Homily #100319 ( 19min) Play -

Saint Joseph was by birth of the royal family of David, but was living in humble obscurity as a carpenter, until God raised him to the highest office ever accorded a mortal man, by choosing him to be the spouse of the Virgin Mother, the virginal father and guardian of the Incarnate Word. Joseph, says Holy Scripture, was a just man. He was innocent and pure, as became the husband of Mary; he was gentle and tender, as one worthy to be named the father of Jesus; he was prudent and a lover of silence, as became the master of the holy house; above all, he was faithful and obedient to divine calls.

His conversation was with Angels rather than with men. When he learned that Mary bore within Her womb the Lord of heaven, he feared to take Her as his wife; but an Angel bade him put his fear aside, and all doubts vanished. When Herod sought the life of the divine Infant, an Angel told Joseph in a dream to fly with the Child and His Mother into Egypt. Joseph at once arose and obeyed. This sudden and unexpected flight must have exposed both him and his little Family to many inconveniences and sufferings; the journey with a newborn infant and a tender virgin was long, and the greater part of the way led through deserts and among strangers. Yet Saint Joseph alleges no excuses, nor inquires at what time they were to return.

Saint Chrysostom observes that God treats in this way all His servants, sending them frequent trials to clear their hearts from the rust of self-love, but intermixing with afflictions, seasons of consolation. It is the opinion of the Fathers that when the Holy Family entered Egypt, at the presence of the Child Jesus all the oracles of that superstitious country were struck dumb, and the statues of their gods trembled, and in many places fell to the ground. The Fathers also attribute to this holy visit the spiritual benediction poured on that country, which made it for many ages fruitful in Saints.

After the death of King Herod, of which Saint Joseph was informed in another vision, God ordered him to return with the Child and His Mother into the land of Israel, which our Saint readily accomplished. But when he arrived in Judea, hearing that Archelaus had succeeded Herod in that part of the land, and apprehensive that the son might be infected with his father’s vices, he feared to settle there, as he would otherwise probably have done, for the education of the Child. Therefore, directed by God through still another angelic visit, he retired into the dominions of Herod Antipas in Galilee, and to his former habitation in Nazareth.

Saint Joseph, a strict observer of the Mosaic law, journeyed each year at the time of the Passover to Jerusalem. Our Saviour, in the twelfth year of His age, accompanied His parents. Having participated in the usual ceremonies of the feast, the parents were returning with many of their neighbors and acquaintances towards Galilee, and never doubted that Jesus was with some of the company. They traveled on for a whole day’s journey before they discovered that He was not with them. But when night came on and they could find no trace of Him among their kindred and acquaintances, they, in the deepest affliction, returned with the utmost haste to Jerusalem. We are left to imagine their tears and their efforts to find Him. After an anxious search of three days they discovered Him in the Temple, discoursing with the learned doctors of the law, and asking them such questions as aroused the admiration of all who heard Him. His Mother told Him with what grief and earnestness they had sought Him and asked, “Son, why have You dealt with us in this way? Behold, Your Father and I have searched for You in great affliction of mind.” The young Saviour answered, “How is it that You sought Me? Did You not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” In this way Jesus encourages all young persons who are called to serve God to persevere in that high vocation, whatever the cost. But we are told that although He had remained in the Temple unknown to His parents, in all other things He was obedient to them, returning with them to Nazareth, and living there in all dutiful subjection to them.

As no further mention is made of Saint Joseph, he must have died before the marriage feast of Cana and the beginning of our divine Saviour’s ministry. We cannot doubt that he had the happiness of the presence of Jesus and Mary at his death, praying beside him, assisting and comforting him in his last moments; therefore he is invoked for the great grace of a happy death and the spiritual presence of Jesus in that hour. -www.magnificat.ca

Ave Maria! Mass readings

Audio (MP3)

+++

Homily #100318 ( 07min) Play – Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father: the one who will accuse you is Moses, in whom you have placed your hope. For if you had believed Moses, you would have believed me, because he wrote about me.
Ave Maria! Mass readings

Audio (MP3)

+++

Homily #100317 ( 15min) Play

If the virtue of children reflects honor on their parents, much more justly is the name of Saint Patrick rendered illustrious by the innumerable lights of sanctity which shone in the Church of Ireland during many ages, and by the colonies of Saints with which it peopled many foreign countries. The Apostle of Ireland was born in Scotland towards the close of the fourth century, in a village which seems to be the present-day Scotch town of Kilpatrick, between Dumbarton and Glasgow. He calls himself both a Briton and a Roman, that is, of mixed extraction, and says his father was of a good family named Calphurnius. Some writers call his mother Conchessa, and say she was the niece of Saint Martin of Tours.

In his sixteenth year he was carried into captivity in Ireland by barbarians. There he was obliged to shepherd cattle on the mountains and in the forests, in hunger and nakedness, amid snow, rain, and ice. The young man had recourse to God with his whole heart, in fervent prayer and fasting, and from that time faith and the love of God acquired a constantly renewed strength in his tender soul. After six months spent in slavery, Saint Patrick was admonished by God in a dream to return to his own country, and was informed that a ship was then ready to sail there. He went at once to the seacoast, though at a great distance, and found the vessel, but he could not obtain his passage — probably for want of money. Patrick was returning to his hut, praying as he went, when the sailors, though pagans, called him back and took him on board.

