The celebration of All Saints is an ancient joint feast commemorating the martyrs, especially the men and women who were executed for the faith by the Roman Emperor. (more…)
Author: Fr Peter Crowe
Jesus the Great High Priest
I preached this homily on the 29th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year B.
There is a legend that Saint John Neumann and Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos were traveling through Latrobe. Due to the Anti-Catholicism of the time they could not find a place to stay. They found a tavern that would accept them—Francis Xavier Seelos slept on a bench, and Saint John Neumann paced all night reading his breviary and praying. Perhaps an example like this is what our Lord would use to once again explain that being a faithful follower of Christ does entail some difficulties, but it is in those difficulties that we are drawn into a closer union with God. (more…)
True riches are in Heaven
The man in the Gospel (Mark 10:17-30) is after our American-pragmatic sense: he gets right to the point: “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Our Lord then makes sure he is at least following the commandments, but then He gives him a deeper call: drop everything and follow me. In other words, I want more from you. (more…)
Scandal, Sanctity, Saint Therese
[There is a lot to post about these days with some great feast days approaching!]
I recently looked up the weight of a mill stone, because our Lord tells us “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.” (cf Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48) (more…)
Redemptive Suffering
I think it’s safe to say that in our lives there will be some difficult moments. There will be some suffering.
In this Gospel passage we hear our Lord telling St Peter that Our Lord is heading to the cross. (cf Mark 8:27-35)
Saint Peter reacts in a way that perhaps we react when we face suffering: he rebukes our Lord. (more…)
Twenty Second Sunday in Ordinary time
Recently I preached on the scandals that have caused searing pain in the Church. Not many people in the parish had spoken to me directly about the scandal, which worried me, because I knew that people were simmering. I asked around a bit and I could tell that people were upset. There was discontent, but perhaps they were afraid to tell their priest their fears and concerns. So to the people of my parish I spoke.
As a note, please see the image above this post. The parish of Our Lady Queen of Peace in Patton, PA is going to offer a Mass of Reparation and a penitential procession on September 24. It will be a beautiful and prayerful time to offer the Holy Sacrifice to atone for the sins of the clergy that we have heard about in the news recently and to pray for the victims.
Pope Saint Pius X to Priests
In 1908 Pope Saint Pius X penned an exhortation to priests, called Haerent Animo. It should be required reading of any Pope, Cardinal, Bishop, Priest.If you are a priest, go read this letter. If you are not, either email the link to your priest or print it out for him and hand it to him. May Pope Saint Pius X defend us against the snares and deceits of Modernism. (more…)
