Homily – Trinity Sunday 2013

Excerpted from Father Michael J. Woolley's Trinity Sunday homily. Read it in its entirety here:

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And so today we celebrate this wonderful and central mystery of our Faith: that the One True God is a community of Persons, Father Son and Holy Spirit.

The Bond of Love that Unites these Three Persons into One is like a Triple Linked Chain that nothing could ever break.

This Strong Love of the Most Blessed Trinity has been poured into our hearts at Baptism. And so long as we remain united with the Trinity through loving God and loving our neighbor, even now in this life we get a foretaste of that Love we will abide in forever in Heaven.

But while chains of Love uniting the Persons of the Holy Trinity with each other are unbreakable, the chains of Love which unite us to God are not.

As the saying goes, a chain is only as strong as it’s weakest link. And when we commit sin, we may break only one link in the chain that binds us to God, but that one link can make our whole relationship to God come crashing down like that one link in this chain almost made our Cross come crashing down.

On this Trinity Sunday, may we examine each link in the chain which unites us to Jesus crucified and through Him to the Father and the Holy Spirit. May the Blessed Trinity help us to strengthen any weak links and repair any broken ones, that we may receive fully into our hearts the Love and Power of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

What women really want - Fr. Sammuel Medley

The Catholic Churches Teaching on Sexuality is What Every Woman Wants from LoveAndResponsibility.Org on Vimeo.

Questions And Answers About Pentecost

WHAT IS PENTECOST?
Pentecost is the great festival that marks the birth of the Christian church by the power of the Holy Spirit. Pentecost means "fiftieth day" and is celebrated fifty days after Easter.

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WHAT HAPPENED ON PENTECOST?

Ten days after Jesus ascended into heaven, the twelve apostles, Jesus' mother and family, and many other of His disciples gathered together in Jerusalem for the Jewish harvest festival that was celebrated on the fiftieth day of Passover. While they were indoors praying, a sound like that of a rushing wind filled the house and tongues of fire descended and rested over each of their heads. This was the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on human flesh promised by God through the prophet Joel (Joel 2:28-29). The disciples were suddenly empowered to proclaim the gospel of the risen Christ. They went out into the streets of Jerusalem and began preaching to the crowds gathered for the festival. Not only did the disciples preach with boldness and vigor, but by a miracle of the Holy Spirit they spoke in the native languages of the people present, many who had come from all corners of the Roman Empire. This created a sensation. The apostle Peter seized the moment and addressed the crowd, preaching to them about Jesus' death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins. The result was that about three thousand converts were baptized that day. (You can read the Biblical account of Pentecost in Acts 2:1-41).

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WHAT IS THE LITURGICAL COLOR FOR PENTECOST?
Red is the liturgical color for this day. Red recalls the tongues of flame in which the Holy Spirit descended on the first Pentecost. The color red also reminds us of the blood of the martyrs. These are the believers of every generation who by the power of the Holy Spirit hold firm to the true faith even at the cost of their lives.

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WHY IS PENTECOST SOMETIMES CALLED "WHITSUNDAY"?
A tradition of some churches in ancient times was to baptize adult converts to the faith on Pentecost. The newly baptized catechumens would wear white robes on that day, so Pentecost was often called "Whitsunday" or "White Sunday" after these white baptismal garments. Many Christian calendars, liturgies, and hymnals (particularly those from the Episcopal/Anglican tradition) still use this term.

A Pentecost Reflection

 

Order out of confusion

Fr. Rene Butler
 

Remember learning about mixed metaphors, where two or more incompatible images are used to describe one thing? Years ago I saw a cartoon from the New Yorker magazine, where an executive speaking to his staff says, “Gentlemen, I smell a rat. I can feel it in the air. And I will nip it in the bud!”

We seem to have a similar confusion about the Holy Spirit, presented in the New Testament as a dove, wind, fire, and called “Paraclete,” which in turn is translated sometimes as Comforter and sometimes as Advocate. The hymn “Veni Sancte Spiritus” calls on the Spirit to “melt the frozen, warm the chill,” just after describing the Spirit as “Grateful coolness in the heat.”

