Author: Father Albert

Daily Collection: Martin de Porres

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The Collect is taken from the optional memorial of St. Martin de Porres, religious. Collect: O God, who led Saint Martin de Porres by the path of humility to heavenly glory, grant that we may so follow his radiant example in this life as to merit to be exalted with him in heaven. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son... "O God, who led Saint Martin de Porres by the path of humility to heavenly glory" -- This recalls the verse that "whoever humbles himself will be exalted" (Mt 23:12) and offers the concrete example of Martin de Porres in receiving that promise. "grant...Read More

Daily Collection: Sts. Simon & Jude

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Collect taken from the feast of Sts. Simon and Jude, Apostles and Martyrs Collect: O God, who by the blessed Apostles have brought us to acknowledge your name, graciously grant, through the intercession of Saints Simon and Jude, that the Church may constantly grow by increase of the peoples who believe in you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son... "O God, who by the blessed Apostles have brought us to acknowledge your name" -- The knowledge of God, the gift of Faith, is something passed down to every generation through God's apostles. We praise him for sending these who spread the Gospel...Read More

Worth More than the Stars: Some thoughts on “The Martian”

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Heyo! It's the Ephesian again. I'm back from a little trip through cyberspace and decided to drop in and share some thoughts about outer space. I went to see "The Martian" and a few things stood out that I'd like to write about if anyone is willing to read it, or even if no one reads it. I guess it's kind of like Mark's video logs - no one is watching them, but they just might someday ;-). Anywho, much of the movie is about dealing with the technical problems regarding staying alive on Mars. As for the scientific accuracy...Read More

Whatever We Want?

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29th Sunday OT, Year B (Farewell) Deacon Albert St. John the Evangelist Cathedral   https://sites.google.com/site/fatheralbertmedia/mp3/29_OT_B_6.mp3   “You can do whatever you set your mind to.” Really? Is that true? This claim is made by parents, teachers, advertisements, and politicians throughout our country. Children are filled with this idea from the time they are very little and hear it repeated constantly until some brutal encounter with reality shatters this fragile illusion. Then they must choose between willful naiveté, cold cynicism, or a new-found realism. How few choose the last of these! I once wanted to be a fighter pilot and eagerly researched what it...Read More

Daily Collection: St. Ignatius of Antioch

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Collect taken from the memorial of St. Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr Collect: Almighty ever-living God, who adorn the sacred body of your Church with the confessions of holy Martyrs, grant, we pray, that, just as the glorious passion of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, which we celebrate today, brought him eternal splendor, so it may be for us unending protection. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son... "Almighty ever-living God, who adorn the sacred body of your Church with the confessions of holy Martyrs" -- As the Bride of a crucified Lord, the Church can find no greater gems for her adornment...Read More

Daily Collection: Teresa of Avila

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Daily Collection taken from the Memorial of Teresa of Avila, Virgin and Doctor of the Church Collect: O God, who through your Spirit raised up Saint Teresa of Jesus to show the Church the way to seek perfection, grant that we may always be nourished by the food of her heavenly teaching and fired with longing for true holiness. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son... " O God, who through your Spirit raised up Saint Teresa of Jesus to show the Church the way to seek perfection" -- Playing on the title of Teresa's book "The Way of Perfection," we recognize that all...Read More

Daily Collection: St. Denis

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Daily Collection from the optional memorial of St. Denis, Bishop and Martyr Collect: O God, who sent Saint Denis and his companions to preach your glory to the nations and strengthened them for their mission with the virtue of constancy in suffering, grant, we pray, that we may imitate them in disdaining prosperity in this world and in being undaunted by any trial. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son "O God, who sent Saint Denis and his companions to preach your glory to the nations and strengthened them for their mission with the virtue of constancy in suffering" -- In proclaiming the...Read More

Daily Collection: Our Lady of the Rosary

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Daily Collection from the memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary Collect: Pour forth, we beseech you, O Lord, your grace into our hearts, that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ you Son was made known by the message of an Angel, may, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, by his Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of his Resurrection. Who lives and reigns... "Pour forth, we beseech you, O Lord, your grace into our hearts" -- In Jewish and Christian usage, the "heart" is not just the vessel that pumps blood. It is also not just where...Read More

Daily Collection: Blessed Marie Rose Durocher

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Daily Collection from the optional memorial of Blessed Marie Rose Durocher, Virgin Collect: Lord, who enkindled in the heart of Blessed Marie Rose Durocher the flame of ardent charity and a great desire to cooperate in the mission of the Church as a teacher, grant us that same active love, so that, in responding to the needs of the world today, we may lead our brothers and sisters to the blessedness of eternal life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son... "Lord, who enkindled in the heart of Blessed Marie Rose Durocher the flame of ardent charity and a great desire to cooperate...Read More

Daily Collection: 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Daily Collection taken from the Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Collect: Almighty ever-living God, who in the abundance of your kindness surpass the merits and the desires of those who entreat you, pour out your mercy upon us to pardon what conscience dreads and to give what prayer does not dare to ask. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son... "Almighty ever-living God, who in the abundance of your kindness surpass the merits and the desires of those who entreat you" -- Although we speak of merit, we always recognize that the ability to merit something is itself God's gift to us. The...Read More