First Day of Novena to the Holy Spirit

Today, we begin the nine day prayer - a novena - asking for the Holy Spirit and His Seven Gifts.

FIRST DAY (Friday, 6th Week of Easter)

Holy Spirit! Lord of Light! From Your clear celestial height, Your pure beaming radiance give!

The Holy Spirit

Only one thing is important -- eternal salvation. Only one thing, therefore, is to be feared--sin· Sin is the result of ignorance, weakness, and indifference The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Light, of Strength, and of Love. With His sevenfold gifts He enlightens the mind, strengthens the will, and inflames the heart with love of God. To ensure our salvation we ought to invoke the Divine Spirit daily, for "The Spirit helpeth our infirmity. We know not what we should pray for as we ought. But the Spirit Himself asketh for us."

Prayer

Almighty and eternal God, Who hast vouchsafed to regenerate us by water and the Holy Spirit, and hast given us forgiveness all sins, vouchsafe to send forth from heaven upon us your sevenfold Spirit, the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, the Spirit of Counsel and fortitude, the Spirit of Knowledge and Piety, and fill us with the Spirit of Holy Fear. Amen.

Our Father and Hail Mary ONCE. Glory be to the Father SEVEN TIMES.

ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE HOLY SPIRIT On my knees before the great multitude of heavenly witnesses, I offer myself, soul and body to You, Eternal Spirit of God. I adore the brightness of Your purity, the unerring keenness of Your justice, and the might of Your love. You are the Strength and Light of my soul. In You I live and move and am. I desire never to grieve You by unfaithfulness to grace and I pray with all my heart to be kept from the smallest sin against You. Mercifully guard my every thought and grant that I may always watch for Your light, and listen to Your voice, and follow Your gracious inspirations. I cling to You and give myself to You and ask You, by Your compassion to watch over me in my weakness. Holding the pierced Feet of Jesus and looking at His Five Wounds, and trusting in His Precious Blood and adoring His opened Side and stricken Heart, I implore You, Adorable Spirit, Helper of my infirmity, to keep me in Your grace that I may never sin against You. Give me grace, O Holy Spirit, Spirit of the Father and the Son to say to You always and everywhere, "Speak Lord for Your servant heareth." Amen.

To be recited daily during the Novena

PRAYER FOR THE SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT O Lord Jesus Christ Who, before ascending into heaven did promise to send the Holy Spirit to finish Your work in the souls of Your Apostles and Disciples, deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me that He may perfect in my soul, the work of Your grace and Your love. Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom that I may despise the perishable things of this world and aspire only after the things that are eternal, the Spirit of Understanding to enlighten my mind with the light of Your divine truth, the Spirit of Counsel that I may ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining heaven, the Spirit of Fortitude that I may bear my cross with You and that I may overcome with courage all the obstacles that oppose my salvation, the Spirit of Knowledge that I may know God and know myself and grow perfect in the science of the Saints, the Spirit of Piety that I may find the service of God sweet and amiable, and the Spirit of Fear that I may be filled with a loving reverence towards God and may dread in any way to displease Him. Mark me, dear Lord, with the sign of Your true disciples and animate me in all things with Your Spirit. Amen.

(To be recited daily during the Novena)

A Note from Bishop LeVoir

Fr. Todd is appreciative of all your prayers and support while he has been away on retreat. He is doing very well and is getting some much needed time for rest, renewal and prayer. Please continue to keep him in your daily prayer. While on retreat Fr. Todd has come to realize that he needs more time for rest and renewal. Bishop LeVoir has accepted Fr. Todd’s request for an extended time away from parish ministry. Fr. Todd will not be returning to the Churches of St. Peter in St. Peter and St. Paul in Nicollet for ministry. He has accepted the Bishop’s invitation to serve as a senior associate pastor in the Churches of Holy Redeemer in Marshall, St. Michael in Milroy and St. Mary in Tracy effective July 2, 2019. Bishop LeVoir has appointed Fr. Denny Labat to serve on an interim basis as the Parochial Administrator for the Churches of St. Peter in St. Peter and St. Paul in Nicollet. Fr. Denny Labat’s arrival as the Parochial Administrator is still being determined. In the meantime, the Diocese of New Ulm will continue to provide priests to celebrate the weekend Masses, the Sacraments and funerals in the two parishes. Your prayers and patience during this time of transition are needed and appreciated. We will continue to provide you further updates as they are needed. 

