitute. Pope Benedict is basically saying that the prostitute's use of a condom would signal to his conscience that actions have consequences and that he might, just might, be having a moment whereby he would see that a need for transforming his life from a life of disordered sexuality to one of chastity is possible. As was pointed out by Fr Fessio, this is not even a lesser of two evils argument. It's a subtle distinction that is being lost on the large majority of people who live by the soundbyte and by their own need to justify their own behavior. If you follow the teachings of the Catholic Church in regards to sexuality, then the use of condoms would play no role in any activity, whether for contraception or for the protection of various sexually transmitted diseases.

not much to say

2010-11-17T21:28:00.003-05:00

It seems that the days have gone pretty quickly since the last posting. In that time, I have been checking out Fr Z's blog, www.wdtprs.com. He has some interesting pieces of information there. One post recently was a eprson writing in to him that he had attended a confirmation and was disturbed that many of the young teens in the pews were playing games on the phones during Mass and even when approaching the extraordinary minister of Holy Communion. What sadness!! It just confirms to me, though, that we do not have a shortage of priests. If the future of our church is to be made up of people who would rather play games at Mass than pray at Mass, then in a few more years, our churches will be even emptier than they are now. Pray not only for priests, but please also pray for an increase in devotion especially among our young people.

Hereafter

2010-11-01T08:20:00.002-04:00

It's All Saints Day, the true meaning of Halloween (all Hallow's Eve), in which we honor the men and women who have come before us in our faith and are recognized as saints because of their holiness of life. It is a reminder to all of us what our true destiny is, and that is to be in heaven with all the angels and saints worshiping our God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. There is a new movie, directed by Clint Eastwood, called Hereafter, which deals with life after death as well as near death experiences. It is a very powerful movie with some intense scenes. Clint Eastwood avoids mentioning any religious creed in the movie (except for a very short scene at a funeral with what looks like an Anglican priest), but he hits the spirituality of the question of what happens after death. Of course, in the movie are the skeptics, those who believe that after we die we basically become food for worms. Reading comments about the movie ons ome websites, you will also find that the skeptics are all around us, usually saying that Christians who believe in a heaven are delusional and believe in fairy tales. I have a difficult time believing that the Apostles would risk their lives for a fairy tale. Why would those eleven men, plus St Paul, spread the news about Jesus Christ's rising from the dead if arrest, torture and death were the result of their preaching? In any event, everyone will eventually find out for himself whetehr there is life after death. In the meantime, let us pray for the intercession of the saints that more people would come to recognize Jesus Christ as our Savior, the Messiah, sent by God to free us from a life of sin.

becoming catholic

2010-10-26T21:24:00.002-04:00

Interestingly, I received a phone call from a gentleman who listened to the show on October 24th. He was not a very happy man. He took offense with some of the comments about the teaching of the Catholic Church. Correct me if I am wrong, but if you are a Catholic priest, then you would be expected to teach and explain the teachings of our faith, including the church's stance on artificial birth control, celibacy for priests, and the male only priesthood. He took offense with all three of these teachings, and he added the teaching on infallibility. Basically, as far as I understood what he was trying to say, he was arguing that the church needed to be more openminded and that if priests were married and were both male and female, then the scandals would not have occurred. I agreed with him that there were some people in the church, including bishops and priests, that had failed and were guilty of unspeakable crimes against children. You can argue that the system of a celibate male priesthood infected certain prelates and helped to foster an attitude that these celibate men knew better that the parents of those who were abused. But this attitude is also prevalent in all other walks of life and other denominations and other religious traditions. Children were abused before the time of Jesus Christ. Celibacy does not lead to sexual abuse. And for someone to think that abuse would disappear if women were ordained and held high positions in Rome is also highly mistaken. I agreed with this gentleman that those priests who were found guilty should have been held accountable and not only incarcerated but stripped of their priestly state. We kept going back and forth, but I think the biggest offense he took from my show was that I had said that I wish all people in Boston would be Catholic. Of course, I also mentioned that I have many Protestant friends and some non-Christian friends, and they are wonderful people and probably even more loving and merciful than some of my Catholic friends. It was a simple offhand remark of how much I love my Catholic faith and how I think that if it is lived properly, it can transform you into a new creation andfree you from a life of sin. If I did not believe that, then why would I be a Catholic, let alone a Catholic priest. We agreed to disagree, but I stand by what I said.

walls

2010-10-19T20:43:00.002-04:00

One of the things that we are all susceptible to is putting walls up around our relationships. We use all kinds of excuses for shutting people out of our lives, including friends, and we justify our poor behavior towards them because they hurt us, in some form or another. Usually, it is a perceived hurt, which could be healed with sitting down and having a conversation with the person. But we continue to place those walls up so that we do not have to sit down with someone who has hurt us. Yet, St Paul reminds us that the walls are already down when we are members of the Body of Christ. So, if you belong to the Body of Christ, why is it that you feel justified in treating other members with scorn and disdain? Why is it that the work of reconciliation is out of reach? Why is it that the fruits of the Holy Spirit are not being lived? Only you can answer why you refuse to offer forgiveness and seek reconciliation. We are all called to bring each other to Christ, and to be Christ for one another. Love and forgiveness is the answer, because Christ is the answer.

so late

2010-10-09T20:20:00.002-04:00

Here I am, ten days into October, the month of the Holy Rosary, and I have neglected posting on the blog. Mea culpa. October is a wonderful month, for not only is it the month of the rosary, but it is also the month of St Luke, who traditionally is the one who painted the icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. This is a devotion that means a lot to me, especially since four years ago, this month, I experienced a miracle in my life that was from the hands of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. This miracle led to a conversion of heart and soul, especially in regard to music. Paula K, my co-host for feed my lambs, is a senior vice president of a Christian radio station, which plays contemporary Christian music, like Third Day, Mercy Me, Chris Tomlin, Jeremy Camp, and a variety of others. Now, there are many Catholics who would prefer that all music be of the classical, or Gregorian chant variety and that many of the evils of society have occurred through the advent of rock and roll music. And for many of these people, Christian music is only positive lyrics but they are intertwined with the beat of rock and roll and it is this beat that leads to the passions being ignited. I cna say that yes, there is a big difference between Palestrina and Jeremy Camp, and Palestrina is more uplifting for your soul. Nothing compares to Mozart or Gregorian chant, but the contemporary music of today on many Christian radio stations can also be positive for your soul and lead you to a worship experience of God in other ways. But I will say that the music at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass should be of highest quality and uplifting of the soul, and it is here that Mozart, Palestrina, Victoria and above all, Gregorian chant, is proper and, in my humble opinion, which is shared by many scholars and liturgists, as well as Pope Benedict XVI, the best way of worshiping God.

Fr Tom Dubay

2010-09-28T08:47:00.003-04:00

It is with great sadness that I write about the death of Fr Tom Dubay, a fellow Marist, and one whom I got to know very well during my seminary days in DC. He lived in the community next door to the seminarians and I would have conversations with him whenever he was around, for he was still very active into his eighties preaching retreats. He was always very kind and encouraging to me in my vocation discernment. His books are inspirational, and spiritually fulfilling. His love for our Blessed Mother and for our Catholic Church was also an inspiration to me. May he rest in peace.

some musings

2010-09-25T21:30:00.002-04:00

I have just finished reading a blog where it seems that some women are organizing a boycott of Mass this weekend to show the Vatican that they (the Vatican) stand on the wrong side of the issue concerning women's ordination. They have also found some priests who are sympathetic to their claims and support their cause. But, as the Vatican has pointed out many times over these last forty years, the Church has no authority to change the teaching concerning women's ordination to the priesthood. It has been declared infallible by Pope John Paul II in his document ordinatio sacerdotalis. The deeper issue is one of the difference between what is authority adn what is power. The argument about the so called ban on women's ordination is one of power, and that women are being excluded from this power. But authority, esepcially the authority of the priest, is not about power but about service. A priest is a servant of Christ, and he has no power whatsoever outside of Jesus Christ. Yes, there are have been examples of priests who have abused their position and have lorded over the parishioners a power that is founded in submission of the other, but a true priest is one who will place himself under the submission of Jesus Christ and will seek to bring others to a deeper relationship with Christ through the celebration and reception of the sacraments.

