12th Sunday - Trust Jesus in Storms of Life

 

 The readings today are a reminder of the divinity of Jesus and God’s power over nature, as seen in the Old and New Testament and in various times in history.

In the first reading, God told Job He must trust Him. He made the sea and the clouds and all of creation. He is more powerful than any storm and can stop it at His command.

The responsorial psalm states- at the Lord’s command, He raised up a storm, causing the waves to be high. However, they cried to the Lord in their distress, and so, the Lord hushed the storm to a gentle breeze, and the billows of the sea were stilled. And so, they rejoiced at the calm, and were brought to their desired haven.

This psalm foreshadowed the disciples, who cried out in their distress, as Jesus calmed the storm on the sea. When the disciples said, “Who then is this-- whom even the wind and sea obey?”, they were wondering how a man could do such things? The action of Jesus calming the storm clearly reveals His divinity. God alone, the creator of heaven and earth, can calm a storm at His command.

There are other miraculous events in the Old Testament with regard to water. Moses parted the Red Sea, so the Hebrews could escape the Egyptian army through a dry river bed. Then after they crossed, God caused the water to return drowning Egyptian soldiers. (Exodus 14:21-29)

Elijah and Elias both part the water in a river with Elijah's mantle and could walk through it. (2 Kings 2:14)

When the feet of the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant, touched the water from the Jordan River, it caused the water to stop, so all could cross without getting their feet wet, as they entered the Promised Land. (Joshua 3:13-17)

On another occasion, when the Apostles were going against the waves during a storm on the lake, Jesus walked on water and Peter stepped out of the boat and began to walk on water, until he saw the waves, and took his eyes off Jesus, then he began to sink. But, Jesus grabbed Peter’s hand and helped into the boat and the storm calmed when they got into the boat. (Matthew 14:22-33)

After Jesus died, rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, has there been any more water miracles? Yes.

St. Christopher lived from the 200’s to 251. He became a hermit and built a hut near a river. As an act of charity, he helped people cross the river. One day, a small child approached him, wanting safe passage across the water. He hoisted the boy on his shoulders and, with his trusty staff, began the journey walking through the river. As the river deepened, the child began to grow heavier with waters quickly rising, the weight of the child continued to weigh down Christopher. As he reached the banks of the river, he said, “Child, you have put me in great peril; you weigh almost as if I had all the world upon me…” The little boy said, “You have not only borne all the world upon yourself, but you have borne Him that created and made all the world, upon your shoulders.” It was then he realized he had carried the Christ Child, Christopher’s name means “Christ-bearer”. Today, St. Christopher is the patron of travelers, and many people wear the St. Christopher medal or have it in their vehicle.

Born in 480 and died in 482, St. Scholastica was the sister of the monk, St. Benedict. One day, she invited her brother to her monastery. After they talked most of the day, it was getting late in the evening, when her brother, St. Benedict wanted to leave to return to his monastery of monks. But, St. Scholastica wanted him to stay up late talking about Jesus, and spiritual things. But, he was tired and wanted to leave. She began to pray. Suddenly, a violent storm began and it rained so hard, he was unable to leave through the night St. Scholastica’s prayer was answered by God, so she and her brother could talk all night about holy things.

Born in 456 and died in 545, St. Medard is the patron saint of bad weather. Legend states when he was a child, Medard was sheltered from the rain by a hovering eagle. Because of this event, he is the patron of good and bad weather, and for people who work the fields. Legend has it, if it rains on his feast day, June 8^th, the next 40 days will be wet; if the weather is good, the next 40 will be fine as well.

In 1647 Father Erastius was returning by ship to Italy from Amsterdam. The ship with its crew and passengers were caught in a violent storm. He encouraged everyone to pray to St. Anthony of Padua. Then he threw some pieces of cloth that had touched a relic of St. Anthony into the sea. At once, the storm ended, the winds stopped, and the sea became calm. St. Anthony is the patron of sea travelers. And St. Anthony is attributed to creating a Prayer Against Storms.

The prayer against storms attributed to St. Anthony paused a rainstorm in Wichita on Palm Sunday, this year on March 24, 2024. Wichita had just completed its 40 Days for Life Prayer and fasting campaign to close Planned Parenthood, where many abortions take place.

I was asked to do a Eucharistic procession on Palm Sunday around Planned Parenthood, but the forecast was rain throughout the day. I emailed Catholics in Wichita the Prayer Against Storms by St. Anthony of Padua. While it kept raining, we trusted that Jesus would cause the rain to stop for the procession.

After 100 people arrived, it was still raining. But just as it was time to start, the rain stopped, and we began the Eucharistic procession. When it was over, just as everyone returned to their vehicles it started to rain again. The Prayer Against Storms by St. Anthony worked, Jesus paused the rain storm, so that we could process His Eucharistic presence around Planned Parenthood, where unborn babies die from abortion.

On January 31, 1906, on the small island of Tumaco off the coast of Columbia at 10 o’clock in the morning, the earth shook violently for almost ten minutes. Due to a tsunami, all the inhabitants of the village ran to the church and begged the pastor, Fr. Gerardo Larrondo, to lead a procession with the Blessed Sacrament. The sea plunged inland more than a half a mile and a mountainous wall of water was building up threatening to drown everyone and everything in one gigantic wave.

Fearing the church would be destroyed by water, Fr. Gerardo consumed the small Hosts in the ciborium and placed the large Host in a monstrance. The priest and the people began their march, weeping and crying out to God. Fr. Larrondo reached the beach with the monstrance in hand when he advanced courageously to the water’s edge and as the wave came rushing in-- he calmly raised the Sacred Host and with it traced the Sign of the Cross. The wave hesitated, paused and backed off. The people cried out “Miracle, miracle!”. The mighty wall of water that threatened to wipe the village of Tumaco off the face of the earth was halted and began to recede, and then the sea resumed its normal level. The inhabitants of Tumaco were overcome with joy at having been saved from death by Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Prayers of fervent thanks poured out. All the buildings of the land in the area were destroyed, except for the island of Tumaco where the miracle occurred.

