This is the fifth article in my series based on my reading of the Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis De Sales. Written 400 years ago, it is available in various translations. I am reading the 2015 version published by Ignatius Press (San Francisco) and the Augustine Institute (Greenwood Village, CO) The first article was “What …
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In our first reading, through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord offers a message to the Israelites in distress. “The desert and the parched land will exult; the steppe will rejoice and bloom. They will bloom with abundant flowers.” The message is in the future tense. It is a message of hope. While things may seem …
Here is the “announcement” of my next series of presentations! The Greatest Gift: The Eucharist A New Series of Presentations by Fr. Jeff The Eucharist we receive is the Body and Blood of Jesus. It is the Sacrifice of Jesus giving his life for us on the Cross so that our sins may be forgiven. …
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The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin MaryGenesis 3:9-15, 20Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4 (1)Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12Luke 1:26-38December 8, 2022 Our first reading today comes from the story of the first sin in the Garden of Eden. God had created the garden as a beautiful place and put Adam and Eve there to live there and …
Continue reading ‘The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception – Homily’ »
This is the fourth article in my series based on my reading of the Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis De Sales. Written 400 years ago, it is available in various translations. I am reading the 2015 version published by Ignatius Press (San Francisco) and the Augustine Institute (Greenwood Village, CO) The first article was “What …
2nd Sunday of Advent, Year AIsaiah 11:1-10Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17 (7)Romans 15:4-9Matthew 3:1-12December 4, 2022 Our gospel passage today comes from the time just before Jesus began his public ministry during his first coming. It speaks of preparation. We can use this passage to reflect on our readiness for the Second Coming. John the …
This is the third article in my series based on my reading of the Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis De Sales. The first article was “What Does It Mean to be Devout?” followed by “Purification in the Devout Life.” This article is based on my reading of Part 2 of the Introduction …
In today’s gospel, Jesus speaks the coming of the Son of Man. Noah had been commissioned by the Lord to build an ark. The people did not know that a great flood was coming. “They were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day that Noah entered the ark.” They had …
Thanksgiving DaySirach 50:22-241 Corinthians 6:3-9Luke 17:11-9November 24, 2022 Today we celebrate Thanksgiving Day. It is a national holiday for us. It is a secular holiday but it is a day that we need to celebrate. Why do we need Thanksgiving Day? If you watch the news, you hear of a lot of bad things that …
Last week I began a series of articles inspired by my present reading of St. Francis De Sales, Introduction to the Devout Life. The first article was “What Does It Mean to be Devout?”. I ended that article with a brief mention of “pruning and cutting” by St. Francis De Sales (8). Jesus says, “I …
