FRIDAY EVENING MASS HOMILY - FATHER JOSEPH

During Mass, the readings point to culmination in the Holy Eucharist. Fruits of the Holy Eucharist are explained in the Catechism; augments our union with Jesus Christ. Jesus said he who eats My flesh remains in Me and I in him. This is a foretaste of the eternal union in Heaven. The person in love desires to be possessed by the one he loves. Holy Communion strengthens us spiritually. Jesus said that unless you eat My flesh and drink My blood, you will not have life.

In Holy Communion, Jesus gives us His flesh. This preserves, increases and renews the life we receive in Baptism. The Eucharist is the food for strong souls. Examples are Mother Theresa, Mother Angelica, and Pope John Paul II. The Eucharist helped them to accomplish great things.

Holy Communion helps to separate us from sin and cleanses us from past sins. It wipes away our venial sins. The Eucharist strengthens our charity, and it preserves us from future mortal sins. The Eucharist makes the Church. As we are united to Christ, we become united to others, which makes the Church.

In the Eucharist, we receive healing. "Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldst come under my roof; say the word and my soul shall be healed." The Catechism says the Eucharist is a sign of hope. In it the work of redemption is carried on. It is the antidote for death. 

FRIDAY EVENING TALK - DARRELL BENNETT

Darrell spoke about his recent trip to Rome. He was called to be there from Holy Thursday through Divine Mercy Sunday. He said the Holy Father is weak in body, but strong spiritually. 

Father Philip told Darrell to be more frank in his talks with people at the First Thursday Masses in Kenner and at the Friday evening talks at the retreats. 

Our Lady asked Darrell to focus on the question Lucia asked the Blessed Mother at Fatima. "What do you want of me?" We need to pray for this spirit this weekend as we ask: "What do you want of me?" The moment in history is here when we have to decide for God or for the world. We must respond to Her with generosity of heart. What has become ordinary to us is harder to respond to. We have to get past the mindset that the events that will pass are tomorrow; it is now.

We will experience things before the warning or illumination. There will be decisive events after the warning. We must respond wholeheartedly now. If people do what Our Lady asks, there could be an era of peace.

Charity demands correction, especially for the spiritually endangered. A loving Father will correct his child to protect him from eternal damage.

We must be open to do penance and pray from the heart to mitigate things coming. We must be ready to offer our lives in sacrifice.

We are to read the third part of the Catechism, Life in Christ, in preparation for the illumination. We are to use it as an examination of conscience. Also, to learn what love means, we are to read St. John's Gospel.

The year 2005 will be a new era of time. What transpires depends on what we do today. By 2005, people will reap the fruits of the Eucharistic reign.

We are to pray and sacrifice for the sanctity of priests. The Cardinals will gather in May this year with the Holy Father to discuss the role of the Papacy. The Bishops will meet with him in October.

The Holy Father says: Fear not. Live the abandonment our Lord is calling us to. We must say: "Jesus, I trust in You." We must have faith in His love and mercy for the times to come. We will have to live these words. What happened in Rwanda could happen here, but would be even worse. If we respond to our Lady, it could be avoided. We must respond with greater generosity of heart. We must ask: "What do You ask of me?" When our Lady speaks to us, please do it with all your heart, to the fullest of your ability. There is little time left to do this to mitigate these things to come for this poor humanity.

We cannot judge things by appearance, but by faith, so we can fulfill what our Lord desires of us. 

In the third secret of Fatima, the angel is holding a sword with fire coming from it. He cries out: "Penance, penance, penance". "In the end My Immaculate Heart will triumph." The words "Jesus, I trust in You" will flow freely from the heart, not just from the lips. We must stand on that Rock with Peter. The Church will last forever.

Darrell was also asked to go to San Giovanni Rotundo to make the Way of the Cross for the Church and for the priesthood. Padre Pio's life was a way of the cross. He symbolizes what priests are called to be. Darrell said that one day Padre Pio would be the Patron for priests.

The battle is great between the angels and demons. Darrell went to the Mount of St. Michael on the trip. The Chaplet of St. Michael is very important. We are to pray it devoutly. Through it, we receive the assistance of the nine choirs of angels.

