Homily #091109 ( 08min) Play -

The residence of the Popes which was named the Lateran Palace was built by Lateranus Palutius, whom Nero put to death to seize his goods. It was given in the year 313 by Constantine the Great to Saint Miltiades, Pope, and was inhabited by his successors until 1308, when they moved to Avignon. The Lateran Basilica built by Constantine near the palace of the same name, is the first Basilica of the West. Twelve councils, four of which were ecumenical, have assembled there, the first in 649, the last in 1512.

If for several centuries the Popes have no longer dwelt in the Palace, the primacy of the Basilica is not thereby altered; it remains the head of all churches. Saint Peter Damian wrote that “just as the Saviour is the Head of the elect, the church which bears His name is the head of all the churches. Those of Saints Peter and Paul, to its left and its right, are the two arms by which this sovereign and universal Church embraces the entire earth, saving all who desire salvation, warming them, protecting them in its maternal womb.”

The Divine Office narrates the dedication of the Church by the Pope of Peace, Saint Sylvester:

“It was the Blessed Pope Sylvester who established the rites observed by the Roman Church for the consecration of churches and altars. From the time of the Apostles there had been certain places dedicated to God, which some called oratories, and others, churches. There, on the first day of the week, the assembly was held, and there the Christian people were accustomed to pray, to hear the Word of God, and to receive the Eucharist. But never had these places been consecrated so solemnly; nor had a fixed altar been placed there which, anointed with sacred chrism, was the symbol of Our Lord Jesus Christ, who for us is altar, victim and Pontiff. But when the Emperor Constantine through the sacrament of Baptism had obtained health of body and salvation of soul, a law was issued by him which for the first time permitted that everywhere in the world Christians might build churches. Not satisfied to establish this edict, the prince wanted to give an example and inaugurate the holy labors. Thus in his own Lateran palace, he dedicated a church to the Saviour, and founded the attached baptistry under the name of Saint John the Baptist, in the place where he himself, baptized by Saint Sylvester, had been cured of leprosy. It is this church which the Pontiff consecrated in the fifth of the ides of November; and we celebrate the commemoration on that day, when for the first time in Rome a church was thus publicly consecrated, and where a painting of the Saviour was visible on the wall before the eyes of the Roman people.” – magnificat.ca

When the Lateran Church was partially ruined by fires, enemy invasions, and earthquakes, it was always rebuilt with great zeal by the Sovereign Pontiffs. In 1726, after one such restoration, Pope Benedict XIII consecrated it anew and assigned the commemoration of that event to the present day. The church was afterwards enlarged and beautified by Popes Pius IX and Leo XIII.
Ave Maria! Mass readings

Audio (MP3)

+++

Homily #091022 ( 07min) Play – Today we celebrate the dedication and consecration of the Chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe here in Griswold, CT and all the many graces that have resulted. May more Churches open an fewer close.
Ave Maria! Readings EF – 1st: rev 21:2-5 – Gsp: luk 19:1-10

Audio (MP3)

+++

Homily #090825 ( 07min) Play – On this the 8th Anniversary of the dedication of Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel at our friary in Griswold, CT Fr. Bonaventure highlights the need to rededicate ourselves, the living stones of God’s Church, to Our Lord and Lady.
Ave Maria!

Audio (MP3)

+++

Homily #090525 ( 08min) Play – Using the 1962 calendar for this Traditional Mass, we celebrate the feast of the Dedication of the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, Italy.  Fr. Ignatius emphasizes the significance of the Basilica with its rich history and how magnificent churches have a positive effect on the up-building of people’s faith and how the closing of churches today has the opposite effect.

Ave Maria! TLM readings

Audio (MP3)

+++

Homily #080823s ( 17min) Play -

Fr. Angelo preaches for the Mass at our annual Queenship of Mary celebration which we do on the Saturday nearest the Queenship Feastday of Aug 22nd. It is a celebration of the establishment of the Franciscans in Griswold and has been the celebration of each step of the completion of our facilities here, including the Lourdes Grotto 1994, the Friary 2000, the Dedication of the Chapel 2001 and the dedication of St. Joseph’s Chapel 2003. Listen as Father explains the need for thanksgiving and for making Our Lady the Queen of our nation, culture and personal lives as the best expression of our Catholic Faith, for it is Our Lord who chose her as His Queen-Mother, and we should imitate Him.
Ave Maria!
+++