24 April 2025 - St Fidelus of Sigmaringen - homily for Thursday of the Octave of Easter - Acts 3:11-26

Born in Sigmaringen, Germany in 1577, St Fidelus started his adult life as a lawyer who traveled around Europe tutoring aristocrats and defending the poor. He became a Franciscan Capuchin monk in 1612. He became a Catholic missionary in Switzerland in that area Europe that had become heavily Protestant after the Reformation. Accused of being a spy for the Austrian empire, he was stabbed to death in 1622. He was canonized by Pope Benedict XIV. 

In our reading from Acts, we hear about Peter and John heading off to the Temple to pray when a lame man stops them and asks them for assistance. Instead of giving him money to help him economically, they heal him through the Holy Spirit. This man is overcome by joy as he leaps around and shouts praises to God. This commotion draws the attention of a large crowd, which gives Peter the opportunity to preach to the people about Jesus.  They tell the crowd about what happened to their Lord. They want the people to repent, to change their lives, to become followers of the Lord. But it is not the miracle itself that draws our attention, but rather the power and the truth behind that miracle, the way it teaches us about God’s kingdom and about our faith. 

May we learn from the growth and development of the early Church this week in our first readings at daily Mass from the Acts of the Apostles.

Prayers of the faithful - Thursday of the Octave of Easter - 24 April 2025

Lord Jesus - you call us to a life of discipleship.

Christ Jesus - you call us to seek you in the midst of our reality.

Lord Jesus - you are the resurrection.

Priest: Our joy is in Christ’s rising from the dead. In our Easter joy, let as present our prayers to God the Father:

1. That Pope Francis, Bishop Kopacz, and all our church leaders continue to inspire the members of the body of Christ to deepen their reverence and prayer on their journey of faith.

2. That pastors may lead and serve their flock entrusted to their care with humility and wisdom.

3. That all governmental leaders may reach out to their people in hope and unity.

4. For all those who are sick and need healing in their lives. 

5. For our medical professionals, first responders, the men and women in the military. For those on the front lines and who keep us safe.

6. For the prophets whom God has sent to us in our midst, that we may let their message enter our hearts.

6. For the faithful departed, for their entry into eternal life.

7. For those prayers we hold in our hearts today.

Priest: Father, you know the many needs of your people. Hear and answer the prayers that we make through your son Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever. AMEN.

Prayers of the faithful - Wednesday of the Octave of Easter - 23 April 2025

Lord Jesus - you bring us Easter joy.  

Christ Jesus - you raise us to new life. 

Lord Jesus - you bring us hope. 

PRIEST: We place our needs before God, rejoicing because Christ has triumphed over death and has brought us salvation:

1. For the Holy Father, Pope Francis, Bishop Kopacz, and all our Church leaders, that they may continue to lead the Church in witnessing to the joyful truth of the Resurrection. 

2. For all who have dedicated their lives to God, that they may be Christ’s witnesses in the world. 

3. For the unemployed, for those struggling economically, for the hungry and the homeless, for those crying out for justice, and for those battling addictions. That their needs be met. 

4. For the family of God gathered here at Mass in Easter joy, that we may bear witness to the risen Christ and reflect him in our lives. 

5. For the sick and the afflicted. For all those who need healing in body, mind, or spirit. 

6. For those who have died, that they may rise to eternal life in Christ. 

7. For the prayers we hold in the silence of our hearts.  

PRIEST: Almighty Father, your beloved son has risen from the dead, as he promised us. In peace and joy we present our prayers to you, through the same risen Lord, who lives and reigns for ever and ever.  Amen. 

22 April 2025 - prayers of the faithful - Tuesday of Octave of Easter

Lord Jesus - you are the living word of God - Lord have mercy.

Christ Jesus - you bring us hope and truth - Christ have mercy.

Lord Jesus - you are the Word of God - Lord have mercy.

PRIEST: As we celebrate the Octave of Easter, we bring our prayers to our heavenly Father:

1. That Christ’s love may be visible in our words and actions.

2. That the Holy Spirit may help find that truth in Christ our Savior in the reality of our lives.

3. For our children preparing for the sacrament of holy Eucharist. For those who entered the Church on Easter weekend. That they find hope and encouragement on their journey.

4. For all who are suffering or struggling in any way, and for all who need healing of body, mind or spirit: that the love of family, friends, and neighbors may remind them of God’s loving care.

5. For the faithful departed. For their entry into eternal life. For the souls in purgatory.

6. For the prayers we hold in our hearts today.

PRIEST: Heavenly Father, we ask that you continue to lead and guide your people during the holy season of Easter. Hear our prayers that we make through your son Jesus Christ, our risen Lord forever and ever. Amen.

23 April 2025 - homily for Wednesday of the Octave of Easter - St George - Luke 24:13-35

There is a lot of mythology associated with the saint we celebrate today – St George. His name probably brings to our mind the image of this courageous saint slaying a dragon – certainly some of the mythology that has sprung up about him throughout history.  We do know that George was a Roman soldier who rose to the rank of officer and who was born in the latter part of the 3rd century before the Roman Empire officially recognized Christianity. The Roman Emperor Diocletian put George to death for his unwillingness to give up his Christian faith. George became one of the most venerated Catholic saints, having become the patron of Crusaders and soldiers, and having been depicted often in iconography. 