A priest must also be male because the Mass is the wedding banquet between Christ and his Church. It is a Catholic priest who celebrates the Mass that stands in persona Christi so that the image of the man Jesus Christ marrying his bride, the Church, is one where for obvious reasons cannot be imaged by a woman, otherwise the Church's teaching on homosexual marriage must change. By the way, it is no surprise that if you ask those who support homosexual marriage, they would tell you that they also support a woman's right to be ordained a Catholic priest. And those who support women's ordination also overwhelmingly support homosexual marriage. Change one and you will in effect change the other.

division

2010-09-15T21:05:00.002-04:00

Not only are we a country divided as the latest poll results have shown, but we are also a church divided. We are so busy trying to label others that we forget that labels are only one of many ways for us to avoid having to actually be kind to one another. This kindness, or lack thereof, by the way, is not only lacking in opposites politically and theologically, but it also exists in the lives of those who are purported to be on the same wave length. For example, if a person disagrees with you, in many instances you might use that as a justificaiton to treat that person with unkindness. There is a lack of civility in the way people treat each oither in the business world, in the church world and in the political world. Good people can disagree with each other on a specific policy matter, but to then use that disagreement to accuse the other person of being a liar, or being racist, or being difficult to work with, is disingenious. This is exactly what Satan wants from us, by the way. Division and accusations and labelling will never bring people together and do the hard work of reconciliation. St Paul reminds us that if we do not have love, then we have nothing. Bring love into your disagreements, and even if the other person does not bring love into it, take the higher road.

The Cross

2010-09-14T20:51:00.004-04:00

The cross is the tree of life, for upon the cross is our salvation, the fruit of the tree of life, Jesus Christ. When you eat of the flesh of the Son of God and drink his blood, you have eternal life. Of course, this presupposes that you are in a state of grace and not receiving the Eucharist in the state of mortal sin. I know what you're thinking. How quaint. He still uses the term mortal sin. Well, St John, in his first letter, talks about two kinds of sin; one that is deadly and one that is not deadly. This is the basis of our Catholic teaching on sin being separated as venial and mortal. But, because by the Holy Cross, Jesus has redeemed the world, when you are in a state of mortal sin, you have access to the Lord's mercy and forgiveness in our Sacrament of Confession. On this feast of the exaltation of the Holy Cross and tomorrow's feast of the Sorrows of Mary, it is an appropriate time for you to consider approaching the sacrament of mercy. The cross and the sorrows of Mary are closely united to the fact that we as sinners have crucified and are still crucifying our Lord on the cross, who died for us so that we could be freed from sin. Yet the sorrow of our Lord and his Blessed Mother is more intense for they have witnessed that despite this great act of love on God' part, there would still be men and women who refuse his friendship and continue in a state of sin. His suffering is that he foresaw that mankind would still reject his invitation of abundant life. Turn to Mary at this moment, for she will pray for you to repent and turn once again to her Son.

Patience

2010-09-04T14:15:00.004-04:00

Probably the most difficult virtue for anyone to practice is patience. The patient man or woman is a person of peace and joy, even in the face of difficulties or evil. Yet, we live in a society where everything must be right now. I want it now!!. There is no waiting, there is no preparation, there is no willing to sacrifice for the greater good. Where does this "I want it now" attitude come from? The world is moving fast, and we think if we don't move with it we will be lost. But is this true? God's timing is not one of right now, or a demand for fast action. God is a patient God. He allowed the Israelites to wander in the desert for forty years. He waited centuries before he sent his Son, born of a woman. He then waited another thirty years before he began his preaching ministry. And lest we forget, there was no sense of urgency in Jesus' ministry. He sent his apostles to preach the good news, but he also gave them guidance in prayer and in relationships. All relationships must be based on respect and love, even if we disagree with the other viewpoint. The anger that surfaces between people is an anger based on impatience. The patient man or woman will know that God is in control, and whenever we try to be in control of a situation, we deny the working of the Holy Spirit. But then again, maybe I am wrong. If you disagree, you be angry with me or you can ask for clarification. Let me know.

learning something new

2010-08-24T08:31:00.002-04:00

Here I've been a proest for four years and today I learned something that I had never known. It always bothered me that Nathanael is the name given to Batholomew in the Gospel of John for his feast day reading, which we heard at Mass today. I never understood why we celebrate St Bartholomew by calling him Nathanael in this gospel, but as I was preparing for my homily today, I found that this tradition goes back to the Fathers, and they,also recognizing the difference, reconciled it by looking at the two names. Nathanael is his first name and Bartholomew would be his father's name, (son of Tholomei) (similar to Bartimeaus, which means son of Timeaus and Simon Barjonah, which means son of John). It makes more sense when looked at this was. In any event, as we celebrate another feast of an apostle, it gives us an opportunity to remind ourselves that we are an apostolic church, and our bishops are the successors of these apostles. Let us pray for our bishops that they will have the courage to preach the truth of our Catholic faith in season and out of season. We must please God, not men.

The Blessed Mother

2010-08-17T21:35:00.004-04:00

Mary, ever Virgin. Forever will all generations call me blessed. With these words in the Gospel of Luke, we begin the moment when our Blessed Mother, visiting her cousin Elizabeth, brings her Son to a world in darkness. She carries her Son in her in her Immaculate womb, the holy of holies, the tabernacle of life where the true Bread from heaven is nourished by the very blood of His mother, Mary. The Blessed Mother has been given many privileges, and this is only right, for she is the Mother of God, she is the woman who has crushed the head of the serpent, she is the woman clothed with the sun and the moon under her feet.

Mary is also the refuge of sinners, for her motherly heart, her Immaculate Heart, desires that all people come to know her Son, Jesus Christ. As she sits at the right hand of Jesus, taking her rightful place as Queen of Heaven, she intercedes for all her children. We need her prayers more than ever in this world. Women are worth more than what we are doing as a society. Abortion is never an answer, for it kills not only the unborn child in her womb, but it also harms her soul and her body. And the sexualization of the female body in all areas of our "entertainment" does not bring women freedom, but makes them slaves of the male libido that sees women as objects. Yes, let us pray to our Blessed mother that there be an increase in modesty, chastity and purity and an increase in men who see women as daughters of God.

St Ignatius

2010-07-31T10:33:00.003-04:00

Let us pray for the Society of Jesus on this great feast day of their founder, St Ignatius. His spiritual exercises have helped countless men and women throughout these last four hundred anf fifty years to listen to the Word of God and to discern the movement of the spirit in thier lives.

The founder of the Society of Mary, the Venerable Jean Claud Colin, was very much influenced by the Scoiety of Jesus and the Constitutions of St Ignatius. Fr Colin used their Constitutions as a basis for the Constitutions of the Society of Mary. Constitutions are the written rules and regulations of the particular religious congregation, and they help to form the member of the congregation in the spiritual life as well as help to organize the internal government of that religious congregation as well.

St Ignatius is also the patron saint of soldiers, so on this day, let us pray thorugh his intercession for all of our soldiers fighting around the world, especially in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Summer Days

2010-07-18T20:41:00.002-04:00

Summer is a wonderful time to just sit back and spend time with God. Today's reading from St Luke recalls the story of Martha and Mary and how Martha is anxious about many things while Mary just spends time with her Lord. Jesus says that Mary has chosen the better part.

The better part is spending time in adoration, just sitting there and allowing the Lord to shower his love upon you. You don't have to do all the talking. Jesus wants all of you, your heart, your soul, and your mind.

Be like Mary. Be quiet with the Lord. It is in adoration that all of your troubles will go away.

St Benedict

2010-07-11T08:17:00.002-04:00

Pope Benedict XVI chose as his name the name of this great saint, St Benedict, the founder of Western monasticism. Today, let us remember the struggles of our Holy Father, Pope Benedict, as he guides our Church. St Benedict labored and prayd in a Europe that was in desperate need of conversion. Today, not much has changed. Europe is decimated, and the faith has floundered throughout what was once strong Catholic countries. Secularism has become the religion of the day. This began even before the revelation of the sex abuse scandals that have rocked the Church in Europe and in America. It really began with the Protestant revolt but was at its apex with the French Enlightenment and the French Revolution. But Pope Benedict has given us a blueprint for renewal in the Church. It must begin with prayer, followed by fasting, Eucharistic Adoration, and reparation for the sins committed by those in leadership in the Church.

