
Saint of the Day – Saint Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort – April 28
The Rosary in a Year – Day 118 – Partake of God
How does transubstantiation happen, and what do we receive when we receive the Eucharist? Fr. Mark-Mary shares some catechesis on the Eucharist, drawing from St. Cyril of Jerusalem, who is sometimes referred to as the doctor of catechesis. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Institution of the Eucharist and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.
https://www.youtube.com/@TheRosaryinaYear
The Rosary in a Year – Day 117 – Come Down, Peter
The mystery of the Transfiguration begins with ascent to the heavenly mountain, but ends with descent, back to the world. As much as Peter would like to remain atop the mountain, Jesus calls him to persevere in life of charity, a holy life in the world. Fr. Mark-Mary, with help from St. Augustine, reflects on living out the balance of our call to the mountain and our call to live lives of charity in the world. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Transfiguration and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.
https://www.youtube.com/@TheRosaryinaYear
Blessed of the Day – Blessed Osanna of Catarro – April 27
Saint of the Day – Saint Raphael Arnaiz Baron – April 26
The Rosary in a Year – Day 116 – Continued Through You
Jesus has a plan for your life, a plan to continue his divine mission through you. Fr. Mark-Mary shares a reading from St. John Eudes, explaining how we can continue to proclaim the kingdom in our own lives, continuing Jesus’ mission. Today’s focus is the mystery of the Proclamation of the Kingdom and Call to Conversion and we will be praying one decade of the Rosary.
https://www.youtube.com/@TheRosaryinaYear
Beware of Destination Addiction
Sermon Notes – April 20, 2025 – “He is Alive”

“He is Alive”
Father Peter Fitzgibbons
April 19 – 20, 2025
Gospel: John 20: 1-9
1 It was very early on the first day of the week and still dark, when Mary of Magdala came to the tomb. She saw that the stone had been moved away from the tomb 2 and came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb,’ she said, ‘and we don’t know where they have put Him.’ 3 So Peter set out with the other disciple to go to the tomb. 4 They ran together, but the other disciple, running faster than Peter, reached the tomb first; 5 he bent down and saw the linen cloths lying on the ground, but did not go in. 6 Simon Peter, following him, also came up, went into the tomb, saw the linen cloths lying on the ground 7 and also the cloth that had been over His head; this was not with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in; he saw and he believed. 9 Till this moment they had still not understood the Scripture, that He must rise from the dead.
This summer I will have another birthday… hopefully. My brother stopped his seven years ago, and my twin brother has too. I have been debating whether to get a tattoo – maybe one with barbed wire and a skull. But at my age, perhaps a tattoo with my home address and phone number would be a better idea. I have been around. I may not look my age, and I certainly don’t act it. “Father, you’ve seen a lot and done a lot.” Yes. I can’t tell you much about it, but I have. If I did, I would have to kill you. It’s nothing personal, just business. “Father, what is the most interesting thing you have seen that you can tell us about without having to commit mass murder?” Well, I’ve seen people rise from the dead. “Really? Father, you better cut back on the meds.” No, I really have seen people come back from the dead and be restored to life. Not in the way Jesus rose (Matthew 28:5-6), and not in the way Lazarus (John 11:1-44), Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5:21-43), and the widow’s son (Luke 7:11-17) rose. No, not in that way. “Father, how did they rise from the dead?” Good question. Their souls were dead because of repeated venial sin or mortal sin. They were dead. They had no divine life in them. But they were restored to life through the grace that comes from our Lord’s Passion, death, and resurrection, which opened the Gates of Heaven, bestowed upon Mother Holy Church the means to effect resurrection, and gave the grace to wash away all sin from the soul, and return it to life. No matter how bad it is, all sin can be washed away.
The most powerful instrument ever known is the blood of Christ. Go back to the Passion on Good Friday, and we see the power of our Lord’s blood being poured out for us, drip by drip. I have seen many come back from the dead. Their lives are returned to them through Holy Communion. Does a resurrection happen? It sure does, every day. You would be surprised where it happens. People will say, “Father, may I talk to you?” Sure! This is usually what I do – I see the older, sicker patients in the hospital. I say to them, “Would you like to receive the Anointing of the Sick?” If they say, ‘yes,’ I say, “By the way, when was the last time you went to Confession?” I don’t ask if they want to go. I use an authoritarian tone and ask them when the last time was. It pushes them over the hump of fear they are hiding behind so that life can be restored to their souls, and they can spend eternity in Heaven with Christ.
This is the good news of the Resurrection: that Christ has died, and He is alive. He gives that life to the soul so that we can live for Him in this world and go to Him in the next. Eventually, we will get our bodies back, hopefully in better shape than they are now. When you have the divine life, what else do you have? Joy. Christ wishes to live in all of us. He made our souls for only one thing, and that is not sin. He made our souls a fitting resting place for Himself.
How will you apply this message to your life? _________________________________________
You can read all of Father Fitzgibbons’ sermons by going to AnnunciationCatholicAlbemarle.com, clicking on “Blog,” then “Categories,” and then “Sermon Notes.” On a cell phone: click on “Blog” and then “Menu.” Scroll to the bottom and click on “Categories.” Sermon Notes are also available on the Church’s Facebook page at OLA.Catholic.Church. Click on “Groups” and then “Sermon Notes.
Hurting People Hurt People

Hurting people hurt people.
We all know this to be true,
and yet,
when bitter words are spoken,
when hurtful gestures are seen,
when emotional wounds are inflicted,
we forget this truth.
We allow the hurt in our heart
to blind us to the hurt in another.
We allow self,
who demands
to be cooed and coddled,
to keep us from giving
the compassion and caring
so desperately needed by our offender.
We allow our own tears
to blur us to the heart tears
of the one lashing out.
We let our broken feelings
overshadow a heart
broken
and in need
of God’s healing touch.
Oh, Father. Forgive us for being so me-minded, so self-centered, so pride-provoked. Give us eyes that see past our wound to see the truly wounded. Give us hearts to feel beyond our pain and into the pain of others. Help us not simply to know that hurting people hurt people, but to live in such a way as to relieve the hurt. Heal us of our selfish pride that we might be instruments of your healing to those truly hurting without You.
In Jesus’ precious name,
we pray.
Amen. ~❤️
~Stacy L. Sanchez / Heartprints of God