October 22nd, 2017 - 29th Sunday of Ordinary Time - Pro-Life

Listen to the Homily:  October 22nd, 2017 - 29th Sunday of Ordinary Time - Pro-Life

Healing from the Wounds of Abortion and Respecting Life

Anyone who is wounded by abortion can find healing, hope, and forgiveness through Project Rachel or Project Joseph, which provides free, confidential, professional counseling and spiritual direction.  Call 314-792-7565, email stlprojectrachel@archstl.org or stlprojectjoseph@archstl.org, or go online to STLProjectRachel.org.

Anyone who is considering abortion or knows someone who is considering abortion can find help at one of the following places:  Birthright St. Louis (birthrightSTL.org or 800-550-4900), Birthright St. Charles (birthrightstcharles.org or 636-724-1200), or ThriVe St. Louis in St. Charles County (thrivestlouis.org or 636-278-1212).  These places offer free pregnancy testing, financial assistance, free supplies, medical referrals, adoption referrals, and more.  [See the brochure below for more information.] Also, there is a 24/7 hotline at 1-800-712-4357 or go to OptionLine.org for assistance.

Anyone called to take a more active role in protecting the most innocent of human beings can consider becoming involved in our parish Respect Life group.  Contact the parish office (636-532-3304) for more information.  At the Archdiocesan level, you can consider participating in programs and services provided by the Respect Life Apostolate of the Archdiocese by going to their website (http://archstl.org/respectlife) or by going directly to their programs and services page (http://archstl.org/node/4331862). 

All of us can pray for an end to abortion, for healing of those wounded by abortion, for those considering abortion that they may be touched by the grace of God and choose life for their child, and for the protection of all human life from conception until natural death.

October 15th, 2017 - 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Proper Disposition

Listen to the homily:  October 15th, 2017 - 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Proper Disposition

What an honor it is to be participating in the wedding feast of the Lamb of God!

Gospel Reflection (Not the same as the homily above)

The wedding feast represents Heaven, and it also represents the Mass, where the bride (the Church) and bridegroom (Jesus Christ) come together in the appearance of a banquet.  Christ comes to us in the Eucharist, giving Himself to us completely.  We the members of His Church unite ourselves with Him and spiritually offer ourselves to Him.  These mutual self-gifts are given during the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

But we need to ask ourselves, “how well disposed are we to participate in this wedding feast?”.  Are we free from serious sins, determining what is sinful not by our own judgment, but as God through His Church identifies serious sins?  If we know that we are guilty of serious sin, do we go to Confession and receive forgiveness before receiving the Eucharist?  Are we well prepared by being at Mass early, or at least on time?  Are we prayerfully paying attention and participating at Mass?  Are we acknowledging Jesus Christ’s real presence in the Eucharist, especially while He is in us after receiving Him in communion?  Do we properly express our gratitude for Jesus Christ’s gift of Himself in the Eucharist by staying and spend time with Him briefly after Mass, or at least stay for the end of Mass?  Our disposition before, during, and after Mass effects our reception of God’s graces, which then effects the way we live our lives; and how we live our lives, a life of grace or a life of sin, determines our eternal destination.

Related Link: Is it OK to leave Mass immediately after receiving Communion?

Fatima and the Rosary

Our Lady of the Rosary during all of her visits to the three children at Fatima, told them to pray the Rosary every day.  It will bring peace to the world and an end to World War I.  She also gave us the prayer, “O my Jesus…” to be added to the Rosary.  Let us fulfill her request and pray the Rosary every day.