Author: Father Albert

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

Valuing What Matters

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Homily for 29th Sun OT, Year A Fr. Albert St. Peter Catholic Church, New Iberia [audio wav="http://box5246.temp.domains/~alberuc3/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Valuing-What-Matters.wav"][/audio]   Where do you think that coin has been? The one that these people show to Jesus when asks them for a coin; Where has it been? When was it made? Where did it enter circulation? Who was paid with it? What sort of things did it buy before coming to rest in the human hand of the divine creator? Where is that coin now? These aren’t idle questions either. Jesus’ famous line “render unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar” is not a...Read More

St. Paul of the Cross

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Collect taken from the optional memorial of St. Paul of the Cross, priest. Collect: May the Priest Saint Paul, whose only love was the Cross, obtain for us your grace, O Lord, so that, urged on more strongly by his example, we may each embrace our own cross with courage. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son... "May the Priest Saint Paul, whose only love was the Cross, obtain for us your grace, O Lord," -- As Paul loved the Cross on earth, s he continues to love it as one of the blessed in heaven. Relying on that love of the cross,...Read More

St. Hedwig

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Collect taken from the optional memorial of St. Hedwig, religious. Collect: Grant, we pray, almighty God, that the revered intercession of Saint Hedwig may bring us heavenly aid, just as her wonderful life is an example of humility for all. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son... " Grant, we pray, almighty God, that the revered intercession of Saint Hedwig may bring us heavenly aid," -- The saints are real to us, and we genuinely look for their help. As residents of heaven, their intercession is a reliable means to obtain help from heaven. "just as her wonderful life is an example of humility...Read More