Catholic TV

2010-07-09T22:27:00.002-04:00

Yesterday, I was privileged to celebrate Mass for Catholic TV, which you could find at www.catholictv.com. It was the Mass of the day, but my intention was for the repose of the soul of my brother Michael who died 26 years ago at the age of 23.

Celebrating Mass for the deceased is a tradition in our Catholic faith, and one which has fallen by the wayside for many Catholics. It usually requires a stipend for the church, which can be anywhere between ten dollars and twenty dollars, depending on the church. The graces and blessings that come from the celebration of the Holy Mass are powerful, for both the living and the dead, and it is also a good reminder for all of us to keep in prayer all of our loved ones.

The traditional language is that of the Church Triumphant, already in Heaven, the Church Militant, the living persons on earth, and the Church Suffering, the souls who are in Purgatory. We are all united, and we can pray for each other. Our prayers for the dead are efficacious, and through our prayers, we can aid the suffering souls as they are preparing for the moment when they will be in the Presence of God. Purgatory is a misunderstood doctrine of our faith, but it is biblical, and it is a means for souls who did not die on the state of grace to be purified so that they could see God in all His glory.

If you have a loved one that has died, consider calling your parish and having some Masses said for him or her.

Mundelein

2010-07-01T23:27:00.004-04:00

I have been in Mundelein for a week retreat with my fellow Marists. Retreats are a wonderful way to really recharge yourself spiritually, especially if you find a retreat house located in the country. We have a beautiful lake here with a three mile hike around it. There are plenty of deer walking around the grounds as well. It is very peaceful and relaxing, giving me ample time to pray, meditate and converse with God, as well as connect with fellow Marists that I have not seen in a couple of years. Ideally, a retreat would be one where you find solitude, but this retreat was combined with a gathering so that we can have good old fashioned fellowship and share with each other our joys and struggles in our various ministries.

Retreats can be directed or they can be private. Basically it is up to you and what works for you. In any event, it is a time for you to read the Sacred Scriptures as well as some other spiritual works. I have been reading Scott Hahn's book, First Comes Love and Vinny Flynn's book, Seven Secrets of the Eucharist.

If you ever have the opportunity to go on a retreat, whether it is a weekend retreat or a week long retreat, you should take advantage of it. You will experience many blessings in the silence and solitude of being with God.

Father's Day 2010

2010-06-19T21:11:00.002-04:00

Today, let us remember all of our fathers, both living and deceased, as well as all thoe men who are father figures in our lives. Catholic priests are also called father, for their spiritual fatherhood in bringing manhy children into the church through baptism, and feeding them through the Eucharist, and healing them through confession and anointing of the sick.

Father's Day is also a good reminder for us to pray for the children who have absentee fathers, or are children of divorced parents. Our children, both boys and girls, need their fathers, but they especially need their fathers to show love to their mothers. The greatest threat to society and family today is the increase broken families and children being shuffled back and forth between homes to visit their parents.

It is never too late to start being a father. It is never too late to reconcile with the mother of your children if you are having marital problems. All things are possible with God.

some musings

2010-06-14T21:43:00.002-04:00

It's been quite a spring, and now that the Year for Priests is finally concluded with the solemnity of the Sacred Heart last Friday, it is imperative that we continue to pray for the new springtime in our church, and for more priests devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. It is difficult being a priest today, but it is rewarding.

My former spiritual director, Monsignor Charles Pope of Washington DC, has an interesting article on the Archdiocese of Washington DC website's blog concerning appropriate dress for Mass. We have done a show on reverence in dress for feed my lambs, and, as the comments on Monsignor Pope's article attests, whenever a priest broaches the subject of dress, it creates quite a stir. So what is the proper dress for a person attending Mass? That's something that you know deep in your own heart. There are different varieties of dress and different circumstances such as the weather, the culture/country, and the financial situation of the family. But in each case, proper attire is something to strive for. Should we be happy that they are at least attending Mass? And what they are wearing has no bearing on worship? Yes and no. Yes, it's great that people are attending Mass instead of finding something else to do. But think about what you wear every day during the week for each and every thing that you do and place that you go, and then ask yourself, what are we doing at Mass?

If Mass is an act of worship of the God who loves us and died for us so that we could feast on his Sacred Body and Blood; if Mass is the wedding feast of the Lamb, and we are there to thank God for his death and resurrection, I would think that Mass is something special, something wonderful, something so totally amazing that it would require us to treat it as something different from a barbecue, or a sporting event, or a walk on the beach.

The abuse scandals

2010-06-03T16:50:00.005-04:00

I have been doing research for an upcoming show on the abuse in the Catholic Church. It saddens me to have to do the research and read about the moral failings and criminal activities of my brother priests and the alleged cover up by some of the bishops. There is anger over this issue, and rightfully so. The pain of the victims can only lead to a broken heart for those of us who love the priesthood. How can a man, ordained as a priest, as a man of God, who is to preach the Good News and to bring others to Christ, who is called to protect the innocence and the chastity of all God's people, especially the children, how can he violate that trust and destroy the chastity and the faith of these little ones who Jesus called unto himself?

Our Church needs pruning. Our Church needs holy priests who will live the message of the Gospel and not abuse others, especially our children. Our Church needs to make sure that this never happens again, and if it does, if an allegation is proven to be true, this priest must sit in judgment for his crime.

There are no excuses, but there is need for sanity. We need solutions that will protect our children. The argument that celibacy leads to sexual abuse is fallacious. Most of the cases of abuse of children have happened at the hands of married men. And women deserve better than the argument that if a priest were to be able to marry he would not abuse children.

Sunday Homilies

2010-05-26T11:41:00.001-04:00

My Sunday homilies are now being posted on the Church website. If you would like to hear the homilies, please visit www.olvboston.com.

St Philip Neri

2010-05-26T11:32:00.002-04:00

Today we honor a saintly priest who lived in Rome during the middle of the 1500's, when Catholicism was recovering from the Protestant Revolution, and when St Ignatius was beginning the foudnations of the Society of Jesus in Spain. He was a joyful priest, finding in his vocation the peace and joy of the Holy Spirit.

His is an example for all of us to know that whatever vocation is yours, find peace and joy in your work. Many people are miserable in their careers, but they stay in it, usually because of the money. Love what you do, as long as it builds up the Kingdom of God and does not lead to immorality. And pray for your priests. we need more priests to be cheerful in their vocation. In fact, this is the antidote the shortage of vocations. Young men will be attracted to serving God as a Catholic priest if they find other Catholic priests to be happy and joyful.

Mother's Day

2010-05-08T21:18:00.002-04:00

Another year has gone by and we are celebrating Mother's Day, 2010. In this past year, motherhood is still disparaged throughout our society, and many news outlets are calling new pro-life measures in some states harmful to women. And with divorce and absent fathers, many women are trying to raise children on thier own and they are not getting much help. Even in the families where the fathers are present, many mothers are frustrated and exhausted.

God's original plan for motherhood was not to be this way. A mother is to be united with her husband the two shall become one flesh. Fathers are called to be a support for their wives, who are the mothers of their children. And mothers are, in the words of Pope John Paul II, the heart of the home.

The dignity and respect that we owe all women is immeasurable, especially in light of salvation history, when God, in the fullness of time, sent his Son, born of a woman. With Mary as the model for all mothers, we can see that society has fallen a long way away from the dignity of womankind.

During this month of May, let us turn to the Blessed Mother, and ask her for her intercession for an increase in respect for women and an increase in a culture of life where women will not turn to abortion but have loving fathers who are willing to be there for the children that are conceived. Mothers are a precious gift, for it is thorugh a mother that she becomes a co-creator with God, knitting a child in her womb and carrying her child for nine months, so that with each child born, our world is changed.

Let also pray for all mothers, both living and deceased on this Mother's Day.

St Peter Chanel/St Louis de Montfort

2010-04-27T20:57:00.002-04:00

On this eve of the feast day of two great Marian saints, St Peter Chanel and St Louis de Montfort, we can meditate on not only their lives but on the Blessed Mother herself. Our Lady called these two men to become priests, to bring her Son into the world through their sacred hands as they celebrated the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. These two saints were completely devoted to the Holy Eucharist as well as devoted to Our Lady.