On Oct. 8^th of 1871, was the great Peshtigo fire in Wisconsin and Michigan. It was the greatest fire tragedy in the history of the United States killing between 1,200-2,400 people and burning 1.2 million acres. Due to the high winds and dry grounds, the fire quickly became a storm of fire and roared towards the Shrine’s grounds.

Desperate for help, people from the surrounding countryside fled to the Chapel where Sister Adele Brise and her companions were praying for Mary’s protection. Lifting the statue of Mary, they processed around the sanctuary, praying the rosary and singing hymns to Jesus and the Blessed Mother. Early the next morning, a steady rain came and extinguished the flames of the fire. Everything around the property was completely charred. But the fire came only to the fence of the land consecrated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, containing the chapel, school and convent, where they were praying and halted. 12 years earlier on that exact date, Oct. 8th, the Virgin Mary appeared to Sr. Adele Brise, and said if the people do not convert from their sins, Her Son would punish them.

Another miracle was associated with the Peshtigo Fire.

St. Mary Church was destroyed in the fire. However, before it was destroyed, Father Pernin was able to carry the church’s wooden Tabernacle, containing the Blessed Sacrament, to the river on his wagon. He pushed the wagon partially into the river and abandoned it to save his own life. The next day, a parishioner who had also survived found Father Pernin and asked if he knew what had happened to the Tabernacle. The priest said, “This wagon had been blown over on its side by the storm; whilst the Tabernacle itself had been caught up by the wind and cast on one of the logs floating on the water. Everything in the immediate vicinity of this spot had been blackened or charred by the flames. But, the Tabernacle was saved when the wind tossed it on a log floating on water.

My friends, we have seen how by all these miracles, God wants to calm the waters of our heart and to trust Him.

St. Alphonsus said, “We are tossed about on a stormy sea, but we do not suffer shipwreck, because the Lord by His grace gives us strength to resist our enemies.” But, he also asked that we turn to Mary, saying, “Look to the star of the sea, call upon Mary … in danger, in distress, in doubt, think of Mary, call upon Mary. May her name never be far from your lips, or far from your heart … If you follow her, you will not stray; if you pray to her, you will not despair; if you turn your thoughts to her, you will not err. If she holds you, you will not fall; if she protects you, you need not fear; if she is your guide, you will not tire; if she is gracious to you, you will surely reach your destination (of heaven).”

PRAYER AGAINST STORMS

Make the sign of the cross on the + symbol.

Jesus Christ a King of Glory has come in Peace. + God became man, + and the Word was made flesh. + Christ was born of a virgin. + Christ suffered. + Christ was crucified. + Christ died. + Christ rose from the dead. + Christ ascended into Heaven. + Christ conquers. + Christ reigns. + Christ orders. + May Christ protect us from all storms and lightning. + Christ went through their midst in Peace, + and the Word was made Flesh. + Christ is with us with Mary. + Flee you enemy spirits because the Lion of the Generation of Juda, the Root of David, was won. + Holy God! + Holy Powerful God ! + Holy Immortal God! + Have mercy on us. Amen!

This prayer can be traced to St. Anthony of Padua.

11th Sunday - Respect the Body

 

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense, according to what he did in the body, whether good or evil.”

Every person God creates has a mission. Jeremiah states, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11) God’s plan for each person is to help bring about His kingdom on earth, as it is in heaven, which is what we pray in the Lord’s prayer.

To most, it seems as though our role in God’s plan is small. But, Jesus uses the example of a “mustard seed, one of the smallest of all seeds, to show that the seed actually produces the largest of plants, and puts forth branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade”.

We go about our ordinary daily life. We get up, take the kids to school and activities. We go to work. We keep our home clean and in order. On Sunday, we go to church. This can seem monotonous day in and day out. But, we don’t realize how important, these things are. It’s important to raise children to become adults. We teach them to write, manners, morals, to love others and to forgive. We help them to pray and do their best at sports or academics. We build up God’s kingdom by raising our children to be virtuous and bring about God’s kingdom by their lives.

For those who are retired, you build up God’s kingdom by being faithful to your ordinary daily duties, through your prayers, your time in Adoration, your example and advice you give due your wisdom from age.

The work we do on the farm benefits others. There is a billboard that states, “One Kansas farmer can feed 155 people, plus you.” Feeding livestock, plowing the field and farm work accomplishes more than what we expect.

God’s kingdom grows by the good we do for others, especially for those in our own family and community.

Jesus said we will be judged on works of mercy. “When I was hungry, you gave me food, when I was thirsty, you gave me drink. When ill, you visited me…” There are also spiritual works of mercy: instructing the ignorant, forgiving offenses, counseling, the doubtful, praying for the living and the dead etc.. We use our body in our own home to do good and bring about God’s kingdom.

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense, according to what he did in the body, whether good or evil.”

I will now go over bad things we do in our body, that can hinder building up of God’s kingdom.

St. Paul helps us to understand our body, he said, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” If we fail to treat our body with respect, we fail to honor God in our body.

There can be serious consequences to not respecting our body. For example, tattoos. Did you know the book of Leviticus specifically forbids tattoos. Ink, is a foreign substance injected into the body. A new study indicates tattoos cause a greater chance of developing lymphatic cancer.

Being overweight can cause diabetes. Under eating, called anorexia, deprives the body of food it needs.

Getting drunk can destroy the liver and cause improper reasoning and we can make bad choices. Drunks can become vicious, belligerent, abusive, and fail to take care of others and themselves. To purposefully get drunk is seriously sinful.

