Category: Sermon Notes

Transripts of weekly sermons

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Notas del Sermón – Calistenia Católica – 26 de enero 2025

“Calistenia Católica”

Padre Peter Fitzgibbons

25-26 de enero 2025

Evangelio: Lucas 1:1-4, 4:14-21

La gente dice: "Ustedes los católicos se mueven mucho en la iglesia." Sí, tratamos de mantenernos en forma. Lo llamamos calistenia católica. ¿Sabes qué es eso? Durante la misa nos sentamos, nos ponemos de pie, nos arrodillamos y repetimos. ¿Sabes por qué hacemos eso? Porque el hombre se compone de tres elementos: cuerpo, alma y espíritu. Oramos con todo nuestro cuerpo. Por eso nos arrodillamos durante las peticiones. Nos arrodillamos durante la adoración y nos levantamos por respeto. ¿Sabes por qué hacemos eso? Son posiciones de oración, y nos destacamos por respeto.

Cuando estaba en el curso básico para oficiales, como parte de mi formación, me exigían leer el manual de oficiales. ¿Sabes lo que decía? El ejército no toma cualquier cosa por hecho. Dicen que cuando una dama entra a la habitación, te pones de pie. Recuerdo haber pensado: "¿Algunos de estos tipos fueron criados por lobos y no por mujeres?" El ejército tenía amplia experiencia en el trato con estúpidos. Entonces, defendimos a las mujeres. Durante la misa también nos ponemos de pie para la lectura del evangelio. Estas son las palabras de Cristo y nos levantamos por respeto. Cuando el sacerdote proclama el evangelio, actúa en la persona de Cristo, por lo que es como escuchar las palabras de los labios de Cristo tal como era hace 2,000 años. Estamos para mostrar reverencia por las palabras de Dios.

Durante la oración, nos arrodillamos en súplica. Oramos con nuestros cuerpos. A veces se nos va un poco de las manos. Rezar con los brazos en alto es un gesto sacerdotal llamado postura de oración. Imitar las acciones de un sacerdote conlleva a un pecado venial. A veces la gente es demasiado celosa. En algunas iglesias, todos se toman de la mano durante el Padre Nuestro.

Ahora, a menos que seas una enfermera intentando tomarme el pulso, si me agarras la mano, eres hombre muerto. ¿Por qué? Porque eso es simplemente inventado. Había un hombre en mi parroquia en Statesville que estaba un poco descentrado. Serví con su hijo en el extranjero. Cuando yo decía: “El señor esté contigo”, él me respondía: “¡¡Y TAMBIÉN CON USTED, SEÑOR!!”

Gracias, lo aprecio. Hay que admirar el gesto del chico; le faltaban unas cuantas pastillas para tener un buen día. En la iglesia antigua, la gente rezaba el Padre Nuestro boca abajo, postrados, como signo de humildad porque son palabras del señor mismo y nos fueron dadas para enseñarnos a orar. Rezar el Padre Nuestro postrados mostró gran humildad, respeto, amor, admiración y asombro.

Nosotros también debemos orar con gran admiración y no canturreando. También debemos orar el domingo, el día que nuestro señor reservó para relajarnos y disfrutar. Esa lección está en el antiguo testamento en el Midrash judío. Si quieres ser católico, sé judío primero para entender por qué hacemos estas cosas. Durante el Midrash, se supone que debemos probar y disfrutar tantas cosas para darle cien bendiciones a Dios todopoderoso. Eso está en el antiguo testamento. De hecho, cuando oramos con todo el cuerpo, alabamos a Dios por todas sus bendiciones.

Hoy en la misa, las palabras de Isaías son muy ciertas. El profeta proclamó que había sido ungido por el Señor para traer buenas noticias: “El espíritu del Señor Dios está sobre mí, porque el Señor me ha ungido; Me ha enviado a llevar buenas nuevas a los afligidos, a vendar a los quebrantados de corazón, a proclamar libertad a los cautivos y liberar a los prisioneros (Isaías 61:1). Los sacerdotes tienen los medios para devolver la vista a quienes han sido cegados por el pecado y liberarlos de la prisión del pecado. Ésta es la buena noticia. Esto es lo que Nuestro buen señor anunció como el camino para ser libres de alma, mente y espíritu. Recuerde, el "camino" no es un "qué"; es un Quién. Tenemos los medios para tener una vida divina. Nuestro señor nos dice cómo y nos da los medios para alcanzar la vida eterna. Todos luchamos con las cruces diarias mientras lo seguimos al calvario y a la tumba vacía. Desafortunadamente, no se puede llegar a la resurrección sin pasar por el calvario. No puedes darle la vuelta. Este es un día maravilloso. Se cumplen las palabras del profeta Isaías.

