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You are currently browsing the AirMaria.com weblog archives for March, 2007.
Ave Maria! Today’s Gospel speaks of the woman caught in adultery and placed at the feet of Jesus. The Law of Moses commanded such a person to be stoned to death, so what would Jesus’ response be? In this thoughtful reflection, Fr. Elias reminds us that this adulterous woman is a symbol of all of us who have turned toward sin rather than turning toward the good God. Ave Maria! |
Ave Maria! On this Feast of Our Lady and after being operational for four months or so, Fr. Angelo Geiger gives the surprise announcement of our grand opening! That’s right, up to now we have not been offically open. It has all been for practice. He mentions the many new shows, our new three column web format that includes a new menu system in the left column. The dedication of the site to St. Clare, Patroness of TV and in honor of Patrick Wroe, son of David Wroe who’s help has been indispensable for Air Maria. He thanks all the many people who have supported Air Maria in so many ways. Have a blessed Feast of the Annunciation! Ave Maria! |
Ave Maria! This vignette of the apparition of Our Lady to St. Catherine Laboure on the occasion of her request for the Medal was produced by the Franciscans of the Immaculate in conjunction with Susan Mackewich of Gizmo Productions and Dave Wroe. We include this segment on the happy occasion of the start of Air Maria and on the Feast of the Annunciation of the Archangel St. Michael to Our Lady resulting in the blessed Incarnation of the Son of God. This will also serve to introduce our series on the Miraculous Medal, hosted by Fr. Elias Mary, FI and Dave Wroe on the many miracles attributed to this medal. Ave Maria! |
Ave Maria! “Sacrifice and offerings you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me…Behold, I come to do your will.” These are the words of Christ, who humbled Himself and leapt down from Heaven into the Virgin’s womb, into the Virgin Earth of Our Lady. The only offering that could redeem us came through Mary, and, unlike Abraham, there was no substitute for the sacrifice of Her Son. Fr. Peter here speaks wonderfully on the glories of Our Lady, noting among other things that besides God the Father, the only one who can understand God the Son is His Mother. Ave Maria! |
Ave Maria! Today’s Readings and liturgy in the Church celebrate the solemnity of St. Joseph. He was chosen by God the Father not to feed His lambs, but, as it were, to feed and defend His shepherd. He is the Universal Patron and Protector of the Church and of the Family and a witness to all the truths of Christendom, including the Incarnation and the Perpetual Virginity of the Mother of God. We must turn to him now more than ever, when the mysteries of our Faith, the role of fatherhood, and masculinity itself are all under assault by the juggernaut known as the culture of death. As one Catholic psychologist points out, much of today’s ADD diagnosis is rooted in an “absent dad dilemma?? that plagues all of Western culture. St. Joseph is the model remedy for what ails us. Ave Maria! |
Ave Maria! In today’s gospel, Our Lord reminds us that loving God above all things is the greatest gift we can offer Him. St. John Vianney slept no more than 2 hours a night, 7 days a week, for 40+ years, and St. Francis performed a 40-day fast 6 times a year (eating only a small piece of bread on the 39th day), but such rigors were done with a miraculous grace from God, and they were done solely for the love of God. Chastity, fasting, and all other vows, penances, and works of mercy done for anything other than the love of God only fosters pride, vanity, and a callous heart. Let us listen to this exhortation by Fr. Bonaventure, and let us embrace the graces and gifts that God has given us for today. We must first be faithful in little things before God can entrust us with greater responsibilities. Ave Maria! |
Ave Maria! The reward for Christ’s humility is His glorification and ours as well. Humility is the cornerstone of our faith. Pride, vanity, curiosity – all the vices that make up a successful worldly career are the gifts of Satan and the fruits of original sin. Possessing many college degrees in not the formula for sanctity. Fr. Peter once again speaks with authority on the harmony of humility and dignity in the lives of Christ, Our Lady, and in our own lives. Ave Maria! |
Ave Maria! In today’s readings, we hear of the revelation of God’s Law to His people. The revelation of God’s Law is the revelation of His own mind and the revelation of His love for those who belong to Him. God’s Law is not an oppressive barrier that restricts us from enjoying life; it is a fence that protects us from our own disordered passions, a the boundary between happiness (in this life and the next) and misery (in this life and the next). As G.K. Chesterton once said, “Whenever you tear down a fence, always pause long enough to discover why it was put there in the first place.?? Our culture has done much to tear down God’s Law without reflecting on how it got there or why it’s relevant to modern man. Let’s pause long enough today to listen to Fr. Angelo open our hearts to a truer understanding of the necessity of God’s Law and it’s fulfillment in the coming of Christ. Ave Maria! |
