Fr. West's Catholic Blog

Addtess to March For Life in Reading, Pennsylvania June 12, 2011

2011-06-13T00:53:00.004-04:00

The City of Reading is situated between Philadelphia, the cradle of liberty, and the town of Gettysburg, where a great battle for the meaning of that liberty and who was entitled to that liberty was fought. Gettysburg is approximately 87 miles from Reading. In fact, it is four score and seven miles from here.Some of my Irish ancestors from Pennsylvania fought for the Union in the Civil War,

Decision on Marriage Threatens Religious Liberty

2011-02-26T12:58:00.014-05:00

On February 23, 2011, Attorney General Eric Holder announced that President Obama had directed him not to defend the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). DOMA protected the definition of marriage as a relationship between a man and a woman. Because of DOMA, States that do not recognize same-sex unions are not obliged to recognize same-sex “marriages” contracted in other States that do.DOMA protected

Homily for Thirty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time, the Destruction of the Temple, the End of the World, Luke 21, 5-19

2010-11-10T13:21:00.015-05:00

Destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem (1867) by Francesco Hayez displayed in the Galleria d'Arte Moderna, Venice, ItalyAs we come to the end of the liturgical year, the Church focuses our attention on the last things. The readings are more ominous with more apocalyptic language. They give us a warning of events that are yet to come.The Gospel of Luke speaks to us of the Second Temple which was

Pope St. Leo the Great, Deliver Us From the Culture of Death!

2010-11-09T22:11:00.007-05:00

Above is a fresco of the Meeting between Pope St. Leo the Great and Attila the Hun in 452 A.D. by Raphael. The fresco is found in the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican. Pope St. Leo the Great was born circa 400 A.D. in Tuscany . He was the Pope from 440 to his death in 461 A.D. In 445, he persuaded Emperor Valentinian to recognize the Primacy of Rome. He

Homily on the Resurrection of the Body Thirty-Second Sunday of Ordinary Time Luke 20-27-38

2010-11-07T17:45:00.007-05:00

During the month of November, as we see things around us in nature die, the Church asks us to reflect on the mystery of life and death. The month began with the celebration of All Saints Day and All Souls Day. Throughout this month we are asked to pray for the dead, especially our friends, family and benefactors. Everyone on this earth at some time will experience the loss of someone they love

Homily for Easter Wednesday on Luke 24, 13-35

2010-04-07T18:16:00.008-04:00

Rembrandt (1606-1669) The Supper at Emmaus. 1648. Oil on wood. Louvre, Paris, FranceJesus had twelve Apostles, but he also had many other followers whom he called disciples. Jesus walked with his two of these disciples, Cleopas and his companion, along the road to Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. St. Mark alludes to this event in his Gospel which St. Luke recounts with more details.The

Homily for Easter Tuesday on John 20, 11-18

2010-04-07T13:52:00.003-04:00

Duccio di Buoninsegna (c.1255-c.1319) Maestà. Noli Me Tangere (1308-11) Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Siena, ItalyMary Magdalene’s love for Jesus draws her to the tomb of Jesus while it is still dark. She discovers that the stone has been rolled away and assumes his body is stolen. She runs to tell Peter and John, they come and see the empty tomb and the burial cloths rolled up neatly. If someone

Homily for Easter Monday on Matthew 28, 8-15

2010-04-06T00:49:00.009-04:00

Giotto(c. 1267-1337) The Resurrection 1304-1306. Fresco. Capella degli Scrovegni, Padua, ItalyScripture tells us "faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). Faith is not believing things that are contrary to reason, but above and beyond reason. The Christian faith is based on events that actually happened, from the testimony of eye-witnesses

Good Friday Homily

2010-04-03T14:23:00.005-04:00

Giotto. The Crucifixion. 1304-1306. Fresco. Capella degli Scrovegni, Padua, Italy.Jesus, the author of life, was led away to die, but his death brought about a different result than his enemies intended. By his death he destroyed the power of death. Condemned, though he was innocent, he accepted the punishment our sins deserved.In the Book of Isaiah, written about 700 years before Christ, we read

St. Agatha and the Link between Breast Cancer and Abortion

2010-02-05T15:50:00.017-05:00

St. Peter Healing St. Agatha c. 1614 painted by Giovanni Lanfranco now in the Galleria Nazionale in Parma, ItalySt. Agatha was born in either Catania or Palermo, Sicily around the year 230. She was martyred around the year 253 as a young virgin during the reign of the Roman Emperor Decius (240-253). The name Agatha means good or virtuous. Very little is known about her life, but according to

What's Wrong With the Health Care Bill From a Catholic Perspective

2009-12-18T01:28:00.002-05:00

Pilgrims visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes - Patroness of the Sick What’s wrong with the health care bill from a Catholic perspective? In short, it funds abortion. It does not sufficiently protect the conscience rights of health care workers who refuse to have anything to do with abortion, euthanasia, human cloning or destructive embryonic stem cell research. It rations health care to the

Prophets For Our Time: Pope Paul VI vs. Paul Ehrlich

2009-07-29T11:55:00.009-04:00

In 1968, two prophets prophesied about the future. Pope Paul VI prophecies in Humanae Vitae have proven true. Paul Ehrlich the author of The Population Bomb has proved to be false prophet.1) Pope Paul VI was prophetic in Humanae Vitae predicting that widespread use of contraception would lead to "conjugal infidelity and the general lowering of morality." Since the birth control Pill began to be

