Author: Father Albert

Dedication of St. John Lateran Basilica

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Collect taken from the feast of the dedication of St. John Lateran. Collect: O God, who from living and chosen stones prepare an eternal dwelling for your majesty, increase in your Church the spirit of grace you have bestowed, so that by new growth your faithful people may build up the heavenly Jerusalem. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son... "O God, who from living and chosen stones prepare an eternal dwelling for your majesty,," -- We are those chosen and living stones, so this prayer is meant to evoke a sense of awe and wonder that God has chosen us as his dwelling place....Read More

Thirty-First Week in Ordinary Time

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Collect taken from Thirty-First Week of Ordinary Time. Collect: Almighty and merciful God, by whose gift your faithful offer you right and praiseworthy service, grant, we pray, that we may hasten without stumbling to receive the things you have promised. Through our Lord Jesus Christ... "Almighty and merciful God, by whose gift your faithful offer you right and praiseworthy service," - As the letter to the Hebrews tells us, without faith it is impossible to please God. So, we praise God who gives us the faith that enables us to please. Also, we are grateful for the gift of the Liturgy, which...Read More

What Makes a Good Priest?

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Homily for 31st Sun OT, Year A Fr. Albert St Peters, New Iberia [audio wav="http://box5246.temp.domains/~alberuc3/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/What-Makes-a-Good-Priest.wav"][/audio]   What makes a good priest? It’s a worthwhile question because today is the start of National Vocation Awareness week. It’s a time to focus on the Church’s need for more priests and religious. So, pray for more vocations. Ask God if he is calling you to one of these states of life. Ask your children or friends to ask God for his guidance in deciding their future. If you genuinely think someone might be a good priest, nun, sister, or brother, tell them. Then, be...Read More

St. Charles Borromeo

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Collect taken from the memorial of St. Charles Borromeo, Bishop Collect: Preserve in the midst of your people, we ask, O Lord, the spirit with which you filled the Bishop Saint Charles Borromeo, that your Church may be constantly renewed and, by conforming herself to the likeness of Christ, may show his face to the world. Who lives and reigns... "Preserve in the midst of your people, we ask, O Lord, the spirit with which you filled the Bishop Saint Charles Borromeo," -- St. Charles was known to be a great reformer and a holy man. Once again, as Catholics we recognize that...Read More

All Saints Day

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Collect taken from the Solemnity of All Saints Day. Collect: Almighty ever-living God, by whose gift we venerate in one celebration the merits of all the Saints, bestow on us, we pray, through the prayers of so many intercessors, an abundance of the reconciliation with you for which we earnestly long. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son... "Almighty ever-living God, by whose gift we venerate in one celebration the merits of all the Saints," -- Not only does God share his own goodness, but He grants us the joy of celebrating His grace in the lives and accomplishments of brothers and sisters...Read More

All Saints for All of You

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Homily for All Saints Fr. Albert St. Peter Catholic Church, New Iberia [audio wav="http://box5246.temp.domains/~alberuc3/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/All-Saints-for-All-of-You.wav"][/audio]   All of the saints, want all of you, to be saints too. I said as much in the collect – the opening prayer – for this mass, which says that these holy intercessors are praying for our reconciliation to God. And what else is a saint if not someone who has been fully and perfectly reconciled to God. All of the saints, want all of you, to be saints too. The 144,000 are witness to this. Some of our brethren make much of this number, but...Read More

Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time

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Collect taken from Thirtieth Week of Ordinary Time. Collect: Almighty ever-living God, increase our faith, hope and charity, and make us love what you command, so that we may merit what you promise. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son... "Almighty ever-living God, increase our faith, hope and charity," - These three theological virtues are supernatural, so they cannot be formed by our own power. We must ask God to grant us these abilities and to increase them as we cooperate. "and make us love what you command, so that we may merit what you promise." - Not only does God give...Read More

What Kind of Thing is Love?

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Homily for 30th Sun OT, Year A  Fr. Albert St. Peter Catholic Church, New Iberia [audio wav="http://box5246.temp.domains/~alberuc3/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/What-Kind-of-Thing-is-Love.wav"][/audio]   Have you ever seen Drew Brees throw a football? Or watched an artist produce a painting? Have you ever listened to an orchestra live? How often have you been amazed by some great talent or inspiring feat performed by another human being? Drew Brees just decides where he’ll put the ball, and it goes there. The best orchestras can adjust tempo and pitch in an instant following the conductor. Great artists seem to just conjure up beautiful pictures and perfect forms with casual...Read More

St. Anthony Mary Claret

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Collect taken from the optional memorial of St. Anthony Claret, bishop. Collect: O God, who for the evangelization of peoples strengthened the Bishop Saint Anthony Mary Claret with admirable charity and long-suffering, grant, through his intercession, that, seeking the things that are yours, we may earnestly devote ourselves to winning our brothers and sisters for Christ. Who lives and reigns... "O God, who for the evangelization of peoples strengthened the Bishop Saint Anthony Mary Claret with admirable charity and long-suffering," -- God's response to needs in the Church is to raise up saints. St. Anthony's sanctity is evident in his charity and endurance,...Read More

St. John of Capistrano

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Collect taken from the optional memorial of St. John of Capistrano, priest. Collect: O God, who raised up Saint John of Capistrano to comfort your faithful people in tribulation, place us, we pray, under your safe protection and keep your Church in everlasting peace. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son... " O God, who raised up Saint John of Capistrano to comfort your faithful people in tribulation," -- Drawing on our belief that God does not abandon his people, we acknowledge the providence at work in St. John's life. In a time of plague, Church division, and Turkish invasion, St. John served as...Read More