Ad Jesum per Mariam

The Road to Mount Zion: Walking Toward God’s Peace The Gospel recounts Jesus’ warning that the coming of the Son of Man will be sudden, . . . . . . just as the flood came unexpectedly in the days of Noah. Therefore, believers must remain spiritually awake and prepared at all times. The Homily connects this vigilance to the Advent call for peace and reconciliation. Reflecting on the United Nations...

The Quiet Lord Who Comes to Save, Not to Seize Today’s Homily reflects on the Gospel warning to remain spiritually alert, . . . . . . not numbed by excess or overwhelmed by daily anxieties. It connects Jesus’ teaching to the apocalyptic visions in Daniel, where chaotic “beasts” rise from storm-tossed seas . . . symbols of destructive powers, hardships, and the unruly forces of history and human li...

The King We Did Not Expect, but the King We Need The Gospel recounts Jesus on the cross being mocked . . . . . . by rulers, soldiers, and one of the criminals, while the other criminal acknowledges Jesus’ innocence and asks to be remembered in His kingdom. Jesus responds with the promise of paradise. Christ the King The Homily reflects on the Feast of Christ the King, instituted in 1925 to counter...

No Mold for Holiness: The Unique Path of Every Saint Today’s Gospel reflection, centered on the Beatitudes, . . . . . . highlights the universal call to holiness and the unity of the three “churches”: the Church Militant (pilgrim believers on earth), the Church Penitent (souls being purified), and the Church Triumphant (saints in heaven). The Homily emphasizes that sainthood is not something we wa...

Seeing Others as Christ Sees: The Gospel Call Revealed in Soldiers and Saints I was hungry. You fed me thirsty. You gave me to drink. I was alone, and you were with me. I was naked and you clothed me. This marvelously simple description of the greatness of Christian life. That ability, not so much to see Jesus in each other as to see others as Jesus sees them. Today’s Gospel draws from Matthew’s t...

Meditations on the Mysteries of the Rosary: Glorious Mysteries One Who Descended So All Might Ascend: A Theology of the Glorious Mysteries This conference initially explores the deep unity and movement . . . . . . within the original fifteen mysteries of the Rosary . . . Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious . . . and shows how they mirror the central pattern of the Creed: Incarnation → Passion → Resurr...

As in the Days of Noah: Living Prepared in Ordinary Times Jesus warns his disciples that the coming of the Son of Man will be sudden and unexpected, . . . . . . just as in the days of Noah and Lot, when people were absorbed in ordinary activities and unprepared for God’s intervention. Jesus urges readiness, detachment from worldly attachments, and a willingness to surrender one’s life to God. As t...

Mary’s Prayer and Ours: How the Dawn of Salvation Breaks Into the World The Gospel presents Jesus’ parable of the persistent widow and the unjust judge . . . . . . as a lesson on the necessity of persevering in prayer. Even a corrupt judge responds to persistence . . . so how much more will God, who loves His people, answer those who cry out to Him with faith. Jesus warns that many give up too qui...

The Kingdom Is Already Here: Responding to God’s Presence Today Jesus teaches that the Kingdom of God is not something that arrives with visible signs . . . . . . because it is already present among us. The Gospel warns against chasing dramatic predictions about the end times or following voices that claim secret knowledge about God’s plans. Christ emphasizes that His final coming will be unmistak...

Settle Accounts While There’s Time: St. Paul’s Honesty and Christ’s Deliverance Today’s Homily reflects on two Scripture passages . . . . . . St. Paul’s candid confession of his inner struggle (Romans) and Jesus’ call to read the signs of the times (Luke). St. Paul admits that although he desires to do good, he often fails, revealing the inner conflict between grace and the lingering effects of si...

Meditations on the Mysteries of the Rosary The Sorrowful Mysteries Where Wisdom Dwells: Suffering, Redemption, and the Sorrowful Mysteries This conference explores the deep meaning of the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary, . . . . . . emphasizing that the heart of these mysteries is The Cross of Christ, the fullest revelation of God’s unconditional, unmerited love for humanity. The conference expl...

No More Excuses: Accepting God’s Invitation to the Eternal Banquet In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus tells the parable of the Great Banquet, . . . where invited guests offer excuses . . . work, property, and relationships . . . to avoid attending the feast. Their refusal represents how worldly concerns can distract us from God’s invitation to eternal life. The master then opens his banquet to the poor...

