FAITH HOPE & HISTORY with FR. BILL

Fr. Bill reviews the recent divisions within the Catholic Church as well as the recent, elongated, election of the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and discusses how the dynamic of both is more similar than we realize, and how such a dynamic is, in fact, beneficial for both the Leadership of the Catholic Church, and the Governance of the United States.

What is celebrated in the days immediately following Christmas? Fr. Bill discusses the wide array of people and themes that are celebrated, observed and reflected upon in the days following the Feast of the Incarnation; showing that the Catholic Faith does not rest simply on remembering a newborn baby, but celebrates a wide range, from Martyrdom, Mysticism, Theology, History, Compassion for the Vu...

The Four Masses Celebrated for Christmas offers four different Scriptural perspectives on the Incarnation, the Birth of Christ.  Fr. Bill talks about the need for new perspectives on Christmas in order to get us back to the Old Basics.

Jesus is a light shining in the darkness, but what is the darkness into which He shines. Fr. Bill preaches his Midnight Mass message of the darknesses experienced by people and how Jesus pierces that darkness to bring about a happy ending.

Fr. Bill shares thoughts on the reading of the Genealogy of Jesus that is ready during the Christmas Vigil Mass and its importance for understanding the true meaning of Christmas.

Fr. Bill returns to his podcast to talk about Christmas not only as a secular observance, but one in which even atheists give a nod to the birth of Jesus just by virtue of celebrating Christmas (however they do it).  Christmas is also a national reminder of our "First Freedom" as Americans -- which is not the Freedom of Speech (at best, that is the Second Freedom).

Fr. Bill threads the needle between the observance of Veterans Day, the Feast Day of St. Martin of Tours (celebrated on the same day) and the results of Election 2022.  He draws upon history, even recent history to find a purpose in the direction our country is headed in light of the results of the 2022 Election, the sacrifice of our Veterans, and the example of such Saints as Martin, William...

The 2022 Mid-Term Election is upon us.   Fr. Bill discusses the campaign rhetoric that has been used during this election cycle, particularly regarding the perceived threats to the future of Democracy in the United States - and how the United States Constitution was originally set up by the Founding Fathers to deal with, and prevent, any threat to the democratic process in this country so as...

Fr. Bill discusses the "Spirit" behind Halloween, regardless of multiple origins from which it emerged and counters the popular notion that it is a Pagan feast celebrating Death, Evil and the Devil

Fr. Bill presents three of his recent homilies that build upon the theme of doing more than just the minimum.  Drawing upon the parables of the Corrupt Steward, the Corrupt Judge/Persistent Widow and the Miracle of the Ten Lepers, Fr. Bill talks about three ways in which we can go above and beyond the minimum when it comes especially to prayer and worship, but also in how we live and act as C...

Last August an Op-Ed in the Atlantic declared the Rosary to be a symbol of Christian Nationalism and White Supremacy.  Fr. Bill discusses how the Rosary is in fact comparable to a weapon and how the Anniversary of the Battle of Lepanto demonstrates this to be true - but not the kind of weapon one would expect.  He further discusses the importance and Power of Prayer and why the Atlantic...

Popular sentiment claims that the United States was founded on Slavery.  In honor of the 160th Anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation (9/22/1862), Fr. Bill disputes the claim that the natin was built on Slavery, and talks about how the United States Constitution reflects a momentum at the birth of our nation not towards Slavery, but towards Emancipation.  In demonstrating this Fr....

The Catholic Church has always experienced divisions.  Today among these divisions are between those who like to promote themselves as "traditional" Catholics. Fr. Bill discusses one of the many aspects of true Church Tradition, how the so-called "traditional" Catholics measure up, and how Sts. Cornelius and Cyprian, who share a Feast Day today (September 16), emulate one of the Oldest and Tr...

Fr. Bill begins his new season of podcasts talking about the death of Queen Elizabeth II.  He also briefly reviews the highlights of the history of the English Monarchy, including some of the more notable and notorious kings and queens that have reigned over Great Britain.

Not many Christians, including Catholics, know that there is a rich history in the Catholic Church of the Ecumenical Council.  For many, the only Council they are aware of is Vatican II (and maybe, by conclusion, Vatican I), but little is known about the dynamic and charism of the Council in the history and function of the Catholic Church. Fr. Bill discusses this history of the Councils, what...

Fr. Bill gives his weekly homily on the Good Shepherd in light of the leaked opinion regarding the Supreme Court's ruling on Abortion.

With the news regarding the sale of Twitter, there has been much discussion on the nature of the Freedom of Speech in the United States.  Fr. Bill discusses the importance of Free Speech, but also talks about another Freedom, in the Bill of Rights, more important than Free Speech, without which we will never enjoy freedom and Democratic Dominance over our Governmental Systems.

Fr. Bill talks about Good Friday from the perspective of the Gospel of John, who sets up the Passion of Jesus very much as the Coronation of the King of Glory.  Listen as Fr. Bill describes why this is so, prepares us to hear the Passion According to John in the Liturgy of the Lord's Passion, and offers a final reflection on the importance of Jesus' Crucifixion.

Fr. Bill comments on the history of the Academy Awards and the legendary films that Hollywood used to produce, manifested on those films that won the award for Best Picture. Reviewing some of the great films that have been Awarded Best Picture, Fr. Bill by the Academy, Fr. Bill reflects on the greatest films and the greatest era of both Hollywood and the Academy Awards, compared to the obvious dec...

Part of the Legacy of St. Patrick is that the Irish helped to maintain the Church in the U.S. for decades.  As we celebrate St. Patrick's Day and St. Joseph's Day two days apart, what are the lessons to be learned from both men, and the influence they have had on the Church in the United States?

Some insist that the Bible is an accurate historical account.  Others claim it is only Mythology.  Fr. Bill discusses how it is both, why it is both and to what purpose it serves as a "historical" for the ancient Kingdom of Israel, as well as to people of faith today.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine comes on the heels of the Covid Pandemic around the World, and of Civil Unrest, inflation and Economic Uncertainty in the US.  Some would insist that it is the sign that the End is coming. Fr. Bill discusses the words of Jesus regarding Wars, Pestilence and the End of the World and how Catholics are called to react to events that are being reported from home an...

As eager as people were to mask up and get vaxed at the height of the pandemic because "we were all going to die" if we didn't.  How eager are people now to move on, maskless and unafraid, now that the Pandemic is beginning to wane? Fr. Bill reflects upon the experience of the Covid Pandemic and what we could and should expect from people as the world begins to return to normal.

The Last week of January is celebrated annually as Catholic Schools Week. Fr. Bill talks about the Legacy of the Catholic School System, especially in the United States, what makes it great, what challenges it faces, and why it should be kept going for future generations in this country.

Jesus' debut in Nazareth was somewhat less than successful. Fr Bill discusses the ways in which the people of Jesus' home-town reacted to his teaching and how the Catholics, Christians and anyone of any traditional value system experience and deal with multiple reactions to their presence and assertions in society.