Author: Kevin Aldrich

  • The Resurrection of the Lord – The Mass of Easter Sunday – March 31

    Central Idea: Christ is risen from the dead. Doctrine: The Resurrection of Christ and of us. Practical Application: Joy. For the complete selection of readings click here. (Lectionary: 42) Central Idea: Christ is risen from the dead. Acts 10:34a, 37-43 In Acts, St. Peter announced the Gospel to the god-fearing Cornelius and his household after…

  • Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord – March 24

    To view today’s readings, click here. (Lectionary: 37 and 38) Due to the unique length of today’s readings, this homily outline will be limited to some points about the salvific meaning of the texts. At the Procession with Palms – Lk 19:28-40 In the Gospel read before Mass, it would be common to point out…

  • “I got distracted by the lousy music and missed a treasure” or “External and Internal Negative and Positive Values in the Mass and in Our Participation in It.”

    “I got distracted by the lousy music and missed a treasure” or “External and Internal Negative and Positive Values in the Mass and in Our Participation in It.”

    This post has two titles, one concrete but loose and the other abstract but very precise. They are: “I got distracted by the lousy music and missed a treasure” or “External and Internal Negative and Positive Values in the Mass and in Our Participation in It.” Examples of external negative values in the Mass that…

  • Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary – March 19

    Central Idea: Joseph, Jesus’ foster father and Mary’s husband, was a just man and is our Father and Lord. Doctrine: The virtue of justice. Practical Application: Living respect and responsibility. Click here to review the readings. (Lectionary: 543) For the Fifth Sunday of Lent click here. Central Idea: Joseph, Jesus’ foster father and Mary’s husband,…

  • Fifth Sunday of Lent – March 17

    Central Idea: Our joy is in redemption from sin and resurrected life with Christ. Doctrine: Freedom Practical Application: Growing in legitimate freedom To view the readings, click here. (Lectionary: 36) Central Idea: Our joy is in redemption from sin and resurrected life with Christ. Is 43:16-21 The Lord, who once separated the waters from where…

  • Fourth Sunday of Lent – March 10

    Central Idea: The joy of reconciliation. Doctrine: The Sacrament of Reconciliation. Practical Application: Making a good Confession. To view the readings, click here. (Lectionary: 33) Central Idea: We have joy because our sins are forgiven and we are reconciled with the Father Jos 5:9a, 10-12 & Psalm Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7 After a very long…

  • Third Sunday of Lent

    Third Sunday of Lent

    Central Idea: Doing good. Doctrine: The Second Commandment. Practical Application: Honoring God’s name. To see the readings, click here (Lectionary: 30). Central Idea: We are here not to do evil, nor to do nothing, but to do good. God promised to make Abraham the father of a nation and to give his descendants a good…

  • Second Sunday of Lent – February 24

    Central Idea: Our citizenship is in heaven. Doctrine: The duty of the laity to reform the temporal order. Practical Application: Professionalism. The readings can be found here. (Lectionary: 27) Central Idea: Our citizenship is in heaven God gave Abraham a vision. He promised to make of Abraham a nation of people as countless as the…

  • First Sunday of Lent—February 17

    Central Idea: Christ overcame the temptations of the devil. Doctrine: Reparation. Practical Application: Small mortifications. For today’s readings click here. (Lectionary: 24) Central Idea: Christ overcame the temptations of the devil Dt 26:4-10 The first reading is part of the instruction Moses gave to the Chosen People before they were to enter the Promised Land. It specifies…

  • Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Central Idea: God chooses his messengers, including us. Doctrine: Fear of the Lord. Practical Application: Living as a child of God. To view today’s readings, click here. (Lectionary: 75) Central Idea: God chooses his messengers, including us Reading 1 Is 6:1-2a, 3-8 In the year King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and…

  • Holiness and Justice: What’s the difference?

    Holiness and Justice: What’s the difference?

    I was confused for a long time by statements I read about the condition of Adam and Eve before the fall and our condition afterwards. Our first parents were in a state of holiness and justice before the Original Sin and they lost these. Consequently we are born without them. But what do these terms…

  • Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Central Idea: The world rejects but cannot overcome those who belong to God. Doctrine: The virtue of hope. Practical Application: Acts of hope. To view today’s readings, click here (Lectionary 72). Central Idea: The world rejects but cannot overcome those who belong to God. Reading 1 Jer 1:4-5, 17-19 The word of the LORD came to me,…