Veritas in caritate: April 2021

Wednesday, April 28, 2021

Discerning God's Will - 4th Sunday of Easter - April 25th, 2021

Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of the Church and He is the Good Shepherd. Our place in the Church depends on our relationship with the Cornerstone. The Good Shepherd knows what is best for us and wants to guide us to our greatest joys. God wills only what's best for us, so we should discern His will and follow Him. Listen to the audio from the 5:30 pm Mass or watch the video from the 9:15 am Mass!

Readings: Acts 4:8-12; Ps 118; 1 Jn 3:1-2; Jn 10:11-18

Key Themes: The Stone Rejected by the Builders, Vocations

Ascensions Prayer for Vocations

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of life and the gift of faith; born of Your infinite love. We ask you to bless our diocese with selfless hearts, willing to worship and serve You in Your Church.

Lord Jesus, we ask You to raise up saints from our homes, as called by the Father; providing courageous and humble men to the holy Priesthood, faithful servants to Consecrated Life, and holy men and women to the Sacrament of Matrimony.

Holy Spirit, help us live out our universal call to holiness, by listening to the Father’s voice and gratefully responding with a surrendering and sacrificial love.

Holy Mary, Model of Vocations, teach us to hear and follow your Son Jesus.

Holy Mary, Queen of Priests, sanctify our priests and obtain for us many more.

Holy Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, show us the Way to the Heart of your Son.

Holy Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for our families and children to be holy.

Ascension Catholic Church, Chesterfield 2020

Spiritual Roadmap to Heaven - Radio Show Mini-Series

Did you know that the saints have mapped out the way to Heaven for us? This was amazing news to me when I first heard about it. Listen to a summary of this Spiritual Roadmap to Heaven in a mini-series radio show for Covenant Network that originally aired in January and February of 2020. All five episodes can be found below!

Episode 1: Overview of the Three Ages of the Spiritual Life and the Beginner

Topics covered in Episode 1:

How do we go from ordinary person to becoming a saint?
Three Ages of the Spiritual Life: Purgative (Beginner), Illuminative (Proficient), and Transformative Union (Perfect)
What is it like for the beginner in the Purgative Age?
Mortal and Venial Sin

Episode 2: Life in the later Ages of the Spiritual Life and the Problem of Evil

Topics covered in Episode 2:

What is it like for the proficient in the Illuminative Age?
What about Evil in the world? How does that effect the faith of someone in this age?
What is it like for the perfect in the Transformative Union (Unitive Way)?

Episode 3: Transitioning or Growing in the Spiritual Life from One Age to the Next

Topics covered in Episode 3:

How do we transition from one age to the next?
Active purgation includes: Examinations of Conscience, Mortification, actively seeking to overcome sin
Passive purgation is like having surgery on the soul
St. John of the Cross - Contemplation
St. Therese of Lisieux and being childlike
St. John of the Cross and the Dark Nights of the Soul
St. Ignatius of Loyola - Consolation and Desolation
Detachment from the things of the world
Unforgiveness and Forgiveness

Episode 4: The Dark Nights of the Soul and St. Peter's Spiritual Growth

Topics covered in Episode 4:

Detachment / Freedom from disordered attachments to sensible things
Dark Night of the Senses and Transitioning from the Purgative Way to the Illuminative Way
Confusion when in the Dark Night of the Senses because God is trying to encounter them in a different way
Dark Night of the Spirit is for the detachment from spiritual things
Social Media, Superficiality, and lack of fulfillment
St. Peter's Spiritual Journey, and that of the other Apostles
As we grow in holiness, we understand ourselves better

Episode 5: Growth in the Spiritual Life through the Sacraments and by God's Grace

Topics covered in Episode 5:

Hope for personal growth by recognizing our progress and looking forward to the blessings to come
Saints can help us see that possibility of growth and desire it
Warning signs of getting off track
Growth in the spiritual life through the Sacraments and the need of being well disposed to receive the grace
Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist
Sacraments of Healing: Confession and Anointing of the Sick
Sacraments of Service / Community: Matrimony and Holy Orders
Meritorious works out of love of God, which grows our charity
Conditions to always have our prayers answered the way we want it answered
God crowns His own gifts
Additional resources for growth in the Spiritual Life

Monday, April 5, 2021

The Joy of Easter - Easter Sunday - April 4th, 2021

Happy Easter! Jesus is risen from the dead! This is a joyous occasion. But, what is joy? It’s something we are created for, but it’s not something we can just buy at the store, nor is it the fleeting pleasures of the world. Think about the most joyful moments of your life. Now consider if there are any common themes in those moments... Listen to my homily, or watch the video below, and find out the common elements of joy that I thought of and about the Joy of Easter!

Readings: Acts 10:34a, 37-43; Psalms 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23; Col 3:1-4; Jn 20:1-9

Key Themes: Resurrection, Joy

Friday, April 2, 2021

It is Finished - Good Friday Service - April 2nd, 2021

Jesus said, “It is finished.” But, what is finished? Why even say this given the pain and agony that would be necessary for a crucified man to speak? In order to simply breathe Jesus would need to push up from the nail in His feet and pull Himself up using the nails in His wrists and the muscles that were bruised or torn by the scourging. To speak would require even more air, meaning He would experience even greater pain while trying to hold Himself up to speak. This must be something important to make it worth saying. Listen to my homily, or watch the video below, to find out more!