Author: Father Albert

First Sunday of Advent

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Collect taken from the First Sunday of Advent Collect: Grant your faithful, we pray, almighty God, the resolve to run forth to meet your Christ with righteous deeds at his coming, so that, gathered at his right hand, they may be worthy to possess the heavenly Kingdom. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son... "Grant your faithful, we pray, almighty God, the resolve to run forth to meet your Christ with righteous deeds at his coming," - Focusing especially on the second coming of Christ, we pray to be prepared for his arrival. This preparation means performing righteous deeds which we need grace...Read More

St. Andrew the Apostle

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Collect taken from the Feast of St. Andrew, Apostle and Martyr Collect: We humbly implore your majesty, O Lord, that, just as the blessed Apostle Andrew was for your Church a preacher and pastor, so he may be for us a constant intercessor before you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son... "We humbly implore your majesty, O Lord, that, just as the blessed Apostle Andrew was for your Church a preacher and pastor" -  Every time we celebrate an Apostle, we recall the importance and majesty of God's word and the need for men to proclaim it to the world. "so...Read More

Preparing for the King

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Homily for Christ the King, Year A  Fr. Albert St. Peter’s, New Iberia, LA [audio wav="http://box5246.temp.domains/~alberuc3/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Preparing-for-the-King.wav"][/audio]   Jesus Christ is not our senator. He is not our president. His power over us does not come from us and it cannot be changed by a vote. Jesus Christ is our King. He is King of the entire universe. As Americans, as members of a democratic republic, maybe this is lost on us. President John F. Kennedy was the first and so far only Catholic president. When he first ran for office, a lot of Americans were worried about his loyalty being split...Read More

A Lover’s Trust

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Homily for 33rd Sun OT, Year A Fr. Albert St. Peter’s, New Iberia, LA [audio wav="http://box5246.temp.domains/~alberuc3/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/A-Lovers-Trust.wav"][/audio]   “When one finds a worthy wife, her value is far beyond pearls.” That is the encouragement of Proverbs 31, our first reading. In fact, the whole chapter is famous for its description of what makes a woman a “worthy wife.” Immediately, we might want to object at the idea that a woman’s only goal should be becoming a wife. We might object to the comparison of a woman to jewelry or monetary gain, as if she were decoration or someone’s property. But, let’s...Read More

Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time

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Collect taken from Thirty-Second Week of Ordinary Time.Collect: Almighty and merciful God, graciously keep from us all adversity, so that, unhindered in mind and body alike, we may pursue in freedom of heart the things that are yours. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son... "Almighty and merciful God, graciously keep from us all adversity,"- There is nothing wrong with asking God to make our lives easier. He does care for us and prayers for a better life are not wasted. But, that prayer has to keep in mind the wider perspective."so that, unhindered in mind and body alike, we may pursue in...Read More

St. Albert the Great

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Collect taken from the memorial of St. Albert the Great, Bishop, Confessor, and Doctor. Collect: O God, who made the Bishop Saint Albert great by his joining of human wisdom to divine faith, grant, we pray, that we may so adhere to the truths he taught, that through progress in learning we may come to a deeper knowledge and love of you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son... "O God, who made the Bishop Saint Albert great by his joining of human wisdom to divine faith," -- St. Albert was not only a theologian, but a philosopher and a scientist as well....Read More

Be Wed to Wisdom

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Homily for 32nd Sun OT, Year A  Fr. Albert St Peters, New Iberia [audio wav="http://box5246.temp.domains/~alberuc3/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Be-Wed-to-Wisdom.wav"][/audio]   $35,000. That’s the average amount of money that Americans spent on weddings last year. Some people spend 100s of thousands or even millions. Evidently, we really care about making that one day special. And why not? It’s a celebration of love and a new life together! Now just imagine if you spent $35,000 or more on a wedding. Imagine that you had 10 bridesmaids whose only job was to show up in the right dress and walk in the procession. Imagine if five of those...Read More

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