Sheep, Without a Shepherd Homily for the Sixteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year B, July 19, 2009 Mark 30-34

2009-07-21T00:23:00.010-04:00

Jesus Teaching by the Seashore 1899 James Tissot (1836-1902)Jesus takes his disciples apart for a time of rest, prayer and recreation. However, we see that Jesus is flexible when it comes to meeting a pastoral need. Pastor means shepherd. A true shepherd of souls feeds his flock with true teaching. He keeps his flock from the poisonous streams of false teaching, moral relativism and religious

Homily for the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel July 16, 2009

2009-07-16T13:51:00.009-04:00

Pietro Novelli, Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Saints (Simon Stock, Angelus of Jerusalem (kneeling), Mary Magdalene de'Pazzi, Teresa of Avila), 1641 (Museo Diocesano, Palermo.)IIn the 9th Century B.C., Israel was divided into the Northern Kingdom and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. The Northern Kingdom was threatened by constant war with the Philistines. King Omri arranged a marriage between his son

Homily for the Feast of St. Bonaventure July 15, 2009 Gospel of Matthew 11, 25-27

2009-07-16T01:16:00.007-04:00

The painting is The Cure of St. Bonaventure as a Child by St. Francis from the Year 1628 by Francisco de Herrera, the Elder (1585-c. 1655) Louvre Museum in ParisSt. Bonaventure, is known as "the seraphic doctor" because of his burning love for God. As a priest, St. Bonaventure was a great preacher who inspired people to share his love for God. He was also great scholar with a subtle mind who

Sheep, Without a Shepherd Homily for the Sixteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year B, Mark 30-34

2009-07-13T02:38:00.003-04:00

Jesus Sends His Apostles Homily for the Fifteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle B, Gospel of Mark 6, 7-13

2009-07-12T14:37:00.011-04:00

On the left is a Byzantine fresco from Cappadocia, in modern day Turkey, of Christ sending the twelve Apostles (ca 12th century).In the Nicene Creed we say we believe in the one, holy, Catholic and apostolic Church. The Church is apostolic because Christ founded it on the Twelve Apostles. Apostoloi is a Greek word meaning “those who have been sent’. The Apostles were chosen and sent forth by

Why Does the Left Hate Sarah Palin?

2009-07-07T23:11:00.003-04:00

Why does the Left hate Sarah Palin? The answer is very simple. She lives out her pro-life convictions. Many on the Left have unresolved guilt from their past involvement in abortions. The Palin Trig-ger: A Look Behind the Hostility makes the case for this argumentWhat else can explain the vitriol directed at her and her children that we see coming from many of her critics on the Left?

Jesus' Rejection at Nazareth - Homily for the Fourteenth Week of Ordinary Time, Cycle B, Mark 6, 1-6

2009-07-05T22:11:00.006-04:00

Above is a picture of modern day Nazareth.Before Jesus was rejected by the people of his own home town of Nazareth he had worked a series of miracles: 1) over nature in stilling the sea 2) over evil spirits by exorcising demons 3) disease by curing a woman with a hemmorhage 4) over death by raising the daughter of Jairus. By doing so he clearly demonstrated his power as God. Now Jesus returns to

Why In-Vitro Fertilization is Wrong

2009-02-11T00:23:00.006-05:00

The case of Nadya Suleman giving birth to eight children after having already given birth previously to six children conceived through in-vitro fertilization has raised many questions surrounding the whole process of in-vitro. Some ask if so many babies should have been implanted, others wonder if some should have been “selectively reduced” – a euphemism for the violence of abortion. But few are

Homily on St. Thomas Aquinas and the Importance of a Catholic Education

2009-01-28T17:01:00.010-05:00

The image above is called the "Triumph of St. Thomas Aquinas Over Averroes". It was painted by Benozzo Gozzoli (1420-1497) in 1471 and is on display in the Louvre Museum in Paris.Most scholars consider St. Thomas Aquinas to be the Catholic Church’s greatest philosopher and theologian. He was born in southern Italy near Aquino in 1225 to a wealthy and aristocratic family. His father was a count.

St. John Neumann: An American Saint

2009-01-05T23:28:00.008-05:00

St. John Neumann was born on March 28, 1811 in Bohemia, now part of the Czech Republic. At age 20, he still wasn’t sure what to do with his life. His father wanted him to be a doctor, but he followed the advice of his mother who encouraged him to enter the seminary. His bishop declined to ordain him when his studies were completed, because of a large number of priests who were ordained that

Fourth Sunday of Advent (Year B Luke 1, 26-38)

2008-12-21T23:26:00.007-05:00

Modern rationalists deny even the possibility of miracles. But while it is reasonable to ask for evidence before believing in miracles, it’s both closed-minded and irrational to deny the possibility of miracles beforehand. Miracles are possible because God, who is the author of natural and scientific laws, has the power to suspend these laws. It takes faith to believe in miracles, but this

Homily for Gaudete Sunday (Third Sunday of Advent Year B)

2008-12-14T03:17:00.009-05:00

Fr. Alfred Delp, S.J. wrote powerful reflections on Advent before he was hung by the Nazis on February 2, 1945.Advent is a season of hopeful expectation. The season is divided into two parts. In the first part we focus on our preparation for the time when Christ will return to judge the living and the dead. Science points to the fact that the universe began with a “Big Bang” and continues to

