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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 Lasting Freedom 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 Communion in Christ 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 From the Beginning 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

SEARCH ADVENTUS CHRISTI

SEIZE UPON GOD'S WORD AND PRAY

THAT WHICH was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life--the life was made manifest, and we saw it, and testify to it, and proclaim to you the eternal life which was with the Father and was made manifest to us. . . [1Jn 1:1-2]

Artist: Victor Luciano Rebuffo

(1903-1983)

Buenos Aires, Argentina

FROM THE BEGINNING

NEVERTHELESS, WE must not trouble ourselves as to Mr. Obama’s motives for emasculating the First Amendment, speculating whether he is pandering to militant feminism, steering the United States toward Euro-pastoral socialism, or playing wedge politics to secure votes in the looming presidential election and so on. These and other inquiries will be debated endlessly by historians and politicians alike for years to come.

WE MUST rouse ourselves, however, to vigorously oppose this president and his cabinet secretary who are trying to force the Catholic Church to financially support contraceptive regimes which she has opposed from the beginning.

TOOLS FOR DISINFECTING CULTURE

TO PARAPHRASE Sacred Scripture: In these days, a decree has gone out from President Obama that all the United States should be enrolled in birth control. Tomorrow, what will a new imperial decree impose on all of us? Abortion? Infanticide? Euthanasia? Or worse? Many high-profile secularists, special-interest groups, and foolish Christians welcome these things not as evils but rather as tools for disinfecting the American culture of weak and innocent persons and the Catholic religion that defends them.

THEREFORE WE must act without cringing. We cannot remain silent while strident voices lionize opinions bereft of truth and fabricate meaning where none exists. We cannot remain indifferent while the Catholic Church’s moral voice is contracepted and her vital religious activities are caged. We cannot stand idly by while many work to transmogrify the Church into a stained-glass gulag.

WHAT WE WERE GIVEN DECEMBER 15, 1791

WE SHALL stand up and defend what “freedom of religion” truly means. We will not walk away from the unalienable human rights endowed to us by our Creator. We will not surrender our freedom of religion. And we will not let our freedom of religion be taken away. We categorically reject the present administration’s political anesthesia and its surgical dismemberment and extraction of our unalienable constitutional rights. We did not ask for this confrontation. We do not deserve it. But confront the provocation, we will.

THERE IS no good option whatsoever in this unsettling HHS decree. We do not want to sell or close down our Catholic universities, schools, hospitals and charities. We do not want to secularize them. We don’t want to pay gargantuan fines. We don’t want to fight the federal government. What we defend, however, is what we were given December 15, 1791: the Freedom of Religion.

YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW

THE HIGH-HANDED arrogant HHS decree must be rescinded. No one knows how this unfortunate confrontation will play out in the months and years ahead. But we have our certainty: The Roman Catholic Church has no intention of silencing her moral voice in the public square and furthermore, we have no intention of abandoning the sacred teaching of the sanctity and dignity of all human life.

WAITING TO speak out after the HHS decree extracts the freedom of religion out of the First Amendment will be too late—such whimpering will count for little, an indecent, impotent eulogy on the death of the First Amendment. We are Roman Catholics. We are citizens of the United States of America. The profound integrity of both these realities is worth defending—yesterday, today and tomorrow.

FOR THE COMPLETE COMMENTARY, CLICK THIS LINK: "FROM THE BEGINNING"

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DAYBOOK

GREAT INVISIBLE TRUTH

Look at His adorable face. Look at His glazed and sunken eyes. Look at His wounds. Look Jesus in the Face. There, you will see how He loves us. [St. Therese of Lisieux]

NOTHING MADE visible to human eyes--except Jesus of Nazareth--can save us. All the things that we see and enjoy as men and women of faith must lead us to understand the great invisible truth—that in the presence of God the Father, Jesus Christ has won for us a hearing.

YOUR SEARCH is for a person in whom you can place your ultimate trust. That person is Jesus. By faithfully living out your Lenten journey, your search will be fulfilled in the mysteries of Holy Week and the glory of the risen Christ on Easter Sunday whose divine power has destroyed even the mortal power of your own death.

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.