St Peter Chanel, a Marist, became a missionary and traveled to the South Pacific, in particular, to the island of Futuna, where he was martyred, and where the Catholic faith, through his efforts, has blossomed. He is the patron saint of Oceania.

St Louis de Montfort wrote the treatise, True Devotion to Mary, and many people have used his formula for consecration to the Blessed Mother. In fact, he was very influential on the thought of the founder of the Marists, the Venerable Jean Claude Colin.

It is with great joy that I remember both of these saints tomorrow, April 28th, for it is the anniversary of my own ordination to the priesthood, and I know that just as Our Lady inspired these two saints to become priests of her Son, Mary has also invited me to become a priest in her order, the Society of Mary (Marist Fathers).

It is also a joy to know that in a few days we will be celebrating the Month of Mary. We are in need of her prayers. Let us turn to her during this month of May and ask for her intercession and her guidance as our Church is undergoing a purification. And let us pray that especially in this Year of Priests that our priests will be devoted to her Immaculate Heart.

April Showers

2010-04-20T20:35:00.002-04:00

It's been an interesting April so far, personally and professionally. Let's talk about something else, though. There has been a lot of press recently once again concerning the scandals in the church, and, as it does so many times, it has brought out the people who want to link the abuse with the church's teaching on priestly celibacy. This is a flawed argument. Celibacy does not cause abuse of children, as we see from so many other examples of abuse in our school systems, other groups, religious and secular, and even on our own families.

What we need at this time is prayer. Have there been problems with how the church has handled these cases, many from decades ago? It's easy to blame the church, yes. Has the church learned how to handle these problems in the last fifteen years? Again, yes. Many of these cases are cases that happened many years ago. That does not make them right, and we as Catholics have a right to be angry with the situation that has befallen our church.

But being angry must be productive. Arguing through your anger that priests must be allowed to marry and women must be ordained priests are simplistic. Demanding certain bishops and even the pope to resign is also not the answer. Putting policies in place that will protect our children is a given. There is no excuse for child abuse, whether it is at the hands of a priest or any other man, or even women for that matter. There is no excuse for covering up the sins and allowing the perpetrators to continue in their work.

The church is in the midst of being pruned. Our pope has asked for forgiveness in the name of the church and in the name of the bishops and priests who have been responsible for neglecting and harming the souls of the children. Do we have a right to be angry? Yes. Do we need to forgive? Yes.

The priesthood is a wonderful calling and many men have given thier lives in selfless service for the people of God. Celibacy is a beautiful gift of the Holy Spirit, and one that requires a strong spiritual life to succeed. Pray for your priests, especially that they be holy, faithful and chaste.

Easter Octave

2010-04-06T21:59:00.002-04:00

The Resurrection!! Alleluia!!! Jesus is Risen!!!

God has been faithful to his promise. With the Resurrection of his Son, Jesus Christ, God has given us a great gift, and that is the gift of himself. He has reconciled the world to himself through his Son's obedience, and with the Resurrection, he has also given us the means to grow in his love through the sacraments. You are no longer bound and chained in sin. You have the ability to live in the freedom of the sons of God. This was all made possible through the cross, through Jesus' suffering and death.

As we celebrate this octave of Easter, let us live in the joy and peace of the Risen Lord. And let us also prepare oursleves to celebrate the great feast of Divine Mercy Sunday, the second Sunday of Easter and the final day of the octave. No matter your sinful life, no matter what you have done or are still doing, when you give yourself to the Lord and entrust yourself to his Divine Mercy, you will be cleansed and made new. See the Lord with a repentant heart and allow him to cleanse you, allow him to make you whole, allow him to give you the abundant life of living in the truth.

Our Lord is Risen! He has truly Risen!!

Annunciation

2010-03-25T21:03:00.002-04:00

Now is the time we need to pray! Let's ask the Blessed Mother to intercede for us as we offer roasries for the life of the unborn.

The Annunciation is a most wonderful feast day. Tne joy that comes to you when you hear for the first time that you are going to have a child. There is, of course, a moment of terror; especially if the child is your first. How are you going to raise the child? What are your dreams and hopes for your child? Are you ready to be a parent? Yet, the news of conceiving is joyous, and it was joyous as well for not only Mary, but for all of heaven, as they waited for her answer, her "yes." Ask the Blessed Mother to pray for you as well as you begin or as you continue your life as a father or as a mother. And pray for your children every day.

Eight is Enough

2010-03-22T22:20:00.007-04:00

Just watched the opening theme song from Eight is Enough on youtube. That was such a great show. I always identified with the show because I was also one of eight children. It was a great family drama/comedy that really highlighted relationships especially between brothers and sisters. They don't make shows like this any more.

As Holy Week approaches, it is a good time for us to reflect on the role family has in our own lives. Families are the domestic church, and it is here that we first hear about God, about Jesus Christ, and about sacrifice. At least, ideally, this is where we first hear about these things.

Sacrifice is very important in a family. We are born and immediately become selfish. We cry when we are hungry, when we are tired, when we need to be changed and when we just want to be held. As we go through the early years, we are still self-centered and want things to be our way. But our parents are responsible for teaching us that as a member of a family, you have certain chores and responsibilities that you are given. It is also through their love for you that they teach you discipline so that you can see that other people and other people's feelings, do matter. Sacrifice is when you realize that you are not to always get things your own way but that you are willing to take a back seat and allow someone else to have their way.

When sacrificing entails fasting and almsgiving as well, you learn to think of others while at the same time you deprive yourself of a good. It is here, when done with the right intention, that you grow in relationship with our loving God as well as learning to love others in our lives. And this is the message of the Gospel: Love God with your whole, heart, mind, soul and body and to love your neighbor as yourself.

Are we there yet?

2010-03-09T15:58:00.002-05:00

It seems spring is finally around the corner, and with spring comes a fresh outlook. The warmer weather brings sunnier dispositions. As we continue our journey through Lent, there are many things we can work on in our spiritual life. Lent is a time for prayer, fasting and almsgiving. It is a time for you to spiritually renew your relationship with God and with your neighbor, and if you are married, your spouse. Ask yourself, is God first in your life? And if not, why not? When God comes first, it is not at the expense of your spouse, for your spouse will receive many benefits if they see that you are in relationship with our Creator. He has brought you and your spouse together, and he is the one who keeps you together, if you ask him to be a part of the marriage.

Last week, we ran an episode on theology of the body. This is a very important teaching from Pope John Paul II, concerning how we relate to each other, within marriage as well as outside of marriage. How do you view your body? And how you view your own body will in many cases determine how you view the body of members of the opposite sex, especially your spouse's.

We will never change the culture of death until we begin to change ourselves and transform our own marriages into a culture of life. Culture has taken away from you your self-worth because culture has decided that it knows the difference between good and evil, and it is opposite what our Catholic Church teaches. Know what our faith teaches, study it, pray about it, and then live it. It is the only true path to true freedom.

Labels

2010-03-04T10:33:00.002-05:00

We have a tendency to hide behind labels. It is a normal security measure, for if you are able to label someone, you don't have to worry about meeting them where they are. You can be secure in feeling superior because you think differently than they do.

The use of labels will also affect our friendships as well. But, the highest form of friendship, that between a husband and a wife, will be affected by labels and by a difference in opinion in how to raise children. It could be something as simple as the kind of music and movies you allow your children to listen to and watch, or it can get more difficult in regards to books, especially books like Harry Potter. If you and your spouse are not on the same page, your children will sense it. How many times does a child play one parent off of another, without their even knowing it?

But it is a result of the lack of communication between a husband and a wife. It's not a critique or a condemnation. It's just an observation that is played out in many instances and is easily witnessed.

Love one another as I have loved you, says our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Occult

2010-02-23T19:31:00.003-05:00

We are in the midst of a very dangerous world, with an ever increasing population that is seeking out the occult and witchcraft in large numbers. This has been an effect of the Harry Potter phenomenon, as well as other movies, television shows and books that have really jazzed up this movement to be something good. What it has done, in all actuality, is bring our young people into the realm of the devil, without their or their parents even knowing it. If you heard the show on the occult, you would have learned that people like Steve Wood and others have been involved in the occult or have ministered to those stuck in the occult, and they have seen the dangers of the movement for the well being of the young people, many of whom become depressed, angry and suicidal.

