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Homilies Advent Advent Week 1 Year A Week 1 Year B Week 1 Year C Week 2 Year A Week 2 Year B Week 2 Year C Week 3 Year A Week 3 Year B Week 3 Year C Week 4 Year A Week 4 Year B Week 4 Year C Christmas Baptism of Lord Year A Baptism of Lord Year B Baptism of Lord Year C Epiphany Year A Epiphany Year B Epiphany Year C Holy Family Year A Holy Family Year B Holy Family Year C Mary Mother of God Year A Mary Mother of God Year B Mary Mother of God Year C Mass at Midnight Year A Mass at Midnight Year B Mass at Midnight Year C Lent Ash Wednesday Lent Week 1 Year A Week 1 Year B Week 1 Year C Week 2 Year A Week 2 Year B Week 2 Year C Week 3 Year A Week 3 Year B Week 3 Year C Week 4 Year A Week 4 Year B Week 4 Year C Week 5 Year A Week 5 Year B Week 5 Year C Holy Week Passion Sunday Year A Passion Sunday Year B Passion Sunday Year C Holy Thursday Good Friday 1 Good Friday 2 Easter Vigil Easter Sunday Easter Sunday Year A Easter Sunday Year B Easter Sunday Year C Easter Season Week 2 Year A Week 2 Year B Week 2 Year C Week 3 Year A Week 3 Year B Week 3 Year C Week 4 Year A Week 4 Year B Week 4 Year C Week 5 Year A Week 5 Year B Week 5 Year C Week 6 Year A Week 6 Year B Week 6 Year C Week 7 Year A Week 7 Year B Week 7 Year C Ascension Ascension Year A Ascension Year B Ascension Year C Pentecost Pentecost Year A Pentecost Year B Pentecost Year C ORDINARY TIME Ordinary Time Wks 2-7 Week 2 Year A Week 2 Year B Week 2 Year C Week 3 Year A Week 3 Year B Week 3 Year C Week 4 Year A Week 4 Year B Week 4 Year C Week 5 Year A Week 5 Year B Week 5 Year C Week 6 Year A Week 6 Year B Week 6 Year C Week 7 Year A Week 7 Year B Week 7 Year C Ordinary Time Wks 8-13 Week 8 Year A Week 8 Year B Week 8 Year C Week 9 Year A Week 9 Year B Week 9 Year C Week 10 Year A Week 10 Year B Week 10 Year C Week 11 Year A Week 11 Year B Week 11 Year C Week 12 Year A Week 12 Year B Week 12 Year C Week 13 Year A Week 13 Year B Week 13 Year C Ordinary Time Wks 14-19 Week 14 Year A Week 14 Year B Week 14 Year C Week 15 Year A Week 15 Year B Week 15 Year C Week 16 Year A Week 16 Year B Week 16 Year C Week 17 Year A Week 17 Year B Week 17 Year C Week 18 Year A Week 18 Year B Week 18 Year C Week 19 Year A Week 19 Year B Week 19 Year C Ordinary Time Wks 20-25 Week 20 Year A Week 20 Year B Week 20 Year C Week 21 Year A Week 21 Year B Week 21 Year C Week 22 Year A Week 22 Year B Week 22 Year C Week 23 Year A Week 23 Year B Week 23 Year C Week 24 Year A Week 24 Year B Week 24 Year C Week 25 Year A Week 25 Year B Week 25 Year C Ordinary Time Wks 26-31 Week 26 Year A Week 26 Year B Week 26 Year C Week 27 Year A Week 27 Year B Week 27 Year C Week 28 Year A Week 28 Year B Week 28 Year C Week 29 Year A Week 29 Year B Week 29 Year C Week 30 Year A Week 30 Year B Week 30 Year C Week 31 Year A Week 31 Year B Week 31 Year C Ordinary Time Wks 32-34 Week 32 Year A Week 32 Year B Week 32 Year C Week 33 Year A Week 33 Year B Week 33 Year C Week 34 Year A Week 34 Year B Week 34 Year C Major Feast Days All Souls 1 All Souls 2 Corpus Christi Year A Corpus Christi Year B Corpus Christ Year C Christ the King Year A Christ the King Year B Christ the King Year C Peter and Paul Apostles Trinity Sunday Year A Trinity Sunday Year B Trinity Sunday Year C In Memoriam Memorial of Victory Our Human Desire Sacred Humanity "Tree of Life" "Up to Jerusalem" Occasional Ascent to Truth Back to the Boat First Mass First Move Heaven and Sea Letting Go Taking Aim at Secularism True Miracle You Want Healing? Homiletic Bibliography Pt I (A-G) Pt II (H-N) Pt III (O-Z) Commentary Catholic Life Faith & the Cult of Pleasantness Fatherhood and Family Holy Marriage, Holy Family Jesus Calls Me Friend Outdoor Plumbing Works of Mercy Defending the Catholic Church Confession Bathing Often Living Letter Eucharist Ascent to Truth Bread of the Mighty If You Answer His Call Miracle of Faith Mountain Climbing Now, on the Hillsides Privileged Sacrament Season of Bread Seven Pillars Slowly, Deliberately This Day, Each Day Divine Authority Alpha and Omega God's Heart of Love Great Commission Higher Authority In His Service Mystery and Image Taking Aim at Secularism Human