But all this isn’t so strange as it might at first appear. The key lies in John 3:8, “The wind blows where it wills… but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes.” (See 1 Corinthians 12, Galatians 5:22-23 for just a few examples.) The Spirit is “spontaneous,” unpredictable, bestowing extraordinary gifts, often on unsuspecting, unlikely persons, precisely to meet a particular need in the Church or the world.

It’s no wonder that Pentecost is such an exciting feast!

Homily - Pentecost Sunday

Fr. Rene Butler

Imagine you are one of the disciples gathered in the upper room, Acts 1:14 – “All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer, together with some women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.”

You hear something like a mighty wind.
You see something like tongues of fire.
You feel something happening within you and in the whole group.
You do something: you start to speak in ways you have never spoken before.

This is a pivotal event in the life of the disciples. The death and resurrection of Jesus were pivotal for their faith. Pentecost is pivotal for their life. Nothing will ever be the same again.

We have all had experiences we will never forget. Whether they are positive or negative, they are pivotal. They are more than memories to us.

In the creed we say: “We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life.” This is more than remembering.

“The Lord formed man from the earth and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and so man became a living being.” (Gen. 2:7) The powerful breath of the Spirit at Pentecost made the disciples – and continues to make us today – a “living being” known as the Church.

The Church can never forget that first Pentecost, because the Church would not exist without it, and because the Holy Spirit continues to dwell in the Church and in all believers. The “Giver of Life” continues to give life.

The life of the Church consists in the gifts (charisms) the Spirit brings. They take many different forms, but all serve one purpose: to proclaim that Jesus is Lord!

We tend to think of gifts we receive as something for ourselves. The pivotal event of Pentecost shows us that the gifts we receive are never just for ourselves, but for the good of all. First we need to recognize the gift. Then we need to figure out how best to share it.

A Note to Readers of this Blog

Regular readers of this blog may have noticed that the posts have been few and far between lately.  I thought an explaination was in order.  Four years ago, I began BIG C CATHOLICS as a place were faithful Catholics could read about theological questions, contemporary issues facing the Church, and other issues relating to the Church's life and ministry in the world.  This blog has been my attempt to contribute to the new evangelazation of the web by Catholics who are faithful to the Magisterium.

Ten years ago,  I suffered a spinal cord injuy as a result of an auto accident and became a quadrapeligic.   In recent weeks my physical condition has deterriorated.  In addition, the nursing home where I was staying closed and I have recently moved to a new facility.  Internet access has been spotty at best.  I ask you, dear readers, for your prayers and patence during this time.  Pray that I may bear up during this time of transition and testing for me.  I hope to resume blogging in the near future.

God bless you.

Matt

Why is May the month of Mary?

In early non-Christian cultures goddesses of fertility were honoured in May, the first month of summer in the Northern Hemisphere.

As part of its evangelising practice the new religion of Christianity substituted Christian feasts for pagan ones e.g. St Brigid for the first day of Spring.

Later, a connection developed between the blossoms of May and the custom of offering flowers to Mary. By the Middle Ages, particularly in Spain, Mary was honoured on individual days in May, but it is due to the Italians that the whole month of Mary was given over to Marian devotion from the 18th Century onwards

The Ascension is celebrated on the first Sunday of May. According to the account in the Acts of the Apostles (1: 6-14), Mary did not witness the Ascension of Jesus. She was present in Jerusalem with the other women when the Apostles returned, and surely drank in every word they said.

The following Sunday is Pentecost Sunday We commemorate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the traditional "birthday of the Church". Mary was still present in Jerusalem: she who from the earliest days was known as Mother of the Church.

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The Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ is celebrated on the last Sunday of May. In the Year of the Eucharist it is fitting to recall what Pope John Paul II said about Mary and the Eucharist: "Mary is present with the Church, and as the Mother of the Church, at each of our celebrations of the Eucharist. If the Church and the Eucharist are inseparably united, the same ought to be said of Mary and the Eucharist" (Ecclesia de Eucharistia, 57).

