Author: Father Albert

Twenty-Fourth Week of Ordinary Time

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Collect taken from Twenty-Fourth Week of Ordinary Time. Collect: Look upon us, O God, Creator and ruler of all things, and, that we may feel the working of your mercy, grant that we may serve you with all our heart. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son... "Look upon us, O God, Creator and ruler of all things," - It is an act of faith and confidence to so simply ask for the almighty creator to look upon us in our smallness. Billions of starts and billions of years, but we feel comfortable seeking God's particular attention. "and, that we may feel...Read More

Deal Or No Deal?

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Homily for 24thSun OT, Year A Fr. Albert St. Peter Catholic Church, New Iberia [audio wav="http://box5246.temp.domains/~alberuc3/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Deal-Or-No-Deal.wav"][/audio]   I’m sorry, but there is no way out. No clever interpretation, no creative explanation can get you off the hook here. There’s really nothing hidden or confusing about what Jesus is saying. If you do not forgive your fellow man, you will not go to heaven. Period. It doesn’t matter how serious their crime, how often they do it, or what kind of pain they’ve caused. Forgive them or you will not be forgiven. Just last week we heard Jesus explain how we should...Read More

Our Lady of Sorrows

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Collect taken from the memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows. Collect: O God, who willed that, when your Son was lifted high on the Cross, his Mother should stand close by and share his suffering, grant that your Church, participating with the Virgin Mary in the Passion of Christ, may merit a share in his Resurrection. Who lives and reigns... "O God, who willed that, when your Son was lifted high on the Cross, his Mother should stand close by and share his suffering," - We are all familiar with Mary's presence at the foot of the Cross. This was no accident,...Read More

Exaltation of the Holy Cross

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Collect taken from the feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Collect: O God, who willed that your Only Begotten Son should undergo the Cross to save the human race, grant, we pray, that we, who have known his mystery on earth, may merit the grace of his redemption in heaven. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son... "O God, who willed that your Only Begotten Son should undergo the Cross to save the human race," - We acknowledge the mysterious means of our salvation, the Cross, and recognize that it was an act of obedience and love that led Jesus to...Read More

Gold Needs Fire

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Homily for 23rd Wed, St. John Chrysostom Fr. Albert Notre Dame Seminary [audio wav="http://box5246.temp.domains/~alberuc3/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Gold-Needs-Fire.wav"][/audio]   Golden Mouthed John is a saint I love to pretend to love. In the Collect, the Church calls him “illustrious” for his “wonderful eloquence.” To be frank, I’ve always kind of wanted to be known for my eloquence too, secretly wishing that someone would compare me to this talented Antiochene from so many centuries ago. And why not? He was clearly passionate about the Truth. He was given to discipline and seriousness. He was known for being… direct when he spoke. John Chrysostom is also...Read More

The Most Holy Name of Mary

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Collect taken from the memorial of the Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God. Collect: Grant, we pray, almighty God, that, for all who celebrate the glorious Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary, she may obtain your merciful favor. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son ... "Grant, we pray, almighty God, that, for all who celebrate the glorious Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary," - As with God's name, the name of Jesus, and the name of anyone we love dearly, the name of Mary is something precious to us. It is also an acknowledgment of her...Read More

Twenty-Third Week of Ordinary Time

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Collect taken from Twenty-Third Week of Ordinary Time. Collect: O God, by whom we are redeemed and receive adoption, look graciously upon your beloved sons and daughters, that those who believe in Christ may receive true freedom and an everlasting inheritance. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son... "O God, by whom we are redeemed and receive adoption, look graciously upon your beloved sons and daughters," - We recall our adoption and invoke our status as sons and daughters of God before making our request. "that those who believe in Christ may receive true freedom and an everlasting inheritance." - That adoption...Read More

Judging Out Of Love

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Homily for 23rdSun OT, Year A Fr. Albert   St. Peter Catholic Church, New Iberia [audio wav="http://box5246.temp.domains/~alberuc3/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Judging-Out-Of-Love.wav"][/audio]   This past week marked the one-year anniversary of Mother Teresa being canonized, when she was declared to be St. Teresa of Caclutta. One of her celebrated quotes about the faith comes to mind now. She once said, “If you judge people, you have no time to love them.” It’s clear, to the point, and challenging. It is also true. So, what do we make of Ezekiel? Ezekiel is told that, if he does not correct or speak against a “wicked” person, then he will...Read More

St. Peter Claver

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Collect taken from the memorial of St. Peter Claver, priest. Collect: O God, who made Saint Peter Claver a slave of slaves and strengthened him with wonderful charity and patience as he came to their help, grant, through his intercession, that, seeking the things of Jesus Christ, we may love our neighbor in deeds and in truth. Through our Lord Jesus Christ... "O God, who made Saint Peter Claver a slave of slaves and strengthened him with wonderful charity and patience as he came to their help," - We praise the gift of God that enabled Peter Claver to take seriously Christ's...Read More

The Nativity of Mary

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Collect taken from the feast of the Nativity of Mary, Mother of God. Collect: Impart to your servants, we pray, O Lord, the gift of heavenly grace, that the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin may bring deeper peace to those for whom the birth of her Son was the dawning of salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son... "Impart to your servants, we pray, O Lord, the gift of heavenly grace," - This is a straightforward acknowledgment of our status as servants of God paired with a direct request for grace. "that the feast of the Nativity of...Read More