Why Guantanamo Bay Should Not Be Closed

2008-11-10T16:47:00.004-05:00

Most liberals have no sympathy for babies who are deliberately delivered prematurely and left to die or babies killed through the brutal practice of partial-birth abortion. But many of these same liberals, including leftist ‘human rights’ groups, which believe killing an innocent unborn child is a human right, are deeply concerned over the plight of terrorist suspects caught on battlefields

Why I Fear an Obama Presidency

2008-11-06T15:23:00.028-05:00

Normally, the time after an election should be a time to come together as a nation and work on common goals. But I cannot celebrate the election of a radical leftist to the Presidency of the United States. I understand the importance of the symbolism of the first African-American to be elected President. I'd be celebrating this achievement too, if I believed that Barack Obama truly respected the

What a Country! Barack Obama and His Terrorist Ally Bill Ayers

2008-10-07T16:02:00.005-04:00

Barack Obama has said that in no other country is his story even possible. Isn’t that the truth! In what other country could a man who began his political career in the home of a terrorist rise to be on the edge of being elected the President. Alice Palmer, Obama’s former political mentor, introduced Obama to Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn at their home as Obama began his political career.Ayers

More Than 100 Reasons to Vote Against Barack Obama

2008-09-29T12:21:00.048-04:00

Below is a good list of reasons not to vote for Barack Obama. They are not listed in order of importance. I list the life issues, which I think are primary, toward the end. Some of the reasons are obviously more important than others. There are probably some things that should be on the list that I haven’t thought of. Some of the items reflect my opinions, but I have tried to document the facts

Homily for the Twenty First Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle A, Matthew 16, 13-20

2008-08-26T22:27:00.005-04:00

Above is an image of a fresco in the Sistine Chapel Perugino entitled "Christ Giving the Keys to St. Peter" (1480-81).In the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 16, Peter professes his faith in Christ. Jesus gives Peter the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. (Mt. 16, 19) The keys are a symbol of authority. Thus Peter is given full, supreme authority over the whole Church. Because the Church will last until

Homily for Independence Day, Fourth of July, Fourteenth Sunday Cycle A

2008-07-07T17:45:00.004-04:00

In the Gospel of Matthew Jesus says:“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves; for my yoke is easy, and my burden light." (Matthew 11, 28-30)A yoke is a symbol of submission. A yoke with a plow was attached to oxen. Farmers used the oxen to plow their

Homily for the Solemnity of St. Peter and St. Paul June 29, 2008

2008-06-29T23:42:00.006-04:00

Homily for the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul given by Father Peter West June 29, 2008 St. Stephen's Church Bridgewater, SDThe mission of Priests For Life is to proclaim the truth that each and every human being is made in the image and likeness of God. Each and every human being is unique, precious and unrepeatable. God alone is the Master of Life. Only God has the power to give a human life,

Palm Sunday Homily

2008-03-17T19:18:00.001-04:00

This fresco by Giotto is entitled Christ Entering Jerusalem (1304-1306). It can be found in the Capella degli Scrovegni, Padua, Italy.On Palm Sunday, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. Though he was God he humbled himself to come among us as an embryo. He was born in a stable, worked as a humble carpenter and now he rides into Jerusalem on a donkey knowing he will be betrayed, rejected and

Homily on the Transfiguration, Second Sunday of Lent

2008-02-23T01:05:00.009-05:00

This painting of the Transfiguration was the painter's last major work andis believed to have been completed by his disciple Giulio Romano shortly after Raphael's untimely death in 1520.Priests for Life is dedicated to preaching about the sanctity of all human life from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death. We teach, as the Church teaches, that each human being is made in the

Homily for the First Sunday of Lent

2008-02-10T23:58:00.000-05:00

This painting is entitled “Christ in the Desert”. It was painted by Ivan Kramskoy (1837-1887), a Russian, in 1872.It was the Holy Spirit that led Jesus into the desert to be tempted by the Devil. In our Profession of Faith each Sunday we acknowledge the Holy Spirit as the Lord and giver of life. He leads Jesus into the desert to confront the author of sin and death. By his prayer and fasting he

Homily on the Beatitudes Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time

2008-02-04T17:35:00.000-05:00

This painting depicts Jesus teaching the people in his Sermon on the Mount. It was painted by Paul Gustave Dore, a French man, in 1865. This is a link to a video is an excerpt from the 1977 movie "Jesus of Nazareth" directed by Franco Zeffirelli. It was Pope Paul VI who approached Zeffirelli and asked him to make a movie based on the life of Christ.St. Matthew quotes the Old Testament more than

Homily: Jesus, Light to the Nations for the Third Sunday of Ordinary Time

2008-01-26T23:58:00.000-05:00

Matthew was one of twelve apostles, a Jew, writing to his fellow Jews to convince them that Jesus is the expected Messiah.Matthew describes Jesus’ journey to Galilee and quotes the prophet Isaiah 8, 23-9,1. Matthew sees Jesus as the fulfillment of this prophecy as a light to the nations who dispels the darkness of ignorance and death and brings life truth and salvation. This passage is also used

