FRIDAY EVENING MASS HOMILY – FATHER WADE

Two hearts which were human - Mary's heart that was fully human, and Jesus' human heart in His divine personage. The heart is a vessel of love, understanding and life. The heart constantly pumps life in an unending motion.

We must vote pro-life in Tuesday's election; we do not have a choice. Our obligation is to vote for life.

We celebrate today the feast of St. Martin of Porres. He had a black mother and a Spanish father. He is known for his humility. The human heart is the vessel of humility. St. Martin is an exemplar for us all. 

You must love God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your might. You must love your neighbor as yourself.

Father read from the canonization homily for St. Martin delivered by Pope John XXIII.

SATURDAY MORNING MASS HOMILY – FATHER AUGUSTINE

Today is the feast day of St. Charles Borromeo. He was appointed by his uncle, Pope Pius IV, as Cardinal-Bishop. Charles only wanted the position of bishop for the money which he would receive. However, when he received the grace of the episcopacy, he received the grace of conversion. He became a true shepherd to his flock. He is the patron saint of seminarians. 

Charles was very instrumental in the renewal of the priesthood. He taught many teachings of the Council of Trent. In our day, we need a renewal of priestly and episcopal sanctity. A priest goes to Heaven or Hell, and he doesn't go alone. He is responsible to and for others.

Mental prayer is necessary for salvation. There are three parts of mental prayer: 

1) Consideration - meditate on the Word and Truth of God;

2) Acts of Will - acts of penance, "I am sorry I continue to crucify You"; and

3) Resolution - try to live out, "Father, forgive them".

Charles recommends prayer and fasting, particularly on Friday.

It does not matter how you start out; it is how you finish. Pray to our Blessed Mother and our Guardian Angel to help us.

SATURDAY MORNING INSTRUCTION – FATHER AUGUSTINE

Jesus speaks to us in the depths of our hearts, especially in silence. When the attachment to sin begins to diminish, we can hear His voice. Silence the scream of the flesh to hear the whisper of the spirit. When we learn how to do this, sin diminishes. Attend to the whisper of the spirit. To say the Mass is boring convicts ourselves of noise in our souls. If we persevere, despite distractions, we are called to adore Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

Trinitarian teaching - of a mutual indwelling - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Humanity and Divinity. Human nature is the doorway to divine nature. It is necessary to enter into spiritual realms. The Blessed Mother will help us to understand. Concupiscence is the tendency to sin. 

Believe in the Eucharist because Jesus said it was so, and He can neither be deceived nor deceive.

When we forget about Heaven, we make life difficult for ourselves. In Heaven, we will observe the mountain of God's infinite beauty of Heaven. Hearts are made for God. When we meditate on Heaven, the Holy Spirit helps us. We should long for Heaven. A family is the gateway to the Trinity. We cannot fully grasp the concept of infinite beauty, but we get a little hint.

The Blessed Sacrament is the infinite majesty of God. We start off with a small capacity to pray, but we grow by continuing to pray. Step by step we grow in virtue, grace and contemplation. Regular prayer, starting small and growing in length. We need the sunshine of Jesus to grow and the water of the Holy Spirit. The more we are freed of the attachment to sin, the more we go up rather than go down. We need personal prayer and communal prayer (Mass). The family of the Church helps us grow in virtue. Without sin in us, eternal light enters into us. Jesus chose obedience as a means of which our salvation was wrought, for obedience brings about this new creation. Sin causes suffering. When we abhor sin, we enter into true life.

Grace heals concupiscence - our fallen human nature. Enter into a deeper contemplation. Be reconciled and then place your gifts at the altar. Love of neighbor and love of God are related. We are called to reach out and to minister to other with "love". To an obnoxious person, God says "Show them my love." Evangelize each other through the virtue of charity.

Truth without love is just cruelty. The reality of evil can take truth and twist it without love there. Take truth without charity can become condemning. Instead of mercy, we become the accusing. This is Satan. Jesus condemned no one.

Humility aims at freeing the person of false pride. Humility precedes charity. Humility leads to charity.

HEALING SERVICE – FATHER AUGUSTINE

Jesus calls us to come to Him in the Blessed Sacrament and find rest for our souls. Our true homeland is in Heaven, and we are weary from our journey. He wants to give us new hope. Remember what brought you into His love to begin with. Take a moment to remember when the Lord blessed you. Tell Him how much you love Him. If we are content with this life, we are a pitiable people.

If we find life burdensome here, Jesus wants us to know that we are pilgrims in a foreign land. He will refresh us. We are behind enemy lines.

The more a person stays in the state of sin, the more capacity to love decreases. The yoke of the world is the weight of sin. 

The Lord fits the cross to who we are. He will never give us anything too hard to handle. We create our own crosses many times. With the grace of God, our cross is light enough.

"Come to me all you who are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you."

Jesus helps us first in our souls - that of reconciliation with God, that sin be put to death in our lives.

Are we willing to suffer and unite in His Passion?

SUNDAY MORNING MASS HOMILY - FATHER AUGUSTINE

The Letter to the Hebrews centers on the Day of Atonement. Jesus never participated in sacrifices in the Temple. Jesus is a priest in the line of Melchizedek. The Lord has sworn an oath. Jesus is not only the new High Priest, but the new sacrifice.

Good Friday for Christians is Day of Atonement. Jesus enters into the presence of the Father, the Holy of Holies. He alone is priest and sacrifice in the true Temple not made by human hands.

In the Gospel, the summation of God's law: love God with all your mind, heart, and soul, and love your neighbor as yourself.

He alone is holy and undefiled. Jesus the crucified is keeping the law. It is only through Jesus Christ that we will be able to keep God's law. 

We have access to the Father only through Jesus Christ. He is always pleading for our salvation; He is our advocate. We attain the forgiveness of our sins in the Sacrament of Penance. When we celebrate this sacrifice, we are offered with Jesus to the Father