Author: Father Albert

Thirteenth Week of Ordinary Time

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The Collect for the Thirteenth Week of Ordinary Time: [During Ordinary Time, the masses during the week use the same collect as the previous Sunday] "O God, who through the grace of adoption chose us to be children of light, grant, we pray, that we may not be wrapped in the darkness of error but always be seen to stand in the bright light of truth. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever." Reflection After the fall, the kingdom of darkness...Read More

Famous for Nothing

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Homily for the Nativity of John the Baptist                                                   June 24, 2018 Fr. Albert                                                                                            St. Peter’s, New Iberia  “Do you know who I am?” When asked with the wrong emphasis, it implies a sense of a person’s importance. The actor or politician who shouts this at someone reveals what they think of themselves… it belies an expectation of special treatment that comes with being famous. But, why should being famous change how we treat a person? Why do so many try so hard to become famous? Of course, not everyone actually wants to be movie-star famous, and...Read More

Daily Collection: St. Anthony of Padua

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The Collect for the Memorial of St. Anthony of Padua, Priest and Doctor: "Almighty ever-living God, who gave Saint Anthony of Padua to your people as an outstanding preacher and an intercessor in their need, grant that, with his assistance, as we follow the teachings of the Christian life, we may know your help in every trial. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever." Reflection St. Anthony lived in the 1200s in Portugal, France, and Italy. He was known for his...Read More

Daily Collection: St. Barnabas

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The Collect for the Memorial of St. Barnabas, Apostle: "O God, who decreed that Saint Barnabas, a man filled with faith and the Holy Spirit, should be set apart to convert the nations, grant that the Gospel of Christ, which he strenuously preached, may be faithfully proclaimed by word and by deed. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever." Reflection St. Barnabas is mentioned in Scripture in the Acts of the Apostles as well as in some of St. Paul's letters....Read More

I Will Not Forgive

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Homily for the Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time                                                        June 10, 2018 Fr. Albert                                                                                            St. Peter’s, New Iberia  “I will never forgive you.” These are the worst words a Christian can ever hear. They are also the worst words a Christian could ever speak. For a Christian, forgiveness is everything because God is everything and we can only be with God if we forgive and are forgiven. It didn’t start out that way, though. This world is a messy and broken place, but it wasn’t supposed to be that way. In the beginning, forgiveness wasn’t...Read More

Daily Collection: Tenth Week of Ordinary Time

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The Collect for the Tenth Week of Ordinary Time: [During Ordinary Time, the masses during the week use the same collect as the previous Sunday] "O God, from whom all good things come, grant that we, who call on you in our need, may at your prompting discern what is right, and by your guidance do it. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever." Reflection We call on God in our need precisely because all good things come from him. The prayer does...Read More

Daily Collection: The Immaculate Heart of Mary

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The Collect for the Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary: "O God, who prepared a fit dwelling place for the Holy Spirit in the Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, graciously grant that through her intercession we may be a worth temple of your glory. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever." Reflection The devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary goes back to at least the 1600s when St. John Eudes preached it with devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus....Read More

Flesh and Blood Must Die

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Homily for Corpus Christi                                                                              June 3, 2018 Fr. Albert                                                                                            St. Peter’s, New Iberia  Flesh and Blood must die to pay for sin. When a mere mortal creature deliberately chooses to sin, to cut themselves off from the infinite, all-loving God, the consequence can only be death. It’s one reason sacrifice is so important right from the start of Genesis. Abel offers a sacrifice of flesh and blood, but Cain does not… and it is not acceptable. All the great covenants are sealed with a sacrifice of animals… a reminder that the price of...Read More

Pride, Prejudice… and Eunuchs?

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So June is a big month for Catholics As you may know, it is the month of the Sacred Heart.  Some of the biggest and best liturgical feasts (excepting Easter) usually happen during this month.  The Trinity, Corpus Christi, The Sacred Heart (hence the month's dedication), the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and the Solemnity of Sts. Peter & Paul (June 29), not to mention a whole host of other great early Church saints.  It is also the month during which most priests (like me!) are ordained, at least in the U.S.  On top of that, it is typically the most...Read More

Daily Collection: The Visitation of Mary

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The Collect for the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary: "Almighty ever-living God, who, while the Blessed Virgin Mary was carrying your Son in her womb, inspired her to visit Elizabeth, grant us, we pray, that, faithful to the promptings of the Spirit, we may magnify your greatness with the Virgin Mary at all times. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever." Reflection It is noteworthy that Mary's first action after discovering her pregnancy with Jesus was not focused  on...Read More