Pride I Don't Need the Church More than Eden Sake of Blessing Worthy of Humanity Mother of God Chiaroscuro Conceiving and Naming House of Faith Mystery and Image Night of Killing Frost The Point Thy Will Be Done Persecution Always, in all Ways Epic Tragedy Philosophy Holy Marriage, Holy Family Taking Aim at Secularism Priesthood and Papacy Faithful Shepherd Light to Keep Us True Music at Midnight Sake of Blessing Tender Shoots Vessel of Mercy Respect for Life At the Rock of Meribah Cause of Life Epic Tragedy For the Sake of Life Higher Authority Holy Marriage, Holy Family Innocent and Helpless Massive Fact More than Eden Piece of Cake Proof of Justice Prophetic Peace Raise the Banner Sum and Summary "Thou Little Tiny Child" True Family Wheat and Grape Worthy of Humanity Gospel of Luke - Study Luke Chapters 1 - 2 Luke Chapters 3 - 4 Luke Chapters 5 - 6 Luke Chapters 7 - 8 Luke Chapters 9 - 10 Luke Chapters 11 - 12 Luke Chapters 13 - 14 Luke Chapters 15 - 16 Luke Chapters 17 - 18 Luke Chapters 19 - 20 Luke Chapters 21 - 22 Luke Chapters 23 - 24 Questions & Answers Catholic Belief Fortitude: Gift or Virtue? Great Commandment Hierarchy of Truth Same-sex Partnerships Catholic Practice Holding Hands at Mass Wearing Shorts at Mass Hierarchy Church Hierarchy Hierarchy of Truth Scandal and Trust Why a Pope and Bishops? Liturgy Holding Hands at Mass Hymn Resource for Mass Lay Ministry - Liturgy Substituting Song for Sign of Peace Wearing Shorts at Mass Relationship Devotion and Trust Marriage and Celibacy Tell Him the Truth Thorn in Your Side Respect Life Does Ignorance Justify Abortion? Human Personhood On the Subject of Cloning Sacraments Baptism - Child of Civil Union Does the Eucharist Reveal Jesus? Male Priesthood of Christ Sign and Symbol INRI - Crucifix World Affairs Immigration Worries Mercy, Justice and World Affairs Unite on United Nations? Walking with the Word - Lessons Walking with the Word - Lessons A-M Blessed Are You Deep Water "Father, Forgive Them" Garden, Stable & City of God - Part 1 Garden, Stable & City of God - Part 2 God Knows God Loves You Because God's Heart of Love Humanity of Man "Lamentation" "Let Us Go Down" - Part 1 "Let Us Go Down" - Part 2 "Let Us Go Down" - Part 3 "My Power in You" Walking with the Word - Lessons N-Z New Growth on an Old Vine New Wrinkle on an Old Story "One Degree of Glory to Another" Proof of Peace Reason & Acting Reasonably Solomon's Ring Standard of Dress for Mass Sword of Sorrow "Take Off Your Shoes" Take Up Your Cross - Part 1 Take Up Your Cross - Part 2 "Thou Little Tiny Child" True Food - Part 1 True Food - Part 2 Watch, Hat and Scissors Word of Justice, Word of Mercy Reflections Big and Small Christmas Present Clean White Corporal Christian Prayer Debt I Owe Delivered from Fear Do You Love Me More? Elegant Recovery Entrust the Sick to God Faith and Choosing Faithful Follower Friendship with Christ Good Physician He Gave Me Wings Heaven's Ecology I Don't Need the Church Labor of Love Last Defense Living Biography of the Church Love Is Hungry Making Bread Moved with Pity O Child of God Our Lady of Divine Grace Remnant Personhood Saying Yes to God Self-reflection Sentences Armor of God Counting Your Blessings Passage on Peter's Boat Virginity Sock Puppet Striking the Rock Sun, Mast and Horizon Thoughts on Merton We Lament Window of Receptivity Would He Die for One? Devotions Divine Mercy Chaplet Embracing Mercy Indulgence Novena Litany of the Sacred Heart Lord's Prayer Our Lady of Divine Grace Rosary Fatima Rosary Vigil Rosary Saint Therese Centenary Chaplet Seven Last Words of Christ Various Authors Augustine of Hippo Benjamin Franklin Clement of Alexandria Ignatius of Antioch John Henry Cardinal Newman J.R.R. Tolkien Michel Quoist Pope Benedict XVI Pope Pius XII Various Prayers Blessing for a Pregnancy Circle of Faith Choice Vines For Fathers For My Son For Spiritual Fatherhood Gathered Like Wheat Grateful Praise Healing Medicine Hidden Wisdom Hour Has Arrived My Little Girl No One Else but God O Lord Your Love O Shepherd Prayer for the Military Sake of Blessing Sweet Grapes Teachable Heart Thousand Years To All but You O Lord To Father Son and Spirit Wheat and Grape