Smoking cigarettes harms lungs. My uncle, who was 48, my brother-in-law, who was 57, and my father, who was 72, all died from lung cancer, most likely due to smoking. Marijuana causes the inability to reason properly. In every state, one can be arrested driving while high. To smoke marijuana can be seriously sinful.

Fr. Carlo Martins, an exorcist said, “Yoga, should not be practiced. Because by definition, the bodily positions of yoga are an act of worship of Hindu gods. Yoga is a practice to channel the energy of the Kundalini spirit. If you want to do stretches, do stretches, that have nothing to do with yoga or it’s postures.” He also said, “Inanimate objects like crystals don’t give energy. It’s a superstition.” It offends God.

Today, young people can misuse smart phones to do things contrary to the Christian faith, such as the Ouija board, or games with characters who do curses or magic. Children need to know all magic is evil. There is no such thing as good magic, because all magic is superstitious.

It’s wrong to use our body for superstitious purposes. These kind of games become channels evil spirits can enter the home and cause problems in the family.

We also can’t use our body or the bodies of others for sinful purposes either, such as premarital relations, impure actions, or viewing pornography. All are serious sins.

Phones, i-pads, computers are portals to view bodies of others as objects of pleasure. Pornography is rampant. In a 2016, study, The Porn Phenomenon: The Impact of Pornography in the Digital Age. It states 88% of teens (youth 13-17) have a phone and 82% of teens sleep with their phones in their bedroom.

The average age a child first sees pornography is 11. By the age of 14, 94% of children have seen pornography. About 70% of men and 20% of women view pornography at least once a week, and almost 90% percent of men view pornography once a month. Your children’s friends may show them pornography on their friend’s phone. We need to teach them how to respond- by saying no and tell you it happened.

Through texting, predator adults, pretend to be youth. Chat rooms are dangerous. They can text a child and ask the child to send inappropriate photos of themselves and then the predator threaten the child to show the image to others unless he does what is asked. This is one way child trafficking begins. The use of “spoof” (false numbers) makes it difficult, for police to track them.

If children aren’t protected, viewing porn can become an addiction they can carry into adulthood. 80% of children say their parents never discussed pornography with them. Bishop Kemme said, “When parents and guardians haven’t created an environment where it’s safe and welcome to talk about uncomfortable topics, children will often hide these experiences out of shame and embarrassment.”

My dear parents: As a suggestion, when you first discover your child viewed pornography, don’t punish them, because you failed to discuss it with them. First, sit-down with your kids and talk about pornography. Don’t accuse them or interrogate them, no. Remember, it seeks them out, and it seeks them out through devices that you probably gave them. Sit down, talk, and look for a path forward. Second, give rules. No cell phones, no computers ever in their bedrooms. Always in public view. Third. Make a specific time every night cell phones are given to parents. Fourth. Install parental controls on your children’s devices such as limiting screen time, block inappropriate websites, and use websites such as www.covenanteyes.com. Fifth, require specific spaces without tech devices, such as when eating together, or at Mass, phones can’t be used after 10pm etc… Sixth, Don’t give children unfettered access to a smartphone, tablet, or computer.

With regard to women, their body is sacred and should be veiled. The body of a woman is beautiful. As the psalm states, “How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord God almighty.” Immodesty can cause men to lust. Both women and men can sin this way. Men for not keeping custody of his eyes and women for tempting men.

Another thing to consider is when we see people with their hair dyed green, purple, red, or if their lips, are pierced, don’t judge them. We should open our heart to try to understand, that there is a reason why they don’t love themselves. But this type of behavior is harmful to how one self views their body.

Tops showing cleavage, tight clothing, shorts, or skirts above the knee are all inappropriate especially at Mass or Eucharistic adoration or when just walking into church. Why? Because in the Tabernacle is Jesus Christ, the King of heaven and earth. This is God’s house. The church is a sacred place. This is a holy place. Please don’t wear shorts to Mass, nor at Adoration or anytime at church. Its disrespectful to Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist.

When we look at a Crucifix, we see evil done to the sacred body of Jesus by our sins: He was stripped of His clothes except underwear, crowned with thorns and nailed to the Cross. The shame of it all! Today, we think nothing of seeing a man who wears only shorts. It’s immodest. Where is the shame?

In the resurrected and glorified body of Jesus, we see what are bodies are meant to be in the future. After the resurrection, when John touched Jesus, he cried out, “My Lord and my God.” He recognized His body, as the body of God.

His resurrected body, truly present in the Eucharist and moves us to respect and give reverence to Jesus, as King and God. Jesus’ body conquered evil, and it showed the depths of His love. And now He gives us His resurrected Body to eat, that we may have life.

If we are to fulfill our role in bringing about the kingdom of God, we are to use our body for good and not evil. First, we give the greatest reverence and respect to the Body of Christ, in the Eucharist. Then we need to respect and give reverence to our own body, and then, give respect and reverence to the bodies of others. Because God dwells in you, your body is sacred. Your body is holy. Your body is a temple of the Lord. Jesus body is most sacred. Jesus body is most holy. Because Jesus body is God’s body. That’s why bow, genuflect, kneel or prostrate before the body of Christ.

The Virgin Mary gives women an example of modesty. Men and women can turn to Her to help them grow in purity. She is the Virgin Most Pure. St. Joseph was the guardian of the Virgin Most Pure and protector of the Holy Family. He can help men be protectors of the family, and an example of a good father and husband. St. Joseph, as the terror of demons, will help fathers to protect their families from evil.