Darrell also went to Lanciano, the site of a Eucharistic miracle. While spending time there, Our Lord said, "Greater than this shall we see." Our Lord will manifest His glory in the monstrance at the Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville in an extraordinary way. This will come soon. We must pray for hearts to be open to the grace to recognize the living presence of God. The veil will be lifted so people will know that God is truly with them.

Darrell asked our prayers for Father Tom Warren in California who passed away. He was a very good friend of the Mission. We were also asked to pray for Monsignor Vincent, a retired personal secretary of the Holy Father. At present, he cannot be found. 

SATURDAY MORNING MASS HOMILY - FATHER WADE

The reading was from the Acts of the Apostles, and the Gospel was the Sixth Chapter of John.

Today ends the Eucharistic discourse of this whole week's readings.

If you do not eat His flesh or drink His blood, you will not have life in you. Some turned away and left Jesus. Before this was the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and the walking on the water. The reason, according to St. Augustine, Jesus used these two miracles before the Eucharistic discourse in John was to show His power over ordinary bread and that He also has power over His body. "Flesh and blood" are used four times. "Eat and drink" are used four times. Then after the disciples hear exactly what He has said, and the saying is too hard to accept; some turn away.

We should have simple assent of human faith. The mystery of faith against any poisonous rationalism. We must approach this mystery with humble reverence.

In the words of Consecration, there is no longer bread, but the Body of Christ; no longer wine, but the Blood of Christ. 

SATURDAY MORNING INSTRUCTION - FATHER FRANCIS 

In the Prologue of the Catechism - St. Paul to Timothy - God, our Savior, desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of Jesus Christ. In the Gospel of Mark - The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the Gospel.

What is truth, or who is truth? Man can be saved only through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ, Son of God, became man, went through the Passion, died, and on Easter Sunday rose through His power.

The Acts of the Apostles speak of the zeal of the Apostles. The Apostles and disciples were the pillars of the Church. Peter goes out filled with zeal of the Holy Spirit. He heals by the power of Jesus Christ. They spoke God's word with confidence. They were brought before the Sanhedrin to give an account of themselves. They were flogged for speaking of Jesus Christ. They said it was better to obey God than man. St. Stephen caught fire from listening to the preaching of Peter and Paul.

Father John Hardon had a desire to die a martyr as had Peter and Paul. Unless we recover their zeal, the future of America is numbered. We must be willing to pay the price that the early apostles and disciples did. Father Hardon died a white martyrdom.

We must have the fire of the Holy Spirit to pass on the faith to the next generation. We must be part of the new breed of Christians. This entails a believer's heart, an evangelical spirit. We must have this zeal and spirit. This is for every man, woman and child.

Father Francis described the new breed of people. Attributes of the new breed:

1) Believe in Jesus Christ as Son of God. We can be saved by no other name;

2) Not afraid to express their belief; and

3) Want to live as early Christians - not necessarily in community or giving up all for community. 

HEALING SERVICE - FATHER WADE

The words of Consecration change truly and substantially the bread and wine into our healing food.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, The Lives of the Saints and Scripture are a must for the family home. Father Wade asked us to read from the Catechism No. 1378 (Adoration and Worship); Fruits of Holy Communion (No. 1391). When received worthily:

(1) Augments our union with Christ literally. Principal fruit is an intimate union with Jesus Christ. He touches us in our own blood vessels and veins.

(2) Helps to separate us from committing more venial sins. It cannot unite us to Christ without wiping away our venial sins and preserving us from future sin and future mortal sin. 

(3) It is the union of the Mystical Body of Christ.

In the Eucharist, we are receiving the Head of the Mystical Body; therefore, this brings us closer as a body. In the Gospel of John, he urges us to receive Him (Jesus) in the Eucharist, or we have no life in us.

FATHER RAY BOURQUE'S BIBLE STUDY

Father asked everyone to pray for the Holy Father while he was in Greece. The Holy Father will speak to the Muslims. Listen to what he says to them. We need to know who they are.

Father then spoke on the Trinity. He said we are Trinitarian people. We start everything with the Sign of the Cross (in the name of the Trinity).