Behold the Lamb of God

2008-01-18T01:49:00.001-05:00

This oil painting is titled Ecce Agnus Dei (1464). The painter was Dieric Bouts the Elder (ca. 1415-1475) of the Netherlands. It can be found in the Alte Pinakothek in Munich, Germany. John the Baptist points out Jesus by saying “Behold, the Lamb of God.” The lamb is a symbol of Israel's redemption from slavery in Egypt.Because Pharaoh refused to let the Israelites go, God sent a tenth plague

St. Anthony of Egypt

2008-01-17T23:42:00.000-05:00

This painting is titled The Temptation of St. Anthony (ca. 1500) by Hieronymous Bosch (1450-1516) from the Netherlands. It is displayed in the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga in Lisbon, Portugal.At the age of 20, St. Anthony was inspired by the Gospel passage “Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor” (Mark 10:21). So first he made sure his sister was well provided for and then he gave away a

Homily on Jesus Sending His Apostles as Sheep Among Wolves ( Matthew 10, 16-25 )

2008-01-16T16:08:00.000-05:00

Above is a painting titled " The Sending of the Twelve" by Duccio di Buoninsegna (ca. 1255-1319) from the early 14th century. He was an Italian painter of the Sienese School.Jesus says “Remember, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves.” By saying this Jesus tries to warn his disciples in advance that the mission he is giving them will expose them to rejection and even outright hostility and

Solemnity of the Baptism of the Lord

2008-01-16T13:54:00.000-05:00

The painting above of the Baptism of Christ (ca. 1640) is by Francesco Albani (1578-1660). Albani was an Italian Baroque painter. It is found in the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia.The Baptism of the Lord concludes the Christmas season and the celebration of Christ’s birth.Last week we celebrated the Feast of Epiphany. Epiphany means “manifestation” or “showing forth.” Christ

Homily for the Solemnity of the Epiphany

2008-01-05T23:48:00.000-05:00

The painting above is the Adoration of the Magi (1505) by the German painter Albrecht Durer (1471-1528).The word Epiphany is a Greek word which means “manifestation” or "showing forth". On this day we celebrate the fact that Jesus took on our human nature to be the savior not only for the Jews, but for all the nations. This idea is presented in St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians that "through

The Holy Name of Jesus

2008-01-02T17:55:00.001-05:00

Above is a painting by El Greco (1541-1614) depicting the Adoration of the Holy Name of Jesus. (c. 1578)The letters IHS in the heavens are an abbreviation of Jesous, the Greek name for Jesus. The name Jesus means "Yahweh saves" or "Yahweh is salvation."The Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus has been celebrated since 1530. When Pope Paul VI revised the liturgical calendar in 1969 the Feast was

Pro-Life Quotes from St. Basil the Great and Other Early Christians

2008-01-02T03:16:00.000-05:00

January 2 is the Memorial of St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory Nazianzen. They were good friends and holy bishops who fought courageously for the truth and defended the sanctity of human life from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death.The following are quotes from St. Basil, other Church Fathers and other early Christian writings. They show a consistent witness in favor of

Homily for the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God

2007-12-31T10:16:00.000-05:00

We celebrate today the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of GodThe title mother of God does not mean that Mary, who was created by God, existed before God, but that Jesus who existed first, who shares the same Divine Nature as the Father and the Holy Spirit; Jesus who is the Eternal Word of the Father assumed our human nature in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The person who Mary conceived and

Homily for the Feast of the Holy Family

2007-12-29T13:55:00.000-05:00

On the Sunday after Christmas we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family. Every family is called to imitate the Holy Family in some way. Every family is called to be a sanctuary of life and love.The foundation of society is a marriage between a man and woman who have committed themselves to each other and to God in lifetime union and are open to the generation of new life. Today the family is

The Pro-Life Case Against Rudolph Giuliani

2007-11-14T14:54:00.000-05:00

The Republican Party is on the verge of electing its first pro-abortion President since Gerald Ford, who became the President not by being elected, but who assumed office after the resignation of President Nixon. It is assumed that Rudolph Giuliani is the only candidate who can beat Hillary Clinton. I don’t think this is true. Hillary Clinton is a weak candidate and has shown so recently by a

Why Not Gay Marriage? Sexual Complementarity

2007-10-31T15:14:00.000-04:00

Many who oppose same-sex marriage are afraid to engage in a frank discussion of homosexuality due to a fear of being labeled as “homophobic”. Homophobia is an irrational fear of homosexuality. I reject the label “homophobic” simply because I believe that homosexual behavior is unnatural and immoral.In some countries, questioning the morality of homosexual behavior can lead to being charged with

The Solemnity of the Assumption

2007-08-15T15:09:00.001-04:00

The Assumption of the Virgin was painted by Bartolome Esteban Murillo of Spain in 1670. The painting is on display in The Hermitage, St. Petersburg, Russia.The Solemnity of Assumption is the oldest feast day of the Blessed Virgin Mary, but we don't know how it first came to be celebrated.After the course of her earthly life was over, Mary had been taken up, body and soul, into heaven. There are

Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act

2007-08-13T18:41:00.000-04:00

I oppose abortion. It is without a doubt the killing of an innocent human being. In my opinion, the killing of over 1.2 million babies by abortion each year is the worst human rights abuse occurring in our country today. But while I believe protecting the right to life is one of the most important issues, it’s not the only issue I care about. An even more important issue is the issue of national