As I reflect upon our Gospel today in the Octave of Easter, I think of how our theological knowledge of our faith is important, but that there is no substitute for a personal encounter and relationship with Christ. The disciples on the Road to Emmaus presumed Jesus to be dead, so they did not recognize him as he appeared to them in the midst of their journey. However, through this direct interaction with Jesus, through the kindness they offered him, who they supposed to be a stranger, and through them breaking open God’s word and breaking bread together, they recognize Jesus who is in front of them and they believe. This encounter inspires these two disciples to share their experiences and to bring the Gospel message to others. We are also called to offer acts of kindness to the stranger.  We are also called to break open God’s word, to have his word interact with the reality of life. In the Eucharist, in the breaking of the bread around the Lord’s table, we are to receive nourishment and encouragement. Like the disciples on the Road to Emmaus, we also are pilgrims on a journey. 

22 April 2025 - Tuesday in the Octave of Easter - Acts 2:36-41

We heard from different prophets in our first readings at daily Mass during Lent, prophets such as the Isaiah and Hosea. These prophets called the people of Ancient Israel to repentance and conversion when they turned away from God. During the Easter season, we hear about the establishment and development of the Early Church after the death and resurrection of Jesus in the first readings of the daily masses from the Acts of the Apostles.  This week we celebrate the Octave of Easter, a special liturgical time in our Church at the start of the Easter season. In our reading today from Acts, we hear about 3,000 people who were baptized in response to the message that Peter preached. On Good Friday, we heard the crowd cry out in the midst of Christ’s passion, “crucify him.” Some of those in those crowds who wanted Jesus to die could have been the very ones who responded to Peter’s call of repentance and baptism in our reading today. The people “were cut to the heart” when they realized that Jesus, who was just crucified, was made Christ and Lord by God.

As the Church grew in the ancient world, there were many martyrs who gave up their lives for the faith. St Abdiesus was a deacon serving in Persia when he was martyred in the year 342 under King Shapur II. Others were martyred with him. His feast day is today. We unite our prayers with the martyrs and the community of saints as we commemorate the Octave of Easter. 

20 April 2025 - homily for Easter Sunday - John 20:1-9

The solemnity of Easter, the celebration of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead after his crucifixion and his placement in the tomb, is central to our Catholic faith and our identity as Christ’s disciples. The resurrection is God’s definitive answer to death. Nothing is stronger nor more powerful than God. Through the this resurrection, God has conquered both sin and death.

However, we know that at times all of us as human beings can feel a lack of hope in our lives and a sense of despair. At times, we can look at what is going in the modern world in general or in the struggles and challenges we have in our personal lives, and we can become very discouraged. It seems that there is no end to this variety of problems in the modern world for which there are no easy answers or solutions.

From the Gospel texts that follow the passion and death of our Lord Jesus Christ, the apostles had gone into hiding from fear of being put to death themselves. In our Gospel today, we hear how their fear and confusion deepens as they see an empty tomb and cannot make sense of what is going on.  

Every 25 years, the Pope declares a special Jubilee Year. Many of us adults probably remember the Jubilee Year of 2000 that celebrated the new Millennium. For the Jubilee Year of 2025, Pope Francis has called us to be pilgrims of hope. Since the celebration of Easter morning is a celebration of hope in many ways, it is good for us to feel that we can truly be pilgrims of hope in the reality of our world. 

One thing I encourage you to do is to go on a pilgrimage or to visit a holy site during this jubilee year.  I myself am going on the Camino pilgrimage of St James in Spain in May. I leave on May 4. I cannot wait to be back on the Camino, my first time since January 2017. I am going to serve as spiritual director on a pilgrimage to the Marian sites in Lourdes, Fatima, and Medjugorje in September. I am also making plans to visit the Father McGivney shrine and pilgrimage site in Connecticut when I go up to the Rhode Island for a mission appeal. Father McGivney is the founder of the Knights of Columbus. I have always been very interested in him. You could even go to a place more local, such as the Ave Maria Grotto in Culman, Alabama, St Mary Basilica in Natchez, or our Diocesan cathedral in downtown Jackson. Going on a pilgrimage is a traditional Catholic way to celebrate the Jubilee Year. It will enliven your soul and give encouragement to your faith. It is a great way to celebrate the resurrected Christ. 

I also encourage you to choose a saint, either an official canonized saint or another member of the community of saints, to be your patron saint, especially during the Jubilee year. This Lent, we highlighted saints in our Sunday Mass homilies who spoke to us on our Lenten journey, such as St Martin de Porres, St Maximillian Kolbe, Dorothy Day, St Francis of Assisi, Gerald Manley Hopkins, and Flannery O’Connor. As you know, I am a big believer in the saints and in their ability to help us, guide us, and inspire us. All of those saints I mentioned inspire me and accompany me in different ways. Learn about the saint you choose. Pray with that saints and feel in your heart the advice that saint gives to you. Thankfully, there are so many resources, media sources, and books available to help us learn about the saints. We can find hope in the way the saints lived out their journey of faith. 

The hope of our faith, the hope of the resurrection is not optimism or out-of-reach idealism. Hope is God’s gift to us, the call we have to holiness and to cooperate with God’s will. This is the hope of the resurrection that calls out to us today on Easter Sunday.  The heart of Jesus speaks to our heart today, offering us new ways to approach the reality of our lives. French Catholic writer and philosopher Blaise Pascal from the 17th century wrote that the human heart has its reasons which our human intellect will never understand. The hope that resides in our hearts in the hope of the new life we have in the resurrected Christ. We accompanied Jesus on the way to the cross during the weeks of Lent. Now, in the light of the resurrection, we continue to carry the crosses in our lives as pilgrims of hope.