The Visitation rounds off the Marian month. We remember the young, pregnant Virgin Mary, hastening to visit her cousin, also pregnant but of more advanced age. We are reminded of the importance of visiting as an act of charity, not "virtual visiting" but connecting in a way that touches the human spirit, particularly with ageing relatives and friends.

Above all, the Visitation gives us the great lesson of joy in the Lord as Mary sings: My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour (Lk 1:46, 47).

May you all, joined in joy with the blessed Mother, do the same during her month.

- Bishop Kevin Manning.

Why save sex until marriage?

Sexual intercourse is so marvellous, beautiful and sacred that it is worth saving this incredible gift for the purpose that it was intended: for babies and bonding within marriage.

For those who will be married one day, it’s captivating to know your future spouse is somewhere out there. What would you want that person to be doing? Would you want them to be waiting to give you themselves and their love? To embrace purity and save sex until marriage enhances the ultimate “yes” to sex when married. If it was not possible to say “no,” how valuable would our “yes” be worth?

Purity can bring self-respect, shows your respect to others and also brings a clear conscience. It enhances your chances of experiencing romance without regret, avoiding sexually transmitted diseases and unintended pregnancies. The decision to wait means not being haunted by past sexual relationships when you are physically intimate with your spouse.

The decision to live a pure life strongly reduces the chances of experiencing the emotional pain of being used, rejected or discarded by a person you have given the most intimate part of yourself. Abstinence decreases the chances of divorce later in life. It helps you know that you are giving your spouse the total gift of self, something that has never been given to another. Real love desires what is best for the other. Abstinence proves commitment to your future spouse and helps you to live in integrity and joy.

The Rock of St. Peter

This is an example of apologetics well done.

Watch Ryan Anderson brilliantly refute the hapless Piers Morgan & a flustered, angry Suze Orman in a tense SSM debate on live TV. This, friends, is an example of apologetics well done.

Solemnity of the Annunciation

The Annunciation is the Christian celebration of the announcement by the angel Gabriel to Mary that she would become the Theotokos (God-bearer). Despite being a virgin, Mary would miraculously conceive a child who would be called the Son of God. Gabriel told Mary to name her son Jesus, meaning “YHWH delivers”. Most of Christianity observes this event with the Feast of the Annunciation on 25 March, nine full months before Christmas. According to the Bible (Luke 1:26), the Annunciation occurred in “the sixth month” of Elizabeth's pregnancy with the child who would later become known as John the Baptist.

Today is Divine Mercy Sunday

April 7, 2013

You expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us.

O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in You!

Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself.

For information about the image of Christ shown above click here. To learn about Saint Faustina, the Divine Mercy Chaplet or Divine Mercy Sunday see Who is Saint Faustina? and The Sunday After Easter is Divine Mercy Sunday.

The Sunday After Easter is Divine Mercy Sunday

How should we prepare for this great Feast of Mercy?

Jesus told St. Faustina that this Feast of Mercy would be a very special day when “all the divine floodgates through which graces flow are opened.” (Diary 699) Our Lord made a great promise to all those souls who would go to Confession and then receive Him in Holy Communion on the Feast of Mercy, on the Sunday after Easter, which is now called Divine Mercy Sunday through- out the Catholic Church.

Jesus promised that “The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Commun- ion shall obtain the complete forgiveness of sins and punishment.” (Diary 699) He went on to say “I want to grant a complete pardon to the souls that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion on the Feast of My Mercy.” (Diary 1109)

We want to encourage everyone to take advantage of this incredible promise and the additional Plenary Indulgence on this great Feast of Mercy “Divine Mercy Sunday”. We want you to benefit fully from these promises, and we also want you to notify all of your family and friends about them too and urge them to return to the practice of their faith About the feastday “Divine Mercy Sunday”, Jesus said “…tell the whole world about My inconceivable mercy. I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially poor sinners. On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon the souls who approach the Fount of My Mercy. On that day all the divine floodgates through which graces flow are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet.... Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My Mercy.” (Diary 699)

It is required of all Catholics to confess their serious sins at least once every year. If you haven’t yet met this obligation then take advantage of this outstanding opportunity to receive an outpouring of an ocean of graces that Jesus promises on this day. Those who have already confessed their sins should make room for others.