Fr. Steve Verhelst

Director of Priest Personnel 

Diocese of New Ulm

Divine Mercy Sunday

Divine Mercy Sunday Divine Mercy Sunday, we are encouraged to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet:

Here's How: Make the Sign of the Cross Pray the Opening Prayers The second prayer is repeated three times:"You expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us.""O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of mercy for us, I trust in You!" (three times) Pray the Our Father Pray the Hail Mary Say the Apostles' Creed Pray the Prayer "Eternal Father" On the Our Father bead before each decade, pray the following 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. Amen."Pray the Prayer "For the Sake of His Sorrowful Passion" Ten Times On each of the Hail Mary beads in each decade, pray the following prayer: "For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world."Repeat Steps 6 and 7 On each of the next four decades of the Chaplet, repeat steps 6 and 7 (pray the Eternal Father, followed by ten "For the Sake of His Sorrowful Passion"). Pray the Concluding Doxology Three Times After you have prayed all five decades of the Chaplet, pray the following prayer, which is repeated three times: "Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world." (three times)Pray the Closing Prayer After the doxology, pray the following final prayer: "Eternal God, in Whom mercy is endless, and the treasury of compassion inexhaustible, look kindly upon us, and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments, we might not despair, nor become despondent, but with great confidence, submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy Itself. Amen."End With the Sign of the Cross

Ninth Day of the Divine Mercy Novena (Easter Saturday)

Ninth Day of Divine Mercy Novena (Easter Saturday) Divine Mercy Novena - Ninth Day - Prayer for Ninth Day of Divine Mercy Novena Most compassionate Jesus, You are Compassion Itself. I bring lukewarm souls into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart. In this fire of Your pure love, let these tepid souls who, like corpses, filled You with such deep loathing, be once again set aflame. O Most Compassionate Jesus, exercise the omnipotence of Your mercy and draw them into the very ardor of Your love, and bestow upon them the gift of holy love, for nothing is beyond Your power. Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon lukewarm souls who are nonetheless enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Father of Mercy, I beg You by the bitter Passion of Your Son and by His three-hour agony on the Cross: Let them, too, glorify the abyss of Your mercy. Amen.

Eighth Day of Divine Mercy Novena (Easter Friday)

Divine Mercy Novena - Ninth Day - Prayer for Ninth Day of Divine Mercy Novena Most compassionate Jesus, You are Compassion Itself. I bring lukewarm souls into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart. In this fire of Your pure love, let these tepid souls who, like corpses, filled You with such deep loathing, be once again set aflame. O Most Compassionate Jesus, exercise the omnipotence of Your mercy and draw them into the very ardor of Your love, and bestow upon them the gift of holy love, for nothing is beyond Your power. Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon lukewarm souls who are nonetheless enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Father of Mercy, I beg You by the bitter Passion of Your Son and by His three-hour agony on the Cross: Let them, too, glorify the abyss of Your mercy. Amen.

Seventh Day of Divine Mercy Novena (Easter Thursday)

Divine Mercy Novena - Seventh Day - Prayer for Seventh Day of Divine Mercy Novena Most Merciful Jesus, whose Heart is Love Itself, receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who particularly extol and venerate the greatness of Your mercy. These souls are mighty with the very power of God Himself. In the midst of all afflictions and adversities they go forward, confident of Your mercy; and united to You, O Jesus, they carry all mankind on their shoulders. These souls will not be judged severely, but Your mercy will embrace them as they depart from this life. Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls who glorify and venerate Your greatest attribute, that of Your fathomless mercy, and who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls are a living Gospel; their hands are full of deeds of mercy, and their hearts, overflowing with joy, sing a canticle of mercy to You, O Most High! I beg You O God: Show them Your mercy according to the hope and trust they have placed in You. Let there be accomplished in them the promise of Jesus, who said to them that during their life, but especially at the hour of death, the souls who will venerate this fathomless mercy of His, He, Himself, will defend as His glory. Amen.

