5th Sunday of Easter- Vine & Branches

 

 In Gospel today Jesus said, “I am the Vine, you are the branches.”

On the day we were baptized, we became attached to the vine and began to dwell within Jesus, who began to dwell within the temple of our heart. As baptized Christians, we remain in Jesus and Jesus remains in us by the things we do in life. Yet, we can also separate our self from Jesus, the vine in this life.

It’s not just a question of making our home in Jesus because it feels good. A branch which is connected to the vine bears fruit. He said “I am the Vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in Him, He it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me, you can do nothing.”

How is it we remain in Jesus? We draw grace (sap) from Jesus who give us grace to live Christian lives. We draw this sap from Jesus when we pray everyday, when come to Mass, when we adore Jesus during Eucharistic Adoration, and especially when we receive Holy Communion where (Jesus truly abides in us and we abide in Him). Also we draw sap from Jesus, the Vine, when we read the Bible and pray the Rosary.

When we pray the Rosary, we are coming in contact with the mysteries about the life of Jesus. For example, if we pray the Glorious mysteries of the Rosary, we see Jesus come out of the tomb and appear to the Apostles, we see Jesus ascend into heaven on a cloud, we are there in the upper room when the Holy Spirit comes down upon Mary and the Apostles in the form of wind and fire. We are at the tomb of the Virgin Mary, when Jesus comes down from heaven and brings Her with Him body and soul into heaven. Then we are in heaven, and become aware of the multitude of angels and saints gazing upon the Virgin Mary, as She is crowned queen of heaven and earth.

By meditating on the life and Jesus and Mary, we come in contact with the mysteries of our faith. We grow spiritually in faith, hope and love. The Rosary is a powerful way to gain access to God and be united to God through Mary.

Jesus is asking us to make our home in Him. And if we make our home with Him, we will live a holy and a virtuous life, we will do good deeds (which will be the fruit of our abiding life with Jesus). We can’t help but do good things, if we abide with Goodness itself. The branch bears fruit because of the goodness of the vine.

People who see how we live our life as Christians, by the good things we say and do, inspire others to want to be one of us.

In this life, we have to be careful so that we don’t cut our self off from the vine, by not abiding in Jesus. With all the seductions of this life, all the worldly things, and all the distractions, these things can cause us to be separated from Jesus, the Vine.

Jesus gave an explanation of what can happen if we separate our self from Him. He said, “If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned.” He speaks of a fire, where a branch is thrown to be burned and when He speaks of this fire, Our Lord is speaking of hell, where the person is eternally separated from Him, because the person refused to abide in Him and not stay attached to Him, the Vine, in this life.

As branches, we are disciples of Christ, who cling to Jesus. We love Jesus. We abide with Jesus and Jesus then produces fruit by being attached to Him. A good way to renew our attachment to Jesus is to regularly give our self and our life to Jesus.

When we receive Holy Communion, we become one with Jesus. He abides in us and we abide in Him.

When we go home after Mass and when we live our life throughout the week, will we bear fruit for the kingdom of God? We have to remember “our love is not to be just words or mere talk, but something real and active; only by this can we be certain that we are the children of the truth…” Everyone around us should see Jesus abiding in us. They should see we are attached to the Vine and that the Vine is bearing fruit in our life.

If we go to PJ’s and are eating with friends who Catholic and non-Catholic, are the words that we speak edifying? Do they build up others or tear them down? Do we use dirty words in our expressions and make remarks that are not Christian?

In the second reading today from the First Letter of St. John. St John said, “Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence in God and receive from Him whatever we ask, because we keep His commandments. And His commandment is this: we should believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another just as He commanded us. Those who keep His commandments remain in Him, and He in them, and this way we know that He remains in us-- is from the Spirit He gave us.”

By John’s words, we understand that if we keep His commandments we remain in Jesus and Jesus remains in us.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus Himself said, “This is my commandment love one another.” He also said, “If you love Me, keep my commandments.” As Christians, we are to constantly live our life in union with Jesus. If we sin, by not keeping His commandments, we separate our self from Him. If we give bad example, by our words, our actions or our deeds, we separating our self from the vine.

But, if we give good example, speak words of truth, and help others in need, it shows we are attached to Jesus.

We always have the opportunity of returning to the Lord by the sacrament of mercy in confession. When one has separated themselves from the Lord through serious sin, the person no longer abides in Jesus. They caused themselves to be cut off.

However, the beauty of the Resurrection of Jesus is that even if a branch should die and be cut off from the vine, it can be given life, and be grafted back on to the Vine and become a very fruitful branch.

Today, we turn to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and ask Her to help us to remain in Jesus, Her Son, so that if we remain in Him in this life, we will abide with Him forever in the glory of heaven.

Homily partially taken from Fr. Tommy Lane

3rd Sunday of Easter - New Catholics

This is an exciting day for those who by their profession of faith, will be entering into full communion the Catholic Church. It is also exciting for our parish of Holy Trinity. You have been on a journey of faith. Growing in your knowledge and love of the truth revealed by God. Most importantly, you have discovered more about who Jesus really is and what He did for us, and is doing for us today through the sacraments.

You participated in over 30 sessions to learn about what we believe. For someone to become Catholic, they need to know about our faith, and not just know about it, but to believe it. St. Justin, the martyr, in the 200’s, wrote to the emperor, about how no one may become one of us, and cannot receive the Eucharist, unless they first believe all that what we believe and live as we live as Christians. He also said that they must be baptized. All of you who are entering into the Catholic Church, were baptized Christians, and today, after you profess your faith, you will receive a new saint name and an outpouring of the Holy Spirit when you are Confirmed. By your Confirmation, you will become a solider for Christ, a witness for Christ. You are becoming a member of the Church founded by Jesus Christ Himself, that has been in existence from the beginning.