Reading books like Harry Potter is not harmless. Some people may be able to read these books and not be affected, but the majority of young people are impressionable and will seek out more information concerning witchcraft and spells. If you know anyone involved in the occult, pray some deliverance prayers for their release from the devil's grasp.

Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life. What the people who seek out the occult are looking for, they will find in Jesus Christ. Sadly, many people seek out the occult to destroy Christianity, and you will find this even in our own Catholic Church, Catholic schools, and some orders of nuns. Extreme feminism has joined hand in hand with the occult and New Age movements. Our young people are being exposed to the occult in the classrooms, by people who claim to be Catholic. As a parent, it is your obligation to find out the teachers your child has and to make sure that they are not teaching your child anything contrary to the faith. And pray, pray and pray. Ask for the protection of St Michael, the Archangel and of our Blessed Mother so that the souls of your children will be protected from the evil influences that surround them. And probably most important, expose your children to good novels and books, like Tolkein's Lord of the Rings, or C. S Lewis' Narnia books. Michael O'Brien has written a very helpful book as well, called A landscape of Dragons: The Battle for your Child's Mind.

We have We Gone Wrong?

2010-02-09T21:19:00.002-05:00

It seems that our young children, especially our teenagers, are falling into peer pressure and making bad choices because of a feeling that they are not loved or respected by their parents. It can be difficult, because I know that every parent believes that he or she truly loves their children. And I am also fully aware that as a parent, you are called to enforce the rules and hand out discipline whenever your children are not behaving. You are called to discipline and Scripture even says, "Spare the rod, and spoil the child." But this rod of discipline is not about punishing your children with physical punishment. The rod was a stick used by the shepherds to gently lead their sheep in the direction they wanted. When the sheep strayed off course, the shepherd would let them know that they needed to come back on the right path. You are the shepherd of your children, and you are called to the authority of leading your children down the right path, using your rod to prod them back.

Once again, it is all about communication. When you build a relationship of trust with your children and have open and honest communication starting when they are very young, they will also return that trust and share with you some of the pressures that they are experiencing. Yes, they will at times fall into this peer pressure, and they will seek to be more independent, but they will also seek your love and security to help them when they make mistakes.

Drug abuse, alcohol abuse, and promiscuity are only three of the dangers that your teenager is exposed to. Another danger, and one that is growing at an alarming rate, is the occult. We will talk about this danger in an upcoming show.

Our Greatest Gift

2010-01-27T20:39:00.002-05:00

Children are God's greatest gift to us. They are precious treasures and our most valuable resource. They are also under attack. We just finished commemorating the 37th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion without limits. That was only the beginning. Through the last three decades, our children have been exposed to any number of harmful cultural fads, which have brought with it an increase in teen pregnancy, broken families, pornography, violence and promiscuity. Many parents have given up trying to parent their children, and those who do try to parent feel like they are swimming in a tsunami of schoolyard bullies.

What are a mother and a father to do? It really begins in the home with your relationship with your spouse. Your children need to feel secure and safein the arms of two parents who truly love each other and show it as well as show their love for their children. With the five love languages, you have the tools necessary to allow your children to thrive in a society that is trying to corrupt them.

In the upcoming shows, we will be focusing on some of the dangers that your children are confronted with, and how you can help guide them to make healthy choices in their lives.

Latest Shows

2010-01-18T20:20:00.000-05:00

To Listen to The Five Love Languages Part II Click here: http://www.box.net/shared/1qxd2shu1v

2010-01-18T20:13:00.002-05:00

To listen to the Five Love Languages Part I (aired 12/27/09) click here : http://www.box.net/shared/e0s6o8mv3a

Relationships

2010-01-12T19:03:00.004-05:00

So, now that the new year has begin, are you considering how to develop, deepen or even repair some of your relationships with friends, family and loved ones? If you are, what are some of the things you are doing? Christians are called to love to offer mercy and forgiveness and to even offer love to those who are enemies, who are trying to take you away from your relationship with Jesus Christ. How sad it is when Christians sit in judgment of other Christians. How sad it is when true reconciliation is not possible because of anger, bitterness and criticism that has infected so many of our relationships. But God has not given up on us. He so loved the world that he sent his son into the world, not to condemn it but that we might have life. Living in the Spirit, living in the abundant life of our Lord Jesus Christ, is possible even in the midst of crises and painful situations. All it takes is one person. When one person stands up and decides to live in the Spirit, then God can and will work in the relationship. There is real healing possible when even one person seeks to live in the freedom of the sons of God.

There is so much hate in the world, even among people who are so-called Christians. There is so much pain the world because of unhealthy relationships or a holding on to anger and bitterness. Jesus will take the pain away, and he will transform the pain into suffering. Suffering is redemptive whereas pain cuts off the healing power of the Holy Spirit. Living the Five Love Languages is only the beginning to a healing of all your relationships. There is more work that needs to be done, but once you begin living the love languages, then the Holy Spirit will become a part of that relationship and he will bless it with his gifts and fruits.

As we begin this new year, let us put aside all our anger and bitterness and offer true forgiveness and reconciliation to those who have hurt us. Be free of the bodily and spiritual chains that keep you away from God and live in the freedom of the children of God.

Happy New Year

2010-01-01T20:52:00.004-05:00

2010!! It is hard to believe that yet another year has passed. And, as this feast day is a holy day of obligation honoring the motherhood of Mary, I have been reflecting on how appropriate it is to have a holy day honoring Mary, the Mother of God to begin a new year. It is Mary who has brought and continues to bring many people to her Son, Jesus Christ, and this year is one that offers many difficulties and surprises and even joys. We turn to our Blessed Mother with the sure and certain hope that you receive blessings upon blessings this new year. Turn to her and lay your burdens at her feet. She will bring them to her Son.

The new year is also a good time to re-evaluate our prayer lives. One way you can experience a deepening prayer life is by praying a daily rosary, if you don't already. The rosary is a powerful weapon in the hands of Catholics in order to combat the evils of our society today. It is also a prayer that can deepen your own relationship with your spouse, especially when you pray the rosary together.

May 2010 bring you joy and peace, and may our Blessed Mother, Mary, continue to bring you and your relationships the peace and joy of true intimacy.

Christmas

2009-12-24T21:42:00.002-05:00

Merry Christmas!! As we celebrate the coming of God as man, it is a good time for us to re-evaluate our own relationships with family and friends. We have been discussing intimacy, and at Christmas time, we have many opportunities to share intimate moments with those we love, especially our children. Christmas is a time when you are called to explain the true meaning of Christmas to your children. Being with family brings with it a special kind of joy and peace, but it really shines through when the mother and father have really shared with each other a depth of true intimacy as well, which will carry over to your family.

But at Christmas, with a society that has been decimated with the breakdown of the traditional family, you may find it difficult to really share that peace of Christ. St Joseph also found it difficult on the first Christmas two thousand years ago. He traveled with his wife over some rough terrain to bring her to Bethlehem for a census, and yet when he arrived at his home town, his own family and friends turned him away, which led him to find shelter in a cave, where his wife, having given birth to the Savior, laid him in a manger. The Blessed Mother, who always brings us to her Son, Jesus Christ, presented her Son to the waiting world by placing him in the very place that animals feed. Our Blessed Mother still points the way to the Eucharist as she places her Son in our midst at every celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

May you have a Blessed and Joyous Christmas, and may the peace of Christ be with you and your family.

It's a Wonderful Life

2009-12-07T20:15:00.003-05:00

It's that time of year. The classic Christmas movie, Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life, has so much to offer the whole family. Interestingly, the movie did not do well when it first premiered in 1946, but over the years it has endured and endeared many to the timelessness of the themes of family and sacrifice. To watch George Bailey sacrifice his dreams and remain in Bedford Falls, raising a family will bring tears to your eyes. Frank Capra brilliantly portrays small town life and the scraping by of an existence, but the true nature of what transpires overcomes the dull, dreary small town life.

For it is the belief, the very Catholic belief, that each and every life has meaning and that you are created for a purpose. It took George Bailey a financial crisis in his Savings and Loan to find that the answer to all his dreams was not building skyscrapers and bridges, living in the fancy cities. No, the answer to his dreams was always right beside him, Mary Hatch Bailey, and their four adorable children.

Imagine if you had never been born. You may not even be aware of all the good you have done just by your existence, and what you may think are inconsequential actions. Now think how different this world would be if fifty million babies since 1973 were born. It boggles the mind, doesn't it?

