The origin, motive, and object of the theological virtues are God himself. Today, we dive into the theological virtues, beginning with the virtue of Faith. Fr. Mike unpacks the meaning and purpose of the virtue of Faith and emphasizes that Faith is deeply rooted in trust in God. Lastly, Fr. Mike reminds us that Faith should be lived out along with Hope, and Love, and also professed to those who do know yet know God. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1812-1816.
A virtuous person is someone who consistently chooses the good. Fr. Mike unpacks the four human or cardinal virtues that are essential in helping us become more like Jesus: prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance. We learn that these four virtues make possible “ease, self-mastery, and joy in leading a morally good life.” Today’s Catechism readings are paragraphs 1803-1811.
It is possible for our moral conscience to remain in ignorance for a variety of reasons. Fr. Mike delves into the sources of errors of judgment in moral conduct and how habitual sin blinds our conscience. As we wrap up this article, Fr. Mike reminds us that a well-formed conscience sets us free and gives us the power to do what we ought. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1790-1802.
Whenever our Lord asked a question, people always got the answer wrong. So, I didn’t feel too bad as a student. I’m not the brightest bulb in the circuit. He asked them, “Who do people say that I am?” Their answers were all wrong because the voice of people is not the voice of God. When He asked the apostles that question, what did they say? The apostles didn’t want to tick Jesus off, so they just went along to get along. But while all the other apostles were afraid to answer, Simon Peter said, “You are the Messiah, Son of the Living God.” But that answer didn’t come from Peter alone. Jesus said, “This was revealed to you by My heavenly Father.” So, our good Lord renamed him. “You are Peter, and upon this rock, I will build My church.”
When you read this passage in English, it is okay. But when you read it in the original language, it is very striking. Peter’s name was Simon bar-Jonah or Simon son of Jonah. Peter is a Greek word meaning “rock.” Our Lord renamed him Peter just like in the Old Testament when He changed Abram’s name to Abraham. Abraham became the father of holy people. When our Lord renamed Peter, he also became the father of holy people in the new body of Christ, the Church. “Upon you, I will build my Church.” Now, two things are interesting about that statement. If you read the original statement, it says “you” in the singular context and not “you” in the plural meaning all the apostles. Only Peter was given that decision-making authority. Upon you, personally, I will build My Church. That’s why the apostles were ticked off. “Hey, what are we, chopped liver?” “Peter is a bozo. Come on!” “Upon this rock, I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Peter was given the power to bind and loose. You have to understand that power. That power is only for disciplinary matters such as fasting and abstinence. The Church can do that to help people grow in the spiritual life. The Church could also allow priests to marry because that is a discipline and not dogma. However, it cannot change divine law because that would give the creatures God created power over Him. Jesus did not give man the power over God.
Jesus knew what He was doing. He created male and female. He said that a man shall leave his mother and father and cling to his wife. I do believe Jesus understood the full meaning of His words. “Oh! We are in the 21st century, and we understand things much better now than Jesus did, so we are going to change things.” Uh-Huh. Know what that is? It’s the heresy of modernism. “We are in a new age, and we understand things better.” Ummm . . . No, you don’t. When I was ordained, I had to take an oath against modernism. There is a document on file at the Diocese that confirms the oath I took. Why? Because we preach now what we preached from the beginning. The form has changed over the years, but the truth of the Church has not. Some people have tried to change it, and they’ve gone away one way or another. God may have revoked their birth certificates; I don’t know but sometimes that does happen.
Read the Church fathers. The First Century is now. And if you have trouble falling asleep, read the works of Saint Augustine. The works by John Chrysostom are much easier to read. But reading Saint Augustine will quickly bring on the Zzzz‘s. He said he had a really wicked life before being converted, but he certainly couldn’t write about it. My gosh! What we preach now is what we preached from the beginning. The Pope is guaranteed the truth as long as he preaches what was given from the beginning. We should be proud of our history. Unfortunately, the Church has had popes, bishops, priests, and dare I say, sisters, who were not as holy as they should have been. “Father, say it ain’t so!” They caused all sorts of problems in the Church throughout the ages including great scandals. If you think we are having fun these days, read the Church history. Now we have electronics that hype up everything. “Oh my God!!” Relax. God is awake all night and is taking care of this. You don’t trust His promise? That the gates of hell will not prevail? Our good Lord is in charge. Yes, we wish we had more holy priests, bishops, and nuns. But we are men and not angels. We are failed human beings standing on the deposit of faith. Should we be upset and concerned about the future of the Church? Yes and no. No, because God is in charge, and He’s going to take care of it. And yes, but we pray for those who are supposed to exercise the teaching office of the Church.
Be strong. When you say the right thing, some people really won’t like it. I have been cursed out before, but I took it really well . . . “Sniff- Sniff” Really? You know the people I hung around with? On those occasions, I always want to say, “I know a guy.” You wouldn’t do that up north. You’d get really hurt, and the cops would just say, “Oh that was a terrible accident!” In the old days, that happened. But you pray for them.