The Church allows for one to go to Confession for up to about 20 days, before or after Divine Mercy Sunday.

Excerpts taken from the Diary of St. Faustina, copyright 1987 Marians of the Immaculate Conception, Stockbridge MA., USA. Bulletin insert taken from the www.DivineMercySunday.com website and may be copied and re-produced without permission.

Easter Homily 2013

Fr. Michael J. Woolley

The Lord is Risen, Alleluia! This is the Church’s message to our troubled world tonight (this Day) and for the next 50 days: He is truly Risen!


He is Risen, despite the treacherous greed of Judas which stripped Him of all He had,

He is Risen, despite the cowardice of His Apostles who in the hour of darkness found themselves powerless to aid Him,

He is Risen, despite the blindness of His own people who preferred the sham Barabbas to the true Messiah,

He is truly Risen, in spite of the excessive beating the Romans gave Him,

He is truly Risen, in spite of the four sharp nails that were driven into His Sacred Flesh,

He is truly Risen, in spite of the death He truly underwent as a man, in spite of the three days His cold and lifeless Body spent in the tomb.

No, not greed, nor cowardice, nor rejection, nor beating, nor crucifixion, nor death itself could overcome Jesus Christ. He has overcome them all, He has trampled them underHis pierced Feet.

The Third Day has dawned. His Body rises from this fallen world, glorified, incorruptible, no more to die.

My brothers and sisters in Christ, may this Easter celebration impress deeply upon our hearts and minds and bodies and souls that Jesus our Lord is truly Risen from the Dead.

And as St. Paul reminds us, if then, we have died with Christ in Baptism, we believe that we shall also live with our Glorified and Risen Jesus.

The greedy of this world may rob us of all we have,

We may be abandoned in our time of need,

We may find the world to be against us as Christians,

We may be beaten down by our past sins and by the world and the devil,

But no earthly trials, not even crucifixion or any other earthly death is able to crush our Hope for Resurrection in Christ Jesus our Lord.

May Christ fill you with Resurrection Faith this Easter Day, and all the 50 days of this Easter Season, and may the Joy of the Resurrection renew your family, our parish, and the whole world, for the tomb is really Empty, and Our Lord has truly Risen!

Click here for more homilies by Father Woolley

Easter Homily 2013

He is Truly Risen

Fr. Rene Butler

Have you ever noticed how repetitious the Psalms sometimes are? For example, Psalm 117 is only two verses long and the first verse says the same thing twice, in different words: "Praise the LORD, all you nations! Give glory, all you peoples!"

Here is another example from Psalm 27: "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom do I fear? The LORD is my life's refuge; of whom am I afraid?"

This same kind of repetition occurs often in the Prophets.

The reason is simple: this is poetry, and one of the most important aspects of poetry in any language is the imaginative use of language to say the same things in many different ways. Here are some examples from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet: "She doth teach the torches to burn bright!","What light from yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun."

Shakespeare gives Romeo numerous opportunities to say, "Ain't she gorgeous!" but always in different words.

At Easter each year the Pope gives Easter greetings in many languages. Most of them say much the same as in English: "Happy Easter." But there are two others that say it differently.

The Polish version is "Wesolego Alleluja!" which means, [I wish you a] "Happy Alleluia!" How beautifully this expresses the spirit of the feast.

The best, however, is the Greek: One person says, "Chrystos aneste," and the other answers, "Alethos aneste." This means: "Christ is risen - He is truly risen."