You will receive for the first time in your life, the real and true presence of Jesus in Holy Communion. As Catholics, we have the same faith in the Eucharist as the Apostles and the early Christians. We believe we are receiving the real bodily resurrected Jesus in Holy Communion, who will come inside your heart. Even before time began, when God conceived the idea of creating you, He immediately was looking forward to this day, when you will make your First Holy Communion. Because the priest has apostolic succession, the laying on of the hands, all the way back to the Apostles, the priest has the authority and power to change bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ. Other religions, do not believe the Eucharist is the real body of Jesus, but only a symbol. They don’t have apostolic succession.

For us Catholics, the Eucharist is not a symbol, but really and truly Jesus, who will come inside your heart and who will remain the tabernacle. Many of the disciples no longer followed Jesus after He told them, they were to eat His flesh and drink His blood. At the Last Supper, Jesus said, “This is my body, to be given up for you.” He did not say, this is a symbol of my body. He meant it literally and this what Christians have believed from the beginning up to today.

We believe at Mass, the event of Jesus Crucifixion becomes re-presented. It is made present on the altar. Jesus is not re-crucified, but rather, the one event becomes present on the altar, that’s why its called the Sacrifice of the Mass. The Mass is like a mystical time machine.

Some don’t understand what we believe. For example, some say, we worship statues, but we don’t. No body worship’s Abraham Lincoln at the Lincoln memorial in Washington DC. Statues are merely a reminder of important people, who lived among us. And saints in heaven. Some say, we worship saints, but we don’t. We ask them to pray for us like we ask each other to pray for us here on earth.

Catholics are counter-cultural. We have always and will always defend life from the moment of conception until natural death, because we believe every person is created in the image and likeness of God.

We also love and honor the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of Jesus. Jesus gave Mary to John, when He said, “Woman, behold your son” and to John, “Behold your Mother”. The 10 commandments tell us to honor our father and mother. We honor Mary, because Mary is our spiritual mother. She knew Jesus better than anyone else, because She lived with Him for 30 years. We pray Her Rosary knowing She intercedes for us, as She interceded for the wedding couple at Cana, when Jesus turned water into wine.

In the Gospel today, Jesus appeared to the Apostles and said “Peace be with you.” But they were startled and terrified and thought, it was a ghost, after all, Jesus was buried in a tomb. But, Jesus said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts. Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.” He then showed them His hands and feet. He then wanted to remove all doubt and ate baked fish in front of them.

Don’t you wish you could see Jesus, just like the Apostles when He appeared to them? Every sacrament, especially the Eucharist is an occasion where we come in contact with Jesus. St. Francis of Assisi said, "And just as He appeared before the holy Apostles in true flesh, so now He has us see Him in the Sacred Bread. Looking at Him with the eyes of their flesh, they saw only His Flesh, but regarding Him with the eyes of the spirit, they believed that He was God. In like manner, as we see bread and wine with our bodily eyes, let us see and believe firmly that it is His Most Holy Body and Blood, True and Living. For in this way our Lord is ever present among those who believe in him.”

Through Confession, Jesus is there to forgive us. When you made your First Confession, Jesus forgave all the sins of your life. And He did it in the most loving and tender way. Come to Jesus often to receive His loving and tender mercy.

All of the Apostles, the bishops and priests as their successors, forgave sins because Jesus told them, “As the Father sent me, so I send you. And He breathed on them saying, receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive sins, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” There are documents in the early Church that support the fact, that people confessed their sins to priests.

Through Holy Communion, Jesus is one with us, as He said, “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me and I in Him.” St. John Chrysostom said, “How many of you say: I should like to see His face, His garments, His shoes. You do see Him, you touch Him, you eat Him. He gives Himself to you, not only that you may see Him, but also to be your food and nourishment."

St. Teresa of Avila encouraged others to pray deeply to Jesus in Holy Communion. She said, “Let us entertain ourselves lovingly with Jesus and not waste the hour that follows Communion. It is an excellent time to deal with God and put before Him the matters that concern our soul… As we know that the good Jesus remains within us until our natural warmth has dissolved the bread-like qualities, we should take great care not to lose so beautiful an opportunity to treat with Him and lay our needs before Him.' "

St. Therese of Lissieux spoke about receiving Holy Communion often. She said, "Receive Communion often, very often...there you have the sole remedy, if you want to be cured. Jesus has not put this attraction in your heart for nothing..." "The guest of our soul knows our misery.”

My friends, we celebrate with great joy, your entry into the Church and especially your new and more profound relationship with Jesus in the sacraments. He is always there, because He loves us so much.

Seek to get to know Jesus even more, by reading about Him in the Bible. Read about the lives of the saints, and you will discover a treasure of spiritual richness and the many ways Our Lord Jesus Christ, shows you how much He loves you and is with you in every situation of life.

And you have here in our church, new friends, who will help you on your way to heaven, as you help us on our way to heaven to be with Jesus forever.

3rd Sunday Easter - In Traumatic Events - Jesus is There, Vigil Mass

 

Have you ever witnessed or heard about a traumatic event? Have you ever seen a ghost? When I was in high school, a 17 yr old boy died in a car accident. His car ran into the back of a parked semi. The accident was so bad, he was decapitated. How horrible for his family and friends.

While I was in seminary, four people were murdered in Wichita. I knew two of them. They were stripped of their clothing, and then they were shot in the back of the head in a field.

Later, when I became a priest, there was a plane accident that killed a father and son. There were two other boys who survived the accident, but it was traumatic for them to witness to death of two of their friends. I was there when I took his wife and the mother of her son, to see both of their bodies at the mortuary.

My nephew was in Afghanistan and his armored vehicle hit a landmine. He survived, but he has suffered much from the mental anguish of the war.

Once on a trip, I stayed in a particular place, in Atchinson, Kansas, and as I just turned off the lights to go to sleep, I saw a black figure in my room. At first, I thought it was a ghost, but later came to understand it was an evil spirit.

