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The Catechism in a Year – Day 229 – Christian Funerals


In this final episode of Pillar 2, we learn about the Christian funeral rite. Fr. Mike explains how the new life begun in Baptism comes to greater fulfillment as the Christian passes over from this earthly life into the fullness of the Kingdom. The Church, who has sacramentally nourished her children throughout their earthly pilgrimage, upon their death commends them to the Father and places their bodies in the earth to await the resurrection in hope. Each funeral is to end with a farewell to the beloved dead, knowing that we still share communion in Christ and will reunite in our heavenly home. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1680-1690.

Click on link: https://youtu.be/GV9OuM48bLQ?si=dREk3zfM3pH101AN

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The Catechism in a Year – Day 228 – Blessings, Sacramentals, and Popular Piety

Sacramentals are sacred signs that resemble the sacraments. Blessings of people, places, and objects are foremost among the various sacramentals found in the life of the Church. Among these blessings are those of exorcism, in both its simple and solemn form. Fr. Mike notes that sacramentals and the many forms of popular piety, such as the Rosary, are noble expressions of faith that prepare us to participate in the Liturgy but can never replace the Liturgy. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1667-1679.

Click on link: https://youtu.be/T7vA4Cubyts?si=TdQP1Z1sSXGBzijN

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The Catechism in a Year – Day 227 – Summary of the Sacrament of Matrimony

This summary of the Catechism’s teaching on the sacrament of Matrimony pulls together several beautiful themes regarding marriage and family. Fr. Mike emphasizes the family as the Domestic Church, that community where parents and children grow in charity, forgiveness, prayer, and self-giving. We’re reminded that the communion of love shared by husband and wife in marriage is a sacramental sign of the union between Christ and his Church. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1659-1666.

Click on link: https://youtu.be/83SuhS7L37E?si=KtIzEg_tQH7lbCMV

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The Catechism in a Year – Day 226 – The Supreme Gift of Marriage

“Children are the supreme gift of marriage,” says Vatican II. Marriage is directed by its very nature toward the procreation of children. Beyond this, parents are the primary educators of their children, responsible for their holistic formation. Sadly, many couples suffer from infertility. Even in their struggle, they can provide a powerful witness of love, sacrifice, and fidelity. In all this and more, we see the family as the Domestic Church. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1652-1658.

Click on link: https://youtu.be/D_V1oXAOcz0?si=vCELSKKzYjjyw82c

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The Catechism in a Year – Day 225 – Total Fidelity in Marriage

“Love seeks to be definitive,” the Catechism tells us in this section on marital fidelity. The faithfulness of husband and wife in the sacrament of Matrimony is a sign of God’s irrevocable covenant with humanity. This fidelity is both beautiful and challenging. Fr. Mike addresses painful separation and divorce situations and how the whole ecclesial community should respond with truthful love. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1646-1651.

Click on link: https://youtu.be/QmixPmwXOi8?si=sBXyGM68jGNdbCTb

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The Catechism in a Year – Day 224 – The Grace of the Sacrament of Marriage

The grace of the Sacrament of Marriage provides husbands and wives the strength to love one another with supernatural, tender, and fruitful love. Fr. Mike covers the characteristics of the marriage bond and the different roles of husbands and wives. He explains what it means to “be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ.” We also learn that indissolubility, faithfulness, and openness to fertility are requirements of conjugal love. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1638-1645.

Click on link: https://youtu.be/lfzccL6v4YI?si=efq5LM-y_GRR53th

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The Catechism in a Year – Day 223 – Difference in Religion in Marriage

Can a Catholic marry a baptized non-Catholic or a non-baptized person? Fr. Mike breaks down the Church’s teaching on mixed marriages and disparity of cult. The Catechism teaches us that while a difference in religion “does not constitute an insurmountable obstacle for marriage,” it can often be a source of tension in marriage and present significant challenges when raising a family. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1625-1632.

Click on link: https://youtu.be/KvfoCzGc6W8?si=5XOdo6twCLkcdOvx

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The Catechism in a Year – Day 222 – Matrimonial Consent

Matrimonial consent is an indispensable element of the Sacrament of Marriage. Fr. Mike explains why it is essential for those entering marriage to express their consent freely and why in the Church’s eyes, “if consent is lacking, there is no marriage.” Fr. Mike also guides us through the Church’s teaching on annulment and clarifies why it can be complex. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1625-1632.

Click on link: https://youtu.be/6vhX6PJ2f-M?si=ADl5UhWMAKL6PNRK

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The Catechism in a Year – Day 221 – The Celebration of Marriage

What does a Catholic wedding look like? Today, we dive into the liturgical celebration of marriage and learn that the celebration must be valid, worthy, and fruitful. Additionally, we briefly cover virginity for the sake of the Kingdom and how this particular call highlights the beauty and goodness of marriage. Fr. Mike emphasizes that those called to celibacy can truly live joyful and fulfilling lives. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1618-1624.

