AirMaria.com

Homily #110102 ( 15min) Play – In today’s Gospel on this Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord we have the story of the three Magi or wise men from the east who, following the star, come to the newborn Savior with the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Fr Bonaventure explains the significance of these gifts as well as the three wise men in the public manifestation (epiphany) of the newborn Christ, fulfilling the ancient prophecies and pointing to the events of His life, especially the other epiphany events, His Baptism, the Miracle at Cana and the Transfiguration.
Ave Maria!
Mass: Epiphany of the Lord – Solemnity – Form: OF
Readings:
1st: isa 60:1-6
Resp: psa 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13
2nd: eph 3:2-3, 5-6
Gsp: mat 2:1-12

Audio (MP3)

+++

Homily #101128 ( 10min) Play – Fr Dominic preaches on the opening of Advent when we prepare for the coming of Our Lord when He is born at Bethlehem on Christmas Day. Father focuses on the Marian dimension of this season when we should renew our consecration to Mary so that we can prepare all the better, gaining graces, overcoming bad habits.
Ave Maria!
Mass: 1st Sunday of Advent – Form: OF
Readings:
1st: isa 2:1-5
Resp: psa 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
2nd: rom 13:11-14
Gsp: mat 24:37-44

Audio (MP3)

+++

Homily #100103 ( 13min) Play – Epiphany of Our Lord marks the second part of Christmas which is the manifestation of Christ to the whole world as an introduction to His public ministry as an adult. Fr Angelo explains who the Magi were and why God lead them with the star first to King Herod in Jerusalem and only then to Bethlehem and the Christ Child. He contrasts the response of the Magi to that of Herod when they receive the message of the coming of the Messiah.
Ave Maria! Mass readings
1: Isa 60:1-6
R: Ps 72:1-2,7-8,10-13
2: Eph 3:2-3,5-6
G: Mt 2:1-12

Audio (MP3)

+++

Homily #091228 ( 10min) Play – Today we celebrate the feast of the Holy Innocence who died in the place of Jesus when Herod tried to kill the messiah by killing all the male children under two years of age at Bethlehem. Father relates this to our own times and invokes their intercession for the protection of innocent life.
Ave Maria! Mass readings
1: 1 Jn 1:5-2:2
R: Ps 124:2-5,7-8
G: Mt 2:13-18

Audio (MP3)

+++

Homily #091224 ( 04min) Play – On the Vigil of Christmas (Christmas Eve) Father gives the account of the arrival of the Holy Family in Bethlehem. He notes how they are poor, chaste, docile to the will of God and full of charity. Let us imitate them and contemplate these great events.
Ave Maria! Vigil of the Nativity of Our Lord – Mass: EF, Hodie Scietis – Readings: 1st: rom 1:1-6 – Gsp: mat 1:18-21

Audio (MP3)

+++

One Minute Meditation

The Tradition of the Christmas Crib

Following a beautiful and firmly-rooted tradition, many families set up their crib immediately after the feast of the Immaculate Conception, as if to relive with Mary those days full of trepidation that preceded the birth of Jesus. Putting up the crib at home can be a simple but effective way of present­ing faith, to pass it on to one’s children. The crib helps us contemplate the mystery of God’s love that was revealed in the poverty and simplicity of the Bethlehem Grotto. Saint Francis of Assisi was so taken by the mystery of the Incarnation that he wanted to present it anew at Greccio in the living nativity scene, thus beginning an old, popular tra­dition that still retains its value for evangelization today. Indeed, the crib can help us understand the secret of the true Christmas because it speaks of the humility and merciful goodness of Christ, who “though he was rich he made himself poor” for us (2 Cor 8: 9). His poverty enriches those who embrace it and Christmas brings joy and peace to those who, like the shepherds in Bethlehem, accept the Angel’s words: “Let this be a sign to you: in a manger you will find an infant wrapped in swad­dling clothes” (Lk 2: 12). This is still the sign for us too, men and women of the third millennium. There is no other Christmas.

Pope Benedict XVI

Homily #090104 ( 08min) Play – On this Epiphany Sunday Fr. Ignatius explains that the Our Lord manifests himself on this day as he does on the Feast of Cana and at His Baptism by John in the Jordan. And so all naturalistic ways to salvation now cease as is symbolized by the Magi, the gentile astrologers, coming to seek Christ under a new star at Bethlehem.
Ave Maria! Mass readings
+++

Ave Maria Meditations

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will.” (Lk. 2:14)

MEDITATION

At Bethlehem the angels announced two things: Glory to God and peace to men; the one corresponds to the other. No one glorifies God as much as that little Babe lying on the straw. He alone, being the eternal Word, can give God the perfect, infinite praise that is worthy of Him. And no one more than Jesus, our Savior, brings peace to men; making reparation for sin, He reconciles man with his Creator and establishes a new covenant between them: the Creator will become Father, and man, will become a son.

(more…)

FI News #1 – Time-lapse of setting-up the creche >>> Play

Ave Maria!

T’is the Season … ! This is a re-post of the very first FiNews when AirMaria was Just getting started.

The keystone friars set-up the creche at Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel in this time-lapse video set to “O Little Town of Bethlehem” sung by the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate. Merry Christmas!

Ave Maria!

An Ave Maria Meditations encore:

THE GREAT ANTIPHONS

 The following great Antiphons are said entire before and after the Magnificat,

from the 17th to the 23rd of December, inclusive.

Antiphon for the 17th of December :

O SAPIENTlA, quae ex ore Altissimi prodiisti, attingens a fine usque ad finem, fortiter suaviterque disponens omnia: veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae.

O WISDOM that comes out of the mouth of the Most High, that reaches from one end to another, and dost mightily and sweetly order all things: come to teach us the way of prudence!

(more…)