Saint Sixtus II, Pope and Martyr

2007-08-07T10:55:00.000-04:00

St. Sixtus entrusts St. Lawrence with a money bag to give to the poor. This fresco by Fra Angelico, painted between 1447-1449, is found in the Capella Nicolina, Vatican, Rome. In the early Church, Saint Sixtus was the most highly venerated Pope after St. Peter. His name is included in the first Eucharistic Prayer.Sixtus converted to Christianity as an adult. He served as a deacon in Rome before

Homily on St. Thomas the Apostle

2007-07-03T14:18:00.000-04:00

This painting by Caravaggio is called "The Incredulity of Saint Thomas".St. Thomas was one of the twelve apostles chosen by Jesus to follow him and preach the Kingdom of God. He is called “Doubting Thomas” because he refused to believe the other ten remaining apostles who had seen Jesus risen from the dead. He said "Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the

Homily on Conscience and Truth based on Matthew 6

2007-06-22T14:06:00.000-04:00

In the Gospel of Matthew Jesus says “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.The lamp of the body is the eye. If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled

Homily on the Lord's Prayer Matthew 6, 7-15

2007-06-21T23:21:00.000-04:00

In our Gospel today, Jesus teaches us that it is not the amount of words, nor the time we spend, but faith that is important as we pray to our Father in heaven.This does not preclude spending an extended time in prayer. We see in the Gospels how Jesus spent whole nights in prayer. Nor does the teaching preclude the use of repetition in prayer as we do in the rosary, as long as we have the right

Homily for the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

2007-06-15T14:37:00.000-04:00

In 1677, Jesus appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, a Visitation nun, in France in a vision and revealed his Sacred Heart. She saidI could plainly see His heart, pierced and bleeding, yet there were flames, too, coming from it and a crown of thorns around it. He told me to behold His heart which so loved humanity. Then He seemed to take my very heart from me and place it there in His heart. In

Homily for The Second Sunday of Lent on the Transfiguration

2007-02-27T22:04:00.000-05:00

The writer of the letter to the Hebrews tells us that faith is confident assurance concerning what we hope for, and conviction about things we do not see. Without a living faith which is expressed in works of charity we can’t hope to please God. Because faith is a conviction about things that haven’t been realized yet, a conviction about things we hope for and are yet to be, it is a hard road.

How North Korea Got the Nuclear Bomb

2006-10-09T22:38:00.000-04:00

The Clinton Legacy: North Korea's Bomb Dave Eberhart, NewsMax.comMonday, Oct. 9, 2006North Korea's first detonation of a nuclear weapon may have taken place during the watch of George W. Bush — but it was under the Clinton administration's watch that the communist regime began gathering necessary materials and constructing the bomb. As Western powers race to confirm that North Korea did in fact

Was There Peace During the Clinton Administration?

2006-09-11T18:00:00.000-04:00

Many Americans have very busy lives and pay little attention to the news, especially foreign affairs. Some hold President Bush responsible for the current situation in may have the impression that it was the Bush Administration's policies in Iraq. Most Americans love peace and hate war. They hope that if we withdraw from Iraq terrorists will leave us alone. But this ignores the many times

Be Leery of the Anti-War Movement

2006-09-07T17:29:00.000-04:00

Catholic teaching directs us to avoid war and work for peace. However, it does not require pacifism. Nations have a right to defend themselves against unjust aggressors. Also to be against war, does not require that we align ourselves with various anti-war movements, which often have other agendas. True patriots who desire the good of their country can disagree with one another on a wide

The Patriot Act

2006-09-06T23:50:00.000-04:00

On March 9, 2006, President George W. Bush signed the USA Patriot Improvement and Reauthorization Act. The Patriot Act, as it is commonly known, allows intelligence and law enforcement officials to share information. It allows law enforcement to use the same tools used against drug dealers and other criminals. The bill strengthens the Justice Department so that it can better detect terrorist

Promote Marriage to Reduce Poverty

2006-09-02T00:49:00.000-04:00

Ten years ago welfare reform legislation was passed by the Republican Congress and signed into law by President Clinton. The legislation established work requirements and caps on benefits. This legislation finally acknowledged that there was indeed a link between poverty, fatherless families, children born out of wedlock and the decline of the work ethic. Since the passage of this legislation

The Beheading of John the Baptist

2006-09-01T00:17:00.000-04:00

The image above and the article below is from the Web Gallery of Art: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.wga.hu/art/l/luini/herodias.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.wga.hu/html/l/luini/herodias.html&h=750&w=936&sz=93&hl=en&start=1&tbnid=GnhNdHh3exdXbM:&tbnh=119&tbnw=148&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dherodias%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DGLUINI, Bernardino(b. 1480, Luino, d. 1532, Milano)

Good Economic News

2006-08-30T20:23:00.000-04:00

We must take a number of issues into consideration before casting our vote. The economy is one of these important issues. The Catholic Church is opposed to both communism and unrestricted capitalism. The Church recognizes that the economy is for people and not the other way around. In The United States we have many regulations that protect both workers and consumers. It can be argued that

The Martyrdom of St. Bartholomew

2006-08-23T17:49:00.000-04:00

This picture and the article below is from the Web of Gallery Art. TIEPOLO, Giovanni Battista(b. 1696, Venezia, d. 1770, Madrid)Tiepolo was the most exuberant and influential, and arguably the greatest, painter in eighteenth-century Europe before the rise of Neo-Classicism. He revived the full glories of the Venetian Renaissance enriched with references to Rubens, Rembrandt, and the Roman Baroque