CATHOLIC PRIEST -- SUNDAY HOMILY

NOW AFTER John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel." [Jn 1:14-15]

Artist: Victor Luciano Rebuffo

(1903-1983)

Buenos Aires, Argentina

SIGN OF THE CROSS ^_[1]

SAINT MICHAEL, the Archangel, defend us in battle; be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do Thou, O prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan, and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

DISCERNMENT NEEDED

1. The stress of a heavy workload may over-shadow opportunities for self-reflection, but it cannot extinguish them. Sooner or later, the need for thoughtful discernment surfaces again and makes its demands known. Discerning the Spirit is at the heart of Our Lord's proclamation of the Good News. In the days after the crowds honored Jesus by spreading their garments and branches on the road to Jerusalem, the Lord went to the temple precinct to teach. Jesus' detractors, determined to harass him, appointed a man adroit in religious law to inquire:

'TEACHER, WHICH is the great commandment in the law?' And Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets.' [Mt 22:35-40]

2. Irrespective of his compromised intentions, the impertinent Pharisee directs us to the personal questions of faith: What is the Spirit saying to the Church? and How does the Spirit lead me to the truth? Actually the lawyer speaks for all persons who hear the Gospel. If Jesus walked in our midst today, someone would approach him with this very question. Truthfully, is a question that each of us would dearly love to ask, for it points to a deeper mystery. What must I do to be saved? is the prayer of all humanity. Jesus, in turn, tells the clever fellow what is required. Love God and your neighbor.

OBSTACLES TO OVERCOME

3. The question What is necessary? implies a refreshing simplicity. Even more economical is Jesus' prophets, Our Lord says, is embraced by these two commandments. Unfortunately, this refreshing simplicity cannot be assured, for many obstacles between God and the faithful remain to be overcome in every generation. Sometimes staff members of the Church create these obstacles. How many times have the lay faithful been refused the sacraments of penance or holy anointing because their request does not correspond to the regularly scheduled times posted on the parish calendar? Or because a Catholic presumes to ask for the private administration of the sacrament? For example, a young couple calls the office of their nearby parish to inquire about marriage preparation.

4. Sometimes staff members will say, and sometimes curtly, You are not registered in the parish. You have to be registered for at least six months. And further, During the first six months we look at your tithing envelopes to see if you are attending and financially supporting the parish. Mothers and fathers whose children are preparing for their first holy communion may be told by a catechist, We have no first communion Mass as such. Just take your child to any Sunday Mass. Irrespective of whether some concerns are valid while others are not, why must pastoral ministry be subordinated to the interests of parish administration? Are office protocols what new members need to hear first? Or loudest? Catholics, requesting the Sacrament of Holy Anointing, may hear, You should have made an appointment at the Church before you went to the hospital, or Call the hospital chaplain, or We anoint twice a year in a communal rite.

FOR THE COMPLETE HOMILY, CLICK THIS LINK: "SIGN OF THE CROSS"

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THE DIVINE OFFICE

THE LITURGY OF THE HOURS According to the Roman Rite

Pray THE DIVINE OFFICE online
courtesy of Universalis:

Morning Prayer (Lauds)

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QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

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to Father Richard Barker

DAYBOOK

MOVED WITH PITY

FEW DISEASES were more feared or reviled than leprosy. Before man and God, it was presumed, a leper was the lowest of the low. His disease was proof he was less than nothing before God’s eternal, absolute and omnipotent majesty.

HOW REMARKABLE and touching that a distraught leper would kneel before Jesus—fully God and fully man—to give him permission to heal him. "If you will, you can make me clean,” he said. [Mk 1:40-45] Jesus was moved with pity. He reached out to the sick man as he would his own mother. He touched him, saying, I do will it. He healed him.

TO BE moved with pity is to permit the compassion of your heart to carry you into the experience of someone who suffers. To be moved means reaching out. It means speaking and touching. It brings healing, medicine for the spirit, and the renewal of relationships. Compassion makes possible the regeneration of human hope. It liberates the soul from the clench of the present moment and quiets its trembling.

THE COMPASSION of Jesus Christ is a stirring reminder that Christianity is more than the glimmer of old light or the nimbus of an ambiguous future. Christ is immediate. This immediacy has a name—the Holy Spirit—and he speaks what he hears. [cf. Jn 16:13] Become aware of your own poverty, now. Embrace the one who suffers, now. Open yourself to healing in this very moment.

PERHAPS YOU'LL speak freely about all this, spreading the news everywhere. The Mother of God counsels us that proof is vindicated by silence. Yet, we are not to worry. If a ruckus ensues in your heart or in your household, go quickly into the desert to pray with Jesus. There in solitude you will be little. Make yourself less than nothing before God. Give him permission to touch you and heal you.

SIGN OF THE CROSS [1]