On Father’s Day weekend, I would like to address fathers. You are the spiritual leaders and protectors of the family. It is your duty to protect your family from evil and help them to get to heaven. Your children look to you as an example. They look to you for protection, for advice, and encouragement.
In the bulletin are resources for you to help discuss pornography with your children. There are free books given away per family. Also in the bulletin are web addresses for Covenant Eyes, to help block images & detect activity viewed on your children’s phones.

There is a link to Detox from Porn, by Jason Evert. I encourage parents to watch the video with your child, perhaps from eight grade on up. It’s a fantastic video!

In the bulletin are also inexpensive phone companies that do not require a contract.

If you know someone who may have an addiction to pornography, there are resources in the bulletin too.

Men, if you know of a friend or co-worker who you know who has a problem with pornography, watch the video of Jason Evert, read the information in the bulletin, so you can help them.

My friends, turn to Mary and Joseph, who will help you fulfill your role in bringing about God’s kingdom, and be ready for the hour of our death. May we give respect and reverence to God in our body and the bodies of others, because they are sacred temples, where God dwells.“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense, according to what he did in the body, whether good or evil.”

St. Anthony of Padua - Wonder Working Saint, June 13th

 

Today is the feast of St. Anthony of Padua. Known as the wonder-worker, St. Anthony was from Lisbon, Portugal, but received his surname from Padua, Italy, where he resided converting many people. He was born in 1195, and baptized as Ferdinand. The clergy in the Cathedral of Lisbon educated him. At the age of 15, he became an Augustinian religious brother. When he was 17, he asked for a transfer to a more secluded monastery. For 8 years, he devoted himself to study and prayer. Due to his remarkable memory, he acquired a thorough knowledge of scripture.

In 1220, some Franciscans were martyred in Morocco and their relics were brought back to Portugal. St. Anthony longed to be martyred like the Franciscans. So he joined the Franciscan order, with the hope that he would be martyred. He changed his name to Anthony due to his devotion to the Anthony of the desert. With great zeal he received almost immediate permission to set out to Morocco to preach to the Moors, but had to return to Europe due to a severe illness.

While returning to Europe, he ended up in Assisi, where a general chapter was to be held. It was there he saw St. Francis. He then left the Augustinian brothers and joined the Franciscans.

As a sickly young brother, no one suspected him to have such intellectual gifts. If he wasn’t praying in the chapel, he was either serving the brothers washing their dishes and pots. At an ordination service, none of the Franciscans or Dominicans who came were prepared to give to deliver the sermon. His superior told him to go and speak whatever the Holy Spirit put into his mouth. All who heard his address were astonished, with his eloquence, fervor and learning. Due to this event, he was sent to preach in the province. He was an immediate success as a preacher. He was particularly effective in converting heretics.

St. Francis sent a letter to St. Anthony giving his approval to teach theology to the Franciscans provided “such study does not quench the spirit of holy prayer and devotion according to the rule.”

Due to his teaching at the university against Albigensians, he developed the title “hammer of heretics”. He had remarkable learning, eloquence, marked with logical analysis and reasoning, burning zeal for souls, a magnetic personality and a voice, which carried far.

The mere sight of him, brought sinners to their knees, for he appeared to radiate a spiritual force. Crowds flocked to hear him, hardened criminals, careless Catholics, heretics—all were converted and brought to confession. Men locked up their offices and shops in order to go and hear his sermons and women rose early in the morning or stayed overnight in the church to secure their places. Because the churches weren’t large enough to accommodate the crowds, he preached in public squares and market places. His sermons led to wide-spread reforming of many people in the city of Padua.

Once Anthony had traveled to the city of Rimini because it was a hotbed of heresy. The city leaders had ordered everyone to ignore him, so no one turned up for his homilies. Wherever Anthony went, he was greeted by silence.

Anthony walked along praying and reflecting upon what had happened. As he walked outside of the town, he came to the mouth of the Marecchia River where it flows into the Adriatic. There he began to address the crowds, not of people but of fish.

He called out, “You, fish of the river and sea, listen to the Word of God because the heretics do not wish to hear it.” Suddenly there were thousands of fish neatly arranged in rows, all pushing their heads through the surface of the water as if they were straining to listen to every one of Anthony’s words.

The people of Rimini, seeing this miracle, gathered to listen to Anthony. What began with simple interest in an extraordinary event turned into a passionate conviction that Anthony was speaking to their very hearts. They were so moved by Anthony’s words, by his call to conversion, that they abandoned their hardened positions and returned to the Church. As we stated above, we are not sure that this story is historic, but it certainly does represent a version of what often happened when Anthony preached: that many hardened sinners were converted through the unselfish love of Anthony.

On another occasion, a heretic said he did not believe in the true presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. St. Anthony challenged the farmer to not feed his mule for three days and then come and bring the mule’s favorite grain. The man did as St. Anthony told him. With St. Anthony holding the Eucharist in one hand and the farmer holding a bucket with the mule’s favorite grain, the mule walked up to Saint Anthony and fell on its knees before the Blessed Sacrament. The mule’s owner was immediately converted and believed in the true presence.

St. Anthony is also invoked to help find lost articles, but is also an intercessor for the poor, infertile and pregnant women, and of travelers. People sometimes give bread to the poor, for the purpose of obtaining his intercession, which is often called “St. Anthony bread”.

In the spring of 1231, after preaching a powerful course of sermons, St. Anthony’s strength gave out. He never got better and died at the age of 36 after receiving the last rites. He was canonized within one year after his death.

Due to the many miracles worked at his tomb, he became known as the “wonder-working saint”.

If we do not have a devotion to St. Anthony, now is the time for us to begin praying to him. Though it is good to pray to him for lost articles, it is better to pray to him for lost souls and to ask him help for help in growing in virtue and holiness. St. Anthony, pray for us!

10th Sunday - Virgin Mary Did God's Will in All Things

 

In the first reading, we have Adam, Eve and the devil, who tempts them. They give in to the temptation and out of disobedience to God’s will, fall from grace. By doing what the devil wanted, they chose to do the will of the devil, rather than the will of God.