All of these traumatic events remind us how frail life really is. When we suffer from a traumatic event, it can cause us to be upset for a long time and some people develop what’s called PTSD, post traumatic stress disorder, which can cause depression, fears, flashbacks and nightmares. This is true for first responders such are police, firemen, ambulance crews and soldiers.

For the Apostles, it was very traumatic three days. They were with Jesus during the Last Supper, His agony in the garden, His betrayal by Judas, Our Lord’s arrest, Peter denying Jesus. Later that night, after going before the Sanhedrin, Jesus was placed in a dungeon. The apostles then heard about Judas, one of the twelve, whom they were together with for 3 years, committing suicide. In the morning Jesus was taken before Pilate, then taken to Herod and then back to Pilate. Jesus was then scourged, crowned with thorns, and condemned to death by the people yelling, “Crucify Him”. Pilate gave in to their request and Jesus carried His Cross to the top of the mountain, falling three times along the way. Then at 12 noon, He was stripped of His clothes, and His hands and feet were nailed to a Cross for everyone to see. He hung there for 3 hours of agony before His death. Once He was dead, a soldier pierced His side with a lance and blood and water flowed from it.

Can you imagine what it was like for the Virgin Mary, the Mother of Jesus to witness Her Son being treated so terribly. John, the apostle, and the other two women also watched as He was nailed to the Cross. They felt helpless, not being able to help Jesus, their friend. They stood there for 3 hours, as He slowly became weaker and weaker losing blood. His lungs filled with fluid and blood and then He died. How traumatic these events must have been for the Apostles, who were friends of Jesus, and who had been with Him every day for three years. They had witnessed His miracles and now He died.

But, what happened next would help the Apostles and us to know-- that no matter what kind of terrible experience we have in our life, Jesus is with us. While they were gathered together in the upper room, and when they were discussing about all that happened to Jesus, suddenly, He stood in their midst, and said, “Peace be with you.” But they were startled and terrified and thought, it was a ghost, after all, Jesus was buried in a tomb. But, Jesus said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts. Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.” He then showed them His hands and feet. He then wanted to remove all doubt and ate baked fish in front of them.

Jesus appearance to them is a reminder for us, that at the end of the world, we too will get a resurrected body, a real physical body, and we will be able to eat like He did. Even though we will have a physical resurrected body, we will be able to walk through walls like Jesus.

When He appeared to His Apostles, He spoke to them about the scriptures in the bible, that referred to Him and how they predicted these terrible events over the past three days.

If you had a past traumatic event that haunts you, whatever your situation, Jesus longs to do for you what He did for His disciples. He longs to give peace to your heart and mind. He wants to heal those emotional wounds caused by seeing, hearing or witnessing terrible events that should have never happened. Jesus is here today, looking into your eyes, saying, “Peace be with you. Do not be afraid. It is I.”

For Catholics, we believe the bread on the altar is changed into the true resurrected body of Jesus. And when we gaze upon the Eucharist, we are gazing upon Jesus, who is gazing upon us. Jesus comes in to the wall of our hearts and we are united with Him in Holy Communion.

During Eucharistic Adoration, Our Lord is standing before us as we adore Him with love.

Many may not have not had traumatic events, like what I spoke about. But you may have had bad events that bothered you. For example, divorce, or a child being separated from a parent, or the loss of a parent or grandparent. Being bullied by someone. A relative or friend who deeply hurt you, by their words or actions.

Today, Jesus is here and wants to help you. What is most helpful--- is to pray, and in prayer talk to Jesus about the event or circumstance that causes you anguish.

He already knows all about it, but He wants you to speak to Him about it in prayer. Jesus is God and knows everything. What you probably never thought about, Jesus is always present at every event in our life, whether past or future.

Jesus feels what we feel. He feels our fears. He knows why-- and when we are angry. He cares about our every circumstance of life. He wants to encourage you, to console you, to help you in your decisions. He wants to calm your fears.

Jesus is not in some far away place from us. Rather, He is risen. He is alive. He is with us and most especially in the Eucharist. While we may not see His physical body like the Apostles witnessed on the day Jesus rose from the dead, our faith tells us, He is really there in the Sacred Host and wants to help us and loves us more than we can possibly imagine.

Divine Mercy Sunday - Year B - How Merciful is God?

 

How merciful is God? If we look at Sacred Scripture, we see how God was merciful to Mary Magdalene, a prostitute, who converted. She later stood at the foot of the Cross and when Jesus rose from the dead, He chose to appear to her first, before the Apostles.

St. Paul, who persecuted Christians and was responsible for the stoning of St. Stephen, but converted after having a vision of Jesus and then became an apostle founding many churches and wrote letters that now make up the New Testament.

Or Peter, who denied Jesus three times, but became the first Pope of the Catholic Church. Remember what Jesus asked Peter after the resurrection? He asked Peter three times, “Do you love me?” in order to make up for the three times Peter denied Him.

Remember the adulterous woman, who was going to be stoned to death and all Jesus told her, was “Go and sin no more.”

Outside of scripture, Blessed Barto Longo, a satanic high priest, converted due to the Holy Rosary and became a Dominican brother.

Or Fr. Don Calloway, who was a drug mule delivering drugs from one dealer to another. He lived very promiscuous life with many young women, and was addicted to drugs, but had a conversion and was then called to be a priest and is now a Marian of the Immaculate Conception.

Or Bernard Nathanson, who was an abortionist, who admitted to killing over 7,000 unborn children, but converted, was baptized as Catholic and then became a pro-life leader.

Bishop Fulton Sheen tells the story of a prostitute, who went to Confession and then later became a cloistered nun. Jesus said, “I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

All of these people were touched by their personal contact with Jesus. All of these and many more came to know the love and mercy of God. If God was merciful to all these people, He certainly will be merciful to each of us, whose sins are so much less than these notorious sinners.

