Ad Jesum per Mariam

Genealogy of Jesus: What Impact Does It Have On Our Spirituality? In today’s Gospel, we hear the genealogy of Jesus. It starts with Jesus, Son of God and is traced all the way back to Adam, son of God. Over 70 generations. So why does the Church think it is important that we hear the genealogy of Jesus? This is not just a list of names. It is so much more. Understand the impact of the genealogy to...

The First Christian Martyr: Saint Steven Fr. Hugh Gillespie, SMM The First Christian Martyr: Saint Steven The Church has twinned the celebration of St. Steven, the first martyr with the birth of Jesus. On Christmas day we celebrate the savior coming into the world as He brings us salvation. The very next day we celebrate that salvation with the first martyr into Glory. It’s a remarkable combinatio...

Feast of the Holy Family: What Does God Think of Your Family? Today the Church celebrates the family: with the Feast of the Holy Family. Hear how God comes into this world AND WHAT He thinks of the family. What does God think of your family? Listen to this Meditation Media. --------------------------------------------- Image: The Holy Family: Italian Painter: Raphel: 1581

In the Fullness of Time: Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God The Church tells us to take the time allowing Christmas and the greatness and the joy of the Mystery to penetrate us. That is why the day is so great it spans eight days. Greatness, Blessings and Joy is worth hanging onto. On Christmas Day, the shepherds tell us of great things and the message from the angels. Our Lady holds onto this in he...

On This Christmas Day, God Exceeds the World’s Expectations! In ages past, God spoke to the world through prophets. With the Lord’s birth, the Word is given to us directly through Jesus! To us, God no longer speaks through the prophets, because He speaks to us through His Son. God exceeds the world’s expectations. God is pleased to make a home in a stable, in our poverty, in our need. It is in our...

David is Rejected by the Lord . . . and Its Implications for Us this Christmas Season While we listen to the annunciation scene; we hear the words from heaven. The words are directed to Our Lady, and they are also directed to us today. It’s a wonderous mystery. To better understand it, the Church gives us a cluster of readings today. The first reading (not included within this audio) is about Davi...

Rejoice on Gaudete Sunday: How Does the Church Change on the Third Sunday of Advent? What is the Implication for Us? On the third Sunday of Advent, a notable transformation takes place during the Mass. The rose color, a unique hue used on only two specific days, makes its appearance, and the third Sunday of Advent is one of those occasions. This alteration is not merely superficial; it extends to...

Jesus Tells Us: Everyone Who Listens to My Words, And Acts Upon Them . . . Typically, when we celebrate a Feast of a saint, we celebrate on their Glory Day . . . the date they are born again into eternal life. St. Ambrose is an exception to that typical practice. On December 7th, this saint was Baptized, Confirmed, made his first communion, Ordained and was made a Bishop of Milan! Wow! That was a...

St. John’s and Isaiah’s Words and Advent On this second Sunday of Advent there are a remarkable set of readings. The first reading (not included within this audio) is from the Book of Isaiah. The author of the reading is unknown, since it was written about two hundred years after Isaiah. But it was written in the spirit of other parts of the Book. When it was first read, it caused a shocking outbu...

Imagine What Heaven Sees When Suddenly a Pure Heart Appears on Earth: Feast of the Immaculate Conception Explained There is something about beauty that catches our attention. There is also something about a light in a dimly lit area that catches our attention. To understand the mystery before us today . . . the Immaculate Conception . . . we do well to recall these common experiences. Hear a wonde...

Understand What The Book of Daniel Tells Us About Our Times In the first reading (not included within this audio) the Book of Daniel offers us a remarkable series of visions. It is a series of visions, not just one. The style is called apocalyptic. The word does not mean the destruction and end of the world. That is what movies and popular culture presents. The word literally means revelation. It...

As We Prepare for Advent, We Hear the Term in the Fullness of Time, God Sent His Son. What Does That Mean and Why Is It Important for Us? First Saturday celebration this December also marks the end of the liturgical year. Advent begins at sundown. Advent tends to take Catholics by surprise. As Catholics prepare for Lent, they have a plan as to what sacrifice they want to do. Advent falls normally...

The Feast of the Presentation of Mary The Presentation of Our Lady is celebrated by the Church. The presentation in the life of Our Lady is not found in sacred scripture. The event was recounted in a very old document that is known as the prequel to the Gospel. It is the same source that we have the names of Mary’s parents. Hear more about the importance of this book within the Church’s teachings...

