7 November 2016

O Saving Victim, Open Wide

O saving Victim, open wide

the gate of heaven to man below;

our foes press on from every side;

thine aid supply; thy strength bestow.

All praise and thanks to thee ascend

for evermore, blest One in Three;

O grant us life that shall not end

in our true native land with thee.

     Thomas Aquinas, thirteenth century

23October 2016

The Life of God in the Life of the Parish

“The Life of God in the parish implies an end of commercialism in the financial affairs of the parish. If we cook, it will be for the hungry; if we sew, it will be for the needy; if we collect clothes, it will be for the ill-clad; if we eat, it will be for the joy of being together as children of God and not to raise funds for Him who is the Creator and Owner of the world’s wealth. The kingdom of God is not buying one another’s pies, but in faithful stewards of the gifts with which God has bountifully endowed even the poorest. The problem of parish finance is not getting into people’s purses, but getting God into people’s hearts.” -- A.C. Piepkorn, The Life of God in the Life of the Parish – In the Church, p. 117-118.

19 December 2014

On the Final Goal of Man

The final goal of man is communion with God. The path to this communion has been precisely defined: faith, and walking in the Commandments with the help of God’s grace.

                                                                                                          Saint Theophan the Recluse

08 March 2014

Catholic Household Blessing and Prayer…

Merciful God,

You called us forth from the dust of the earth;

You claimed us for Christ in the waters of baptism.

Look upon us as we enter these Forty Days

Bearing the mark of ashes,

And bless our journey through the desert of Lent

To the font of rebirth.

May our fasting be a hunger for justice;

Our alms, a making of peace;

Our Prayer, the chant of humble and grateful hearts.

All that we do and pray is in the name of Jesus,

For in his cross you proclaim your love

For ever and ever

11 December 2013

And the Angel said to her,

“Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end” (Luke 1:28-33).

Merry Christmas!

29 October 2013

On the Gifts of the Holy Spirit

There are numerous gifts of the Holy Spirit specified in Isaiah 11 that are presence in the fullness of Jesus Christ and can be viewed as a manifestation of sanctifying grace. The most important spiritual gift for us is justifying faith. The Greek word charisma means “a gift of grace” and a special gift the Holy Spirit gives Christians according to his purpose. Saint Paul, in 1 Corinthians 12, enumerates many but not all of the gifts from the Holy Spirit.  In a Christian Community, the gifts of the Holy Spirit are nurtured through regular and reverent use of Word and Sacraments found in Eucharistic Mass. As members of the body of Christ, we are to love and honor each other as the role of gifts of the Spirit profits all. “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 4:10-11). 

7 March 2013

The Paschal Homily of ST. Chrysostom (Read Each Year at Pascha)

Is there anyone who is a devout lover of God? Let them enjoy this beautiful bright festival! Is there anyone who is a grateful servant? Let them rejoice and enter into the joy of their Lord!

Are there any weary with fasting? Let them now receive their wages! If any have toiled from the first hour, let them receive their due reward; If any have come after the third hour, let him with gratitude join in the Feast! And he that arrived after the sixth hour, let him not doubt; for he too shall sustain no loss. And if any delayed until the ninth hour, let him not hesitate; but let him come too. And he who arrived only at the eleventh hour, let him not be afraid by reason of his delay.

For the Lord is gracious and receives the last even as the first. He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour, as well as to him that toiled from the first. To this one He gives, and upon another He bestows. He accepts the works as He greets the endeavor. The deed He honors and the intention He commends.

Let us all enter into the joy of the Lord! First and last alike receive your reward; rich and poor, rejoice together! Sober and slothful, celebrate the day!

You that have kept the fast, and you that have not, rejoice today for the Table is richly laden! Feast royally on it, the calf is a fatted one. Let no one go away hungry. Partake, all, of the cup of faith. Enjoy all the riches of His goodness!
Let no one grieve at his poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed. Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again; for forgiveness has risen from the grave. Let no one fear death, for the Death of our Savior has set us free.

He has destroyed it by enduring it. He destroyed Hades when He descended into it. He put it into an uproar even as it tasted of His flesh. Isaiah foretold this when he said, "You, O Hell, have been troubled by encountering Him below."
Hell was in an uproar because it was done away with. It was in an uproar because it is mocked. It was in an uproar, for it is destroyed. It is in an uproar, for it is annihilated. It is in an uproar, for it is now made captive. Hell took a body, and discovered God. It took earth, and encountered Heaven. It took what it saw, and was overcome by what it did not see.

O death, where is thy sting? O Hades, where is thy victory?

Christ is Risen, and you, O death, are annihilated! Christ is Risen, and the evil ones are cast down! Christ is Risen, and the angels rejoice! Christ is Risen, and life is liberated! Christ is Risen, and the tomb is emptied of its dead; for Christ having risen from the dead, is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

To Him be Glory and Power forever and ever. Amen!