“Since we ourselves are a gift of God, we are called to make a return gift of ourselves to him. This is to be done gradually in the course of our lives as we express that return gift of ourselves to him in our service to others. Ultimately, it will involve a total self-surrender to him at the end of our lives.” (Archbishop Emeritus Alfred C. Hughes, Spiritual Masters: Living and Praying in the Catholic Tradition, p. 159)

Thirtieth Sunday of Ordinary Time

“Christ: My child, the highest goal of your life is union with Me in Heaven. Let your intentions throughout the day be guided by this truth. In all things be sure to stay on the path which leads to Heaven. Do not become too deeply interested in the passing desires and brief enjoyment of this earthly life.” (Anthony J. Paone, S.J., My Daily Bread – A Summary of the Spiritual Life, p. 2)

Twenty-Ninth Sunday of Ordinary Time

“A strong supernatural hope inclines you to view life with positive attitudes and a broader perspective.”

(Anthony J. Paone, S.J., My Daily Life, p. 276)

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Childrens Homily Twenty-Eighth Week of Ordinary Time 2025

“Faith is the beginning of happiness in the mind.  It is even more than this.  Because faith proposes to man the possibility of attaining the vision of God, it gives man the beginning of happiness in his heart.  Faith then lays the foundation of hope in the heart of man.”

(Walter Farrell, O.P., S.T.M. and Martin J. Healy, S.T.D., My Way of Life: Pocket Edition of Saint Thomas, The Summa Simplified for Everyone, p. 333)

Twenty-Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time 2025

“The rich man, in purple splendor, is not accused of being greedy or of carrying off the property of another, or of committing adultery, or, in fact, of any wrongdoing.”

(Saint Jerome, On Lazarus and Dives.)

Twenty-Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time

“Bow down Thy ear, O Lord, to me, and hear me: save Thy servant, O my God, that trusteth in Thee: have mercy on me, O Lord, for I have cried to Thee all day. Give joy to the soul of Thy servant; for to Thee, O Lord, have I lifted up my soul.”

(Psalm 85 – Introit for Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost)

Twenty-Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time

“And when they came to the place which is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on the right and one on the left.” (Luke 23:33)

“But the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, ‘Where are you?’  And he said, ‘I heard the sound of thee in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.’” (Genesis 3:9-10)

The Exaltation of the Holy Cross

“Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:27)

“Jesus, master, have mercy on us” (Luke 17:13)

Twenty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time

“It is not difficult for an observer who operates solely on the level of psychology and experience to discover that degradation in the area of pleasure and love is in proportion to the void left in man from the false and deceptive joys sought in those things which St. Paul called the ‘ works of the flesh’: ‘ immorality, impurity, licentiousness . . . drinking bouts, orgies and the like’ (Gal.5:19,21). One can add to these false joys—and there are many connected with them—those sought in the possession and immoderate use of wealth, in luxury, in ambition for power, in short, in that passion for an almost frantic
search for earthly goods which can easily produce a darkened mind, as St. Paul mentions (cf. Eph. 4:18-19), and Jesus laments (cf. Mk. 4:19).”

(Pope Saint John Paul II, General Audience of June 19, 1991)

Twenty-Second Sunday of Ordinary Time

“You may count certain others among those able to say to the judge of all, ‘We have eaten and drunk in your presence, and you have taught in our streets.’ Who again are these? Many have believed in Christ and have celebrated the holy festivals in his honor. Frequenting the churches, they also hear the doctrines of the gospel, but they remember absolutely nothing of the truths of Scripture. With difficulty, they bring with them the practice of virtue, while their heart is quite bare of spiritual fruitfulness. These will also weep bitterly and grind their teeth, because the Lord will also deny them. He said, ‘Not everyone that says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that does the will of my Father who is in heaven.’” (Saint Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on Luke, Homily 99)

Twenty-First Sunday of Ordinary Time