The Significance of St. Andrew, the First Called, and His Importance to Advent In a few days, Advent starts. Advent has four Sundays. One would think the Church looks at the calendar, finds December 25th, and then counts back four Sundays . . . and that would be the beginning of Advent. While that makes logical sense, that is not how the Church does it! The Church works from the other side of Chri...

The Crucifix Relates to the Feast that we Celebrate Today, the Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe (TA) One of our most important symbols is the crucifix. And yet, what many do not realize is that the crucifix itself has an interesting and important history. Because crucifixion as a form of capital punishment was not something anybody was proud of. And it took the Christian faithful quite some...

One of the Images of Christian Life and Thanksgiving, is Like a Pilgrimage: The First Thanksgiving On Thanksgiving Day many think of football or food or pilgrims, or a parade. But on this day, Thanksgiving has an element of particular clarity at a place like the Shrine. For those that attend a Shrine, that visitor is called a pilgrim. Just by showing up. It recasts what it means on this day. A pil...

St. Catherine of Alexandria: Invincible Martyr In today’s opening prayer the Church acknowledges St. Catherine of Alexandria: A Virgin and Invincible Martyr. St. Catherine across the centuries has a tremendous popularity. Over the last 150 years or so, however, her popularity has waned. But why was she celebrated from an early time among the faithful (she was born around 287 and died when she was...

As We Approach Advent, and Prepare for His Coming . . . Hear What Jesus Says About His Second Coming (TA) In today’s readings one can understand why man looks at nature . . . the beauty of the sky, the vastness of the ocean and the power of the storms . . . and calls them God. But note how odd it is that as fascinated as man is by these things, he has a tendency to stop at the things and not move...

Understand What Jesus Tells Us About Devotedness in Serving. Come and Share Your Master’s Joy! Today’s Gospel is at a point where Jesus is instructing His Church on the final things. He is in Jerusalem during his last week in this life. To help His disciples He tells them a parable about a master who is going away for a while. In speaking to His disciples Jesus is also speaking to us. As we know J...

Why Is the Feast Day of the Dedication of Two Basilicas Important? Why does the Church celebrate the dedication of a building(s)? The feast celebrated today reminds us that indeed, dedication of buildings is very important. In Rome, as the Church began to grow, it experienced the martyrdom of both St. Peter and St. Paul. Their blood was spilled in testifying to the truth. The location of their mar...

The Willingness to Offer Ourselves in Everyday Faithfulness that is Valued Greatly by God The Willingness to Offer Ourselves in Everyday Faithfulness . . . In the first reading (not included within this audio) of St. Paul we hear the name the name Tertius. St. Paul used secretaries to write his letters as he dictated them. At times, St. Peter and St. John also used secretaries. The Homily briefly...

Jesus Tells the Parable of the Lamps, and Cautions Us: When Good Enough in Our Spirituality is Not Really Being Ready (TA) In today’s Gospel, we encounter the parable of the ten individuals awaiting the arrival of the bridegroom with their lamps. They have been exclusively designated to receive, greet, and escort him. Equally bestowed with dignity, invited, and given a place of prominence, these t...

Be Careful of Those Who Give Spiritual Advice, But Are Not Vested in Your Spiritual Well-Being In the Gospel, Jesus tells us to listen to the Pharisees, but do not follow their example. We need to understand this Gospel, because of the impact on our own Spiritual Life. Because they are in authority, you need to listen to them . . . Jesus tells the crowd. But you do not need to live like them. Wow!...

The Four Last Things: Death, Judgement, Heaven and Hell The four last things await all of us at the end of our lives on Earth. The four last things await all creation at the end of the ages. In the end, all things pass away. Hear what awaits all of us at the end of our lives. Man was not made for death. We were created for something other than death. It’s important to understand that. Understand w...

Scripture Tells Us: If You Wish to Follow Jesus, You Have an Obligation to Take Care of Others Scripture Tells Us: If You Wish to Follow Jesus, . . . Today’s readings present a number of wonderful elements of Christian life. In the first reading (not included within this audio), St. Paul points out much of the law is a series of do nots . . . do not steal, do not … do this. Note the temptation whe...