Sixth Day of Divine Mercy Novena (Easter Wednesday)

Divine Mercy Novena - Sixth Day - Prayer for Sixth Day of Divine Mercy Novena Most Merciful Jesus, You yourself have said, "Learn from Me for I am meek and humble of heart." Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart all meek and humble souls and the souls of little children. These souls send all heaven into ecstasy and they are the heavenly Father's favorites. They are a sweet-smelling bouquet before the throne of God; God Himself takes delight in their fragrance. These souls have a permanent abode in Your Most Compassionate Heart, O Jesus, and they unceasingly sing out a hymn of love and mercy. Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon meek souls, upon humble souls, and upon little children who are enfolded in the abode which is the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls bear the closest resemblance to Your Son. Their fragrance rises from the earth and reaches Your very throne. Father of mercy and of all goodness, I beg You by the love You bear these souls and by the delight You take in them: Bless the whole world, that all souls together may sing out the praises of Your mercy for endless ages. Ame

Fifth Day of Divine Mercy Novena (Easter Tuesday)

Divine Mercy Novena - Fifth Day - Prayer for Fifth Day of Divine Mercy Novena Most Merciful Jesus, Goodness Itself, You do not refuse light to those who seek it of You. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who have separated themselves from Your Church. Draw them by Your light into the unity of the Church, and do not let them escape from the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart; but bring it about that they, too, come to glorify the generosity of Your mercy.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of those who have separated themselves from Your Son's Church, who have squandered Your blessings and misused Your graces by obstinately persisting in their errors. Do not look upon their errors, but upon the love of Your own Son and upon His bitter Passion, which He underwent for their sake, since they, too, are enclosed in His Most Compassionate Heart. Bring it about that they also may glorify Your great mercy for endless ages. Amen.

Retreat

Bishop LeVoir has invited me to take part in a 3-week retreat, which will start tomorrow. I will be limited in email and social media access (though I have set an auto forward of Bishop LeVoir's tweets). I will not be available by phone. I am looking forward to this time away. In the last years, I have not taken care of days of rest and prayer, especially even retreats. This, combined with the unique circumstances in which I find myself here at the parishes have weighed too heavy on me. This time away is to heal, pray, rest, and restore. Know my prayers.

Easter Sunday '19 - Layers

Jesus Christ is Risen, and the Church's Liturgy helps us to see this with layers of symbolism. Do we strive to understand it? Readings are found at http://bit.ly/2Zhc5oi Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
via View From the Ambo Podcast

Sequence for Easter

Christians, to the Paschal Victim Offer your thankful praises! A Lamb the sheep redeems; Christ, who only is sinless, Reconciles sinners to the Father. Death and life have contended in that combat stupendous: The Prince of life, who died, reigns immortal. Speak, Mary, declaring What you saw, wayfaring. "The tomb of Christ, who is living, The glory of Jesus' resurrection; bright angels attesting, The shroud and napkin resting. Yes, Christ my hope is arisen; to Galilee he goes before you." Christ indeed from death is risen, our new life obtaining. Have mercy, victor King, ever reigning! Amen. Alleluia.

Third Day of Divine Mercy Novena (Easter)

Divine Mercy Novena - Third Day - Prayer for Third Day of Divine Mercy Novena Most Merciful Jesus, from the treasury of Your mercy, You impart Your graces in great abundance to each and all. Receive us into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart and never let us escape from It. We beg this grace of You by that most wondrous love for the heavenly Father with which Your Heart burns so fiercely. Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon faithful souls, as upon the inheritance of Your Son. For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, grant them Your blessing and surround them with Your constant protection. Thus may they never fail in love or lose the treasure of the holy faith, but rather, with all the hosts of Angels and Saints, may they glorify Your boundless mercy for endless ages. Amen.