¿Cómo aplicarías este mensaje a tu vida? ___________________________________________

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Sermon Notes – January 26, 2025 –  “Catholic Calisthenics”

                                   “Catholic Calisthenics”

                                  Father Peter Fitzgibbons

                                  January 25 – 26, 2025

Gospel:  Luke 1:1-4, 4:14-21

People say, “You Catholics move around a lot in church.”  Yeah, we try to keep fit.  We call it Catholic calisthenics.  Do you know what that is?   During the Mass, we sit, we stand, we kneel, and we repeat.   Do you know why we do that?  Because man is composed of three elements – body, soul, and spirit.  We pray with our whole body.  That’s why we kneel during petitions.  We kneel during Adoration, and we stand out of respect.  Do you know why we do that?  They are positions of prayer, and we stand out of respect.   

When I was in the Officer Basic Course, as part of my training, I was required to read the officer manual.  Do you know what it said?  The Army didn’t take anything for granted.  It said that when a lady comes into the room, you stand.  I remember thinking, “Were some of these guys raised by wolves and not by women?”  The Army had broad experience in dealing with stupid.  So, we stood up for women.  During the Mass, we also stand up for the Gospel reading.  These are the words of Christ, and we stand up out of respect.  When the priest proclaims the Gospel, he is acting in the person of Christ, so it is like hearing the words from Christ’s lips just as it was 2,000 years ago.   We stand to show reverence for the words of God. 

During prayer, we kneel in supplication. We pray with our bodies.  Sometimes it gets a little out of hand.  Praying with arms raised is a priestly gesture called orans posture.  Imitating the actions of a priest has venial sin attached to it.  Sometimes people are overly zealous.  In some churches, everyone holds hands during the Lord’s Prayer.  Now, unless you are a nurse trying to take my pulse, if you grab my hand, you are a dead man.   Why?  Because that is just made up.   There was this man at my parish in Statesville who was a little off-center.   I served with his son overseas.  When I would say, “The Lord be with you,” he would
yell back, “AND ALSO WITH YOU, SIR!!”   Thanks, appreciate it.  You have to admire the guy’s zeal; he was a few pills short of a good day.

In the ancient church, people prayed the Our Father flat on their faces, prostrated, as a sign of humility because it is the words of the Lord Himself and was given to us to teach us how to pray.  Praying the Our Father while prostrated showed great humility, respect, love, awe, and wonder.  We, too, should pray with great awe and not in a sing-song way.  We should also pray on Sunday, the day our Lord set aside for relaxation and enjoyment.  That lesson is in the Old Testament in the Jewish Midrash.   If you want to be Catholic, be a Jew first so that you understand why we do these things.  During Midrash, we are supposed to taste and enjoy so many things to give a hundred blessings to Almighty God.  That’s in the Old Testament.  Indeed, as we pray with our whole body, we praise God for all His blessings. 

Today in the Mass, the words of Isaiah are so true.  The prophet proclaimed that he had been anointed by the Lord to bring good news: “The spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the Lord has anointed me; He has sent me to bring good news to the afflicted, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners (Isaiah 61:1).   Priests have the means to restore sight to those who have been blinded by sin and to free them from the prison of sin.  This is the good news.  This is what our good Lord announced as the way to be free in soul, mind, and spirit.  Remember, the “way” is not a “what;” it is a Who.  We have the means to have a divine life.  Our Lord tells us how and gives us the means to achieve eternal life.  We all struggle with daily crosses as we follow Him to Calvary and to the empty tomb.  Unfortunately, you cannot get to the resurrection without going through Calvary.  You cannot go around it.  This is a wonderful day.  The words of the prophet Isaiah are fulfilled.

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.