At Christmas we are often reminded that "Jesus is the reason for the season." Easter reminds us that Jesus is the reason - period! The reason for everything that we say and do as Christians, the reason for the magnificent music and beautiful flowers, for our coming together to worship. All this is for one reason and one reason only: Christ is risen! He is truly risen!

Catholic bishops lead prayer march to Supreme Court as justices weigh gay marriage

The U.S. Conference of Bishops will lead thousands of people in prayer today as they march toward the Supreme Court to promote marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

They are congregating in Washington as the justices hear arguments on the constitutionality of Proposition 8, the California ballot initiative that effectively banned same-sex marriage in the state.

Tomorrow, the court will hear arguments on the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which prohibits gay married couples from getting the federal benefits that heterosexual couples can obtain.

For more go here.

The Exodus and Easter

Easter is linked to the Passover and Exodus from Egypt recorded in the Old Testament through the Last Supper and crucifixion that preceded the resurrection. According to the narratives of the New Testament, Jesus gave the Passover meal a new meaning, as he prepared himself and his disciples for his death in the upper room during the Last Supper. He identified the loaf of bread and cup of wine as symbolizing his body soon to be sacrificed and his blood soon to be shed. 1 Corinthians 5:7 states, "Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed"; this refers to the Passover requirement to have no yeast in the house and to the allegory of Jesus as the Paschal lamb.

Moses led the Israelites out of their slavery in Egypt. Christ leads us out of spiritual slavery in sin. The blood of the lamb protected the Israelites from the death of the first born. The blood of the Lamb (Jesus Christ) delivers us from spiritual death and gains for us eternal life. Christ is the new Moses. Christ is the ultimate Passover.

The parallels between the Exodus and Easter are many. Christ leads us out of the wilderness of death. He guides us on our journey to the Promised Land that is Heaven. The night before the Israelites began their journey towards Canaan, they were told to wait and be ready. The night before Christ was delivered up to die, he asked the apostles to wait and be ready with him.

Beautiful: Pope Francis stops to kiss and bless disabled man before inaugural Mass

The incredible moment when Pope Francis left his Popemobile to bless a disabled man before his Inaugural Mass

An Easter Prayer

Heavenly Father,

You lifted your dear Son from the grave and
made Him a beacon of hope for all mortals.
By overcoming sin and death and hell, may
He take us by the hand and lead us into
the land of bliss and glory where we shall
enjoy forever the company of the whole
heavenly host.
May we trust with all our hearts in His
glorious wounds by which He ransomed us
for everlasting life.
Blessed be the name of Jesus, now and forever.
Amen.

A blessed Solemnity of St. Joseph, spouse of Mary, to all.

Today's Collect:

Grant, we pray, almighty God, that by Saint Joseph's intercession you Church may constantly watch over the unfolding of the mysteries of salvation, whose beginnings you entrusted to his faithful care.

And in this day and age when the free exercise of our faith is under attack in our land, the intercessions of good St. Joseph, protector of Mary and Jesus, patron of the Church, is especially needed.

Pope Francis coat of arms

Homily for Palm Sunday, 2013

Father Rene Butler
We are so used to the story of the Passion of Jesus that we forget that each of the four Gospel accounts contains material not found in the other three.

Unique to Matthew is the scene where Judas brings the money back to the chief priests and then hangs himself, and the chief priests buy the potter’s field. Likewise, there is the moment when Pilate’s wife sends him a message to have nothing to do with Jesus.

Most troubling is the verse which reads: “The whole people said: ‘His blood be upon us and upon our children.’” It is troubling for two reasons: First, because it was a terrible thing to say. Second, and most important, this verse has historically been used – abused – to justify hatred and persecution of Jews over the centuries. We forgot what Jesus said in Luke’s Gospel, as he was being crucified: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

In the Old Testament, we have the image of the saving blood of the paschal lamb, the blood which was applied to the door frames of the Israelites at the first Passover, to preserve them from the destroyer.

Moses sprinkled the people with the blood of the sacrifice and said: “This is the blood of the covenant.”

In the New Testament this imagery continues, applied to the blood of Jesus.