Easter Exultet

Exult, let them exult, the hosts of heaven, exult, let Angel ministers of God exult, let the trumpet of salvation sound aloud our mighty King's triumph! Be glad, let earth be glad, as glory floods her, ablaze with light from her eternal King, let all corners of the earth be glad, knowing an end to gloom and darkness. Rejoice, let Mother Church also rejoice, arrayed with the lightning of his glory, let this holy building shake with joy, filled with the mighty voices of the peoples. (Therefore, dearest friends, standing in the awesome glory of this holy light, invoke with me, I ask you, the mercy of God almighty, that he, who has been pleased to number me, though unworthy, among the Levites, may pour into me his light unshadowed, that I may sing this candle's perfect praises). (Deacon: The Lord be with you. People: And with your spirit.) Deacon: Lift up your hearts. People: We lift them up to the Lord. Deacon: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. People: It is right and just. It is truly right and just, with ardent love of mind and heart and with devoted service of our voice, to acclaim our God invisible, the almighty Father, and Jesus Christ, our Lord, his Son, his Only Begotten. Who for our sake paid Adam's debt to the eternal Father, and, pouring out his own dear Blood, wiped clean the record of our ancient sinfulness. These, then, are the feasts of Passover, in which is slain the Lamb, the one true Lamb, whose Blood anoints the doorposts of believers. This is the night, when once you led our forebears, Israel's children, from slavery in Egypt and made them pass dry-shod through the Red Sea. This is the night that with a pillar of fire banished the darkness of sin. This is the night that even now throughout the world, sets Christian believers apart from worldly vices and from the gloom of sin, leading them to grace and joining them to his holy ones. This is the night when Christ broke the prison-bars of death and rose victorious from the underworld. Our birth would have been no gain, had we not been redeemed. O wonder of your humble care for us! O love, O charity beyond all telling, to ransom a slave you gave away your Son! O truly necessary sin of Adam, destroyed completely by the Death of Christ! O happy fault that earned for us so great, so glorious a Redeemer! O truly blessed night, worthy alone to know the time and hour when Christ rose from the underworld! This is the night of which it is written: The night shall be as bright as day, dazzling is the night for me, and full of gladness. The sanctifying power of this night dispels wickedness, washes faults away, restores innocence to the fallen, and joy to mourners, drives out hatred, fosters concord, and brings down the mighty. On this, your night of grace, O holy Father, accept this candle, a solemn offering, the work of bees and of your servants' hands, an evening sacrifice of praise, this gift from your most holy Church. But now we know the praises of this pillar, a flame divided but undimmed, which glowing fire ignites for God's honour, a fire into many flames divided, yet never dimmed by sharing of its light, for it is fed by melting wax, drawn out by mother bees to build a torch so precious. O truly blessed night, when things of heaven are wed to those of earth, and divine to the human. Therefore, O Lord, we pray you that this candle, hallowed to the honour of your name, may persevere undimmed, to overcome the darkness of this night. Receive it as a pleasing fragrance, and let it mingle with the lights of heaven. May this flame be found still burning by the Morning Star: the one Morning Star who never sets, Christ your Son, who, coming back from death's domain, has shed his peaceful light on humanity, and lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

Holy Saturday Office of Readings

From the Office of Readings for Holy Saturday: Something strange is happening—there is a great silence on earth today, a great silence and stillness. The whole earth keeps silence because the King is asleep. The earth trembled and is still because God has fallen asleep in the flesh and he has raised up all who have slept ever since the world began. God has died in the flesh and hell trembles with fear. He has gone to search for our first parent, as for a lost sheep. Greatly desiring to visit those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, he has gone to free from sorrow the captives Adam and Eve, he who is both God and the son of Eve. The Lord approached them bearing the cross, the weapon that had won him the victory. At the sight of him Adam, the first man he had created, struck his breast in terror and cried out to everyone: ‘My Lord be with you all.’ Christ answered him: ‘And with your spirit.’ He took him by the hand and raised him up, saying: ‘Awake, O sleeper, and rise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.’ I am your God, who for your sake have become your son. Out of love for you and for your descendants I now by my own authority command all who are held in bondage to come forth, all who are in darkness to be enlightened, all who are sleeping to arise. I order you, O sleeper, to awake. I did not create you to be held a prisoner in hell. Rise from the dead, for I am the life of the dead. Rise up, work of my hands, you who were created in my image. Rise, let us leave this place, for you are in me and I am in you; together we form only one person and we cannot be separated. For your sake I, your God, became your son; I, the Lord, took the form of a slave; I, whose home is above the heavens, descended to the earth and beneath the earth. For your sake, for the sake of man, I became like a man without help, free among the dead. For the sake of you, who left a garden, I was betrayed to the Jews in a garden, and I was crucified in a garden. See on my face the spittle I received in order to restore to you the life I once breathed into you. See there the marks of the blows I received in order to refashion your warped nature in my image. On my back see the marks of the scourging I endured to remove the burden of sin that weighs upon your back. See my hands, nailed firmly to a tree, for you who once wickedly stretched out your hand to a tree. I slept on the cross and a sword pierced my side for you who slept in paradise and brought forth Eve from your side. My side has healed the pain in yours. My sleep will rouse you from your sleep in hell. The sword that pierced me has sheathed the sword that was turned against you. Rise, let us leave this place. The enemy led you out of the earthly paradise. I will not restore you to that paradise, but I will enthrone you in heaven. I forbade you the tree that was only a symbol of life, but see, I who am life itself am now one with you. I appointed cherubim to guard you as slaves are guarded, but now I make them worship you as God. The throne formed by cherubim awaits you, its bearers swift and eager. The bridal chamber is adorned, the banquet is ready, the eternal dwelling places are prepared, the treasure houses of all good things lie open. The kingdom of heaven has been prepared for you from all eternity.

