audio by year '2008'

Although he lived and died in a faroff country many years ago, I think that Archbishop Romero can serve as an example of what the Holy Spirit calls us to in our baptism – to be holy and a light to others. Full transcript here

Let me tell you about an ex-con that I have known and admire very much. It is a Franciscan sister who was sentenced to six months in a federal prison when she was 88 years old. Her name is Sister Dorothy Hennessey. I want to honor her memory because she died on Thursday at age 94. She will be buried tomorrow, Monday, in Dubuque, Iowa. She is a great example to all of us. Full transcript here

Three years ago, Sister Dorothy Stang, an American missionary working with the poor in Brazil, was confronted by two men threatening her with guns. They represented the wealthy landowners who resented her efforts to empower the poor who were being driven off their small plots of land.
She sensed the danger. She pulled the Bible from her shoulder bag, and opened to the words of Jesus we have heard in today’s gospel. Full transcript here

In God's Kingdom, the coin of the realm is mercy. Mercy received and mercy given.
Thomas Merton was one of the great spiritual writers of the 20th century. He was a Trappist monk. His funeral Mass in December 1968 began with the words, "I have always overshadowed Jonas with My mercy...Have you had sight of Me, Jonas My Child? Mercy within mercy within mercy." Full transcript here

Clare Guest House is a place in Sioux City, Iowa that offers hospitality and support to women who are released from prison. Sister Gwen Hennessey, a Franciscan Sister, manages this house. Seven years ago, Sister Gwen herself was in the Federal prison in Pekin for six months along with her older sister Dorothy, also a Franciscan Sister. They were there for their actions against the School of the Americas at Fort Benning in Georgia. It has been well documented that this is a school that teaches terrorism to soldiers from Latin America.

“Do not be afraid” is the message of Easter. “Do not be afraid” because Christ has defeated death. “Do not be afraid” because the dark night is over. “Do not be afraid” because God never abandons us, but joins us in all our difficulties. Full transcript here

God’s love is so full that it can’t stay still. In it’s dance it breaks forth in creation. Creation is God’s active love looking for more things to love. God created us out of this dance of love. Full transcript here

The Eucharist is at the center of our Catholic life. It is where we meet and dine with the Lord, to converse with him, to listen to him, and to feed on his Body and Blood.
Today we celebrate Jesus greatest gift to us, the gift of Holy Communion. Full transcript here

Angelo Roncalli was born of a poor peasant family in rural Italy in 1881. He became the pope in 1958 (at age 77), taking the name Pope John XXIII. He died in 1963. He was beatified, that is, officially declared “blessed,” eight years ago. So he is called Blessed John XXIII. June 3rd is his feast day, because he died on that date.
This week we honor his memory. He provided an example of holy wisdom described in today’s gospel. Jesus says: “Everyone who listens to my words and acts on them will be like the wise man who built his house on rock.” Full transcript here