Intimacy

2009-11-24T22:46:00.001-05:00

Matthew Kelly has written a book called The Seven Levels of Intimacy. He explains that in every relationship, there are various ways for you to share intimacy with one another, some healthy and some not so healthy. Ultimately, every relationship is about loving another person and your wanting to be loved in return. yet, there are many times that we try and hide from others, usually out of fear, which is a fear that the other person will reject you, and this rejection is a very powerful means for you to avoid intimacy at any level.

We begin with Matthew Kelly's first three levels of intimacy, cliches, facts, and opinions. These levels can be used to begin a relationship, one that has potential to deepen into something pretty wonderful. But the danger with these levels is that you may decide to use these levels to avoid any real intimacy with another person.

Christ the King

2009-11-21T21:01:00.002-05:00

We celebrate the kingship of Jesus Christ in this last Sunday of the liturgical year. What does it mean that Jesus Christ is King? The short answer is that his kingship means that he is the ruler over your life. But, when you acknowledge his kingship, it is not so that he rules you as a tyrant. His kingship is not solitary. No. He has made you a king as well for you to share in his royal kingship. When you were baptized, you were baptized as priest, prophet and king. You are called to exercise your kingship along with Jesus.

But just as a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand, you will not be able to remain in Jesus if you are not in agreement with him on how to rule your life. Basically, it comes down on how you rule your passions and emotions, and how you rule a life of virtue.

We have been discussing marriage for the last few weeks and now we are beginning a series on intimacy. What is it that you want most in your life? If you are like most people, you probably want to be loved. And being loved will go hand in hand with showing love. This is where intimacy comes in. It is a sharing of your life, of your hopes and dreans, of your fears and failings, with another person and allowing that person to share their hopes and dreams, their faults and fears and failings with you. When we then bring Jesus' kingship into our relationships, we will be able to share that intimacy that brings life, that brings an abundant life, to the person we are with. Abundant life will come through a true sharing of one's life with another, through love and mercy and forgiveness. It is the end result of living the fruits of the Holy Spirit: gentleness, kindness, peace, modesty, self-control, generosity, love and chastity.

Marriage III

2009-10-27T22:50:00.002-04:00

One of the hardest things in a marriage is when one spouse decides to practice the faith while the other spouse is more lukewarm. The spiritual component is important for a marriage, and when one spouse is infrequent in the practice of the faith, it might cause tension with the other spouse as well as with the children. But, if you find yourself with someone who does not attend Mass with you, or attends Mass only infrequently, bring them to prayer.

No one has a conversion experience because they were hit over the head or the recipient of anger. If you truly want your spouse to pray with you and attend Mass with you, and you want your kids to experience the joy of our Catholic faith, bring joy into your discussion with your spouse.

Think about it, if you are constantly arguing and yelling and criticizing your spouse for not going to Mass, and you leave the house with the children in a fit of anger, are you truly modeling Christian behavior? How are they going to associate the attendance of Mass? A child would much rather be with the parent who takes them our to eat on a Sunday morning or go to a football game than the one who forces them to go to Mass while angry.

Prayer, fasting and the daily rosary are a good way to ask Heaven for help in opening up your spouse's heart to the joys of our Catholic faith and the joy of receiving our Lord in the Holy Eucharist on a weekly, if not daily, basis.

Confession

2009-10-13T19:25:00.004-04:00

The Sacrament of Confession seems to have fallen by the wayside these days. It's unfortunate, though, because this sacrament has so much to offer you. Imagine if you never cleaned your home or your car, how quickly the dirt piles up. Then, imagine if you never bathed or showered or kept yourself groomed. How quickly, the sweat and dirt and unkempt hair would become unmanageable. It's the same with our soul. We need to keep our soul clean on a periodic schedule so that the effects of our sins do not stain our soul. Maybe you have had a terrible experience in the confessional or you do not see any value in it. Maybe you are convinced that you are a good person and not in need of confession. Confession is a way for you to check on your growth in the spiritual life and how well you are doing in living the virtues of our faith. Frequent confession can be a help in ending habitual sins, if you seek to put in place other spiritual aids to complement a good confession. Prayer, works of charity, almsgiving and the attentive participation at Mass with a good Holy Communion are all ways to help you, along with confession, to receive God's grace and love and strength to keep yourself away from even the most venial of sins. A daily examination of conscience can be helpful as well. Fr John Hardon, SJ, has a helpful examination at www.therealpresence.org and Scott Hahn's book, Lord, Have Mercy, also has some good daily examinations. Seek the Lord and he will free you from the chains of sin.

Marriage and Sanctity

2009-09-29T16:37:00.000-04:00

Marriage is a sacrament. God offers and imparts grace to you and your spouse so that you will be able to live the life of fidelity, fruitfulness and unity as you bring each other to God. Your wife is a means for your sanctification and you are a means for her sanctification, but sanctity requires that you open yourself up to God. Can your marriage survive if one of you refuses to attend Mass and practice your faith? Yes, it will survive. But ask yourself, is it enough to survive or would you rather thrive; to be the best you can be? Do you want to survive the cut and be the last person on the football team or do you want to be the star, someone who is integral to the victory week in and week out? Do you want to watch the quarterback win the game or do you want to be the quarterback who wins the game? The church wants to not only help your marriage to survive, but she gives you the opportunities to have a relationship that thrives so that you and your spouse may live a life of complete and utter joy, even in the midst of the trials and sufferings that go with being human. A happy, healthy and holy marriage is one that helps you to love as Christ loves, to overcome self-absorption, egoism and the pursuit of one’s own pleasure and to open yourself up to the other for her pleasure, her sanctity and mutual aid and self-giving. In effect, it is to die to self and to live for the other in every area of your life, whether the other spouse deserves it or not.

Critical Speech

2009-09-12T21:50:00.004-04:00

On this Feast of the Holy Name of Mary, we are reminded that the names of Jesus and Mary are sacred and holy, to be treated with reverence and respect. Critical speech, gossip, detraction are grave sins and one of the most prevalent sins in our country today. Yet it does not have to be. Language, speech, words, these are weapons that can kill, but they can also be remedies to a soul that is hurting. Imagine someone getting angry with you and yelling, screaming hateful words. What happens in your soul? Now, imagine how you feel when you hear tender words, words of love and kindness. Words can be that salve for you.

Within marriage especially, words can violate trust and rip asunder that union that you created on your wedding day. Our faith teaches that husbands and wives are united in one flesh and that this union is a mystery, a great mystery, as St Paul says, between Christ and the Church. Christ died for his bride. Husbands are called to die for their wives as well. Just remember how you felt on your wedding day. The heart is pumping, the joy is swelling, the mind is racing to try to comprehend the mystery that you are about to celebrate. The tender words that are spoken to your beloved on that day. Tender words that are loving and fruitful. These are the words that bring joy to your beloved.

Let joy reign in your hearts. Let the love of Christ transform you into a new creation so that you can be holy as your heavenly Father is holy. And bring your beloved to the heart of Christ so that you and your beloved may know the power and majesty of mercy, forgiveness and compassion.

Marriage

2009-08-25T20:13:00.003-04:00

Marriage between a man and a woman is a sacrament in the Catholic Church. Marriage is the joining of two who become one flesh, a man who leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife. There are many issues that surround marriage as well as the preparation for marriage. If you are planning a life long commitment to another person, what are some of the things you would need to discuss? There are issues such as finances, where you are going to live, the kinds of careers or jobs that you will undertake, the decision to have children and how many. If you are a person of faith, the role of your faith will also play an important role in your planning for the ceremony, what church you will have the wedding ceremony, the kind of music and the priest or minister who will receive your vows. There are rules and guidelines in all faith traditions and our Catholic faith is no exception. We will be discussing some of these issues in our upcoming shows. If you have any questions or comments about Catholic marriages or mixed marriages ( a marriage between a Catholic and a non-Catholic, whether they be baptized Christian or non-baptized person) please feel free to leave some comments or email us at feedmylambs@ymail.com

St John Vianney

2009-08-04T21:24:00.003-04:00

Today we celebrate the feast of St John Vianney, the Cure of Ars and the patron saint of all priests. Through his intercession, may all priests continue to administer the sacraments with love and fidelity.

