This is Saint Anslem’s prayerful reflection which gives us insight into exercising the virtues of faith and courage, specifically by prayerfully leaning into our moments of doubt and trusting in God to guide us through.
Catholic
Second Spring
St. John Henry Newman
This sermon by St. John Henry Newman is a masterpiece of rhetoric, which richly evokes theology and history to prophesy a new growth and re-flowering of the Church — correctly, as it happens.
Ash Wednesday Sermon – Repent
Pope Saint Clement I
This sermon comes from the Office of Readings for Ash Wednesday at the beginning of the season of Lent, which traditionally prepares the Church for Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
Homily at the U.S. Capitol Mall
Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II delivers a homily marked by a steadfast commitment to christian virtues like courage and hope in the face of cynicism and false narratives which undermine the dignity of the human person and the good of society. His sermon speaks boldly and with confidence in the good news of the Word of God and the hope that the Christians have to offer society in a life joyfully lived for Christ.
Intimacies of Love
Bishop Fulton Sheen
In this specific sermon, Bishop Fulton Sheen explores how God has revealed His own intimate desire to speak to, be seen by, and reach out to the longing hearts of every human person.
God is Speaking – But Are We Ready to Listen?
Bishop Robert Barron
We need to work to discern his call through our deafness and the noise of our culture. God is not one voice among many, but a hidden and mysterious voice that is difficult to discern even in the best of conditions. We are called to listen closely for God’s voice and to look for the modern-day Samuels.
Homily on Eutropius (I)
St. John Chrysostom
This homily was preached by St. John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople in 399 following the fall from grace of the Imperial consul-eunuch Eutropius who sought to eliminate the right of sanctuary. Fleeing a mob seeking his life, Eutropius ironically finds sanctuary in the cathedral. St. John Chrysostom preaches this rhetorically brilliant homily which stands as both a condemnation of hypocrisy and mobs. Ultimately, it is a call to render mercy and forgiveness.
We Need a National Examination of Conscience
Bishop Robert Barron
So many of our democratic principles are grounded in deeply religious principles: equality, freedom, the dignity of the individual. To see violent people invading the space historically opened up to debate the best ways to further these principles for the citizenry was both disturbing and unnerving. We all must engage in a national examination of conscience.
Love of God and Love of Neighbor
Pope Benedict XVI
In 2005 Benedict XVI was elected pope after the memorable and influential papacy of Pope St. John Paul II. In December of the first year in his papacy, Benedict, who had garnered a reputation for being stiff, distant, and academic in nature, surprised his critics with a deeply reflective and pastoral letter to the Church entitled, “God is Love”. In this encyclical letter, the holy father wished to prayerfully contemplate on God’s loving nature in a global context where the name of God was increasingly being invoked to justify hate, violence, terror, and division. What results is a deeply theological but accessible reflection on God and his relationship with humanity. This excerpt brings the profound meaning of scripture to bear in our own time as we increasingly face political polarization and fail to fully recognize the image and likeness of God inherent in our neighbor.
The Season of Advent
Saint Charles Borromeo
In 16th century Milan, when plague struck the city, privileged leaders fled to their private estates and left the common people in destitution and disease. While the city’s leaders fled, their bishop Charles Borromeo hastened to minister to his flock, lead them in prayer, and encourage reasonable health measures be taken. Saint Charles Borromeo’s heroic virtue echoes through the ages and speaks to us today in our own contemporary situation. Specifically, Borromeo’s pastoral message speaks to our society today in his brief reflection included in the Liturgy of the Hours Advent Office of Readings. These readings serves to reorient the Church to God through the timely celebration of Advent. Borromeo emphasizes the import of Advent for recognizing the gift of Christ revealed in our time while eagerly anticipated and longed for throughout salvation history. He further encourages a renewed discernment to prepare for Christ in our own hearts with the arrival of the Christmas season. The sermon is paired with a scriptural excerpt from the book of the prophet Isaiah 1: 21-27; 2: 1-5, and can be prayerfully reflected upon in conjunction with the sermon.