Last Sunday (5th Sunday of Lent Year A), the first reading began, “Thus says the Lord GOD: O my people, I will open your graves and have you rise from them.” This points us to a future resurrection. In the gospel, we heard how Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. Jesus has power even over death. On …
It is our tradition, as it is in many parishes, to offer an annual Mass of Remembrance for those who died in the last year. Here is my homily for our Mass of Remembrance this year. All Souls’ Day – Annual Mass of RemembranceWisdom 3:1-9Psalm 23Philippians 3:20-21John 11:17-27November 2, 2022 Losing a loved one is …
God has given us life. “God formed the man out of the dust of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7). God made us body and soul. We are called to care for each person, body and soul. When a person dies, …
I recently finished reading After Suicide: There’s Hope for Them and For You by Fr. Chris Alar, MIC and Br. Jason Lewis, MIC (Stockbridge, MA: Marian Press. 2019). As indicated by the title, the book is specifically written for those dealing with the suicide of someone they know. However, as the authors say, much of …
In my homily this weekend, I spoke about Purgatory and praying for the dead. Purgatory is an important part of our Catholic faith and understanding of what happens to us after earthly death. Unfortunately, it is not talked about much. If you know me, you know the fact that people don’t know much about Purgatory …
Continue reading ‘Can the Holy Souls in Purgatory Pray for Us?’ »
32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B1 Kings 17:10-16Psalm 146:7, 8-9, 9-10 (1b)Hebrews 9:24-28Mark 12:38-44November 7, 2021 Today we hear of people who contributed to the temple treasury. There are the rich people who put in large sums from their surplus wealth. There is also the poor widow that contributed from all that she had. …
Continue reading ‘32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – Homily’ »
Mass of Remembrance for Those Who Died in the Last YearWisdom 3:1-91 Thessalonians 4:13-18Luke 23:44-46, 50, 52-53; 24:1-6aNovember 2, 2021 Each person that we pray for by name tonight died in the last year. It may have been a year ago or a month ago. Each person who is here tonight, even two people who …
I just added a new article on grieving, “Allowing Ourselves to Grieve” to my website at http://nebula.wsimg.com/22738ff69d3fc9af70ad3467a683114e?AccessKeyId=F465FCE598BCE1CD661B&disposition=0&alloworigin=1. It discusses “grieving” and “mourning” as it relates to the death of a loved one. However, much of what it says about grieving can apply to any significant loss. I pray it is helpful to anyone dealing with …
Continue reading ‘New Website Article “Allowing Ourselves to Grieve”’ »
Last Fall I mentioned Purgatory in Part I of my series, Our Saints and Intercessors. I again mentioned Purgatory in the introduction to my series, Sacraments: Channels of God’s Grace. In both cases, people expressed interested in hearing more about Purgatory. I recently did some reading about Purgatory and Indulgences. So, I have put together …
While I have written in the past about funerals, as customs seem to be changing regarding funerals, I would like to offer some understanding of what funerals are about and how we do them in our Catholic faith. Ecclesiastes 3:1 tells us, “There is an appointed time for everything…a time to be born and a …