We have been talking about reverence in our Catholic faith, most especially reverence in speech, actions and clothing while at Mass. There has been a survey that shows that 74 percent of the Catholic faithful believe the biggest problem in their parishes is the lack of reverence. This entails the lack of reverence in clothing as well as the lack of reverence before and after Mass. The noise within church makes it difficult for people to pray before Mass or to make an act of thanksgiving after Mass.

What is it you are looking for when you go to Mass? What are the things that help to make it a prayerful time for you and your family? And what do you feel to be appropriate clothing for a Sunday Mass? There are many considerations, and only you know if you are truly wearing your best clothes for Mass. There are no directives in Canon Law or the Catechism, but some parishes and some dioceses have mandated a dress code. For example, in Rome, you are not able to go into a church if you are wearing shorts or sleeveless shirts/dresses. And in Manila, the priests are encouraging you to dress in a respectful manner. Ask the Blessed Mother in prayer what you should wear for Mass. She'll let you know.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel

2009-07-16T09:34:00.003-04:00

One of our great treasures in the Catholic faith is our devotion to Our Lady. Mary is called upon under many different titles to pray for us, her children, and today, we call upon her as Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Unfortunately, many Catholics have been neglecting her, believing that devotion to Our Lady is outdated and old fashioned. Some even say that she takes away from the worship due her Son, Jesus Christ. But every authentic devotion to Our Lady will ultimately lead you to her Son. Mary is to be honored as the mother of Our Lord, as it says in the fourth commandment, and she is only too happy to bring all of us who honor her to Jesus Christ. You do not have to be traditional or conservative to give honor to Mary. in fact, there are many Catholics that would be considered progressive or liberal that pray the rosary and honor Mary in many other ways as well. Mary transcends all labels, but Mary aslo keeps Catholics honest about the teachings of the Church. Mary would never encourage dissent from any teaching. To honor Mary as the Mother of Jesus Crhist, our Lord and God, you would necessarily seek to live and to accept all the teachings of Holy Mother Church.

Join us this Sunday for a new feed my lambs show. We will be discussing how to properly receive Holy Communion and the difference between receiving Communion in the hand and receiving Communion on the tongue.

Liberal/Conservative?

2009-07-10T09:51:00.002-04:00

Why do we find it so easy to place labels on others? Within our Catholic Church, there has been an attempt to politicize our teachings and to place labels on those with whom we disagree. Pope Paul VI himself was characterized as a leading progressive (read: liberal) bishop before he was elevated to the papacy. He continued the Second Vatican Council, begun by Blessed Pope John XXIII, and soon after the council, the "smoke of Satan" entered the church. Yet, people on both sides of these labels were denoucning Pope Paul VI, especially in 1968 when Pope Paul issued his famous and prophetic encyclical, Humanae Vitae. Others accused him of being heretical because of the promulgation of a new missal, which changed many of the prayers of the Sacrifice of the Mass. This led to a mass defection of many priests and some bishops, and it has carried over today with many "traditional" sects, some of which have entered into schism. The best way to avoid being labeled liberal or conservative, progressive or traditional, is to think with the Church, and you think with the Church when you give assent to the teachings handed down through the popes and the magisterium. Doctrine cannot change.

Corpus Christi

2009-06-10T22:22:00.002-04:00

This Sunday is Corpus Christi Sunday, a day of devotion and celebration for the Body and Blood of Christ. This Solemnity, which was encouraged by Blessed Juliana of Liege and the Archdeacon Jacques Pantaleon, who later became Pope Urban IV, and in 1264, Pope Urban issued a Bull, called Transiturus, which made Corpus Christi a feast throughout the Latin Church. We, as Catholics, believe that the bread and wine offered at Mass are transubstantiated into the body and blood of Jesus Christ; in effect, the substance of bread and wine cease to be as the bpdy and blood of Christ miraculously appears as food for the Christian, but God, in his infinite wisdom, knowing that it would repuslive to eat flesh and drink blood, decreed that the body and blood of his Son, would appear under the appearance of bread and wine, whereby the accidents of bread and wine remain even as the substance has been changed into our Lord and Savior.

There are many wonderful prayers, hymns and devotions that surround this great mystery of our faith. One such devotion is Eucharistic Adoration, whereby you are invited to pray and just be in the presence of our Lord, who is exposed for the benefit of the faithful in what is called a monstrance. There are many blessings that come to a parish that supports and encourages and offers times for adoration, most especially perpettual adoration. It is in adoring our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament that is a remedy for the evils in the world and in our own Church. It is in the heart of the Eucharist that we will find the priestly vocations. On June 19th, the Solemntiy of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, will open the Holy Year for Priests and declare the saintly Cure of Ars, John Mary Vianney, the patron saint of all priests. Please continue to pray for your priests that they will most especially be devoted to our Lord present in the Holy Eucharist.

Pentecost

2009-05-30T22:23:00.002-04:00

Pentecost Sunday is here!! This is the day we commemorate the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles and we also commemorate the birthday of the church. The Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Holy Trinity, is the Lord and Giver of Life. we are able to pray only in and through the Holy Spirit. He has the power to change you, to transform you, to divinize you. he bestows upon you the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, which are wisdom, counsel, knowledge, piety, understanding, fortitude and fear of the Lord. How amazing that our God loves us so much that he would send these gifts to us. If you give your beloved a gift, would you not expect your beloved to use it? How would you feel if that gift, something that you really thought long and hard about, was placed in the closet and collected dust? Gifts are meant to be used. God does not want you to put these gifts of the Spirit in the closet so that they may collect dust. Ask for the Spirit to help you to use them properly.

The Holy Spirit is very real. He brings order to your chaotic life. He showers you with his love. He is the very breath of God, the ruah Adonai, and he revivifies your soul, dead to sin but now alive in Christ. You are a temple of the Holy Spirit. Keep that temple pure and make it a worthy home for the God who loves you. Come Holy Spirit, come Creator blest, kindle in the hearts of thy faithful the fire of thy love.

Motherhood and Celibacy

2009-05-19T08:39:00.003-04:00

Mothers Day was a week ago. Women have a great privilege to be able to share in God's creative power when they, with the help of God, form the child in the secret of their womb. Mothers and motherhood have been under attack in our society, but this is to be accepted since fatherhood and family life have also been under attack for years. Satan has always and continues to try to destroy the family. We must be vigilant in our prayer life and in our own relationships with our families and loved ones in order to counter the attack on families. Pray the family rosary. Go to Mass together as a family. Parents are the first teachers of their children. Do not give control over to the school, especially the public schools, and think that your children are learning good values. Keep abreast of what they are learning and get involved.

There is also a connection between a disparagement of marriage with the disparagement of priestly celibacy. When one suffers, both are suffering. Despite the failures of priests in the news, especially the most recent one in Miami, allowing priests to be married is not the answer. What our priests need is our prayers. I think we do a disservice to priests when newspapers and news shows write about the priests' sins for the purpose of sensationalism. Priests are human and they sin. What they need is prayer, not sensationalism.

Join us this Sunday, May 24th, as we discuss the Catholic Church's teaching on so called same sex marriage.

Priesthood: God's Gift

2009-04-28T11:11:00.003-04:00

Today is the Feast of St Peter Chanel, a Marist priest and the first martyr of Oceania. It is also the third anniversary of my ordination to the sacred priesthood. These last three years have been the most fulfilling of my life. There is no greater joy than knowing that you are in God's will and that your vocation is exactly where God wants you. Celibacy is a difficult way of life, but with God's grace it can be very enriching. There have been many arguments about celibacy and that it has led to a shortage of priests in the Catholic Church. I have heard many men say that they would become priests if the church ever allowed them to marry as well. But it is a distinct vocation. If we look at the other churches that allow married priests and ministers, we can see that it is a difficult way of life for them and their wives. They do an admirable job of living married life and ministering to the flock, but many wives of ministers will be the first to say that the husband is being pulled into two different directions. The Catholic priesthood is offering an ordained man the possibility of being able to serve whole heartedly. There will be a shortage of priests, and by the way, there is a shortage of priests and ministers in every denomination, but we are called to pray for laborers for the harvest for the work is plenty but the laborers are few. Celibacy is a great treasure and a gift for the Catholic Church, and when it is lived well, it brings with it much fruit for the People of God. Please pray for your priests that they may find joy in their priesthood and pray for an increase in vocations, that more young men may find it in their hearts to give themselves to service in the vineyard.