“This is my blood of the covenant. It will be shed for you and for many.” No one is excluded. We are “purchased with his blood.” We are “justified by his blood.”

We have “redemption through his blood.” He has “made peace through the blood of his cross.”

The blood of Christ is “more effective” than that of goats and other animal sacrifices.
Jesus “sanctifes the people with his blood.”

His blood “cleanses from all sin.” “We overcome the enemy (the accuser, Satan) by the blood of the lamb.”

The Christian understanding of the blood of Jesus is surely not what his enemies intended when they said, “His blood be upon us and upon our children.” Those words expressed in typically emphatic language the depth of their anger toward Jesus and their frustration with Pilate.

But that does not matter now, and really shouldn’t matter to any Christian. The fact is that Pilate was not “innocent of this man’s blood.” Neither are we. As St. Paul wrote: “All (Jews and gentiles) have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Our salvation lies in the the blood of Jesus. His blood is “upon us” – all of us – for all generations: not as a curse, but as blessing

How much do you know about the Catholic Church? Take this quiz!

Can you tell your aspergillum from your alb? Your cassock from your chasuble? Take this quiz on all things Roman Catholic to test your knowledge of one of the world's oldest, largest, and most powerful institutions. Go here for quiz.

Prayer for the New Pope

Lord Jesus,

You are the Good Shepherd,
Always providing for our needs and leading us to eternal life.

We thank you for Pope Francis I,
Your Vicar on earth,
The Servant of the Servants of God.

Give him holiness and strength to carry out his mission,
And may he be for the world
A sign of your love
And a clear voice for truth, justice,
And the sanctity of human life.

May all he says and does
Lead us closer to you, who live and reign forever and ever. Amen!

Jorge Mario Bergoglio - Pope Francis

Jorge Mario Bergoglio; December 17, 1936) is pope of the Catholic Church, elected on March 14, 2013, and taking the regnal name of Francis, after St. Francis of Assisi. He is the first Pope born in the Americas.

Prior to his election, he served as an Argentine cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He has served as the Archbishop of Buenos Aires since 1998. He was elevated to the cardinalate in 2001.

Jorge Bergoglio was born in Buenos Aires, one of the five children of an Italian railway worker and his wife. After studying at the seminary in Villa Devoto, he entered the Society of Jesus on March 11, 1958. Bergoglio obtained a licentiate in philosophy from the Colegio Máximo San José in San Miguel, and then taught literature and psychology at the Colegio de la Inmaculada in Santa Fe, and the Colegio del Salvador in Buenos Aires. He was ordained to the priesthood on December 13, 1969, by Archbishop Ramón José Castellano. He attended the Philosophical and Theological Faculty of San Miguel, a seminary in San Miguel. Bergoglio attained the position of novice master there and became professor of theology.

Impressed with his leadership skills, the Society of Jesus promoted Bergoglio and he served as provincial for Argentina from 1973 to 1979. He was transferred in 1980 to become the rector of the seminary in San Miguel where he had studied. He served in that capacity until 1986. He completed his doctoral dissertation in Germany and returned to his homeland to serve as confessor and spiritual director in Córdoba.

The archbishop of Buenos Aires is the Argentine-born son of an Italian railway worker. Seen as a compassionate conservative, he reportedly came in second during the 2005 balloting that ultimately elected Benedict XVI. The 76-year-old Jesuit prizes simplicity and humility and would encourage priests to do shoe-leather evangelization, his biographer says.

Styles of Jorge Mario Bergoglio
Reference style	His Holiness
Spoken style	Your Holiness
Informal style	Cardinal
See	Buenos Aires

Bergoglio succeeded Cardinal Quarracino on February 28, 1998. He was concurrently named ordinary for Eastern Catholics in Argentina, who lacked their own prelate. Pope John Paul II summoned the newly named archbishop to the consistory of February 21, 2001 in Vatican City and elevated Bergoglio with the papal honors of a cardinal. He was named to the Cardinal-Priest of Saint Robert Bellarmino.