In Genesis 3:15, God responds to the Serpent, hinting at his first promise of redemption after the fall of Adam and Eve: “I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head and you shall bruise his heel.” This hints at the cosmic struggle that will ensue, resulting in the Serpent’s ultimate defeat through the seed of the Woman—though her seed will also suffer through this victory (“you shall bruise his heel”). The Christian tradition sees this ultimately as a prophecy of Jesus’ victory over the devil on the Cross. The coming of the redeemer will return fallen mankind to the dominion of God, by the freedom to accept of God’s will for those who desire salvation.

God foretells to the serpent, it will be at enmity with a woman and her offspring in the future. The woman cannot be Eve because Eve who through her disobedience to God gave in to the temptation of the devil. So there must be a new woman (the Virgin Mary) who will come and her child (Jesus) will crush the head of the serpent.

To be at enmity means to be totally against such that they have absolutely nothing to do with each other. The future woman to come will assist the redeemer, in crushing the serpent. Since the woman to come will be totally against the devil, she will be obedient to God in all things. She will be sinless from her conception (like Eve), and so there is an allusion to Mary’s Immaculate Conception. Unlike Eve, She will always do God’s will and will never once commit any sin.

In the Gospel, we have Jesus, the new Adam and Mary the new Eve. Jesus, the redeemer, has power and dominion over the devil and evil spirits, and able to drive out demons. The redeemer, who will crush the head of the serpent, has come to bring salvation to those who accept it.

Sadly, some scribes accuse Jesus of being the prince of demons because He is able to cast out demons. In response, Our Lord speaks about the unforgivable sin (blaspheming against the Holy Spirit). It’s not unforgivable because it can’t be forgiven, but because they will not seek forgiveness for their sin. They attribute God’s work of freeing men from the power of evil spirits, to the action of devil. In another words, their hearts are so hardened, they refuse to recognize God’s action and even attribute God’s work to evil spirits and will not repent of their sin.

Genesis later calls Eve, the Mother of the living, but because of her fall from grace, she is really the mother of the dead. Blessed Guerric of Igny said, “The first Eve is not so much a mother as a stepmother, since she handed on to her children an inheritance of certain death rather than the beginning of light. She is indeed called the mother of all the living, but she is more truly the destroyer of the living or the mother of the dead, since the only fruit of her child-bearing was death. And as Eve was incapable of fulfilling the vocation of her title, Mary consummated the mystery. She herself, like the Church of which she is the type, is a mother of all who are reborn to life. She is in fact the mother of the life by which everyone lives, and when she brought it forth from herself she in some way brought to rebirth all those who were to live by that life.”

Second century writers St. Justin and St. Irenaeus used to call Mary the New Eve. They would say, “death through Eve, life through Mary”. The Catechism says, “The Virgin Mary 'cooperated through free faith and obedience in human salvation'. She uttered her yes 'in the name of all human nature' By Her obedience She became the new Eve, mother of the living." By the Catechism and early Church fathers, we can see Mary is the true Mother of the living because she is the spiritual mother of us all. Jesus gave His Mother to us at the foot of the Cross, when He told John, “Behold your Mother.” He said to Mary, “Woman, behold your son”. The word “woman” is in reference to the woman predicted in Genesis 3:15. In Revelation, Mary is the “woman” clothed with the sun and moon under her feet and on Her head a crown of twelve stars”. The dragon pursues Her and makes war against Her offspring because her offspring do God’s will.

In the Gospel today, when Our Lord’s Mother and His disciples arrived standing outside of the house, one of His disciples said, “Your Mother and your brothers and your sisters are outside asking for you.” Jesus replied, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking at the people said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whosever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” Here it sounds like Jesus had brothers and sisters. But this is not the case. Rather, Mary is a perpetual virgin. She gave birth to Jesus, but in a miraculous manner preserving Her virginal integrity. Jesus did not have natural brothers and sisters because Mary never had other children. The Hebrew language didn’t have separate words for “brother”, “cousin”. The Jews used the word “brother” for a “near relative” without meaning “blood-brothers”.

What did Jesus mean when He said to the people? “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whosever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”? These words sound like He didn’t want to acknowledge His Mother. But, the opposite is true, He wanted all to know His Mother always did God’s will and was praising His Mother and exhorting them to be like Her. She is the promised Mother of the Redeemer and He is the Redeemer, who will crush the head of the serpent. He is saying, they are to be like Mary, who always did God’s will in Her life.

Since Mary is the Mother of the redeemer, we are of Her seed (Her children) and at war with the devil and his followers, because we do God’s will. In the end the victory is ours because the Redeemer will crush the head of the serpent and cast him and his followers into the abyss. The woman, the co-redemptrix, will assist Him in conquering the serpent.

Since Mary was free of sin and never sinned, She can help us avoid sin and do God’s will. God’s will is found in the ordinary duties and state of life. It’s God’s will we keep the house clean, wash the dishes and mow the yard. It’s God’s will children obey their parents. Spouses mutually submit to each other. It’s God’s will we obey civil laws and authority, such as not speeding or running stop signs. We are to obey our boss and do our job to the best of our ability. We are to be a good mother, father, brother or sister, or parent, or grandparent, or a good religious obeying our superior, living out the vows of poverty chastity and obedience and obeying the rule of life. God’s will for us is how we are mother, sister or brother to Jesus.

Sometimes we want to know God’s will in our life and should ask the Holy Spirit, who dwells in the Heart of Mary to help us know His will.

At times, we can’t understand God’s will, and must go by faith. When the angel asked Mary to become the mother of Jesus, She could not understand how it could be, because She had made a vow of virginity. How could She become a Mother and yet remain a virgin? But because of Her great faith, She told the angel, “Be it done unto me according to your word.”