Iraq War: Vatican Has Called For More Troops to Stabilze Iraq

2006-08-23T12:08:00.000-04:00

It is widely known that the Vatican opposed the Iraq War in 2003 and the Persian Gulf War before that in 1991. What is not as widely known is that the Vatican has called on more countries to send troops to Iraq to stabilize the nation In an interview with La Stampa on September 22, 2004 Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the Vatican Secretary of State said of Iraq:"The child has been born. "It may be

August 22 The Queenship of Mary

2006-08-22T20:33:00.000-04:00

The following is from: http://www.ewtn.com/faith/teachings/marye6.htmAd caeli ReginamEncyclical of Pope Pius XII on proclaiming the Queenship Of Mary, 11 October 1954.Excerpts from sections 1-40.From the earliest ages of the Catholic Church a Christian people, whether in time of triumph or more especially in time of crisis, has addressed prayers of petition and hymns of praise and veneration to

August 23 Memorial of St. Rose of Lima

2006-08-17T18:56:00.000-04:00

The following article on the life of St. Rose of Lima (1586-1631) is drawn from articles on the following websites: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13192c.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Rose_of_LimaSt. Rose of Lima was born on April 20, 1586 in Lima, Peru. Her name was Isabel Flores de Oliva. Her father, Gasper de Flores, was a soldier and her mother, Maria d'Oliva, was of Incan descent.

The Arab/Muslim Nazi Connection

2006-08-17T14:17:00.000-04:00

Are we involved in a religious war? Whether or not we believe it is, we must realize a religious war has been declared against us. The following article is instructive concerning the enemy we face. The article is from: http://www.cdn-friends-icej.ca/medigest/may00/arabnazi.html The Arab/Muslim Nazi ConnectionBosnian Moslems recruited the Nazi SS by Yasser Arafat's "Uncle" (1) Left: A picture

St. Stephen of Hungary

2006-08-16T18:23:00.000-04:00

The following article on the life of St. Stephen of Hungary (ca. 975- 1038 A.D.) was drawn from the following articles: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_I_of_Hungaryhttp://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14287a.htmhttp://www.saintstephenofhungary.org/stephen.htmlSt. Stephen of Hungary was the first Christian King of Hungary. He was born around the year 975 A.D. in the town of Esztergom. He was

The Solemnity of the Assumption

2006-08-16T15:42:00.000-04:00

The following is from The Catholic Culture website: "http://www.catholicculture.org/docs/doc_view.cfm?recnum=469"Mary's Death and Bodily Assumption On November 1, 1950, Pope Pius XII defined the Assumption of the Blessed Mother of God into heaven in the following words: "Wherefore, after we have poured forth prayers of supplication again and again to God, and have invoked the light of the Spirit

Homily on the Transfiguration

2006-07-31T19:39:00.000-04:00

August 6 is the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. When Jesus led Peter, James and John to the top of Mount Tabor. He was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white and he appeared with Moses and Elijah. The Father's voice was heard "This is my beloved Son, Listen to him." The writer of the letter to the Hebrews tells us that faith is confident assurance concerning what

The Resurrection of Christ

2006-04-15T18:54:00.000-04:00

The Resurrection of Christ Originally uploaded by Fr. Peter. The Resurrection of ChristHendrick van den Broeck (1519-1597)Sistine ChapelVatican Museum

Holy Saturday

2006-04-15T14:13:00.000-04:00

Descent of Christ into Limbo Originally uploaded by Fr. Peter. Descent of Christ into Limbo Duccio di Boninsegna 1255-1318Museo dell'Opera Metropolitana, SienaOn Holy Saturday we commemorate the day Christ’s body lay in the tomb. The Church also contemplates the mystery, in the Apostle's Creed, "He descended into Hell.” The Church makes a distinction between the Hell of the damned and the

Christ's Seven Last Words

2006-04-14T13:52:00.000-04:00

THE FIRST WORD Luke 23:33-34 -- When they came to the place called "The Skull," they nailed Jesus to the cross there, and the two criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Jesus said, "Forgive them, Father! They know not what they do."A Christian should always try to see what is best in people. We can never judge peoples motives. God alone can do that. Christ forgave those who nailed him

St. Ephraim on the Eucharist

2006-04-13T16:18:00.000-04:00

St. Ephraim was one of the great authors of the Syrian Church. Because of his beautiful writings, he is sometimes referred to as the 'lyre of the Holy Spirit'. He studied under James, Bishop of Nisbis. In 338 A.D. he aspired to the diaconate and remained a deacon for the remainder of his life."Our Lord Jesus took in His hands what in the beginning was only bread; and He blessed it, and signed it,

Da Vinci's Last Supper

2006-04-13T16:11:00.000-04:00

Da Vinci's Last Supper Originally uploaded by Fr. Peter. The Last Supper by Leonardo Da Vinci

Giotto's Depiction of the Betrayal of Judas

2006-04-13T15:56:00.000-04:00

Giotto's Depiction of the Betrayal of Judas Originally uploaded by Fr. Peter.