Pope Benedict has once again reafirmed his position that reception of the Eucharist requires adherence to Church doctrine. There must be “eucharistic consistency,” especially from those who are in the public square. Yesterday (March 13) Benedict XVI released a 131 page apostolic exhortation on the Eucharist, Sacramentum Caritatis (“The Sacrament of Charity”). The document is the fruit of the Holy Father’s reflections on what was suggested by the bishops at the 2005 world Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist. But will politicians and other public persons listen to the truth? The Holy Father states that reception of Holy Communion is not merely a private matter. It is a public witness that must be consistent with the profession of the whole truth of Christ:
The Holy Father’s statement is consistent with his memo, promulgated while he was still prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, concerning “worthiness to receive Holy Communion.” Unfortunately, this memo was largely ignored by prelates and politicians during the 2004 election year. We shall see if these standards are upheld in 2008. At least one priest has decided enough is enough. |
Ave Maria! In today’s Gospel, Simon Peter asks Our Blessed Lord how many times he must forgive his brother who has sinned against him. Seven times? Fr Bonaventure Maria expounds beautifully on this part of the Gospel passage and also explains what the Father’s of the Church teach about the servant who was handed over by his master to the torturers till he had paid back the last penny. Ave Maria! |
Ave Maria! The swearing in of a Democratically-controlled Congress in 2006 was a setback for the Culture of Life. Today’s public assault against the virtue of chastity and the sanctity of family life began in 1965 with the Supreme Court case of Griswold vs. Connecticut that legalized contraception. Ever since then, emotions have trumped right reason in the public discourse. Without a total conversion of our own hearts, others will never see the light of truth, and the slaughter of innocents, the trivializing of sexuality, and the emptiness of our cultural experience will continue. In this program, Fr. Angelo and Corinn touch on all the consequences of electing a party whose foundation rests on the principles of the Culture of Death. Ave Maria! |
Ave Maria! Today’s Readings remind us that time is not cyclical, it’s linear: willingly or unwillingly, we are all heading for eternity. Today is God’s day of mercy, and tomorrow has been reserved for His judgment. This world of time, this 7 day week we now move about in will soon give way to the eternal 8th day, the Resurrection day of Christ that shall never end. In this wonderful reflection, Fr. Angelo reminds us of these truths and how they parallel the journey of Moses and the Israelites wandering in the desert. Let’s listen to his words, and then let us allow God to take us by the hand to His two thrones of mercy: first to the confessional, and then to the Holy Eucharist. His time for mercy is now, not tomorrow. Ave Maria! |
Ave Maria! Fr. Peter continues his discourse on the thought of Bl. John Duns Scotus. Scotus’ thoughts on the freedom of the will aren’t as shaky as some contemporary theologians would have us believe. He did not follow the heretical teachings of William of Occum. Scotus distinguished between the perfect will of God and the imperfect will of man, and we must be aware of this distinction when we attempt to compare God to ourselves. The basis of our personhood, our freedom, and our dignity lies in our will, and freedom itself is not license: it is the ability to guard and foster virtue, and it was never accomplished so perfectly in a human being as it was accomplished in Mary. Listen to this fascinating talk given by the master of Scotus and the Mother of God. Ave Maria! |
Ave Maria! Jesus takes personally all that we do or do not do to our neighbor. Recall His words to Saul on the road to Damascus: “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” Fr. Joachim explains that the rich man in today’s Gospel did not show charity toward Lazarus or toward his own family, and so he and all like him will be separated from God forever. Let us give of ourselves and give our best to everyone we interact with, always seeing in them the face of Christ. Ave Maria! |
Ave Maria! Fr. Peter and John Primeau of NACEPF discuss Mary as Mediatrix of all Graces in the context of Her involvement in the Eucharist and the Incarnation. Ave Maria! Ave Maria! |