In the year 2000, Pope John Paul instituted the Feast of Divine Mercy, which is celebrated today, the Second Sunday of Easter. The feast arises out of a series of apparitions, from a Polish nun, by the name of Sr. Faustina. She was born in Poland in 1905. When she was twenty years old, she entered the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy-- where she lived for the next thirteen years until her death on October 5th, 1938. She was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1993, and canonized in 2000.

In February of 1931, Sr. Faustina saw Jesus dressed in a white garment. He held one hand raised-- in blessing and the other hand touching his garment at his chest. From the point on his garment two rays of light emanated (one red and the other white). Jesus said, “Paint a picture according to the vision you see and with the signature, ‘Jesus I trust in You!’ I desire that this picture be venerated first in your chapel and then throughout the whole world.” Later Jesus explained, “The rays represent the Blood and Water which gushed forth from the depths of my Mercy when My agonizing heart was pierced on the cross. The pale rays symbolize the water which cleanses and purifies the soul: the red rays represent the blood, which gives new life to the soul.”

In the Gospel today, the disciples were gathered in the Upper Room and were afraid. But Jesus came to them with his message of peace. He said, “Peace be with you!” They were no longer afraid. It is like that for us too. We will not find peace until we find it in Jesus. Jesus’ message for each of us today is to find our peace in Him. In the Gospel, He also breathed on them, and said, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained'.

Jesus entrusted to them, and to all the bishops and priests unto today through apostolic succession, the gift of "forgiving sins,", the way of giving peace to mankind. Forgiving sins is a gift that flows from the wounds in His hands, His feet, and especially from His pierced side. From there a wave of mercy is poured out over all humanity. The rays of Divine Mercy restore hope, in a special way, to those-who feel overwhelmed by the burden of sin.

Jesus asked Sr. Faustina that the Sunday after Easter be celebrated as a Feast of Mercy and be preceded by a novena beginning on Good Friday. Jesus promised those who go to confession and receive Holy Communion would obtain a complete remission of all sin and all punishment due to sin.

The cardinal of Poland- at the center of the devotion said, the Lenten confession is sufficient for the requirement of the devotion, as long as one is not currently in mortal sin.

A different priest from Poland, Canon Ignacy Rozycki, came to the conclusion that the extraordinary grace promised by Jesus on the Feast of Mercy is a gift of grace equaled only by the grace of Baptism. Therefore, today, if we have the intention of having all our sins forgiven and all the punishment due to our sins washed away, our soul will become like it had been at baptism. And, if we were to immediately die after receiving Holy Communion, we would go straight to heaven. There would be no purgatory time at all. All sins and punishment due to our sins will be completely washed into Our Lord’s infinite ocean of mercy.

Jesus said, “Let no soul fear to come to me, even if its sins be as scarlet. This feast emerged from the bosom of my mercy and is founded in the depths of my mercies.”

Sr. Faustina saw an angel about to execute God’s punishment on a city. She prayed for mercy but her prayers were without effect. Then suddenly she heard this prayer, “Eternal Father, I offer you the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.” which caused the angel to lose its power to punish the city.

With this prayer, as well as the prayer, “For the sake of His sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world”, it’s called the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.

Jesus said, “Say unceasingly this chaplet. Anyone who says it will receive great mercy at the hour of death. Priests will recommend it to sinners as a last hope. If the most hardened sinner recites this chaplet even once, they will receive grace from my infinite mercy. I want the whole world to know my infinite mercy. I want to give unimaginable graces to those who trust in my mercy.” Jesus also said, “I desire the confidence of my people. Let not even the weak and very sinful fear to approach me, even if their sins be as numerous as all the sand of the earth all will be forgiven in the fathomless pit of my mercy.”

Today, we will celebrate Divine Mercy Devotions, with a Eucharistic Holy Hour at 3pm. Please come and pray for God’s mercy for the Church, our country and our families.

After we receive Holy Communion, with a heart full of thanksgiving like the Virgin Mary’s Heart, which was always completely free from sin, and the punishment due to sin, may we return to our pews, kneel down, close our eyes-- and from the depths of our heart---- cry out, “Thank you Lord, for forgiving all of my sins and the punishment due to my sins. For you-- O my Jesus--- are infinitely merciful. And I am an unworthy sinner—but I trust in your unfathomable mercy.”

Easter Sunday - Incorrupt Body - Sister Wilhelmina

 

Jesus is risen. He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

When Mary Magdalene came to the tomb, early in the morning, while it was still dark, she saw the stone removed from the tomb. She ran and went to Simon Peter and St. John, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put Him.”

Peter and John ran to the tomb, and discovered the tomb was empty, the burial cloths and also the cloth that covered His head, not with the burial cloths, but rolled up in a separate place. By seeing the cloth that had covered His head, rolled up in a separate place, it helped them to understand, His body could not have been stolen, because nobody would remove the cloth covering the head, wrap it up and put it in a separate place. To them, the head covering was a sign, Jesus rose from the dead. Yet, they did not yet understand the Scripture that He had to rise from the dead.

Normally, sooner after death, the body begins to decay. When Jesus went to the tomb of Lazarus, after He told the disciples to remove the stone from the grave, they warned Our Lord, there would be a stench. But, by His power, He raised Lazarus from the dead, even after four days.

Farmers know very well what happens to animals very shortly after they die, especially during high temperatures. Rigor mortis sets in, the body begins to decay, a multitude of flies hover over the carcass, and there is a terrible odor. Within days, maggots start eat the flesh of the animal. And within several weeks, almost nothing is left except bones.

When I was the chaplain of the Carmelite Nuns, the superior of the nuns, died of cancer. The sisters wanted a natural burial, and didn’t want to embalm. They wanted to have the funeral the same day. Thinking, it would still be fine, 24 hrs later, I suggested we wait till the next day to notify others of her death, so they could attend the funeral.

