Dec 15 – Homily – Fr Angelo: Our Lady, Queen of the Tertiary Handmaids
Thursday, December 16th, 2010
Homily #101215s ( Ave Maria! Readings: +++ |
Audio (MP3)St. Francis and the Christmas Creche
Thursday, December 9th, 2010Ave Maria Meditations
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
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Solemnity of St. Francis of Assisi
Sunday, October 3rd, 2010Ave Maria Meditations
St. Francis of Assisi, after spending many nights in prayer on the mountain, offered one final prayer. “My Lord Jesus Christ, I pray You to grant me two graces before I die: the first is that during my life I may feel in my soul and in my body, as much as possible, that pain which You, dear Jesus, sustained in the hour of Your most bitter Passion. The second is that I may feel in my heart, as much as possible, that excessive love with which You, O Son of God, were inflamed in willingly enduring such suffering for us sinners.” Praying for many hours afterwards, he suddenly saw a Seraph coming down from Heaven with six flaming and glorious wings. It came close to St. Francis so he could see him up close. When the Seraph did this, St. Francis noticed the image of a crucified man. In those moments, he experienced what Christ thought, felt and experienced during the crucifixion and he felt profound grief for His suffering. And in an instant, the Seraph struck St. Francis and he was immediately imprinted with the stigmata, the wounds of Christ. The light from the vision was said to be so bright that many people saw Mount Alverna aglow most of the night. |
Behold the Man 2010 – St Francis of Assisi
Tuesday, March 16th, 2010|
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The Tradition of the Christmas Crib
Wednesday, December 9th, 2009One 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
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Our Seraphic Holy Father Francis
Sunday, October 4th, 2009October 4th: St. Francis of Assisi
Saint Francis of Assisi, the founder of the Franciscan Order, has been called “the most beautiful image of Jesus that has ever been in the Catholic Church.” He built the first Christmas crib in 1223. His great devotion was to the sorrows of Jesus. Jesus put the imprint of His wounded hands and feet and side upon Saint Francis’ body in the year. 1224. Saint Francis died in 1226 when he was only forty-four years old. |
Stigmata of Our Seraphic Father
Thursday, September 17th, 2009September 17th: The Stigmata of St. Francis of AssisiMay I never boast of anything but the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ! Through it the world has been crucified to me and I to the world. I bear the brand marks of Jesus in my body. Brothers, may the favor of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. (Galatians 6: 14, 17-18)
From the beginning of his conversion our Seraphic Father Saint Francis had a very great devotion and veneration for Christ crucified and never ceased to preach this devotion till his death. In the year 1224 as he was rapt in deep contemplation on Mt. Alverna, Christ the Lord by a stupendous miracle imprinted the marks of His passion on the saint’s body. Pope Benedict XI permitted the Franciscan Order to celebrate annually on this day the memory of this extraordinary event attested by reliable witnesses. What many do not think of or know about St. Francis is that he was a radical penitent! Many think of him as just a peaceful nature lover and he did see God’s awesomeness in creation but his spirituality was such that he desired to be a martyr. He went to preach to an islamic Sultan and if he had been martyrded in that attempt that would have pleased him. But he lived his martyrdom another way; he gave himself fully in another way, and ultimately he became so configured to Christ that the Holy Stigmata–the wounds of Christ–were imprinted on his body. St. Francis, pray for us and that we may live also all for Christ. (more…) |
Love without Limits
Thursday, August 13th, 2009Ave Maria Mediations “Pray that my love will be without limits.” –Saint Maximilian Kolbe in his last letter to his mother.
St. Maximilian Kolbe (1894-1941) Priest and Martyr Patron of the Franciscans of the Immaculate St. Maximilian wrote: To bring about the purpose of the M.I. (Militia Immaculatae) as soon as possible, to conquer for the Immaculate the entire world and every single soul that now lives or will live till the end of the world, and through her to win them for the Sacred Heart of Jesus! In addition, we are to be watchful lest anyone remove the Immaculate’s standard from a soul; but rather to deepen constantly in souls their love for the Immaculate, to tighten the bond of love between them and her, so that they may become one with her, so that she herself may live and love and act in them and through them. Just as she belongs to Jesus and to God, so every soul will belong to Jesus and to God through her and in her in a much more perfect manner than would be possible by not going through her or without her, if, indeed, that were possible. Then souls will love the Sacred Heart of Jesus as they have never loved him up to now, because like her they will plunge more deeply than ever into the mysteries of love: the cross and the Eucharist. The love of God will be enkindled in the world through her, will set it on fire, and there will take place the “assumption” of souls through love. |
Meditation on the Christmas Creche; Origin from St. Francis
Saturday, December 20th, 2008Ave Maria Meditations |
Our Seraphic Father
Friday, October 3rd, 2008Ave Maria Meditations: St. Francis on the Blessed Sacrament (October 4th)
St Francis had such an immeasurable love for the Blessed Sacrament. He understood this sublime Mystery as few others. He exhorted his friars to have the greatest possible reverence for the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, together with His Holy Name and the writings which contain His words, those words which consecrate His Body as well as chalices, corporals and all that is related to the Holy Sacrifice. Let us praise and worship our God and Savior, present in this Most Holy Sacrament, in the words of St Francis: (more…)
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