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Notas del Sermón – 19 de enero 2025 – Haz lo que mama dice

“Haz lo que mama dice”

Padre Peter Fitzgibbons

18-19 de enero 2025

Evangelio: Juan 2:1-12

¿Recuerdas la palabra “E” de la que he estado hablando durante las últimas dos semanas? Epifanía. ¿Qué significa “epifanía?” Manifestación. Bueno, tenemos otra epifanía. Esta manifestación en particular fue la del poder y el amor de Jesús. Realizó el primero de sus milagros al convertir 150 galones de agua en vino. Eso es bastante impresionante. ¿Tuvo que Jesús hacer esto? No, pero lo hizo porque amaba a su madre y ella le pidió que lo hiciera. Es interesante leer la parte de las escrituras sobre la respuesta de Jesús a la petición de su madre: “Mujer, ¿cómo me afecta tu preocupación?” Ahora, según el Obispo Sheen, una traducción más precisa del griego original es: “Mujer, quien eres tú para mí?” ¿De verdad? Eso suena bastante grosero. Intenta decirle eso a tu madre o esposa y ve cómo te va. Podrías terminar en cuidados intensivos. Pero esto fue el comienzo del ministerio público de Jesús y su primer milagro. También fue el comienzo del papel secundario de María: no sólo era la madre de Jesús, sino que también debía con vértice en madre de toda la humanidad. Ella llegó a esta conclusión al pie de la cruz en el calvario. La santísima madre es una poderosa intercesora ante su hijo. La gente me pide, “padre, rece por mí.” Estaría feliz de hacerlo; es mi trabajo y agradezco la fe que tienen en mí para pedírmelo. Sin embargo, ¿quién crees que tendría una mejor audiencia? ¿Yo? Quiero decir, soy bastante maravilloso, pero sabes. . . la santísima madre podría ganarme. Además, ¿Quién puede negarle algo a su madre?

Jesús les dijo a los camareros que llenaran las tinajas de piedra con agua. Ahora, ¿tenían una manguera de agua? No. Ellos jalaron cubetas de agua del pozo. El agua que sacaron del pozo resulto en 150 galones del mejor vino. Esto sonó como mis reuniones familiares…Tengo una familia sedienta. El llenar las tinajas y luego sacarlas del pozo tendría que tomar demasiada fuerza superior del cuerpo. Y también se tomaba bastante tiempo. Pero ellos hicieron lo que se les pidió. 

¿Cuál es el primer camino hacia la santidad? Obediencia. ¿Cuándo Jesús les dijo a los camareros que llenaran las tinajas de agua, te podrías imaginar que estaban pasando en el fondo de sus mentes? “¿Estás bromeando? ¿En qué está pensando este idiota?” Después de llenar las tinajas con agua, les dijeron que se las llevaran al jefe de camareros. Aunque no entendían porque deberían llevar el agua al jefe de camareros, ellos hicieron lo que se les pidió. ¿Qué pasó después? Ocurrió algo maravilloso… el agua se convirtió en vino; de hecho, era el mejor vino, más allá de las expectativas de todos. Normalmente, uno se espera hasta que la gente esté borracha para luego darles el vino de menor calidad. Pero este era el mejor vino y lo reservamos para el final. Ése es el fruto de la obediencia. Después que el agua se convirtió en vino, fue entonces que los camareros entendieron y vieron el resultado de su obediencia. Ellos obedecieron, aunque no entendían. Esto es lo que nuestro señor nos pide; que cumplamos sus mandamientos y hagamos lo que él nos pide. Quizás estés pensando: “Oh, eso es muy anticuado.” Observa los resultados antes de criticar. Además, está en las escrituras. Si hacemos  lo que nuestro señor nos pide que hagamos, recibiremos recompensas increíbles. ¿Qué tipo de recompensas increíbles? Él mismo. Todo lo demás es una simple representación de su amor por nosotros, así como los regalos que nos damos unos a otros son reflejos de lo que hay en nuestros corazones. 

Llevo mucho tiempo en esto y he asistido a muchas conferencias, probablemente no a tantas como debería porque me vuelven loco y la mayoría de ellas no valen nada. Preferiría estar en un curso de escape y evasión porque sé que esto tiene un final. “¡Oh! Debes comprar este libro; ¡es genial! Puedes aumentar la espiritualidad de tu parroquia.” Así que compré el libro, y es un verdadero iniciador de fuego. En el libro, un sacerdote estaba teniendo un día difícil, así que se puso su chal de oración y encendió su vela de oración. Oye, padre, me estás rompiendo el corazón. ¿Por qué no mejor “bip” vas a la iglesia y rezas frente al santísimo sacramento? Yo sí creo que tienes una llave. Ve a rezar en presencia de nuestro señor. No encuentro nada en las escrituras sobre velas de oración. Son un montón de tonterías. Así que ahórrate algo de dinero en libros tontos.