Sometimes, when we can clearly see God’s will is painful and difficult for us, we are to have the same attitude of Jesus, who said, “Not my will, but your will be done?” trusting God will take care of us.

Today, may we seek Mary’s intercession in helping us to do God’s will, and not our own; to obey His commandments, avoiding sin; to do His will in our daily duties and state of life; and to accept God’s will as Mary accepted His will standing at the foot of the Cross. By doing God’s will, we are His children and the children of Mary (and therefore at war with evil spirts). But if we turn to Mary, the Queen of heaven and earth, the true mother of the living, the new Eve, who always did the will of the Father, we will inherit the kingdom of God, forfeited by Adam and Eve, but made available by our redeemer, who was obedient to His Father, even to death, death on the Cross, and rose from the dead for our salvation.

Corpus Christi Sunday - Eucharistic Revival

 

Today, I’m giving an explanatory homily, which is longer than usual to highlight, the Eucharist, as we celebrate the Solemnity of Corpus Christi. The words “Corpus Christi” mean “Body of Christ”. Many parishes have a Eucharistic Procession following one of their Masses this weekend. The Eucharist is processed through the streets as a public witness in our belief it is truly the risen Jesus in the Sacred Host. Since, last week was our parish feast of the Most Holy Trinity, we had a Eucharistic Procession after the 8am Mass and had a Pizza Breakfast with Mr. Dold’s famous Cinnamon Rolls.

At the Last Supper, Jesus instituted the Eucharist, when He took the bread, blessed it, broke it and said, “Take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my body, which will be given up for you. Then He took the chalice saying, “Take this, all of you, and drink from it, for this is the chalice of my blood, the blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and for the many, for the forgiveness of sins, do this in memory of me.”

With these words, at the Last Supper, Jesus changed bread and wine into His body and blood and today through the priest, Jesus makes this happen at every Holy Mass.

In His Eucharistic discourse, in John Chapter 6, Our Lord said, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise Him on the last day.” Some disciples responded saying, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” We know they took His words literally, because in John 6:66, after He said these words, it states many no longer followed Him. Jesus didn’t stop them from leaving because He meant His words literally. If He meant it symbolically, He would have had an obligation to tell them. He then turned to the Apostles, and said, “Will you also leave me?” But, Peter said, “But Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”

John chapter 6 verse 66, have the three 6’s. They are numbers associated with the devil. It was at this point many no longer followed Jesus because they didn’t believe.

We are in a three year Eucharistic Revival in the United States. In 2019, a research study indicated 70% believe the Eucharist is only a symbol, but a 2023 survey suggests that 2/3 actually do believe the Eucharist is truly Jesus.

In our diocese of Wichita, many truly believe Jesus is present in the Eucharist as can be seen by the many adoration chapels. Three years ago, here at Holy Trinity parish, over 90% of the families signed up for an hour and others signed up as substitutes, which makes adoration so successful. If your not a substitute and don’t have an hour, you can do either. By spending your time with Jesus in silent adoration, you receive untold hidden graces for you, your family, the parish, and the world. I am so impressed by the love and devotion of many people here at Holy Trinity. Many of you receive Holy Communion reverently.

In order to increase faith in the Eucharist, over the centuries, the Lord has worked Eucharistic miracles. Blessed Carlo Acutis, a 15 yr. old boy from Italy, who died of Leukemia, created an International Eucharistic Miracle Display. Many of the miracles, Hosts began to bleed.

Carlo once said, "the Eucharist is the highway to heaven." When people sit in the sun, they become tan, "but when they sit before Eucharistic Jesus, they become saints.”

Over a span of 2 and ½ years, Carlo documented 187 Church approved Eucharistic miracles. One such miracle was in Tumaco, Columbia in 1902. Due to an earthquake a Tsunami was about to destroy the island, but the local priest took the Blessed Sacrament to the shore and made the sign of the Cross with the Host causing the giant tidal wave to immediately halt, sparing the island from destruction.

Carlo recorded a miracle in 1412, when a priest in Italy was assailed by doubts while offering Mass. Just as he consecrated the wine, into the blood of Jesus, the wine literally turned into blood and overflowed from the chalice falling upon the white cloth (a corporal) on the altar. Many witnessed the miracle and the priest repented of his doubt.

While not considered a Eucharistic miracle, a priest from our diocese felt the Sacred Host beat between his fingers after the consecration, as though he was holding the beating Heart of Jesus.

The meaning of Eucharistic Revival is to revive the faith in the true presence of the Eucharist, and to do that, we need to examine how we treat Jesus in the Sacred Host.

If we don’t have faith in the Eucharist, we think we ought, we can make acts of faith to increase it. Such as, “O Jesus, I believe you are really and truly present in the Sacred Host.” or when the Host is elevated at Mass, we can use the words of St. Thomas the Apostle, after he touched the wounds of Jesus, “My Lord and my God.”

We can read books about the Eucharist, such Jesus, Our Eucharistic Love, Or we can read about Eucharistic Miracles approved by the Church and collected by Blessed Carlo Acutis. We can get on a plane and fly to see a Eucharistic miracle. We can attend Mass more often and receive Jesus in Holy Communion, praying to Him, whom comes to dwell in our heart. St. Alphonsus Ligouri states Holy Communion lasts at least 15 min or until the Sacred Host is assimilated in our body. Consequently, after receiving Holy Communion, we can spend longer time in prayer.

The time we spend with Jesus adoring Him in Eucharistic Adoration, or before the tabernacle, where Jesus abides, helps us to grow in our faith. We can also increase our exterior reverence, as a sign of what we believe interiorly. For example, we can be more intentional when genuflecting. As we genuflect, we can gaze upon the tabernacle, and say, “I love you Jesus.” or “Jesus I worship you, truly present in the tabernacle.” When at home before going to bed, we can face the direction of the church, and genuflect towards the tabernacle saying a short prayer.