Jesus Carrying the Fallen Home: Recovering the Divine Image Within Today’s Homily examines Luke’s parables of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin, . . . . . . traditionally understood as images of God’s mercy toward individual sinners. However, the Homily recalls the early Church Fathers’ broader view: that these parables describe God’s saving action toward all humanity . . . the whole human race as...

The Fire of Christ’s Heart: Surrendering to Grace or to the World Today’s Homily reflects on a challenging Gospel passage . . . . . . where Jesus says He came not to bring peace but division. The Homily also invites us to linger with difficult Scriptures rather than skip to “favorite parts,” because they reveal essential truths about salvation. St. Paul reminds believers that although Christ has a...

A Season of Mercy: Humble Prayer and the Gift of Indulgences Today’s Homily reflects on what it means to pray in a way that God truly hears us. The readings remind us that God has no favorites, yet He shows special attention to the poor and humble because all human beings are, at our core, spiritually poor and in need of mercy. Jesus’ parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector reveal the danger...

Memento Mori: Holding Onto What Matters Most in Life and Death Today’s Homily, on All Souls‘ Day, . . . . . . tells the story of a grieving family mourning their only daughter. When the priest arrives, people expect answers and consolation . . . but instead, he sits at the coffin and weeps with them. His tears silently communicate that death, pain, and loss are real, and sometimes there are no wor...

Heart Speaks to Heart: The Love of Christ in the Eucharist Today’s Homily centers on St. Paul’s teaching that to truly know God’s love, . . . . . . one must be rooted and grounded in it . . . not merely observing from a distance but living within it. The Homily then turns to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, whose mystical experiences of Christ’s Sacred Heart revealed the depth of His love and sorrow at...

Doing Something for God: The Missionary Call of Every Christian Today’s Homily for the Feast of St. Luke the Evangelist . . . . . . reminds us that, like the 72 disciples Jesus sent out, we are all called to be missionaries. This missionary call doesn’t necessarily mean traveling abroad . . . it begins in our own homes and communities. Faith and Mission The Homily illustrates this by comparing eva...

Holding Up the Hands of Faith Today’s Homily centers on the theme of persistence in prayer and faith as a mission to be passed on. The Homily begins by contrasting today’s culture of instant gratification with the patient perseverance required in prayer. The first reading from Exodus illustrates this through Moses, whose raised hands during battle symbolize steadfast prayer and dependence on God....

As we spend these weeks reflecting on The Mysteries of the Rosary, it is helpful to begin with something so familiar that we rarely stop to ponder it . . . the very names of the sets of mysteries themselves. Each conference will center on these sacred mysteries, inviting us to notice how the Church, in her wisdom, presents them to us in a particular and meaningful way. Join us for three Conference...

When the Heart and Mind Agree: Finding Peace in Christ The prophet Joel calls the priests and people to repentance and fasting, . . . . . . warning that “the Day of the Lord” will bring judgment for those who remain unconverted but salvation for those who turn back to God with sincere hearts. True conversion means harmony between the heart and the mind . . . when our thoughts and desires are align...

The God Who Refuses to Be Narrow: Jonah, the Samaritan, and the Boundless Mercy of Christ by Ad Jesum per Mariam

Your Faith Has Saved You: The Power of Encountering Jesus Today’s Homily reflects on the Gospel of the ten lepers and the Samaritan . . . . . . who returned to thank Jesus. Building on last week’s theme, “Lord, increase our faith,” it emphasizes that true faith is not about quantity but about a living, personal relationship with Christ. Blessings and Answered Prayers are not Ends in Themselves The...

Praying with Mary: The Power and Mystery of the Rosary The Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary . . . . . . originated in 1571 after the miraculous Christian victory at the Battle of Lepanto, when the faithful, at the Pope’s request, prayed the Rosary for protection against the Ottoman Empire. This triumph was attributed to Mary’s intercession, earning her the title “Help of Christians.” The Rosary is...

Lord, Increase Our Faith: The Power of a Mustard Seed At the start of Mass, the congregation says “Amen” to the opening prayer, asking for God’s mercy . . . . . . mercy that both pardons what conscience dreads and grants blessings too great to ask for. The Homily reflects on this prayer, connecting it to the Gospel where the disciples ask Jesus, “Lord, increase our faith.” Jesus’ response and para...