The next day, one of the sisters said to me, “Father, we should have did the funeral yesterday, there is a terrible odor and she’s all swelled up.” I was horrified and saddened, by it all, she was like that in less than a day.

When Jesus was in the tomb for 3 days, normally a body would have begun to severely decay. In Acts Chapter 2, when Peter gave his speech at Pentecost, he quoted Psalm 16, saying, therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption."

The body of Jesus did not suffer corruption, during the three days buried in the tomb. God preserved His body from ordinary decay, associated with original sin. And then early Sunday morning, the third day from His death on Good Friday, by His own power, Jesus raised Himself from the dead was given a new glorified and resurrected body.

When He appeared to two disciples on the road to Emmaus, due to His resurrected body, they failed to recognize Him. When Mary Magdalene first saw Jesus, she did not recognize Him. Only when He said her name, “Mary”, did she recognize Him.

When He appeared to His apostles, He told them, “Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”

The resurrection of Jesus signifies the conquering of death. Death has no power over Him. At the end of the world, we too will have a new resurrected body.

As St. Paul said, “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.” (Romans 8:11)

On April 28^th of last year, 2023, the Benedictine Sisters of Gower, Missouri decided to remove the body of their founder Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster, OSB from the grave and transfer her body into the church. She died May 29th, 2019, at the age of 95. She was buried in a wooden coffin 4 years previously. What do you think the inside of the coffin should have looked like?

Mother Abbess Cecilia described how when she first peered inside the cracked coffin lid and saw a human foot, inside a black sock where one would expect to find only bone and dust, she didn’t say anything. Instead, she took a step back, collected herself, and leaned in for another look, just to be sure. Then she screamed for joy. “I will never forget that scream for as long as I live,” recalled Sister Scholastica Radel, the prioress. “It was a very different scream than any other scream,” the abbess agreed saying, “Nothing like seeing a mouse or something. It was just pure joy. ‘I see her foot!’”

Her body and her habit were totally incorrupt, but the cloth lining of the coffin was decayed. Speaking of her habit, Sr. Wilhelmina’s habit, she said, “It’s in better condition than most of our habits,” Mother Cecilia said, “This is not possible. Four years in a wet coffin, broken in with all the dirt, all the bacteria, all the mildew, all the mold — completely intact, every thread.”

For the sisters, the symbolism is profound. A St. Louis native, Sister Wilhelmina, an African American, spent 50 years in another religious order, but left, after it dispensed with the requirement of wearing its conventional habit and altered other long-established practices. She founded the Benedictines of Mary in 1995, when she was 70 years old. Mother Cecilia said of the habit, “It’s so appropriate, because that’s what Sister Wilhelmina fought for her whole religious life.” “And now,” Sister Scholastica said, “that’s what’s standing out. That’s what she took on to show the world that she belonged to Christ, and that is what she still shows the world. Even in her state, even after death, four years after the death, she’s still showing the world that this is who she is. She’s a bride of Christ, and nothing else matters.”

Most likely, Jesus preserved her body and her habit as a sign, that her life was pleasing to the Lord. She, who defended the habit, and lived an authentic religious life, is an example for all of us, that if He can preserve her body and her habit, He can also make our bodies new and resurrected like His on the last day. Sister Wilhelmina’s life was a constantly of dying to herself, and her desires through her vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.

She crucified her passions and lived for the Lord everyday of her life. As St. Paul said, “If, then, we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him. We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has power over Him. As to death, He died to sin once and for all; as to His life, He lives for God. Consequently, you too must think of yourselves as being dead to sin and living for God in Christ Jesus.”

There have been over 300 bodies of saints found incorrupt. Everyone died to sin and lived for God in Christ Jesus. St. Padre Pio’s wounds from the stigmata disappeared after his death. He is incorrupt. After death, St. Kateri Tekakawith’s face marred by smallpox was completely supple, like the face of a child.

Saint Bernadette, who Mary appeared in Lourdes, France and gave us the miraculous water, is incorrupt. St. Catherine Laboure, who gave us the miraculous medal, St. John Vianney, the patron of parish priests, and many other saints were found incorrupt.

An incorrupt body points to the future resurrection of the dead. It points to the power of Jesus over death. Death destroys the body, but God can, preserve the body from decay, in order to point to the holiness of the life of the person who lived their life dying to sin, and living for others. They lived their life in union with Jesus.

As St. Paul said, “For if we have grown into union with Him through a death like His, we shall also be united with Him in the resurrection. We know that our old self was crucified with Him, so that our sinful body might be done away with, that we might no longer be in slavery to sin.” He also said, “Consequently, you too must think of yourselves as being dead to sin and living for God in Christ Jesus.”

Every saint had a deep and personal relationship with Jesus. They lived their life believing the resurrected Jesus loved and cared for them. Their faith in Jesus is a model for all of us. Jesus is alive. Jesus is risen. Jesus is with us and most especially, He is with us in the Holy Eucharist.

Mother Angelica, most likely, a future saint, said, “Whatever you are doing, make the most of it. If its painful endure it cheerfully. If you are happy, remember whence came for your happiness. If something you regret, put it in the hands of Jesus. If it something you are sorry about, put it in His mercy. If it is something you fear, put it in His providence. If it is something in the future, trust Him. There is nothing He will not do for you. What does Jesus want from you. Your love, your will and your sins. We have a great God. He is loving. He is compassionate. He gives and gives and never tires. He is always there even when you ignore Him. He never ignores you. Even when you forget Him, He never forgets you. And when you stray from the right path, He is right behind you, ready to catch you and is there to help you when you fall.”

Let us turn to the Virgin Mary, who many believe Jesus appeared first, whose body never suffered from corruption, and was assumed into heaven. May She help us to live our life with Jesus, dying to self and growing day by day in our love of Him, who first loved us, laid down His life for us, and rose from the dead, that we may have life abundantly with Him in heaven.