Fr. Don Calloway in his Eucharistic Revival talk said, we need to dress properly for church and said, “At many weddings, the bridesmaids dresses make them look like hookers.” He said, women should keep veiled, that which is sacred.

About a month ago, I went to the monastery with the incorrupt nun, Sister Wilhelmina. For daily Mass, everyone dressed up and received Communion on the tongue. Women and young girls wore dresses and veils and men and boys, wore dress shirts with ties.

In the 1970s’, women and girls almost never wore pants, but some began to wear dress paints. My grandmother always wore a dress and for years refused to wear dress pants. Then later, women and girls began to wear jeans, that only boys used to wear. As a culture women need to return to examine how we view our appearance and how we dress for Holy Mass. We dress up for funerals, so should we not dress up for Mass, where we are in the presence of the death of Christ on Calvary.

At the Congregational church here in town, at times, in their bulletin, they encourage causal clothes. That’s up to them how they do things, because they don’t have the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. They don’t have the true presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. They don’t believe what we believe.

Our ancestors, who lived before air-conditioning, dressed up for Mass. The women wore dress hats or veils, men wore suits, and children wore their Sunday best. And many lived a life of poverty. Families were willing to sacrifice comfort because they understood the Mass is Sacred.

At Sacred Heart in Halstead, we initiated a dress code by using the diocesan policy for lectors, ushers, & extraordinary Eucharistic ministers. One lector wore shorts and flip flops. She didn’t like the new code and started to attend Mass in Newton. A few weeks later, while attending Mass at Our Lady of Guadalupe parish, the pastor preached on dressing up for Mass and encouraged his parishioners to avoid wearing shorts. When she heard his homily, she apologized and began to dress up for Mass every week.

Perhaps, the reason why there is a lackadaisical way of treating the Mass, may have to do with how priests offer it.

When the priest faces the people there is a temptation for the priest to make himself the center of attention. He may use his personality to walk around sanctuary, or change the rubrics of the Mass, or allow non-sacred music, or the priest may rush the Mass, because he thinks if he has a short Mass people will like him. But, it cheapens the sacredness of the Mass. Consequently, some priests only use the shortest Eucharistic Prayer- 2. Its believed it was created in bar by several priests. There is nothing wrong with Eucharistic Prayer 2 or 3, they are approved by the Church.

Eucharistic prayer 2 is used by priests often times at Sunday Mass, to hurry up and get on with the Mass, but is not intended to be used for Sunday Masses, unless for pastoral reasons.

I use Eucharistic Prayer 1, at most every Mass. During Eucharistic Prayer 1, we ask many saints to pray for us, we pause to pray for others and pause to pray for specific deceased. It’s the oldest Eucharistic prayer and dates back to almost 1,600 years ago.

The Mass is the most holy action on the face of the earth. On the altar, the re-presentation of Calvary occurs. That’s why the Mass is called the Holy Sacrifice. The bread and wine are truly changed into the body and blood of Christ. The risen and resurrected Jesus is physically present in the Eucharist. During Mass, heaven and earth are united and we join the angels and saints worshiping God in heaven. According to a mystic, during the Holy Holy Holy, angels come down from heaven to surround the altar. If some have never heard these things, they don’t see the Mass as sacred.

Because the Mass is so holy, and so sacred, and because people who come to Mass desire to enter into the mystery of it, it can be difficult to pay attention due to distractions, such as phones ringing, or children screaming or hard toys or other objects dropped in the pews. A fussing child is difficult for parents. But, they find creative ways to control them: rocking them in the pew, or standing up, distracting them with a soft toy, or giving them a bottle. But if these don’t work, out of respect for others trying to enter into the mystery of the Mass or hear the Word of God or the homily, you may want to stand at the entrance of the church or use the rocker downstairs to watch the Mass on TV.

We are all family and we feel like family when we are together with children. Personally, I love when children are at Mass. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me.” They receive graces from God, by being present during the consecration. The bells rung by altar servers cause children to pay attention to see what is happening on the altar. When children are present, it reminds us-- we are family. We need to balance shushing the child and yet to be considerate of others, who desire to enter into the mystery of the Mass.

If you get distracted easy, sit closer to the front. You will be surprised at how much more you can get out of Mass.

Some parishes have Ad Orientem Masses (to face East), meaning the people and the priest face the same direction. Placed like the Cathedral or Church of the Blessed Sacrament have them weekly.

As pastor, I did several Ad Oritentem Masses every week, including a Sunday Mass. I was surprised that the majority of the people enjoyed it. There were a few who preferred the priest facing the people, but they had the opportunity to go to other weekend Masses.

When the priest and the people face God together, there is less distractions for the priest. I found it easier for me to pray the Mass and people were more in awe of the Mass.

Some think, you need to know Latin, to go a Traditional Latin Mass or need to respond in Latin, but it’s not necessary. In fact, the silence and reverence of the Traditional Mass causes one to enter into the mystery of the Holy Mass and its sacrifice. It is truly awe inspiring. The priest and the people face the same direction while the people follow along in the Missal as they watch the priest’s gestures. At the TLM Mass, everyone receives Communion at an altar rail and on the tongue. It reminds us, who we are receiving at Mass. A person, who is God, and not a thing.

When Sr. Wilhelmina made her first Holy Communion, Jesus spoke to her, saying, “Will you be mine?” She later understood Jesus wanted her as his bride, as a religious sister. This summer, when you go on vacation, I encourage you go to Mass at Gower, Missouri and see the incorrupt nun and attend their Traditional Latin Mass. Or you can go to St. Joseph’s church in Wichita, for their 11:30am Latin Mass.

