Sunday 26 of Ordinary Time, Year B

All are called to eternal salvation in the glory of Paradise.

All are called to faith, for the Lord God wills that "all men be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth". Amongst the believers, some persevere in charity and grace to the end, and some do not, for "many are called but few are chosen" (which is Pope St. Gregory the Great's interpretation of this text).

This homily was an exercise in "liturgical catechesis". Not a catechesis about the sacred liturgy, but a use of the sacred liturgy as a source of doctrine. My subject was the "second death".

This was the homily preached at the 7:30 p.m. mass. Here is a recording.

Peace, good will to men; peace to people of good will

Sunday Homily, 7:30 p.m. mass, September 23, 2012
Sunday 25 per annum

I compared the new and old translation of "pax hominibus bonae voluntatis" in the Gloria in excelsis Deo. I didn't get into what the Greek of the Gospel actually says, even less so, did I delve into what it would have been in the Aramaic (or Hebrew) original. The original Latin of the liturgical text is from the Vulgate bible, which the Council of Trent declared dogmatically and infallibly to be free from errors in faith and morals.

The King James version's "peace, good will to men" and the older ICEL translation's "peace to his people on earth" bring out the merciful, saving love of God by which were are offered and given the grace without which we cannot believe, repent, be pardoned or be saved.

The Vulgate and this new accurate translation bring out the necessity of our consent to and cooperation with the grace of God, by our good will. It wasn't included in the homily, but this same truth is expressed in the Collect, or opening prayer of the mass: eternal life must be merited. Here is a recording.

St. Matthew, disciple, apostle and evangelist

Hard scientific evidence confirms what the Church has always held and holds: the Gospel of Matthew was written by this disciple of our Lord and eyewitness of His Person, life, actions, miracles, teachings and very words. Originally written in Aramaic (or maybe Hebrew), within a few short years of the Crucifixion and Resurrection of the Lord, it is in itself, humanly speaking, a very reliable historical document. The Faith confirms all this and adds that it was written under the protection and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, who is the one true and living God, with the Father and The Son. “He has spoken through the prophets.”

A Funeral

I assisted and concelebrated at a funeral in our local Polish parish, and having been asked to give a little homily in English, I spoke of the resurrection of the flesh on the last day.

It is a little disappointment that the new translation retained the less forceful, and less accurate, but of course orthodox, "resurrection of the body". Readers will perhaps want to know if I mentioned Purgatory, out of charity for the departed soul. Yes, I did, mentioning the great devotion that the Poles rightly have for the Poor Souls.

It is now firmly and "authentically" taught by the Church that the Holy Souls assist us by their intercession. This is found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, in Reconciliatio et paenitencia, 31-iv and in at least one magisterial document from the time of Pope Pius XII: the bull of beatification for Blessed Mary of Providence, foundress of the Helpers of the Holy Souls, that it is "the mind of the Church", that the Holy Souls can and do pray for us.

Sunday Homily for Sunday XXIV per Annum

"Take up your cross and follow me". In the light of the Fatima message, I developed the idea of that necessary sacrifice, the faithful fulfillment of the duties of one's "state in life". The recording was made at the last Sunday evening mass, at 7:30 p.m.

INTRODUCTION

Beginning This is the new blog of Father Paul McDonald, the parish priest or rector of the Cathedral of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. It is the mother church of the Diocese of St. Catharines. Our bishop, the fifth of the diocese since its creation in November of 1958, is the Most Reverend Gerard Bergie.