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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

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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

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Roving Reporter #105 – Thomas S. Monaghan SFI Inductee ( 08min) >>> Play

Ave Maria!

Friar Roderic interviews Tom Monaghan, founder of Domino’s Pizza, while he was in the Chicago area to be inducted into the Sports Faith International Hall of Fame as former owner of the Major League Baseball team Detroit Tigers. He talks about how he started Domino’s Pizza and how important faith is to his motivation and how he wants to use his wealth to revive Catholic higher education. He gives insight into the importance of sports in our lives for building character. Mr. Monaghan is also Chancellor of Ave Maria University, and Chairman of Ave Maria School of Law and Chairman of Legatus.

Ave Maria!

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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

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One Minute Meditation

The Fourth Sorrowful Mystery:   THE CARRYING OF THE CROSS

• One condemned to death by crucifixion is forced to carry the cross to the place of execution.
• The suffering of Jesus is intense as the cross is laid on His bruised and wounded back and shoulders.
• Weak and exhausted from loss of blood, lack of food and rest, Jesus falls three times under the cross.
• Jesus meets His afflicted Mother causing untold anguish in the Hearts of Son and Mother.
• The countenance of Jesus is disfigured with blood and sweat, with dust and spittle.
• Veronica wipes His face, leaving on her towel the image of His countenance.
• Fearing that Jesus might die on the way, the soldiers force Simeon of Cyrene to carry the cross behind Jesus.
• Jesus speaks to weeping women; “Weep not for Me, but for yourselves and your children.”
• “If anyone is to be My disciple, let him take up his cross and follow Me.”
• Father, by the merits of this painful journey to Calvary, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

St. Louis de Montfort on a theme closely related to both Lent and chivalry:

Friends of the Cross, you are like crusaders united to fight against the world; not like Religious who retreat from the world lest they be overcome, but like brave and valiant warriors on the battle- field, who refuse to retreat or even yield an inch. Be brave and fight courageously.

You must be joined together in a close union of mind and heart, which is stronger and far more formidable to the world and to hell than are the armed forces of a great nation to its enemies. Evil spirits are united to destroy you; you must be united to crush them. The avaricious are united to make money and amass gold and silver; you must combine your efforts to acquire the eternal treasures hidden in the Cross. Pleasure-seekers unite to enjoy themselves; you must be united to suffer.

Quite a different standard than that of the chivalry of the world.

Off to help preach a retreat to post-abortive women with the Sisters of Life. Please pray for the 23 women and for those conducting the retreat this weekend. Theme for the retreat:   In the Cross is Salvation.

Filed under: Catholicism, Chivalry, Knights, Marian Chivalry, Pro-Life, Religion, Retreat, Spirituality Tagged: Cross, Friends of the Cross, Lent, St. Louis de Montfort
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Roving Reporter #104 – Fra David with Meagan Gitchell at Halas Hall ( 03min) >>> Play

Ave Maria!

In this year’s (Sports Faith International – Hometown Heroes Award – Athlete of the Year Award)  Meagan Gitchell was one of three awarded, and this for her skills in soccer and her faith.

Sports Faith International is a Chicago-based initiative dedicated to inspiring and transforming our culture through the world of sports.   It will utilize the best of new and traditional media to feature and encourage the powerful personal testimonies of outstanding athletes at all levels, who are living out their faith on and off the field.

Ave Maria!

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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

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Ave Maria!

This is a new high quality feature length movie of the life of St. Bernadette that has an interesting twist. All the actors are kids! It is professionally produced by Navis Films which is starting a whole new genre of films called “Children’s Cinema”.

Here is an excerpt from their website:

Just a very quick word about our purpose:

Western Civilization is declining, our culture is crumbling, and it will be up to our children and our children’s children to help save it. The arts comprise a hugely influential component of that culture. If we can inspire one child to take up a career in those arts, and to create stunning beauty so as to lift men’s souls toward God, and in doing so glorify Him, we will have succeeded. To that end we are creating an entirely new genre of film: Children’s Cinema. St. Bernadette of Lourdes features a cast of over 100 mostly home-schooled, Catholic children ranging from 3 to 17 years of age. We are certain that the benefits of this unique experience will extend far beyond its cast and their families. It has been my experience with our other films, and with the extremely successful Glory Stories audio series which I created with Ken Davison of Holy Heroes, that kids love hearing and watching other kids perform. I’m sure you and your kids will absolutely love this film, and the other projects we will be bringing to market within the next few months.

God bless you, and thank you for visiting Navis Pictures.

In Christ,
- Jim Morlino
President, Navis Pictures

Interestingly, some of these kids regularly come with their parents to our friary here in Griswold, CT. Enjoy…

Written to be sung to the tune Thaxted by Gustav Holst, adapted from a section of Jupiter from his suite The Planets as a setting for the patriotic poem by Cecil Spring-Rice, I vow to Thee my Country.  This exquisitely beautiful and sad melody has a special significance for me, since it was by providence used by Fra Didacus for the memorial video about our deceased knights, Thom and Marc Girard.  At that time it was pointed out to me what the original lyrics where and how appropriate a choice the tune was.

Eternal rest grant to Thom and Marc, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.

For your consideration:

I cast myself before Thee, Thy bondsman and Thy fool;
Thy patronage is freedom, Thy slavery my school.
I hand To Thee my sword hilt and wait for Thy command
To serve among Thy servants who pledge to take a stand.
That I might die in battle, a victim of Thy love:
My wish, my prayer, my promise, thus written in my blood.

I saw the bark of Peter ride dark into the sun,
But darker still the marking of crescent, hoard and gun.
Her sails lay flat and mellow, Her men had pledged their troth,
Left hand on beaded psalter, the right to keep their oath.
The haughty fiend had counted on fear to win the day,
But Thine own breath was counted to turn the wind their way.

My Queen, to Thee be honor and praise through all Thy knights
Who toiled and bled and parted Thy martyrs robed in white.
All courtesy and prowess, all strength and gentleness,
Thy heart a pyx of virtue, Thy face all loveliness.
Then at the hour of judgment my colors Thou may see,
Thy Son upon His white steed, Thou pray to come for me.

Filed under: Blessed Virgin Mary, Catholic Action, Catholicism, Chivalry, Culture, Fatherhood, Heroes, Knights, Knights of Lepanto, Lepanto, Manliness, Marian Chivalry, Prayers, Religion, Spirituality Tagged: anthem, Battle of Lepanto, Cecil Spring-Rice, Gustav Holst, Holy Rosary, hymn, I Vow to The My Country, Jupiter, Marc Girard, Our Lady of the Rosary, Our Lady of Victory, Thaxted, The Planets, Thom Girard
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Roving Reporter #103 – Fra David and April Ortenzo at Halas Hall ( 04min) >>> Play

Ave Maria!

In this year’s “Sports Faith International”, April Ortenzo was chosen as “Athlete of The Year – Female”.

Sports Faith International is a Chicago-based initiative dedicated to inspiring and transforming our culture through the world of sports.   It will utilize the best of new and traditional media to feature and encourage the personal testimonies of outstanding athletes at all levels, who are living out their faith on and off the field.

Ave Maria!

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Homily #100311 ( 03min) Play – God Created us to know, love and serve God, and be happy with Him for ever in Heaven. Fr. Ignatius preaches on the idea that love is always a two-way street and so we receive much more love from Him. This is demonstrated by the many healings in today’s Gospel.
Ave Maria! Thursday of the Third Week in Lent – Mass: EF, Salus Populi – Readings: 1st: jer 7:1-7 – Gsp: luk 4:38-44

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