Easter Vigil - The Light of Christ

 

"The light shines in the darkness, and darkness has not overcome it".

From the blessed fire, the Easter Candle is lit, which represents Jesus Christ, coming out of the tomb, who overcomes the world of darkness. During this Most Holy of Nights, praise is sung to the Redeemer, who from the darkness has led us into God's marvelous light.

As the Church was immersed in darkness, the first symbolic act of the solemn Easter vigil: the priest carries the candle; the symbol of Christ the light of the world.

As the Easter Candle is processed into the Church, the priest proclaims, “The Light of Christ” and everyone responds, “Thanks be to God”, as we thank God for the Resurrection of Jesus, the light of the world, who overcomes the darkness of sin, and opens wide the gate to eternal life.

From the flame of the Easter Candle, each candle is lit until the church is filled with light. And when the lights of Church are turned on, it represents the light of Christ bursting forth throughout the whole world, as the risen Christ overcomes the darkness of sin.

This night is the most blessed of all as we heard in the Exultet, the Easter Proclamation. Jesus’ resurrection reminds us that there is life beyond the grave.

At Easter, symbols give way to reality: "The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.” During the Vigil, the symbol of light is linked to that of water, and reminds us, that we are all born again, of water and the Holy Spirit, in order to share in the new life revealed by Christ's Resurrection.

On this night, the night of Easter—according to the Holy Scriptures, and beyond any human expectation—the light overcomes the darkness of sin, death and the world.

We heard in the readings an account of the creation of man and woman (first reading) and the liberation of the Hebrews from Egypt (third reading). This was in God’s plan for mankind, but the high point in God’s plan for us was the resurrection. This is the greatest celebration of the Church.

During many Easter Vigils, catechumens (the non-baptized) are baptized. Baptism means "immersion", as one is "immersed" in the mystery of God's love, which gushes forth from the pierced heart of the Crucified One. From Jesus flows living water. It is the water which gives life to the soul, through baptism. As blood and water gushed from the Heart of Jesus pierced on the Cross, so through baptism we receive life giving water, which washes away sin and gives us new life within the Blessed Trinity, as we share in God’s life through baptism. At baptism our soul becomes totally pure without sin and all punishment due to our sin is washed away. Did you know our soul can be like it once was at baptism? But this happens only once a year, on Divine Mercy Sunday. Next Sunday is Divine Mercy Sunday. And if we have gone to confession during Lent, and if we receive Jesus in Holy Communion, God in His infinite mercy, will not only forgive our sins, but will make our soul like it was at baptism, such that all punishment due to our sins is also completely forgiven. If we were to die immediately after receiving Holy Communion on Divine Mercy Sunday, we will go straight to heaven.

Tonight, rejoice, as sin is rolled away by baptism, and the Risen Christ will come to dwell within your Heart in Holy Communion. Behold out of tomb, He comes, and stands before you, in the little Host within the hands of the priest, and says, “Peace be with you! It is I, Do not be Afraid”.

From the Sacred Host, Jesus speaks to our heart saying, “I come that you may have life, and have it abundantly.” I come to give you every grace necessary to endure the struggles of everyday life. I come, to give you my love! I come, so that together, we may share a personal and intimate union, which is a foretaste of the communion, which will be ours in heaven. I am always with you. I am always at your side. You are never alone.

The Eucharist is truly the Risen Jesus. The same Jesus, who came forth from the tomb, will come here today in the Eucharist on the altar. And at Holy Communion, as the priest holds the Host in his hands, and says, “The body of Christ”, the living Risen Body of Christ, will stand before you.

Here in the Eucharist is Jesus. Here in the Eucharist is love. Here in the Eucharist is the light of the world. Here in the Eucharist is the one, whom we love, and the one, whom loves us. Here is the one whom, we have been searching. He longs to wipe away our tears of sorrow and give us His love.

Jesus is here at Mass and wants to help us in our daily life’s difficulties. He wants to console us when we suffer the agony of difficult situations.

If we long to be with Jesus, if we long to be with the one, who infinitely loves us, nothing will keep us from attending Mass every Sunday to be with Him. Nothing will keep us from receiving the risen Jesus in Holy Communion and we will come to daily Mass during the week when we are able. Nothing will keep us from Jesus, who stays here in the church hidden in the tabernacle. In the tabernacle, throughout the day, Jesus is all alone and desires that someone, anyone come to be with Him, so that He His joy may be our joy and our joy may be complete. For He is our joy. He is our peace! He is our hope. He is not going ahead of us to Galilee. Rather, He is about to come within our very own heart, and say to us, “Peace be with You! It is I, Do not be afraid!”

Tonight, when we come forward to receive the Jesus in Holy Communion, let us bend down to look into the tomb of our heart. Truly we will discover the risen Jesus is with us and loves us. And we will cry out, “He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia. Alleluia.”

Good Friday - Patience & Brotherly Love

 

 "The perfection of brotherly love lies in the love of one’s enemies. We can find no greater inspiration for this than grateful remembrance of the wonderful patience of Christ. He who is more fair than all the sons of men offered his fair face to be spat upon by sinful men; he allowed those eyes that rule the universe to be blindfolded by wicked men; he bared his back to the scourges; he submitted that head which strikes terror in principalities and powers to the sharpness of the thorns; he gave himself up to be mocked and reviled, and at the end endured the cross, the nails, the lance, the gall, the vinegar, remaining always gentle, meek and full of peace.
“In short, he was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and like a lamb before the shearers he kept silent, and did not open his mouth.
Who could listen to that wonderful prayer, so full of warmth, of love, of unshakable serenity –