What is the Trinity? Our God is one God in three persons:

Father (Thinker, Speaker, Creator)

Son - Word 

Holy Spirit - Love

The Apostolic Letter of Pope John Paul II is important. We need to live this document. We need to see the Trinity in the face of others all the time. We are the creation of God the Father. We are redeemed by Christ. We are called to be a temple of the Holy Spirit.

Isaiah 42:1 is the bridge from the Old Testament to the New Testament. God is speaking as He says: "Here is My servant (Son) in whom I put My Spirit." This is an expression of God the Father, God the Son, and the Holy Spirit which is the Holy Trinity. The Spirit doesn't begin at Pentecost; He has been working all along. We need to know that.

Father gave different examples of the Holy Spirit, such as in Noah and the Ark. The dove is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. Also in Luke 3, the Holy Spirit descends upon Jesus in the form of a dove. After His Baptism, Jesus goes into the desert to be tempted. He is led by the Holy Spirit to be in deep union with the Father. The Holy Spirit stays with Him all the time. Another example is when Jesus was in the Synagogue; He unrolls the scrolls. The Spirit is upon Him. The Father does everything out of love.

The Holy Father says we need to ask the Holy Spirit to help us understand the concept of today. God is infinitely present. In God, there is only today.

During the Transfiguration on Mt. Tabor, Moses and Elijah are there to strengthen Peter, James and John who are with Jesus. A voice says: "This is My Son, My chosen one. Listen to Him." The Holy Trinity is again present. The Transfiguration encouraged the Apostles to stay with Jesus before His death.

No one knows the Father like Jesus. No one knows Jesus like the Father. The two are one (the Speaker and the Word). Jesus shares His knowledge of the Father with us. He wants us to share in His fellowship and also in eternal life. In Jn 3:3, 5, Jesus through the Holy Spirit working in us make us what we ought to be. We become children of God. The Holy Spirit helps us accomplish the will of Jesus.

Luke 12:18: "Whoever acknowledges Me before men will be forgiven. Whoever does not acknowledge Me, the Son of Man will not acknowledge." This is an important text.

Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is a rejection of the whole spiritual world. It is to spurn God's offer to be forgiven. It is a radical rejection of the Christian life.

Father spoke of meditation and contemplation. Meditation is to think things out. Contemplation is to let God talk to us. 

SUNDAY MORNING MASS HOMILY - FATHER ANTHONY 

"My sheep hear My voice. They know Me and they follow Me, and I will give them eternal life."

The Holy Father has declared May 6, 2001, a World Day of Prayer for vocations. Every life is a vocation declared Pope Paul VI. We are called to communion with God. We must acknowledge love of God. At the moment of our conception, God planted the call to eternal life. He has given each one of us a vocation to meet this call. He reveals Himself to us in our call. He unfolds His plan as we cooperate with His grace. We are in constant interaction with Him. He speaks to us, gives us grace for us to respond. We must ask Him to help me to live this dialogue with Him to the max. Interior freedom comes from embracing this call. I belong to God. He belongs to me. At the root of every journey, there is the Emmanuel - God is with us.

We discover the presence of God in our individual stories. This story transforms our human outlook. We are each a new unique character in the story. He weaves us into the story to blend in with the whole story (plan of salvation). Father spoke of the ups and downs of life. We have a unique color of our own. From our lives come other colors. We pass through dark and light. Through it all, God is the primary color. He is always there with us in living out our vocation.

Man cannot find himself except in the giving of himself. What is this? (The Cross) We must give everything. We must not hold anything back. Every last drop of blood was poured out for us. Jesus said, "I love you." God had a special mission for Jesus. We have to put ourselves on the Cross. It is not always comfortable; there is suffering and dying. Do it! We must expect death if we are to expect new life. God is paradoxical.

Many young thirst for values. Only Christ is the way, the truth and the life. Jesus must enter their lives, so they may know Him. This is our obligation to the youth. Do not leave them alone. Guide them along the way to genuine happiness. Help them discover their vocation in their lives. The role of the family is important.

We must persevere in our vocation. The vocation of the Priesthood builds up our vocation and vice-versa. We are to encourage our sons and daughters to serve God by living our commitment of married life. We need priests in the sacraments to guide us. We need men and women living the Gospel.