Octave of Nativity 2022 – Homily by Fr. Ermatinger
Transcription of Homily
At that time, after eight days were accomplished that the child should be circumcised. His name was called Jesus, which was called by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.
The saving words of the Gospel.
In the name of the Father, and the Son, the Holy Ghost. Amen.
His name is to be called Jesus.
We’re confronted with a number of testing periods […]
Christmas 2021 – Homily by Fr. Ermatinger
Transcription of Homily
We might find these words predictable by now, we’ve heard them so many times. We perhaps are not shocked by the fact that that there’s a child to be found in a manger doesn’t really make much sense. I mean, what does a manger? We think of it is something like this; well, a manger is a feed box. So that’s the sign, there will be a baby wrapped in […]
Gaudete Sunday 2021 – Homily by Fr. Ermatinger
Transcription
In the Name of the Father and of the Son, the Holy Ghost, Amen.
Gaudete Sunday is the Sunday in which we are commanded by the Church to rejoice. That might sound like an odd command, saying to feel something. And it’s not said as a suggestion, it’s not presented as some sort of spiritual program to follow but were ordered to. And what does this mean?
Well, we set […]
Second Sunday of Advent 2021 – Homily by Fr. Ermatinger
Transcription of Homily
Translation of the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew.
At that time: When John had heard in prison the works of Christ, sending two of his disciples he said to him: Art thou he that art to come, or look we for another? And Jesus making answer said to them: Go and relate, to John what you have heard and seen. The blind […]
First Sunday of Advent 2021 – Homily by Fr. Ermatinger
Transcription of Homily
Reading from the Epistle of blessed Paul, the Apostle to the Romans:
Brethren, it is now the hour for you to wake up from sleep. Because our salvation is closer than when we first accepted the Faith. The night is far gone, the day drawing near. Let us cast aside deeds of darkness, and put on the armor of light. Let us live honorably, as in daylight: not in […]
Advent – Time for “Holiday Parties” or Little Lent?
Origionally Published at TAN Direction
“But except you do penance, you shall all likewise perish.”
—Luke 13:5
My childhood hero was Bishop Ignatius Kung.
We were told of his heroic suffering as a prisoner. The Chinese Communists (the same ones who recently gifted us with a man-made virus), permitted him to leave his solitary confinement of thirty years if he would only renounce his allegiance to Rome.
As a little boy, and later as a college student, I felt […]
The Ritual of Baptism
Jesus Christ is Head of the Mystical Body and His Body is the Church. The rites and rituals of the Catholic Church are the rites and rituals of Jesus Christ himself. St. Thomas Aquinas tells us: “The whole rite of the Christian cult is derived from Christ’s priesthood” (S. Th.III, Q. 63, a. 3). The Church also […]
How to Advance in Holiness: Lectio Divina
Originally Published for TAN Direction
How do we advance in holiness? This not an impractical question. The Church teaches us that we have three necessary means of salvation and, those same, according to degree, attain holiness: sacramental grace, prayer, and virtue. All three pistons have to be running in unison for the motor of the spiritual organism to advance.
By grace we:
- are elevated by God to participate in His nature (cfr. II Pet 1:4);
- made pleasing to […]
Battle Ready: No Mental Prayer, No Holiness
Originally Published at TAN Direction
“Nonne militia est vita hominis super terram, et sicut dies mercennarii dies eius?”
—Job 7:1, Vulgate
The book of Job asks, “Is not the life of man on earth warfare, and are not his days like that of a hireling?” He seems to think that the answer is obvious, since the question is less a question than an affirmation of an undeniable fact; hence the enclitic particle -ne on the word non. Such a construction says, […]