Puede que se lleve un tiempo, pero Dios siempre recompensa la obediencia a su palabra. El mejor concejo espiritual son las últimas palabras dichas por la santísima madre: “Hagan lo que Él les diga.” Hagan lo que mamá dice.

Reflexiones de un padre… Cuando estuve en Wilmington la semana pasada, vi a una señora que  conozco que hace trabajos de joyería para beneficiar a un refugio para mujeres maltratadas. Esta señora me preguntó: “Oye, padre, ¿quieres un bolígrafo con las manos en oración? Le dije: “Muchas gracias, pero no. Ya tengo dos manos en oración, y están unidas.”

¿Cómo aplicarías este mensaje a tu vida? ____________________________

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Sermon Notes – January 19, 2025 –  “Do What Mom Says”

“Do What Mom Says”

 Father Peter Fitzgibbons

 January 18 – 19, 2025


Gospel:  John 2:1-12

Remember the “E” word I’ve been talking about for the past two weeks?  Epiphany.  What does “epiphany” mean?  Manifestation.  Well, we have another epiphany.  This particular manifestation was of Jesus’ power and love.  He performed the first of His miracles by changing 150 gallons of water into wine.  That’s pretty impressive.  Did Jesus have to do this?  No, but He did it because He loved His mother, and she asked Him to do it.  It is interesting to read the part of Scripture about Jesus’ response to His mother’s request, “Woman, how does your concern affect Me?”  Now, according to Bishop Sheen, a more accurate translation from the original Greek is, “Woman, who are thee to Me?”  Really?  That sounds rather rude. Try saying that to your mother or wife and see how it works out for you.  You just might end up in intensive care.   But this was the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry and His first miracle.  It was also the beginning of Mary’s secondary role – not only was she the Mother of Jesus, but she was also to become the Mother of all mankind.  She came to this realization at the foot of the Cross in Calvary.  The Blessed Mother is a powerful intercessor with her Son.  People ask me, “Father, pray for me.”  I’d be happy to; it’s my job, and I appreciate the faith you have in me to ask.  However, who do you think would get a better hearing?  Me?  I mean, I’m pretty wonderful, but you know . . . the Blessed Mother might have me beat.  Besides, who can refuse their mother anything? 

Jesus told the waiters to fill the stone jars with water.   Now, did they have a water hose?  No.  They hauled buckets from the well.  The water they drew from the well resulted in 150 gallons of the best wine.  That sounds like my family reunions . . . I have a thirsty family.   Filling the jars and then lifting them out of the well would have taken a lot of upper-body strength.   It also took a fair amount of time.  But they did as they were told.   

What is the primary way to holiness?  Obedience.   When Jesus told the waiters to fill the jars with water, can you imagine what was going on in the back of their minds?  “Are you kidding me?  What is this idiot thinking?”  After filling the jars with water, they were told to take them to the head waiter.   Even though they didn’t understand why they were taking the water to the head waiter, they did as they were told.   What happened after that?  A wonderful thing happened . . . the water was changed into wine – in fact, it was the best wine, above and beyond anyone’s expectations.  Normally, you wait until people are smashed and then give them the lesser wine.  But this was the best wine, and it was saved for last.  That’s the fruit of obedience.  After the water was turned into wine, it was then the waiters understood, and they saw the result of their obedience.  They obeyed even though they didn’t understand.  This is what our Lord asks of us; to keep His Commandments and to do what He asks us to do.  You may be thinking, “Oh, that’s so old-fashioned.”   Look at the results before you criticize.  Besides, it’s in Scripture.  If we do what our Lord asks us to do, we will receive unbelievable rewards.  What kinds of unbelievable rewards?  Himself.  All the other stuff is a mere representation of His love for us, just as the gifts we give each other are reflections of what is in our hearts.   