“Father, forgive them” – and hesitate to embrace his enemies with overflowing love? “Father”, he says, “forgive them”. Is any gentleness, any love, lacking in this prayer?
Yet he put into it something more. It was not enough to pray for them: he wanted also to make excuses for them. “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. They are great sinners, yes, but they have little judgment; therefore, Father, forgive them. They are nailing me to the cross, but they do not know who it is that they are nailing to the cross: if they had known, they would never have crucified the Lord of glory; therefore, Father, forgive them. They think it is a lawbreaker, an impostor claiming to be God, a seducer of the people. I have hidden my face from them, and they do not recognize my glory; therefore, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. “
If someone wishes to love himself he must not allow himself to be corrupted by indulging his sinful nature. If he wishes to resist the promptings of his sinful nature he must enlarge the whole horizon of his love to contemplate the loving gentleness of the humanity of the Lord. Further, if he wishes to savor the joy of brotherly love with greater perfection and delight, he must extend even to his enemies the embrace of true love.
But if he wishes to prevent this fire of divine love from growing cold because of injuries received, let him keep the eyes of his soul always fixed on the serene patience of his beloved Lord and Savior.”

by Saint Abbot Aelred

Holy Thursday -Mass of the Lord's Supper

 

Tonight we celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, the day when Jesus instituted the Most Holy Eucharist and the Sacred Priesthood. We commemorate the beginning of a love affair between God and man found in Holy Communion. Bishop Fulton Sheen wrote, “The greatest love story of all time is contained in a tiny white Host.” Pope Saint John Paul II said, “The Eucharist is that love that surpasses all loves in heaven and on earth.” Our Lord said, “There is no Greater love than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” Would you lay down your life for Jesus in the Eucharist? Would you risk your life to attend Mass, to receive Jesus in Holy Communion?

Matthew, one of the Apostles, was martyred while offering Mass. He was killed by the sword in 74 AD, when offering Mass in Ethiopia.

The early Christians risked their life to attend Mass and receive Holy Communion. For nearly 300 years there were no churches. Masses were offered in private homes, called “house churches”. They were also offered in the catacombs in hidden underground rooms.

Have you any idea what Rome was like at the beginning of the first century? The Romans were the most powerful people in the world because they conquered and ruled over many nations which, together, were known as the Roman Empire. The Roman rulers and their soldiers were very cruel, and were very much feared both by their own people and the people of other nations.

In the year 265, when Tarcisius was 12 yrs old, the empire was ruled over by Emperor Valerian. The emperor hated Christians because of their love for Jesus and his teaching. They were thrown into dirty prisons where conditions were poor, and many of them were martyred which means they were put to death for their beliefs.

Christians were martyred by beaten to death, others were burned- and most cruel of all- a number of them were thrown into a big arena called the Coliseum (which still exists today) and were eaten by lions. This was like a sport to the emperor and his friends who watched this horrible cruelty for enjoyment. However, Christians endured all of this, rather than give up their faith in Jesus.

To avoid being captured, Christians met secretly in their homes if they wanted to pray and to learn about their faith. When the situation became too dangerous they built underground rooms and passages called catacombs, so they could come together in safety. To enable them to celebrate Holy Mass in secret, they had to build large rooms below ground called crypts where they also buried their dead.

The entrances to the catacombs were concealed and they were usually in isolated spots outside the city known only to the Christians. These same catacombs still exist today and can be seen by visitors to Rome.

It was there they gathered to pray, to study their faith and to hear Mass and receive Holy Communion. This was possible due to the courageous bishops and priests who risked their lives so that the people could receive the Body and Blood of Jesus in the Eucharist. No matter how careful the Christians were in protecting the knowledge of the entrances to the catacombs, sometimes the pagans discovered them. Therefore, a great number of Christians were caught or put in prison, where, each day, they expected to be put to death. Despite their sufferings they desired to receive Jesus in the Eucharist.

One day, just as the Bishop was about to celebrate Holy Mass in one of the catacombs, he received a letter from the prisoners- among the prisoners were some of his fellow bishops and priests-, who had been arrested requesting him to please send Holy Communion to them. They knew if Jesus was with them, they would be less fearful and would gladly accept a martyr's death for love of Him. This posed a problem for the Bishop because knew it was very dangerous to take the Holy Eucharist to prisoners and to the sick.

Before beginning Holy Mass, the Bishop asked those present to pray that he might choose the best person to carry Jesus in the Eucharist to the prisoners. Since it was too dangerous for priests, it was important that some other good person be selected who would not arouse suspicion.

As soon as Mass was over, the Bishop asked who would be willing to carry out this brave task. A young boy, Tarcisius, an altar server- stood up and said, “send me.” The Bishop thought the boy was too young and could be endangered, but Tarcisius convinced him that nobody would suspect him simply because he was so young. All the Christians knew of the deep love Tarcisius had for Jesus in the Eucharist, so the bishop eventually accepted the boy's offer.

Tarcisius was given some hosts carefully wrapped in a linen cloth and wrapped in his tunic over his heart. The Bishop asked him to remember the “heavenly treasures” that were being entrusted to his care; to avoid the crowded streets and to faithfully and safely protect these sacred mysteries, Jesus in the Eucharist. Tarcisius replied that he would rather die than let go of them. Clasping his Sacred Treasure, he set off for the prison.

Oh how happy and proud Tarcisius felt as he carried Our Blessed Lord in the Eucharist so close to his heart! He had no thoughts to spare for places or people that he passed. He thought only of Jesus, whom he carried.

“Oh, dear Jesus, how I love you,” he whispered. “How good you are to choose me as your little messenger. How willingly I would suffer and die for you, like these good people in prison. Perhaps one day you will let me lay down my life for you too.”

Whispering words of love like these, he sped quickly on his way. He was out of the catacombs now and on the high road. There he passed a group of his classmates about to start a game, but needing one more to complete the number to make up the team. Catching sight of Tarcisius they called him to stop and join them.

“I am sorry,” he said, “but I am on an important mission.” He hurried on, but the boys caught hold of him and would not let him go.

“What have you there?” said one, seeing how tightly Tarcisius held his hands to his breast. “Let me see.”

