28th Sunday of OT Year C Homily

The Lord bestowed a great gift upon these ten lepers who were found in our Gospel, but only one of them was willing to return to Him in order to give thanks. Likewise, our Blessed Lord has bestowed so many gifts upon us. We should not allow ourself to depart from here without first giving thanks for the many gifts that have been poured out upon us.

The word “Eucharist” comes from the Greek word “eucharisteo” which means “to give thanks.” I can think of no greater gift that can be bestowed upon us then the gift of the Eucharist. After all, the Eucharist, is the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ our Lord. I do not say this in a symbolic way, but enforce the reality that Christ is truly present with us in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar.

When we have the opportunity to assist at the Holy Mass it is a common practice to arrive early in order to prepare oneself for what they are about to receive. Following the Holy Mass it is common practice to remain for a moment of prayer made in thanksgiving for the great gift that has been received. Again, what we receive here is not a symbol of God’s presence, but the reality of God’s presence. If we truly believe that the one who we encounter here is God made Flesh we would not rush into what we receive and we would not rush out the door without first giving thanks.

Nevertheless, what is often encountered is an attitude of rush. After all we are a society which is in rush to its next event. We never allow ourself to slow down. We are in a rush that the priest end Mass within the hour. We are in a rush that we be the be the first one out the door. With all of this rush of our everyday life it seems that the only rush that does not exist is being at Mass before it begins if one is to even come at all.

We must remember that lepersy separated one from the confines of the community. The only way for them to be reconciled with the community was that they be healed. Christ grants them this ability to be reconciled with the community. Of these ten only one is willing to stop and give thanks for the great gift which has been received.

This day as we behold our Blessed Lord in Holy Communion may we come to allow nothing on this earth to be more important then this encounter with our Lord. Through sin we have been hurt, but through Christ’s mercy we are reconciled and can live. Truly, through the Eucharist we receive a great gift that we should never take advantage of.

Therefore make frequent use of the Sacrament of Confession for this sacrament extends to the Eucharist. When we receive Christ in the Eucharist may we never be in a hurry, but come to contemplate fully the gift that we are about to receive. When we worthily receive our Lord in Holy Communion let us fall down in adoration and thanksgiving for the gift that we have received.

Let us join with this leper this day and fall down at the feet of Jesus and give Him thanks.

Bulletin Article: October 6

I thank those who serve our community as government officials and those of our juridical system. May we continue to pray for each of them that the Holy Spirit may come upon them to lead them in wisdom and truth. As a reminder on October 20th at 8am we will offer the White Mass for all those who serve in the medical field. Please spread the word among your family and friends.

May we remember that Monday falls the Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary. This is an important Marian Feast which calls to mind the importance of praying the rosary. At Fatima our Blessed Mother appeared and proclaimed: “Pray the Rosary every day, in order to obtain peace for the world, and the end of the war.” I believe it is important that we take up the praying of the rosary especially within our families. To pray the rosary is to allow one to center upon the life of our Blessed Lord. In reference to the rosary I recommend the book, “Secrets of the Rosary,” by Saint Louis de Montfort.

Seeing that this month is dedicated to the rosary a community rosary will be held on October 13th at the outside statue of Our Lady of Fatima. If weather is bad this rosary will instead be held in the church. October 13th was the date of the closing of Fatima and is a fitting day for our parish community to join together as one in prayer.

In Christ,

Fr. Dustin Collins

Our Lady of the Rosary Homily

Today we come to celebrate the External Solemnity of Our Lady of the Rosary. As we find ourself in the midst of the month of October may we be reminded that this month is dedicated to the rosary. On October 13, which is next Sunday, the apparitions of Fatima came to their conclusion through what is known as the Miracle of the Sun. On this day I invite you to a community rosary which will be held at 3:30pm. If weather permits this rosary will be held at the statue of Our Lady of Fatima which is found outside. I find it very important that this parish continue to move forward through a spirit of prayer and our Blessed Mother’s intercession.

The rosary is related to the praying of the Psalms. The clergy and members of religious orders are bound to pray the Liturgy of Hours. This is something that I recommend for all the lay faithful to pray. Traditionally the Roman Breviary would cover all 150 Psalms in the period of one week. In its’ current form this takes four weeks and a few of the Psalms are even excluded. 

I bring this up because the Rosary is sometimes referred to as being the Psalter of our Lady. This is made in reference to the Roman Brevary and the praying of the 150 Psalms. If you take the traditional mysteries of the rosary and add up the Hail Mary prayers which are made between the decades you will arrive at 150 Aves which are prayed. To pray the rosary gave an individual the opportunity to spend time with each of these Psalms.

The Rosary then becomes a very powerful prayer that needs to be rediscovered in the life of the faithful. Saint John Paul II went as far as to say of it: “The revival of the Rosary in Christian families, within the context of a broader pastoral ministry to the family, will be an effective aid to countering the devastating effects of this crisis typical of our age.” To think of the many issues which run rampant within the world which includes the realm of the family. How different would the world in which we live be different if we came to heed these words?

With that let us consider what led to the creation of this celebration of Our Lady of the Rosary. It was in the year 1571 that victory was won for Christians at Lepanto which was attributed by Pope Pius V to the praying of the rosary on the behalf of the faithful. The Christians were greatly outnumbered and had this city fallen to Turkish invaders which would of been catastrophic for Christiandom. Nevertheless, the faithful banded together in prayer and Our Lady of the Rosary granted a great miracle on that day.