Click on link: https://youtu.be/09FZr258Ob4?si=QHSKkT1CIfipIY66

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Sermon Notes – August 20, 2023 – “We Have No Idea”

“We Have No Idea”

 Father Peter Fitzgibbons

 August 19 – 20, 2023

Gospel:  Matthew 15:21-28

I was visiting a soldier in the ER the other day.  I introduced myself as Chaplain Fitzgibbons and one of the chaplains at the VA Medical Center.  We were talking and getting along really well.  The soldier asked, “What religion are you?”  I told him I am a Roman Catholic and the Catholic priest for the Medical Center.  “Oh.”   Then we talked about the military branches we served in.  A little later, he asked me again, “What religion are you?”   “I’m a Roman Catholic.”  He was in pain and perhaps not the sharpest knife in the drawer.  His wife spoke up and said, “Well, we are Christian.”   Apparently, since I am not their brand of acceptable Christianity, I will not be going to Heaven when the Rapture takes place.  Okay.  Now, if they had not been civilians, I would have gone back to my old days in the military and put them both into a leaning rest because I was tired of looking at their faces.  I would have made it a one-way conversation.  Believe it or not, I do not care to be insulted.   Anyway, I said, “Well, don’t you think our good Lord considers the Crosses other people carry that we don’t see?  Don’t you think He takes that into account at Judgement?”   They said, “No.  You must be a member of this one particular sect.”   Okay. 

We just got a new admission to Hospice.  He is 56 years old, and he had a brain tumor that was removed.  Unfortunately, it has spread everywhere, and he is now in his end-days.  I don’t think I will see him again in this life.   This man was a police officer for 20 years, but when he couldn’t take it anymore, he retired.  Tom Adams will tell you that people can be devious and lie.  Think about all the sorrow and distress that man had to absorb within himself.  I was talking to his sister who is his caretaker.  After he left law enforcement, he moved to Florida to take care of his aging mother who is still alive.  So, this guy had a lot of things going on.  His sister told me that he had never been baptized.  Later, I motioned for his sister to come over to the doorway so that nobody could hear us.  I said, “When the doctor comes by and adjusts his pain meds, he will be bombed and won’t feel any pain as he leaves us.  I will be happy to baptize him then.”  God understands. 

We had this one lady who had Lewy Body Dementia.  Is she in Heaven?  I think she has a pretty good shot at it . . .  probably a lot better chance than me.  She was an Army nurse for 30 years in a field hospital in Vietnam.  Not fun!   She was also physically and sexually abused by her husband who mercifully died.  I met him once, and he seemed like a super nice guy.  However, I got the back story from the nurses and, apparently, he was not a nice guy.  But we were fortunate that we had a nurse who was trained and could help her deal with some of what she had endured.

So, we have no idea of who goes where.  We are called to respond to people of different faiths.  Our Lord calls us higher to the Catholic Church.   But we have no idea of the Crosses that other people carry.  Our Crosses are not comparative.  God wants us all to enter Heaven.  Did He go to this woman in the Gospel and say, “You are Samaritan and a dog.”  “Dog” was not a good term back then.  “Do you tithe?”  “Did you give to the DSA?”   DSA is the priest retirement collection.  He asked her none of those questions.  Instead, He gave the woman the gift of faith and love for Him.  God is looking for an excuse to give us the gifts of His love.   He gives them to us all the time and more often if we ask for them.  Sometimes His gifts are not the ones we want.  We cannot see the beauty in them, especially the gift of our Crosses.  They are beautiful things and are what will get us into Heaven.  Sometimes we really don’t appreciate the beauty of our Crosses, but God gives us these gifts because of His love.  Some of these gifts are meant to keep us humble so that we don’t wander off the reservation.  So, we do not judge.  God loves us all.  He asks us all to come up higher and that is a struggle for each and every one of us.  Some days are more difficult than others. 

But we do not judge who gets into Heaven and who doesn’t.  We don’t know.  Only God sees everything.   People in these minor sects say, “Well if you don’t know Jesus Christ, you are not going to Heaven.”  That staggers the imagination.  So let me understand this.  Is God all loving?  Scripture says He is.  He created the world out of love and sustains it out of love.  So, He created the people in Mongolia who have no idea who Jesus Christ is or what a DSA is.  Did God create them out of love just to send them to Hell?   God does not do that.  He wants us all to come to Him.  And remember, we have no idea what Crosses other people are carrying. 

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.”