The Church has not changed its doctrine no matter how foul the people are who have been entrusted with it. The promises of Christ were true in the beginning, and they are true now. Yes, it is a time of turmoil in the Church. We get nervous, upset, and angry because we see that which has given us life, love, and hope seemingly betrayed by those in it. The smoke of satan is in the Church. But God is in charge. He has not forgotten His Church – His Body. When Paul was out there putting the whack on people, Jesus asked him, “Why are you persecuting Me?” God knows exactly what is going on. Is this time the worst in the Church? No. Would we like it to be better? Oh, heck yeah. But we trust in our Heavenly Father. So have faith, have courage, and pray for those who we think are weak and failing in their vocations.
Father’s Reflections . . .I know that the weather is interesting and that you are all warm. I’m wearing three layers of clothing, so I know how you feel. But use this to your advantage. Would you rather be hot here now or a lot hotter somewhere else later?
How will you apply this message to your life? _____________________________
You can read all of Father Fitzgibbons’ sermons by going to annunciationcatholicalbemarle.com and clicking on “Blog” then “Categories” 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.”
Saint Rose of Lima’s Story (April 20, 1586 – August 24, 1617)
The first canonized saint of the New World has one characteristic of all saints—the suffering of opposition—and another characteristic which is more for admiration than for imitation—excessive practice of mortification.
She was born to parents of Spanish descent in Lima, Peru, at a time when South America was in its first century of evangelization. She seems to have taken Catherine of Siena as a model, in spite of the objections and ridicule of parents and friends.
The saints have so great a love of God that what seems bizarre to us, and is indeed sometimes imprudent, is simply a logical carrying out of a conviction that anything that might endanger a loving relationship with God must be rooted out. So, because her beauty was so often admired, Rose used to rub her face with pepper to produce disfiguring blotches. Later, she wore a thick circlet of silver on her head, studded on the inside, like a crown of thorns.
When her parents fell into financial trouble, she worked in the garden all day and sewed at night. Ten years of struggle against her parents began when they tried to make Rose marry. They refused to let her enter a convent, and out of obedience she continued her life of penance and solitude at home as a member of the Third Order of Saint Dominic. So deep was her desire to live the life of Christ that she spent most of her time at home in solitude.
During the last few years of her life, Rose set up a room in the house where she cared for homeless children, the elderly, and the sick. This was a beginning of social services in Peru. Though secluded in life and activity, she was brought to the attention of Inquisition interrogators, who could only say that she was influenced by grace.
What might have been a merely eccentric life was transfigured from the inside. If we remember some unusual penances, we should also remember the greatest thing about Rose: a love of God so ardent that it withstood ridicule from without, violent temptation, and lengthy periods of sickness. When she died at 31, the city turned out for her funeral. Prominent men took turns carrying her coffin.
Reflection
It is easy to dismiss excessive penances of the saints as the expression of a certain culture or temperament. But a woman wearing a crown of thorns may at least prod our consciences. We enjoy the most comfort-oriented life in human history. We eat too much, drink too much, use a million gadgets, fill our eyes and ears with everything imaginable. Commerce thrives on creating useless needs on which to spend our money. It seems that when we have become most like slaves, there is the greatest talk of “freedom.” Are we willing to discipline ourselves in such an atmosphere?
Saint Rose of Lima is the Patron Saint of:
Americas Florists Latin America Peru Philippines South America
Together, with Fr. Mike, we unpack the formation of our conscience. Fr. Mike emphasizes that a well-formed conscience is one that is both “upright and truthful.” He also highlights the idea that a well-formed intellect is vital to having a well-formed conscience. We cannot just say something is either right or wrong, we have to understand why we think that. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1783-1789.
Together, with Fr. Mike, we explore the moral conscience. Fr. Mike emphasizes that even though our intellect has been weakened by sin, we still have some sense, our conscience, that tells us that there is a right and wrong. He also emphasizes the difference between our conscience and our passions. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1776-1782.
Together, we examine The Morality of The Passions. Fr. Mike unpacks and explores the different elements of the definition of “passions”. He emphasizes that while passions, themselves, are neither good nor bad, there still is a moral component to them. It is what we do with our passions that can either contribute to virtue or vice. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1762-1775.
Together, with Fr. Mike, we examine the article on the morality of human acts. Fr. Mike unpacks the three “sources” of morality: the object chosen, the end in view or the intention, and the circumstances. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the categories of right or wrong, good or evil. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1749-1761.
Together, with Fr. Mike, we examine the reality of our human freedom in the economy of salvation. Fr. Mike emphasizes that the right to freedom does not imply a right to say or do anything. Rather, it is the power to choose the “right.” He also emphasizes that the moral law actually allows us to live with freedom and joy, and that when we violate the moral law, we violate our own freedom. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1739-1748.