Second Day of Divine Mercy Novena (Holy Saturday)

Divine Mercy Novena - Second Day - Prayer for Second Day of Divine Mercy Novena Most Merciful Jesus, from whom comes all that is good, increase Your grace in men and women consecrated to Your service, that they may perform worthy works of mercy; and that all who see them may glorify the Father of Mercy who is in heaven. Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the company of chosen ones in Your vineyard—upon the souls of priests and religious; and endow them with the strength of Your blessing. For the love of the Heart of Your Son in which they are enfolded, impart to them Your power and light, that they may be able to guide others in the way of salvation and with one voice sing praise to Your boundless mercy for ages without end. Amen.

Good Friday '19 - For the World

Jesus is the Lamb of God, offered for the world's salvation. Readings are found at http://bit.ly/2Xo2N8b Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
via View From the Ambo Podcast

First Day of Divine Mercy Novena (Good Friday)

Divine Mercy Novena - First Day - Prayer for First Day of Divine Mercy Novena Most Merciful Jesus, whose very nature it is to have compassion on us and to forgive us, do not look upon our sins but upon our trust which we place in Your infinite goodness. Receive us all into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart, and never let us escape from It. We beg this of You by Your love which unites You to the Father and the Holy Spirit. Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon all mankind and especially upon poor sinners, all enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. For the sake of His sorrowful Passion show us Your mercy, that we may praise the omnipotence of Your mercy for ever and ever. Amen.

Holy Thursday '19 - Sacrifce

Jesus gives us the model of love, the priesthood, and the New Passover - all connected by sacrifice. Readings are found at http://bit.ly/2Gmf7ir Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
via View From the Ambo Podcast

St. Faustian's Prayer to be Merciful

O Most Holy Trinity! As many times as I breathe, as many times as my heart beats, as many times as my blood pulsates through my body, so many thousand times do I want to glorify your mercy. I want to be completely transformed into your mercy and to be Your living reflection O Lord. May the greatest of all divine attributes, that of your unfathomable mercy pass through my heart and soul to my neighbor. Help me O Lord that my eyes may be merciful, so that I may never suspect or judge from appearances, but look for what is beautiful in my neighbors souls and come to their rescue. Help me O Lord that my ears may be merciful, so that I may give heed to my neighbors needs and not be indifferent to their pains and moanings. Help me O Lord that my tongue may be merciful so that I should never speak negatively of my neighbor, but have a word of comfort and forgiveness for all. Help me O Lord that my hands may be merciful and filled with good deeds, so that I may do only good to my neighbors and take upon my self the more difficult and toilsome tasks. Help me O Lord that my feet may be merciful, so that I may hurry to assist my neighbor, overcoming my own fatigue and weariness. My true rest is in the service of my neighbor. Help me O Lord that my heart may be merciful so that I myself may feel all the sufferings of my neighbor. I will refuse my heart to no one. I will be sincere even with those who will abuse my kindness. And I will lock myself up in the most merciful Heart of Jesus. I will bear my own suffering in silence. May your mercy O Lord rest upon me. You yourself command me to exercise the three degrees of mercy. The first; the act of mercy of whatever kind. The second; the word of mercy – if I cannot carry out a work of mercy, I will assist by my words. The third; prayer – if I cannot show mercy by deeds or words, I can always do so by prayer. My prayer reaches out even there where I cannot reach out physically. O my Jesus, transform me into yourself, for you can do all things.