I’ve been around a long time and have gone to a lot of conferences, probably not as many as I should have because they drive me nuts, and most of them are worthless.  I’d rather be on an escape and evasion course because I know there’s an end to it.  “Oh!  You must buy this book; it’s great!  You can increase the spirituality of your parish.”  So, I bought the book, and it’s a real fire starter.   In the book, this one priest was having a tough day, so he put on his prayer shawl and lit his prayer candle.  Hey Father, you’re breaking my heart.  Why don’t you get your ”beep” to the church and pray in front of the Blessed Sacrament?  I do believe you have a key.  Go pray in the presence of our Lord.  I find nothing in Scripture about prayer candles.  It’s a bunch of dribble.   So, save yourself some money on silly books. 

It may take a while but God always rewards obedience to His Word.  The best spiritual advice given is the last words spoken by the Blessed Mother: “Do whatever He tells you.”  Do what mom says.

Father’s Reflections . . . When I was in Wilmington last week, I saw a lady I know who does jewelry work to benefit a battered women’s shelter.  This lady asked me, “Hey, Father, would you like a praying hands pen?”  I said, “Thank you very much, but no.  I already have two praying hands, and they are attached.”



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.


                      

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Sermon Notes – January 12, 2025 – “Behold the Lamb of God”

“Behold the Lamb of God”

 Father Peter Fitzgibbons

 January 11- 12, 2025

Gospel:   Luke 3:15-16, 21-22

Do you remember the Greek I taught you last week about the Epiphany and what it means?   In English, the Epiphany means manifestation, and today there is another one.  Our good Lord is manifested and made visible by God the Father.  God revealed to us the nature of the Trinity . . . the triune nature of God.  The Spirit came upon us in the form of a Dove.  By the way, the word “Spirit” is capitalized in Scripture.  The Holy Spirit revealed the triune nature of God.   We could have realized a lot of things on our own by backward reasoning, but the Trinity of God had to be revealed. 

God also revealed things that are reflected in the “ologies” including Theology, Sacramentology, Soteriology, and Christology.  God said, “This is My beloved Son” which is studied in Christology.  Soteriology is the study of redemption and that of His suffering, death, and resurrection.  Sacramentology, the study of Sacramental Life, began with our Lord’s Baptism and gave us the means for our walk to Paradise.   Soteriology is the study of the Sacrificial Lamb.  He came down to be sacrificed for our redemption.  Remember in Scripture the command our Lord gave the Apostles?  “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).  Contrary to our Protestant brethren and some enlightened Catholics, Baptism was not age restricted.   The house of Cornelius was baptized, including many children.  In those days, the child mortality rate was huge, and if you didn’t have a lot of children, there would be nobody to care for you in your old age.  So, Baptism is the first Sacrament.   

In other accounts of the Baptism of our Lord, what did Saint John say?  In the past, we said this during Mass after the Minor Elevation.  In Latin, which was the language of the Empire and is still the official language of the Church, Saint John said, “Ecce Agnus Dei” which means “Behold the Lamb of God.”  And with that, the question that was first asked in Genesis is finally answered:  Where is the Lamb of Sacrifice Who takes away our sins?   Saint John answered that question 5,000 years after it was asked: “Ecce Agnus Dei” – “Behold the Lamb of God.”  He picked Jesus out of a crowd.  Behold the Lamb of God. 

It was not the people’s lamb and not the Jew’s lamb, but the Lamb of God who came to be sacrificed.   Lambs are gentle and docile, just as Jesus was.  He was docile to God the Father by obeying His Word.   Our Lord did the will of the Father.  He came down and achieved our redemption by His death and resurrection.  He took on a human nature to fulfill the debt that man could not repay because of the abomination of the first sin.  It was such a great offense that only God could repair it.  Our first parents walked with God and talked with God. They had full knowledge of Who God is, and they still disobeyed Him by eating the apple.  “I’m going to do what I want and eat the apple.”  That was such an offense that only God could correct it. 

God sent the Sacrificial Lamb to redeem us.  That is what we are doing here today.  We see the Lamb of God in the Most Blessed Sacrament.  As Saint John said, and as you can also say, “I see the Lamb of God.”  Ecce agnus dei – Behold the Lamb of God.  He’s right there in the Tabernacle.  We have God.  It is the fulfillment of His love for us.  You see His Sacrifice in the Mass.  It is not a re-sacrifice of Christ; He will not have to die again.  It is a view of what is always before the Father in Heaven pleading on our behalf and will be until the end of time.  “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.”  It is the Sacrificial Lamb Who is on the Altar.  As Scripture has it, He is the scapegoat for our sins.  The Lamb of God is among the lambs He created.  What a wonderful thing. 