Before we receive Holy Communion, the Church requires us to make a sign of reverence, such as to bow, or make the sign of the Cross, or genuflect or kneel. The US bishops Conference suggest we bow, but we are permitted to do as we desire. Fr. Brungardt gave us permission to use a kneeler during weekday Masses.

Did you know, the ordinary manner the Church desires we receive Holy Communion is on the tongue? But, each bishop can give permission to receive on the hand, called an indult.

It is a priest’s sacred duty to protect and guard the Holy Eucharist. You need to know there are problems with receiving Communion on the hand. For example, Hosts are more easily stolen, which I witnessed in other parishes. At St. Elizabeth in Wichita, when I was an associate there, someone kept putting Hosts in missalettes. One was found on the floor and one outside in the parking lot on Christmas day.

Another problem is tiny particles fall from Hosts, as can be seen in the bottom of a ciboria. Few pay attention to the particles on their hand, and so, Jesus is dropped on the floor. The Council of Trent states every particle no matter how small is the whole and entire person of Jesus.

When receiving Communion in the hand, people begin to treat the Eucharist as ordinary food, but it’s not. Its truly the risen and resurrected Jesus in the Sacred Host. Receiving Communion on the hand, over a period of time can cause a decrease in faith in the Eucharist.

If you receive Communion in the hand, after you receive the Host, look for particles and pick them up and place them in your mouth. The US Bishops Conference has said, if you receive Communion in the hand, the Host is to be immediately placed in your mouth before walking away.

Recently, in the news, a priest bit a woman during Holy Communion. The media made it appear as some crazy priest bit a woman for no reason. However, a Catholic news story, stated, the woman with her lesbian girlfriend, grabbed Hosts out of the ciboria, the priest was holding. To prevent her from grabbing Hosts, the priest bit her arm. She broke the host into pieces causing particles to scatter on the floor.

When the woman was interviewed by police she said, “He wouldn’t give me the cookie.” She accused the priest of not giving it to her because she’s lesbian. The priest admitted to biting her, because he wanted to protect the Blessed Sacrament and didn’t know she was lesbian.

No one as the right to receive the Eucharist. It’s a privilege. Communicants must be Catholic. They must be in the state of grace, and must believe the Eucharist is the true body of Christ. They must also believe everything we believe. Anyone who calls the Eucharist a “cookie”, doesn’t believe the Eucharist is the true Body of Christ. The bishop of the diocese of Orlando defended the priest saying he was protecting the Eucharist, he is bound to do.

The priest has an obligation to be sure all Hosts are consumed and not stolen and he is not to give the next person Communion, until the Host is placed in your mouth. By receiving Communion on the tongue, it displays a greater act of humility. It is more reverent. It is safer for the Host and prevents particles from falling to the ground. When we die and go to our judgment, the Lord will show us the particles that fell to the ground, by us being careless. I encourage you to pray and ask Jesus, if He wants you to receive on the tongue or on the hand.

A true Eucharistic revival is not just about listening to talks about the Eucharist. It’s not just even singing praise and worship songs during a Holy Hour. It’s not just about Eucharistic processions. All of these are good.

But, especially we will fall in deeper love with the Eucharistic Jesus, and if we do, we will want to receive Him often in Communion and come before Him in adoration and give Him the greatest reverence possible, because He is God.

Eucharistic revival is about proclaiming the whole truth about the Eucharist. Its about being sure we receive the Eucharist worthily and with reverence and helping others to do the same. Its about bishops and priests standing up to defend the Eucharist and even at times denying Communion to notorious obstinate sinners, such as pro-abortion politicians or denying non-Catholics Holy Communion.

To receive the Eucharist worthily, we need to be in the state of grace, with no serious sin on our soul. We need to receive the Eucharist only after fasting an hour, from every thing except water and medicine. Chewing gum, drinking coffee or tea or eating other foods, etc.. breaks the Eucharistic fast, and if one receives Communion after breaking the fast, the person commits a sacrilegious Communion, which is a mortal sin. If you come to Mass chewing gum, you can’t receive Holy Communion. If you accidentally break the fast, don’t receive Jesus. You can receive a dispensation before Mass by talking to the priest.

Or I can give you Communion after Mass, after the hour is complete.

Those who regularly use birth control and have no intention of giving it up, and if they receive Holy Communion, are doing so sacrilegiously. Rather than receiving graces from God during Communion, they seriously offend Jesus and receive absolutely no graces what-so ever.

St. Paul in his letter to the Corinthians states those who don’t receive the Eucharist worthily are guilty of profaning the body of Christ and will bring condemnation to oneself.

After committing a mortal sin, if we are sorry and have the intention of avoiding the sin, go to Confession right away, to receive graces from Jesus to help you overcome the sin.

There is no greater time on earth than when we worthily receive Holy Communion, asking Jesus for favors, praying for others, thanking Him and just loving Him by keeping our attention and focus on Him, who comes within our heart.

A true Eucharistic revival will lead us to go to Confession often, to attend daily Mass to receive Communion as often as possible and never receive the Eucharist while in mortal sin.

A true Eucharistic revival will mean we become more reverent to Jesus in the tabernacle, when we receive Holy Communion and when we adore Our Lord in Adoration.

Once, our faith in the Eucharist has revived, we will want to draw others to do the same, by encouraging fallen away Catholics to go to Confession, so they can receive Holy Communion again. Your witness to your faith in the Eucharist, to your love of Jesus and the graces you receive, will help others in grow in their faith.

Let us pray through Mary’s intercession we will grow in our faith believing the Eucharist is truly Her risen Son, who we want to adore, and give our utmost reverence and respect, out of love for Him, who is God and King of heaven and earth, and who the angels and saints worship.