The rosary is thus a great spiritual weapons against Satan and all evil spirits. Let us remember that many in religious orders wear their rosary to their left thus reaching for it with their right hand. This is equal to a knight, who when headed into battle, reaches for his sword with his right hand finding it on his left side.

Let us then come to heed the faithful praying of the rosary in our everyday life including in our home when among our family. Our Lady of Fatima stated: “Pray the Rosary every day in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary to obtain peace in the world.” May we heed this request and forever take up the weapon of the Most Holy Rosary.

Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us.

27th Sunday of OT Year C Homily

Our Gospel speaks to us about doing what we have been obliged to do. When it comes to the realm of religion there are some who ignore the importance of this word. They would rather live their life in comfort then allow themself to be moved away from self and towards God.

We are thus obliged to follow the Ten Commandments and the moral teachings of the Church. The Catechism of the Catholic Church also lists five precepts that we are obliged to follow. Despite these obligations there are some who don’t know of them or worse yet choose to disobey.

The first and fourth of these are related and are as follows one “shall attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation” and one “shall keep holy the holy days of obligation.” Nevertheless, there are those who do not see the necessity to honor the Lord’s day in such a manner by gathering together to commemorate the Resurrection of the Lord. It is sad for me to hear the confessions of children and to hear that they do not go to Mass. This tells me that their parents do not see this relationship to God to be a priority in their life or their family.

The second of these is that one “shall confess their sins at least once a year.” Despite this precept I run across many Catholics who pride themself in the reality that they have not been to confession in years. To go to confession is to receive the mercy of our Merciful Savior. To go to confession is to realize that our Blessed Lord is the one who instituted all of the sacraments and thus confession is His gift to us. Who are we to go against His will to deny such a wondrous gift?

The third of these is that one “shall humbly receive your Creator in Holy Communion at least during the Easter season.” This precept does not state that we are to receive Holy Communion at every Mass that we attend. Instead if we have committed a sin which is found to be mortal in nature we should refrain from receiving. By setting the minimum times of receiving communion at once per year we are being reminded of how confession and communion go hand in hand. To be reconciled in God’s infinite mercy prepares our heart and soul to receive such a wondrous gift as the one which is God made Flesh. Realizing that the one who we receive in Holy Communion is God made Flesh we should be taken to this spirit of humility each time that we receive our Blessed Lord in Holy Communion. 

The fifth and final of these is that one “shall observe the prescribed days of fasting and abstinence.” Fasting in the words of the Catechism “help us acquire mastery over our instincts and freedom of heart.” Therefore, to fast is to further purify our heart and soul in order that we may remain close to God at all times.

Finally, this section of the Catechism requests that we provide for the material needs of the Church. This final statement is very important because through our continued stewardship we help to build up God’s Church on this Earth. 

Let us become true stewards of all that God has handed down to us and let us put it into practice the fullness of our faith by realizing that we are unprofitable servants who desire to do all that we have been obliged to do.

St. Mary Men Evening of Recollection Sermon II: Most Holy Rosary

Last month we took up the topic of the universal call to holiness. If we seek to be holy and to follow after our Blessed Lord we need to foster proper Marian devotion within our life and family. Most fittingly the month of October is devoted to the Rosary. The Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary falls on Monday, October 7th. For those who attend our 2pm Mass in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite this will be the feast which will be celebrated on Sunday.

From Saint Josemaria Escriva concerning the rosary: “Become little. Our Lord hides Himself from the proud and reveals the treasures of His grace to the humble. Never fear if, when thinking on your own, daring and childish words and affections escape from you. Jesus wants this. Mary encourages you. If you say the Rosary in this way, you will learn to pray well.”

In the words of our Blessed Mother at Fatima: “Pray the Rosary every day in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary to obtain peace in the world.” These are important words from our Blessed Mother’s lips and yet so many do not heed her command. Saint John Paul II stated concerning the rosary and the family: “The revival of the Rosary in Christian families, within the context of a broader pastoral ministry to the family, will be an effective aid to countering the devastating effects of this crisis typical of our age.”

Many monks and religious sisters wear the rosary hanging from their side. When they reach for their rosary they take their right hand and stretch it to their left hip. The is like a knight who heads into battle taking their right hand and stretching it to their left hip where their sword is found. The rosary becomes our sword for we must undergo spiritual battle everyday.

How sad to know that our Blessed Mother has asked that we pray the rosary everyday and yet so many Catholics do not heed her words. How sad to hear those who do not know their typical prayers especially when it is children. This tells me that the family does not foster a spirit of prayer together. We must remember that the father becomes the spiritual head of the household and must be concerned with this role.

In our modern world so many marriages end in divorce. In our modern world so many children grow up to stop practicing their faith. What would be different if we were so convinced of the importance of praying together as a family especially that of the rosary as was suggested by Saint John Paul II?

The rosary allows us to enter into the life of Christ. Through it we have the opportunity to mediate on his birth, life, death, and resurrection. Through this prayer we seek out the Blessed Mother’s intercession and allow our heart to dwell with her Son.

In the words of Saint Josemaria Escriva: “Take the Holy Rosary, one of the most deeply rooted of Christian devotions. The Church encourages us to contemplate its mysteries. She wants to engrave upon our heart and our imagination, together with Mary’s joy and sorrow and glory, the spellbinding example of Our Lord’s life, in his thirty years of obscurity, his three years of preaching, his ignominious Passion and his glorious Resurrection. To follow Christ — that is the secret.”