Christ Washed the Feet of Judas

2006-04-13T12:35:00.000-04:00

George Marion McClellan was an African-American poet and a minister. He was born in Belfast, Tennessee in 1860 and lived in Louisville, Kentucky. He died in 1934.Below is his poem "The Feet of Judas":CHRIST washed the feet of Judas! The dark and evil passions of his soul,His secret plot, and sordidness complete,His hate, his purposing, Christ knew the whole,And still in love he stooped and

Spy Wednesday

2006-04-12T16:48:00.000-04:00

Spy Wednesday is the term traditionally used to describe the Wednesday during Holy Week. It is thought to be the day when Judas decided to betray Christ. The Gospel for this day tells us the story of the betrayal of Judas. In the past few days there has been a story in the news of a newly discovered manuscript of the “Gospel of Judas”. The manuscript was actually found in the seventies, and a

Homily for the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Mark 1:14-20

2006-01-17T10:25:00.000-05:00

What a great consolation today's readings are for those who seek to proclaim the Gospel of Life! How easy it is to become discouraged: to despair that those who espouse abortion, euthanasia and capital punishment will ever heed the consumate value of life from conception to natural death. How hard it is, sometimes, to believe that they will change.Jonah had the same problem. "Go to the Ninevites,

Homily for the Second Sunday of Ordinary Time on John 1, 35-42 by St. Basil of Seleucia

2006-01-14T09:47:00.000-05:00

Spurred on by the testimony of John the Baptist, the glorious apostle Andrew left his teacher and ran to the one pointed out by him. John’s words were his signal, and, moving more swiftly than John could speak, he approached the master with obvious longing, his companion, John the Evangelist, running beside him. Both had left the lamp to come to the Sun.Andrew was the first to become an apostle

Homily on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord by Pope John Paul II January 11, 1998

2006-01-09T00:54:00.000-05:00

FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF THE LORDHOMILY OF JOHN PAUL IISunday, 11 January 1998 1. “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased” (Lk 3:22). With these words, repeated in today’s liturgy, the Father shows his Son to men and reveals his mission as one consecrated to God, as the Messiah. At Christmas we contemplated with wonder and interior joy the appearance of “the grace of God ... for the

Homily on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord by St. John Chrysostom

2006-01-09T00:41:00.000-05:00

Discourse On the Day of the Baptism of Christ St John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople We shall now say something about the present feast. Many celebrate the feastdays and know their designations, but the cause for which they were established they know not. Thus concerning this, that the present feast is called Theophany -- everyone knows; but what this is -- Theophany, and whether it be

Homily on the Solemnity of the Epiphany by St. Odilo of Cluny

2006-01-05T09:08:00.000-05:00

This is the day on which Christ was clearly revealed to the world, the day on which he consecrated the sacrament of baptism by receiving it in person, and also the day, according to the belief of the faithful, on which he changed water into wine at the wedding feast. On this day too water became wine in a spiritual sense, the letter of the law ceased to apply, and the grace of the Gospel shone

Homily on the Solemnity of the Epiphany by St. Basil the Great

2006-01-05T09:03:00.000-05:00

The star came to rest above the place where the child was. At the sight of it the wise were filled with great joy and that great joy should fill our hearts as well. It is the same as the joy the shepherds received from the glad tidings brought by the angels. Let us join the wise men in worship and the shepherds in giving glory to God. Let us dance with angels and sing: To us is born this a

Homily on the Solemnity of the Epiphany with Poem Journey of the Magi by T.S. Elliot

2006-01-03T12:32:00.000-05:00

The Feast of the Epiphany The following homily was given by Fr. Shawn Hughes at Dunning Auditorium, Queen's University on Sunday, January 4, 2004. Our spiritual lives can never be stagnant, they must always be moving, always be seeking, always striving for that more intimate experience of Christ.This story is so familiar to each of us. We have heard it on this feast day every year of our lives.

Homily on the Solemnity of the Epiphany by St. John Chrysostom

2006-01-03T12:18:00.000-05:00

HOMILY OF ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOMBISHOP AND DOCTORWhen Jesus therefore was born in Bethlehem of Juda, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying: Where is that is born king of the Jews. For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to adore him.Isaias had foretold that this would come to pass, saying: The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Madian and Apha: all

Homily on the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God by Pope John Paul II January 1, 2003

2005-12-31T11:07:00.000-05:00

SOLEMNITY OF MARY, MOTHER OF GODXXXVI WORLD DAY OF PEACEHOMILY OF JOHN PAUL II Wednesday, 1 January 2003 Brothers and Sisters, 1. "The Lord bless you and keep you.... The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace" (Nm 6,24.26): this is the blessing that the priests of the Old Testament gave the Chosen People on the great religious feast days. Today, the ecclesial community listens to it again,

The Origin of Silent Night - A Christmas Carol is Born

2005-12-30T17:35:00.000-05:00

The Origin of Silent Night - A Christmas Carol is Bornby Fr. Bernard HeffernanFor 22 years I looked after the spiritual needs of senior citizen homes. Volunteers helped. Among them was Anna Cairnduf, a lady who hails from a mountain town in Austria. She's the grand niece of Father Joseph Mohr, the writer of the Christmas carol "Silent Night" which for a long time was ignored. Why?Great music

Homily for the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God by Pope John Paul II January 1, 2002