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.”

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Sermon Notes – January 5, 2025 – “A Tour of the Nativity”

“A Tour of the Nativity”

Father Peter Fitzgibbons

January 4 – 5, 2025

Gospel:  Matthew 2:1-12

As you can see, and as promised, the Wisemen made it.  They always do.  The creche will be up for another week.  Do you know why?  The Christmas season doesn’t end until next week, which is the Baptism of our Lord.  I’m kind of a traditionalist, so we are keeping it up until then.  Saint Francis is credited for creating the first nativity scene in the 13th Century.  The nativity or creche is a portrait of the Church and a small book on Catholic theology, so I’m always amused when non-Catholics have one.   You display Catholic icons, and you’re not Catholic?  Really? 

The creche is the Church and is one of the first of many manifestations of Christ in the Gospel.  Inside the creche, you see Christology – the study of Christ; Ecclesiology – the study of Who the Church is; Soteriology – the study of redemption; Hagiography – the study of the saints; and Eucharistic theology, the study of doctrine regarding the Eucharist.  There are a lot of ‘ologies’ present in the creche and, in the interest of time, I’ll make just a few points about each.

In Ecclesiology, you learn that the Church and its people are always gathered around Jesus just as we are now – He’s right there in the Tabernacle.   In the creche, you find who makes up the Church.  Who makes up the Body of Christ?  That’s an interesting question.  In the creche, we see the very holy – the Blessed Mother and Saint Joseph were both born without original sin.   You also see the very learned and the very ignorant.  Do you know why they are there?  The ignorant – the shepherds – know that they don’t know anything.  They were not the sharpest knives in the drawer, but they knew enough to be obedient.  They responded to the voice of an angel, and they saw the Savior.  The Wisemen are educated and know they don’t know everything, which is the goal of education.   They took the shoe leather express across the desert, which would not have been fun.  What do the Blessed Mother, Saint Joseph, the Wisemen, and the shepherds have in common?  Obedience.  If you read the Gospels, obedience did not always come easy.  The Wisemen walked across the desert or rode on camels, neither of which would be pleasant.  And yes, I have ridden on a camel.  I haven’t eaten one, but I’ve heard they taste like chicken.  But if you walk across the desert during the day, it’s not pleasant, and it’s not much better at night.  During the day, the temperature is about 70 degrees, but at night it drops to about 30 degrees.   The Wisemen were out there in the desert, and they were freezing.  Their trip across the desert was both brutal and dangerous.   But they were obedient, and they won the prize for obedience . . . to see the Savior and be in His presence.   We will, too, if we are obedient and achieve Heaven.   

In the creche, the Savior is lying in a manger, which reflects Soteriology.  In 33 years, the wood of the manger would become the wood of the Cross.  So, His suffering, death, and resurrection are already forecasted in the nativity. 

Christology is also reflected because of the gifts the Wisemen brought:  gold because He is a king and frankincense because He is God.   A lot of non-Catholics say, “Using incense is terrible.”  Why?  It’s used in Scripture.  Christ didn’t throw it out, did He?   The Blessed Mother didn’t say, “Get this crap out of here,” did she?  In fact, incense is used in the presence of God.  Read Revelation 8:3-5.  Incense is the prayers of God’s people rising.  If you want to be biblical, use incense.  The Wisemen also brought myrrh which forecasted Christ’s sacrifice.  Myrrh is a burial spice similar to formaldehyde or embalming fluid.  I’m sure the Blessed Mother wasn’t exactly thrilled about that gift.  The first two gifts were pretty cool, but that last one, not so much.  There is no sense in Scripture that she knew her Son would die.  But that is why He came.  In 33 years, the reason He came would be fulfilled . . . to suffer in death and to be resurrected so that we would have the means to eternal life.   

Finally, Eucharistic theology is reflected in the creche because Christ laid in a manger where the animals ate, and He became for us the Bread of Life.  His flesh would become the food of life for all of us.  Christ said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink His blood, you have no life in you” (John 6:53).   For the non-Catholics, He is saying that His flesh is real food, and His blood is real drink. 

The Epiphany is a wonderful meditation about the truths of our faith.   I always liked the sheep and wished I could be like them.  Know why?  They realized they had no brains, but they had great humility, and they were there.  They kept our Savior warm.

