Fidei Catholicae

Collect

Christ became obedient for us unto death, even to the death of the cross. Amen.

Today’s Readings

March 22, 2008

Homily

Easter Vigil Homily - Fr. Altier

Collect

Lord, by shedding his blood for for us, your Son, Jesus Christ, established the paschal mystery. In your goodness, make us holy and watch over us always. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Today’s Readings

March 21, 2008

Collect

God our Father, we are gathered here to share in supper which your only Son left to his Church to reveal his love. He gave it to us when he was about to die and commanded us to celebrate it as the new and eternal sacrifice. We pray that in this Eucharist we may find the fullness of love and life. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Today’s Readings

March 20, 2008

Homily

He Gives Himself Entirely to Us - Fr. Altier

Collect

Father, in your plan of salvation your Son Jesus Christ accepted the cross and freed us from the power of the enemy. May we come to share the glory of his resurrection, for he lives and reigns with your and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Today’s Readings

March 19, 2008

Homily

Wednesday of Holy Week - Fr. Altier

Walking with Jesus Christ Through The Week Called Holy

This Sunday marks the official end of Lent and the beginning of the high holy days of our faith. Holy Week is not just any week of the year: it is the hinge upon which our Christian faith and life hangs. If we wish to benefit spiritually from the week, we must decide to get under the surface of the ceremonies that Church offers for our edification and experience the true meaning of these events. We must commit ourselves to walk through the great mysteries of our salvation with Jesus this week and discover how good God has been to us in calling us out of the darkness of our sin into the light of His Life.

Palm Sunday connects us with the enthusiasm of the people of Israel for their salvation. In Jesus they saw, at least for a moment, their Messiah. They welcomed their humble Savior riding a donkey into Jerusalem but they did not recognize that humility was the only doorway to His Kingdom. We must admit that we are like them: fickle, quick to follow a fad and then just as quick to drop it, shouting praises one week and then murderous threats the next. This is where the journey of Holy Week has to start: we must examine our lack of constancy in the practice of the faith and ask Christ to strengthen us for worship.

On Monday of Holy Week we read in the daily Mass readings that the Pharisees deliberately plot to kill Him. Imagine how this attempt to annihilate their Savior must have pierced the Sacred Heart! On Tuesday, the Church announces the sad reality that members of the Lord’s own inner circle betrayed and denied Him; and on Wednesday, Judas is shown negotiating our Blessed Lord’s life for a few pieces of rotten silver. If we have the honesty, we will admit that we are no better than these disciples—we can’t pass the testing that the devil metes out to us. The only question is whether we will despair of our weaknesses like Judas and die or conquer them like Peter and become holy.

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Collect

Father, may we receive your forgiveness and mercy as we celebrate the passion and death of the Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Today’s Readings

March 18, 2008

Homily

Tuesday of Holy Week - Fr. Altier

Today, March 17th, is usually the Optional Feast Day of St. Patrick. However, this year it has been surpressed. Per liturgical rules, no Masses will be celebrated in honor of St. Patrick today in any Catholic Church and no festivities should take place. The reason for this is because this is Holy Week, the most important week in the Church’s Liturgy. All days of this week supercede any other feast days or soleminities. All Masses celebrated today are to be for, “Monday of Holy Week”, and not in honor of St. Patrick. In dioceses where St. Patrick’s Day is observed as a soleminity St. Patrick’s Day is to be moved to April 1st, 2008, or with the bishop’s permission to a date prior to March 17th. The last time St. Patrick’s Day was moved was in 1940 and the next time it will be moved won’t be until 2160.

So, although many Catholics may not be aware of this, today is not St. Patrick’s Day for the Church. You won’t find it listed on the Liturgical Calendar this year. Instead you’ll find “Monday of Holy Week”. But because of the secular world you’ll probably see alot of references and celebrations today in honor of St. Patrick.

Collect

All-powerful God, by the suffering and death of your Son, strengthen and protect us in our weakness. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Today’s Readings

March 17, 2008

Homily

Monday of Holy Week - Fr. Altier

Collect

Almighty God, we pray you bless these branches and make them holy. Today we joyfully acclaim Jesus our Messiah and King. May we reach one day the happiness of the new and everlasting Jerusalem by faithfully following him who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

Today’s Readings

March 16, 2008

Homily

Palm Sunday - Fr. Altier

Collect

Father, you entrusted our Savior to the care of St. Joseph. By the help of his prayers may your Church continue to serve its Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Today’s Readings

March 15, 2008