27 06, 2017

The Over-Intellectualization of the Catholic Faith

By |2017-06-28T14:35:31+00:00June 27th, 2017|Theology|

I have only been a priest for seven years. About halfway through that period, I switched from the Novus Ordo to the Traditional Latin Mass and sacraments. It was also during this time that I stopped saying a line that I was famous for in seminary: “We do not have a crisis of sacraments. We have a crisis of catechesis.” I used to say this because I knew how many people received Holy Communion in this country without knowing Who they were receiving. In fact, I put my money where my mouth was:  As a young priest, I taught a Eucharistic class just off-campus of Colorado State University, a school [...]

16 09, 2016

Sacred Heart in the Eucharist

By |2016-09-20T04:08:46+00:00September 16th, 2016|Theology|

One of the reasons I love the Traditional Latin Mass is because the Collect (the beginning prayer to God after the Introit and the Kyrie) usually links heaven and earth. For example, the collect of the votive Mass of St. Joseph reads: Oh God, who in Thine unspeakable Providence didst vouchsafe to choose blessed Joseph for Thy most holy Mother’s spouse, grant we beseech Thee, that we who revere him as our protector upon earth, may become worthy to have him for our intercessor in heaven. I have wondered for a few years why the old Mass always ties heaven to earth in the opening prayer. It has to be [...]

27 11, 2015

Reparation Appeal

By |2015-11-27T01:35:53+00:00November 27th, 2015|Theology|

This Spanish "artist," named Abel Azcona, stole 242 consecrated Eucharistic hosts from various Masses, and has put the body and blood of Jesus in a blasphemous art display in Pamplona.  The full story is here, but I would ask anyone who reads about this to offer your meatless-Friday or a Holy Hour before the Tabernacle in reparation for such unspeakable crimes against Jesus. The bishop in Spain denounced it, but once again we see that Holy Communion in the Hand (and/or without kneeling) leads to yet more and more blasphemies and sacrileges in the Mass.  Of course, the Traditional Latin Mass has no such option, but bishops and pastors in the Novus [...]

26 11, 2015

Thanksgiving Homily

By |2019-04-10T16:15:22+00:00November 26th, 2015|Podcasts, Sermons, Talks|

This is a 10 minute Thanksgiving Homily from today.  It ties Jewish sacrificial meals to the Holy Mass.  It also ties a little of the history of Israel to a bit of modern history in the United States, and how we thank God in the darkness.

28 10, 2015

Eucharistic Procession 2015

By |2015-10-28T23:32:17+00:00October 28th, 2015|Life|

Friends helped me make this 1 minute video of our Eucharistic Procession on the boardwalk of Virginia Beach.  This Eucharistic Procession was spearheaded by my pastor and continued by him and many others the past few years.  Special thanks to Mike Cistola, Keith Forrest and especially John and Rich at Tele-Video Productions of Virginia Beach.  Our goal is to see these in every city, especially on the East Coast, so please post this on social media and share it with your pastors.  It's great evidence what one pastor can do to fire up a whole city. https://vimeo.com/143667007 Make sure to watch it in HD.

3 09, 2015

Offertory

By |2015-09-04T14:01:44+00:00September 3rd, 2015|Theology|

A friend recently e-mailed me and he said that reading my blog  is "like drinking sparkling water while pulling nose hairs." Well, this is going to be one of those sparkling water ones without the pulling of nose hairs.  Despite the seemingly-boring topic of this post, the Offertory of the Mass, I’m going to make a tall promise: What I show you on the Offertory of the Mass will transform your weekly worship into something new, interpersonal, meaningful and even thrilling if you enact it, as Mega-Churchy as that promise sounds. The offertory is the part of the Mass after the homily when the priest prepares the altar for the sacrifice. In sung Masses, the offertory prayer is sung.  In the sung Latin [...]

16 08, 2015

Planned Parenthood and Priests

By |2015-09-21T01:20:17+00:00August 16th, 2015|Theology|

When I was sidewalk counseling at an abortion clinic last Friday, it hit me that it's good that there's actually a few priests and bishops speaking out against Planned Parenthood, but there’s still something worse than abortion. "For no crime is there heavier punishment to be feared from God than for the unholy or irreligious use [of the Holy Eucharist.]”—Council of Trent, De Euch v.i., 16th century. This could either refer to sacrilegious Masses or sacrilegious reception of Holy Communion. Of course, the interior state of a person who is receiving Holy Communion can never be judged by another, especially based on exterior indications.  However, a priest or a bishop who publicly tramples the rubrics of his [...]

Go to Top