Passion Sunday C '19 - Hearts nailed to the Cross

Jesus can change our hearts, if we let Him, and He wants them with Him through the Cross to Resurrection. Readings are found at http://bit.ly/2VDJcR3 Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
via View From the Ambo Podcast

5th Sunday Lent C '19 - Forgiven

Jesus is confronted with a test regarding a woman caught in adultery. He gives her forgiveness, and sets a model for us. Readings are found at http://bit.ly/2I5V8Yv Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
via View From the Ambo Podcast

4th Sunday Lent C '19 - Reckless

Jesus invites us to reflect on our relationship with the Father in the parable of the "Prodigal Son", rather the "Lost Sons and Prodigal Father". Do we accept the reckless love of the Father, and rejoice when others turn back to Him? Readings are found at https://ift.tt/2FRkJkL Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
via View From the Ambo Podcast

Lent and Transfiguration

Yearly, on the Second Sunday of Lent, the Catholic Lectionary has the Gospel passage of the Transfiguration from one of the three synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark or Luke). This might seem a little odd. After all, the Transfiguration, on its surface, seems so distant from the spiritual preparations of Lent. It seems too hopeful, too positive to fit. But that would be a mischaracterization of the Transfiguration. First, what is the Transfiguration? Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He shares the same divinity, the same nature as God the Father and the Holy Spirit, but they are three persons. He became incarnate, taking on human nature with all that goes with it except sin. He has a human body and soul, intellect and will. This humanity ‘hid’ His divinity. In the Transfiguration, occurring on Mount Tabor, that divinity was allowed to shine forth. He became dazzling. But more important, He conversed with Moses (giver of the Law) and Elijah (the most important of the prophets) from the Old Testament, both symbols of Jesus’ mission and ministry, that He would fulfill the Law and the prophets. The apostles Peter, James and John witnessed this vision of Christ in His glory. Peter did not know how to respond - he states, “Lord, it is good that we are here. Let us build three tents…” He recognizes the beauty of the revelation, but desires to stay there (though the tents might refer to the Jewish Festival of Booths, when they lived in tents in honor of the harvest). But Jesus was about something else. Especially in Luke’s account, it is clear that Moses and Elijah are speaking of His “Exodus” - that He was going to be the way to salvation through His death on the Cross. The Transfiguration was a means of preparing for the scandal of the Cross. St. Peter says as much in his letter, when he wrote that we are not following cleverly devised myths because he was a witness of the glory of Jesus Christ’s glory in the Transfiguration (2 Peter). What does this have to do with us and our Lenten preparations? We might be like St. Peter. We might recognize the beauty of the Risen Christ, and we might become too comfortable, we want to stay comfortable. But Christ invites us to enter into His death and resurrection, especially in this Lenten season. Hearing of the Transfiguration might invite us to consider the glory we have witnessed in the Resurrection, and remind ourselves that the glory we see is preparing us for something greater. We must be willing to follow Christ through this Lenten season into the glory not only of His Resurrection, but to the eternal life He died to give us. The Transfiguration reminds us that something more, something greater, awaits. We need to get uncomfortable, though. But we might recall, as Pope Benedict XVI stated, we are not made for comfort. We are made for greatness. We prepare for greatness in Lent!