“No, no,” cried Tarcisius, struggling to free himself. His anxiety made them all curious, and together they tried to pull away his hands.

“My Jesus, strengthen me,” whispered Tarcisius. But one boy heard his words and cried out to the others: “He is a Christian. He is hiding some Christian mystery there.”

This made the boys still more curious. They determined to see for themselves, so they struck him, stoned him and kicked him and did their best to pull open his hands, but they could not make him loosen his grip.

A man passing by asked what was the matter. One of the boys said, “He's a Christian, carrying some Christian mystery, and we're trying to get it from him.” The man said, “A Christian, did you say?” and giving Tarcisius a cruel blow, threw him to the ground.

At this very moment, a soldier, hastening towards the group, scattered them, and stooping down, lifted Tarcisius in his arms. “You cowards!” he said; “all of you attacking one little boy.” He went quickly down the street and hurried off carrying the boy. The soldier said, “Tarcisius, young man.” Tarcisius opened his eyes and recognized the soldier as a Christian he had often met in the catacombs.

“I am dying,” he said, “but I have kept my God safe from them.” And he handed his precious treasure to the soldier, who placed it reverently inside his tunic. “Carry Him to the prison for me,” said Tarcisius and with a gentle sigh he fell back into the soldier's arms and died. His little soul was already with God, for whom he so willingly gave his life, for Jesus himself once said, “Greater love than this no man has, than that a man lay down his life for his friend.” Little Tarcisius gave his life for the Friend of friends, Jesus.

Non-Catholics claim the Eucharist is a symbol, but the early Christians would have never died for a mere symbol, but they would die for a person, Jesus Christ truly present in the Holy Eucharist.

Palm Sunday - Passion Sunday "St. Faustina"

 

 

Our readings today help us mediate on Jesus’ passion. Just one example is today’s Psalm 22. Although written 1000 years before Jesus, it foresees many details in Jesus’ passion: being mocked in a way similar to what Jesus endured on the cross, casting lots for His garment, and piercing his hands and feet-- even though the Roman Empire which used crucifixion as its capital punishment for non-citizens did not even exist at the time of this Psalm.

To help us meditate on Jesus’ passion, here are some statements from Jesus to St. Faustina in her diary:

Jesus said to St. Faustina: “My daughter, meditate frequently on the sufferings which I have undergone for your sake, and then nothing of what you suffer for Me will seem great to you. You please Me most when you meditate on My Sorrowful Passion. Join your little sufferings to My Sorrowful Passion, so that they may have infinite value before My Majesty. (Diary of St. Faustina 1512)

“There is more merit to one hour of meditation on My sorrowful Passion than there is to a whole year of flagellation that draws blood; the contemplation of My painful wounds is of great profit to you, and it brings Me great joy.” (#369)

“Consider My Sorrowful Passion in all its immensity. Consider it as if it had been undertaken for your sake alone.” (1761)

“There are few souls who contemplate My Passion with true feeling; I give great graces to souls who meditate devoutly on My Passion.” (737)

“At three o’clock, implore My mercy, especially for sinners; and if only for a brief moment, immerse yourself in My Passion, particularly in my abandonment at the moment of agony: This is the hour of great mercy for the whole world. I will allow you to enter into my mortal sorrow. In this hour, I will refuse nothing to the soul that makes a request of Me in the virtue of My Passion.” (1320)

Jesus is stating here that He will refuse no prayer requested of Him-- in virtue of His Passion and that we can obtain everything, if what we ask for is compatible to His will.

As we reflect on Jesus’ Passion, we remember the crowd on Palm Sunday waving palm branches expecting Jesus to win a victory. Jesus won a victory, not as they hoped, but infinitely better, the victory over death. We too can say Hosanna, which means “Save us,” by asking Jesus to save us by the fruits of his Passion: “Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world. For the sake of his sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.” (476)

A Divine Mercy Novena begins on Good Friday. It’s in the bulletin. Everyday during the Novena, especially at the 3 o’clock Hour, the Lord invites us to think about His sufferings on the Cross, and to pray for the needs of others.

Joseph, Spouse Mary, March 19th - Young or Old?

 

Today is the Solemnity of St. Joseph, spouse of Mary.

At the time Mary and Joseph was betrothed, was St. Joseph old or young? Most statues and pictures of St. Joseph picture him as a rather old man. Mother Angelica was once asked that question on one her live shows and she responded saying, “Well, my dear, that is a good question. There is no official Church teaching on whether or not was old or young, but I prefer a young Joseph. All I know, sweetie, is old men don’t walk to Egypt!”

Mother Angelica’s straightforward answer makes a lot of sense. Not only would an elderly man not be capable of walking to Egypt, but an old man wouldn’t be able to walk from Nazareth to Bethlehem, either. Bethlehem is 80 miles from Nazareth, and the journey would have been across rough desert terrain. After Joseph would have walked from Nazareth to Bethlehem where Jesus was born, he was instructed by an angel to take the Child and His Mother to Egypt. Then after Joseph learned from the angel that Herod was dead, he had to walk back to Nazareth, which would have been at least 120 miles. The terrain is rough, the heat is intense and the dangers are many.

Bishop Fulton Sheen said this about Joseph, “Joseph was probably a young man, strong, virile, athletic, handsome, chaste and self-disciplined. Instead of being a man incapable of loving, he must have been on fire with love. Just as we would give very little credit to the Blessed Virgin Mary if She had taken Her vow of virginity after having been an old maid for 50 years, so neither could we give much credit to a Joseph who became Her spouse because he was advanced in years…. Mary and Joseph brought to their espousal's not only their vows of virginity but also two hearts with greater torrents of love than had ever before coursed through human chests..”

As Pope Benedict XVI said, “Like Joseph, do not be afraid to take Mary into your home.” Pope Pius XII said, “Grant that according to your example (St. Joseph) we may keep our eyes fixed on our Mother Mary, your most chaste spouse.”