Divine Mercy

2009-04-21T11:10:00.002-04:00

Alleluia! The Lord is Risen! we have celebrated Easter Sunday and Divine Mercy Sunday, and I pray that your encounter with the Risen Lord was a blessed time and that He will continue to shower His graces and blessings upon you this Easter Season.

Divine Mercy Sunday is a powerful reminder to all of us that the mercy of God knows no limits. Our sins are like a drop in the ocean covered by His mercy so that it is never to be found again. The Father's mercy will change your life and bring you healing if you but open your heart to im and ask for His love and mercy to fall upon you and envelop you.

Many people, including deviout Catholics, are under the mistaken notion that Divine Mercy Sunday is optional and therefore can be dispensed with under the guise that it is a private revelation. It is true that St Faustina was given these revelations from our Lord Jesus Christ, but the message of these revelations come right out of the gospels. But if one wants to truly press the point, one can also claim that Our Lady of Guadalupe should be only an optional feast day as well since this is also private revelation, yet this great feast day is celebrated as a Feast in the United States.

In any event, I encourage you to pray the Divine Mercy chaplet and to foster a devotion to this wonderful devotion of the Lord's mercy. It can be prayed on regular rosary beads. You begin with the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Apostles' Creed. Then on the Our Father beads, you pray the following prayer: Eternal Father, I offer you the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of your dearly beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world. On the Hail Mary beads, you pray the following: For the sake of His Sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world. At the end of the fifth decade, you pray the following prayer: Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world (three times).

Chrism Mass

2009-04-07T16:48:00.004-04:00

Today, Sean Cardinal O'Malley celebrated the Chrism Mass at the Holy Cross Cathedral. It was a wonderful sight to see so many priests gathered around the shepherd of our archdiocese. His homily spoke to the priests about how we must be fishers of men and have a missionary spirit. We are not called to be caretakers and keep the status quo. The successful priests will be those who through their call and their missionary spirit will lead all the Catholic faithful to become missionary in their own lives. Have you ever considered how you live your Catholic faith and how if you live it with joy and peace, you will be bringing others to Christ in a world that has forgotten Him. Secularism is hostile towards faith in God, let alone a living faith in Jesus Christ. Please pray for your priests that we may be faithful dispeners of the mysteries of God as well as images of Jesus Christ, casting our nets out into the deep to bring life and light to those in darkness and sin. And pray for yourselves that you may be lights of Christ in your daily living of your relationship with Jesus Christ. As we prepare for the Sacred Triduum, open your hearts to the message of sacrifice and suffering that Jesus Christ portrays in a very real way. God bless you.

Pope John Paul II

2009-04-02T09:33:00.004-04:00

Today is the fourth anniversary of the death of our beloved Pope John Paul II. His long papacy brought with it many challenges in a world that has disintegrated due to a lack of morality. In fact, many people, especially the young adults who until recently have only known one pope and who call themselves JPII Catholics, do not hold to the traditional morality. And Mass attendance is still dropping. What are we to do? Pope John Paul reminded us of the power of the Eucharist and the power of prayer, especially prayer devoted to our Blessed Mother. With the Eucharist, the Blessed Mother, and a strong faith in the role of the papacy, the life of a Catholic can bring with it a joy and peace that this world does not give. Servant of God, John Paul II, ora pro nobis.

More Update

2009-03-27T09:15:00.003-04:00

Please keep Paula in your prayers. She has been having a difficult time shaking this pneumonia and it has brought to a standstill our production. We will be moving forward with a new show on the Holy Eucharist shortly. We greatly appreciate your patience and your prayers.

In the meantime, as we prepare for Palm (Passion) Sunday next week, I encourage you to take some time to prepare yourself by reading a passion account in the Gospel of Mark. Of course, a viewing of Mel Gibson's powerful movie, The Passion of the Christ, is also a wonderful way to enter into the beginning of Holy Week, now only ten days away. Jesus Christ suffered and died for YOU! The depth of His love for you continues in his Real Presence in the Blessed Sacrament. It is here that he continues to suffer as so many people neglect or profane His Sacred Presence in the Blessed Sacrament.

Important Update

2009-03-20T10:49:00.002-04:00

Paula K, my co-host, is suffering from pneumonia. Please remember her in your prayers and please be patient with the uploading of previously aired shows as Paula recuperates from her sickness. You can send her get well greetings at our email address feedmylambs@ymail.com.

Adoration

2009-03-16T19:53:00.002-04:00

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament has brought countless blessings to people who have opened their hearts to our Lord in His sacred Presence. Could there ever be a more beautiful and extraordinary love than our Lord and God, Jesus Christ, allowing Himself to be made a prisoner, open to countless abuses and ridicule and scourgings as on Good Friday, once again as He veils Himself under the form of Bread. All He asks is for us to spend time with Him, but so many either refuse His offer or do nit comprehend the majesty and glory of is Godhead present in the Blessed Sacrament. Let us pray for an increase in adorers of the Blessed Sacrament. Eucharistic Adoration is the answer to all our troubles.

The beauty of Mass

2009-03-09T08:52:00.002-04:00

Many people will say that Mass is boring or that they get nothing out of Mass. Yet, Mass is Heaven on earth. we are lifted up to the Heavenly realm with the angels and the saints, present at the one and eternal sacrifice of Jesus Christ to His Father. It is in our participation at Mass that we offer our own sacrifices to the Father as well. We are also privileged to receive Our Lord, Jesus Christ, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity, at Holy Communion. Come to the Wedding Feast of the Lamb. Come to the springs of Eternal Life. Come to the Heart of Jesus and receive His mercy and love. Mass is God's act of love for you. He gives you His Son in Holy Communion so that you may receive His very life.

Radio Show Week of February 8, 20009

2009-02-16T13:25:00.003-05:00

If you missed the show on Sunday the 8th, you can hear it by scrolling down to the media player. The media player is located under the picture of St. Michael, you'll find the last three shows there.

Be sure to join us February 22 as we begin a three part series on the mass. If you've ever felt like you don't get anything out of the mass, or you are bored, or if you don't understand why you sit or stand during mass, then this show is for you.

This Week's Show

2009-01-25T19:25:00.016-05:00

If you missed this weeks show, scroll down to the media player just under the St. Michael photo where you'll find the last two weeks shows.

St. Michael Prayer

2009-01-18T20:42:00.004-05:00

St. Michael the Archangel defend us in the battle, be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou oh Prince of the Heavenly Hosts, by the power of God, cast into hell, satan and all the evil spirits, who prowl throughout the world, seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

Listen to This Week's Show

2009-01-14T21:41:00.004-05:00

If you missed this weeks show you can listen here.

Prayer

2009-01-14T07:20:00.000-05:00

Join us this Sunday to discover how to enter into an intimate relationship with our loving God. In any relationship listening is just as important as talking and this is especially important in our relationship with God. God speaks to us in the silence of our hearts; this Sunday we'll help you focus on listening to the Love God wants to speak into your life.

Theology of the Body

2008-12-17T22:05:00.000-05:00

Join us this Sunday as we begin an introductory series on Pope John Paul II's beautiful teaching, "The Theology of the Body". This past week's show on Holy Friendships highlighted how it can be difficult to break free from unhealty friendships because of a combination of low self esteem and the fear of not being liked by others. Pope John Paul's Theology of the Body will help you to understand not only the dignity of the Human person, but also just how much you are truly worth in God's eyes. This teaching will also help you to understand God's design for marriage, intimacy and lasting happiness. We hope you'll join us as we enter into this great treasure left to us by our Beloved Holy Father.

Holy Friendship

2008-12-02T20:48:00.000-05:00

Join us once again this coming Sunday as we continue to explore Holy Friendships, with Part III of our 3 part series. We'll be able to discuss relationships between men and women, as best friends, as spouses and as "just friends", in order to help you recognize holy friendships and healthy relationships in your own life.

If you missed last week's show, Part II on Holy Friendships, email me for a copy. This show will help you understand what to do when you recognize an unholy friendship in your life and to know if it's a salvageable friendship or one you need to end for your own well being.

feedmylambs@ymail.com

If you missed Part I on Holy Friendships this show will help you understand how to recognize if the friendships in your life are healthy and holy.