3rd Sunday Lent C '19 - Figs

Using the news of the day, Jesus tells his hearers to produce fruits of repentance. His image of figs reminds us not to get comfortable. Readings are found at https://ift.tt/2UUCCFk Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
via View From the Ambo Podcast

2nd Sunday Lent C '19 - Comfort

As the Lord is transfigured in the presence of Peter, James, and John, He reminds them of who He is and prepares them for the discomfort of the Cross, but the glory of the Kingdom. Readings are found at https://ift.tt/2THvmAm Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
via View From the Ambo Podcast

1st Sunday Lent C '19 - Temptation

Jesus Christ endures temptation, and provides the model for us. Do we see how our temptations are to selfishness? Readings are found at https://ift.tt/2XHeKXQ Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
via View From the Ambo Podcast

Ash Wednesday C '19 - Melt

As we enter the sacred season of Lent, are we able to let the Lord melt us? Readings are found at https://ift.tt/2XHeKXQ Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
via View From the Ambo Podcast

8th Sunday C '19 - Blind

Jesus teaches that the blind cannot lead the blind, and that those blinded by their own faults cannot heal others of theirs. Where are we blind? Readings are found at https://ift.tt/2Vx7Pyd Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
via View From the Ambo Podcast

7th Sunday C '19 - Mercy

David is a man after God's own heart, but not because of what he did in sin, but how he treated others with mercy. Christ calls us to mercy and forgiveness, too. Do we see it as strength? Readings are found at https://ift.tt/2E4Yjvg Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
via View From the Ambo Podcast

Dominion

Recently, in the Catholic Lectionary for the daily Scripture readings for Mass, we began reading in Genesis. So much could be written about these first few chapters – from creation and intelligent desing (especially as opposed to atheistic evolution), to the dignity of human beings, to the Fall and disgrace of sin. We could discuss the nature of humanity itself – the differences between male and female, and the complementarity of the sexes. We could discuss the whole idea of evolution as the means that God our Creator used to bring about the life we see around us. In this latest reading, however, what struck me is the idea of “dominion”. Twice, the author writes that the Creator gave man dominion over the fish, birds and beasts. First, is a statement of God’s intent, but the second time an extension of God’s blessing. How are we to understand this? After all, in our modern ears, dominion is a bad thing. It seems to be to rule it, to use and discard according to one’s own desires and wishes. It is viewed as an unchecked industrialization and capitalist endeavor. Its extreme opposite is one that leads to seeking to eliminate humanity and a rejection of any authority over creation. We would not leave a single mark on the world. Dominion is in between – it means leaving the world better, both by the wise use of resources and trying to limit waste. We should seek to protect the earth. The root of “Dominion” means to ‘lord’. It implies that to have dominion is a participation in the very action of God in subduing, protecting, and guiding. Dominion does not allow wanton destruction, but rather creativity. It is a form of stewardship, which is to take care of the things that we have been given by the Creator, and to pass them on to our youth. To have dominion is to use wisely. Why might this notion be important? First, it is God’s will that we as human we participate in His continuing creative action. After all, while we hear of how He rested on the seventh day, He did not cease to guide and create. So we are given dominion to aid. We build roads, create technology, grow our food just as examples, to have dominion and subdue. But the other reason is that to participate in the dominion is an acceptance of God’s blessing. If it is God’s will, and His blessing, it is then a sacred duty. It is one that we cannot neglect. Perhaps with this idea, we can seek better ways of environmentalism and green deals.

6th Sunday C '19 - Trust

Jesus teaches the Beatitudes, which invite us to discern what and who we trust. Readings are found at http://bit.ly/2Iip3hk Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
via View From the Ambo Podcast

5th Sunday C '19 - In The Boat

As St. Peter pulls in the miraculous catch of fish, he recognizes who has entered his boat. Do we allow the Lord to enter our boats? Readings are found at http://bit.ly/2RRPVE5 Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
via View From the Ambo Podcast

4th Sunday C '19 - Love

St. Paul reminds the Corinthians of a more excellent way to live the Christian life than arguing about which charisms are the best. Do we know that love is a choice? Readings are found at http://bit.ly/2G5S0Lg Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
via View From the Ambo Podcast

3rd Sunday C '19 - Certianty

St. Luke records the Gospel for Theophilus, so that he would have certainty in the teachings he has received. Do we receive them as we ought? Readings are found at http://bit.ly/2UnJ7jx Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
via View From the Ambo Podcast

2nd Sunday OT C '19 - Do Whatever He Says

Jesus asks for ordinary water, almost 180 gallons, to be brought. What He does is extraordinary. The Blessed Mother encouraged the servers, and us, to do whatever He asks. Readings are found at http://bit.ly/2TZHDeY Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
via View From the Ambo Podcast