2005-12-30T12:09:00.000-05:00

Pope John Paul II - Homily at the Mass of the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God - 35th World Day of Peace - 1 January 2002 1. "Hail, holy Mother! The Child to whom you gave birth is the King of heaven and earth for ever" (cf. Entrance Antiphon). With this ancient greeting, today, the eighth day of the Octave of Christmas and the first of the year 2002, the Church greets the Blessed Virgin Mary,

Homily on the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God by Pope John Paul II January 1, 2001

2005-12-30T02:56:00.000-05:00

SOLEMNITY OF MARY, MOTHER OF GOD XXXIV WORLD DAY OF PEACE HOMILY OF JOHN PAUL II1 January 2001 1. "[The shepherds] went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph and the babe, lying in a manger" (Lk 2: 16). Today, the Octave of Christmas, the liturgy urges us, with these words, to walk with new and conscious fervour to Bethlehem to adore the divine Child, who is born for us. It invites us to follow

Homily for the Feast of the Holy Family

2005-12-30T02:45:00.000-05:00

The second reading for the Feast of the Holy Family is from St. Paul's Letter to the Colossians. (Col.3,13-21) In it he describes the type of love we are all called to show to one another, but especially within the family. It also gives the reason why we are called to this type of love and that is because we are God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved. By baptism we became adopted sons and

Pro-Life Homily for the Feast of the Holy Innocents

2005-12-30T01:35:00.000-05:00

St. Matthew’s Gospel (Mat. 2, 1-18) describes the events that took place in Bethlehem at the time of Christ’s birth and King Herod’s order that all male infants, two years old and younger, then living in and around Bethlehem be killed. He ordered this in an attempt to kill the new born King who he saw as a threat to his own power. The Book of Micah in the Bible predicted that the Messiah would

Second Homily for the Feast of St. Stephen by St. Gregory of Nyssa

2005-12-26T14:29:00.000-05:00

Upon entering the world, Christ brought salvation and founded the Church. The witness to the truth shone forth as well as those witnesses to such a great providence. The disciples followed their Teacher by following in his footsteps, for after Christ there came bears of Christ [Christophoroi]; after the Son of Justice [cf. Mal 3.20], they illumine the world. Stephen was the first to flourish on

Homily for December 26 - the Feast of Saint Stephen, Promartyr by St. Gregory of Nyssa

2005-12-25T11:20:00.000-05:00

Homily for the Feast of Saint Stephen, Protomartyr by St. Gregory of NyssaHow lovely is the inspiration exhibited by those who are good, and how sweet is the joy which they disclose! See, we acquire a feast from a feast and grace from grace. Yesterday the Lord of the universe welcomed us whereas today it is the imitator [Stephen] of the Lord. How are they related to each other? One assumed human

Pope Benedict XVI's Homily at Midnight Mass for Christmas 2005

2005-12-24T20:50:00.000-05:00

Pope Benedict XVI's Homily at Midnight Mass for Christmas 2005The Vatican's official English-language translation of the Italian text of Pope Benedict's homily, pronounced in Italian, during Midnight Mass in St. Peter's Basilica.———“The Lord said to me: You are my son; this day I have begotten you.” With these words of the second Psalm, the Church begins the Vigil Mass of Christmas, at which we

A Sermon for Christmas Day by John Henry Cardinal Newman

2005-12-24T17:21:00.000-05:00

"THERE ARE two principal lessons which we are taught on the great Festival which we this day celebrate, lowliness and joy. This surely is a day, of all others, in which is set before us the heavenly excellence and the acceptableness in God's sight of that state which most men have, or may have, allotted to them, humble or private life, and cheerfulness in it. If we consult the writings of

A Christmas Homily by St. Macarius

2005-12-24T11:46:00.000-05:00

This information was translated from the Greek by Mickey Hodges, a member of St. John Orthodox Church in Memphis, Tennessee, as a nativity gift to the parish. He has graciously allowed me to post it here, but retains the copyright to the translation himself. As far as we can determine, this is the only English translation of this homily available.--------------------------------------------------

"It's A Wonderful Life" - Movie Review

2005-12-23T14:32:00.000-05:00

"It's A Wonderful Life"Director Frank Capra’s movie "It’s a Wonderful Life" is a Christmas classic and one of the best movies ever made. This is a movie with an important message – that one person’s life has a profound effect on the lives of others. The hero of the story gets a chance to see what the world would have been like if he had never been born. The underlying message of the movie is

A Christmas Homily by St. John Chrysostom

2005-12-22T17:20:00.000-05:00

The Nativity Sermon of St. John Chrysostom"I behold a new and wondrous mystery! My ears resound to the shepherd's song, piping no soft melody, but loudly chanting a heavenly hymn!The angels sing!The archangels blend their voices in harmony!The cherubim resound their joyful praise!The Seraphim exalt His glory!All join to praise this holy feast, beholding the Godhead herein... on earth and man in

A Christmas Homily by St. Leo the Great

2005-12-22T16:52:00.000-05:00

ON THE FEAST OF THE NATIVITY, I.I. All share in the joy of Christmas. Our Savior, dearly-beloved, was born today: let us be glad. For there is no proper place for sadness, when we keep the birthday of the Life, which destroys the fear of mortality and brings to us the joy of promised eternity. No one is kept from sharing in this happiness. There is for all one common measure of joy, because as