Some years afterwards he was again taken captive, but recovered his liberty after two months. While he was at home with his parents, God manifested to him, by divers visions, that He destined him for the great work of the conversion of Ireland. His biographers say that after his second captivity he traveled into Gaul and Italy, and saw Saint Martin, Saint Germanus of Auxerre, and Pope Saint Celestine, and that he received his mission and the apostolical benediction from this Pope, who died in 432. It is certain that he spent many years in preparing himself for his sacred calling. Great opposition was raised to his episcopal consecration and mission, both by his own relatives and by the clergy. They made him great offers in order to detain him among them, and endeavored to affright him by exaggerating the dangers to which he exposed himself amid the enemies of the Romans and Britons, who did not know God. All these temptations cast the Saint into great perplexity; but the Lord, whose Will he consulted by earnest prayer, supported him and he persevered in his resolution.

He therefore left his family, sold his birthright and dignity, and consecrated his soul to God, to serve strangers and carry His name to the ends of the earth. In this disposition he passed into Ireland, to preach the Gospel where the worship of idols still generally reigned. He traveled over the island, penetrating into the remotest corners, and such was the fruit of his preaching and sufferings that he baptized an infinite number of persons. Everywhere he ordained clergymen, induced women to live in holy widowhood and continence, consecrated virgins to Christ, and founded monasteries, not without many persecutions.

Saint Patrick held several councils to regulate the discipline of the Church he had planted. Saint Bernard and the tradition of the country testify that he fixed his metropolitan see at Armagh. He established other bishops, as appears by the acts of a council and various other documents. He not only converted the whole country by his preaching and wonderful miracles, but also cultivated this vineyard with so fruitful a benediction from heaven as to render Ireland a flourishing garden in the Church of God, and a land of Saints. He converted and baptized the kings of Dublin and Munster and the seven sons of the king of Connaught, with the majority of their subjects, and before his death almost the whole island. He founded three monasteries and filled the countryside with churches and schools of piety and learning. He died and was buried at Down in Ulster. His body was found there in a church of his name in 1185, and moved to another part of the same church. -www.magnificat.ca

Ave Maria! Mass readings

Audio (MP3)

+++

Homily #100316 ( 04min) Play – Through our Lord we are now able to get up from our sins and walk anew.
Ave Maria! Mass readings

Audio (MP3)

+++

Homily #100315 ( 07min) Play – We are called to have faith in the words our Lord has spoken, words that do not return empty. This is My Body…this is My Blood…
Ave Maria! Mass readings

Audio (MP3)

+++

Homily #100314t ( 06min) Play – Give what you receive and much more you will receive in the loop of God’s grace.
Ave Maria! Mass readings

Audio (MP3)

+++

Homily #100314 ( 17min) Play – Today is Laetare Sunday, the Fourth Sunday in Lent, which is like Gaudete Sunday in Advent, a day of joy in the midst of a season of penance.  Common to both these days are the joyful rose vestments and Fr. Bonaventure relates this to the Gospel of the day which is the parable of of the Prodigal Son and how the son is robed in festive vestments due to the father’s joy in the return of his wayward son. Fr. Bonaventure highlights the importance of repentance if we fall and how all penance leads to joy if we persevere to the end.
Ave Maria! Mass readings
1: Josh 5:9,10-12
R: Ps 34:2-7
2: 2 Cor 5:17-21
G: Lk 15:1-3,11-32

Audio (MP3)

+++

Homily #100313ms ( 11min) Play -
In the story of Susanna and the Elders, and then again in the story of the woman caught in adultery, Our Lord shows how He came to bring about the triumph of His mercy.
By His justice He gives us what we deserve. By His mercy, He gives us far better than what we deserve, He gives us what we don’t deserve – He gives us life when we deserve death.

Ave Maria! Saturday of the Third Week in Lent – Mass: EF, Verba Mea Auribus – Readings: 1st: dan 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62 – Gsp: joh 8:1-11

Audio (MP3)

+++

Homily #100313 ( 07min) Play – The two readings today from the Old and New Testament both refer to women accused of adultery by evil men.
Fr. Ignatius preaches on how the accusers against Susanna in the first reading became more and more sinful as they reject opportunities to avoid sin and to have recourse to the grace that comes from prayer.
Ave Maria! Saturday of the Third Week in Lent – Mass: EF, Verba Mea Auribus – Readings: 1st: dan 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62 – Gsp: joh 8:1-11

Audio (MP3)

+++

Homily #100312 ( 03min) Play – Fr. Ignatius preaches on the Gospel story of the Christ’s discourse with the woman at the well. Here Jesus talks about the well of living water which is Himself, true drink and true food.
Ave Maria! Friday of the Third Week in Lent – Mass: EF, Fac Mecum – Readings: 1st: num 20:1,3,6-18 – Gsp: joh 4:5-42

Audio (MP3)

+++