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.”

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Sermon Notes – “Why You Should be Catholic” – December 22, 2024

“Why You Should be Catholic”

Father Peter Fitzgibbons

December 21 – 22, 2024

Gospel:  Luke 1:39-45

 If you are a big fan of Scripture, you would be Catholic.  In the 3rd or 4th Century, the Church assembled the Councils of Nicea, which resulted in the Nicene Creed which we will recite in a few minutes.  The Councils of Nicea declared Mary to be the Mother of God.  Some people might say, “But that’s not found in Scripture.”  Yes, it is.  You just heard it in the Gospel of Luke when Elizabeth called her the Mother of the Lord:  “43 Why should I be honoured with a visit from the Mother of my Lord?”  The Jews would only use the word “Lord” in reference to God.   Remember, you have to study scripture in the original language.  If you understood Scripture, you would have a deep affection for Mary not only because she is the Mother of God, but also because she is one of the authors of Scripture.  “What do you mean, Father?”   That’s a good question.  This is what I mean:  Where did Luke get his information?   He wasn’t there.  He wasn’t an apostle.  Luke was a physician who didn’t show up until much later with Saint Paul.  So, where did Luke get his information?   He got it from the original source, our Blessed Mother.   So, if you have a reverence for Scripture, you should also have a reverence for the Blessed Mother, and you should probably be Catholic. 

Now, there’s not a lot of Scripture that focuses on Saint Joseph, who was a humble man and a wonderful example of faith, especially for men.  He is the patron saint of the Church, fathers, and families.  Saint Joseph was a very military kind of guy.  He was told in a dream to take Mary as his wife, who had conceived the Son of God through the power of the Holy Spirit.  What did he say?  He said, “Okay.”   He was the perfect husband, right ladies?   Actually, Scripture does not record any words said by Saint Joseph.  In fact, after he and Mary found Jesus in the temple, Joseph disappears from Scripture altogether.  Scripture was written only to disclose the truth of salvation.  It is not a history book.  That is why there are no dinosaurs in it because dinosaurs are not essential for salvation.  Scripture is not a medical textbook.  It does not teach us how to do brain surgery because that is not the purpose of Scripture.  Scripture was written so that we might know of God’s love and how to achieve Heaven.  Scripture contains only what is necessary for salvation. 

The New Testament was written by the Church.  Remember, when Paul was writing the Epistles, the Church had already been established throughout the world.  Saint Joseph, in an act of faith, took Mary as his wife.  He had a lot of physical work to do.  In the middle of winter, Saint Joseph was told to take his nine-month-pregnant wife to Bethlehem using the “shoe leather express.”   Even though it was a very dangerous trip, Joseph said, “Okay.”   It was a very inconvenient time to be traveling because of the ongoing Roman census.   Traveling to Bethlehem at that time would have been like trying to find parking in Charlotte at a Panthers game.  Joseph knew that the Motel 6 would be full, so they stayed in a cave with the animals where it was a bit aromatic but warm. 

Whenever Joseph is mentioned in the bible, he is always practicing obedience.  Why?  Was he afraid of God?  No.  He did it because he loved God.  All those hardships God asked Saint Joseph to endure were gifts of love for the Beloved, for Mary, and for God’s son, Christ.   A common tradition in the Church is that Saint Joseph had no sin, original or otherwise.   I recommend you read ‘The Glories of Saint Joseph’ by Saint Alphonsus Liguori.  What was Saint Joseph’s reward?  He did not see the Resurrection; otherwise, why would Christ entrust the care of His mother to Saint John?  So, what was the reward for Saint Joseph’s obedience?  He was the first human being to hold God in his hands.  When Mary gave birth, who was there?  Joseph.  He held God Himself in his hands.  He was also the first human being to look down at Heaven instead of up. 

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.”

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Sermon Notes – “In the Quietness, God Lets Us Know He Hears Us” – December 15, 2024

“In the Quietness, God Lets Us Know He Hears Us”

Father Peter Fitzgibbons

December 14-15, 2024

Gospel: Luke 3:10-18   

Today Holy Mother Church celebrates the 3rd Sunday of Advent.  I hope and pray to be here for the 4th and final Sunday of Advent.  At 71 years of age, I have more time behind me than I probably have ahead of me.   My chaplain friends ask me if I’m ready for Christmas.  Yeah.  How do you get ready for Christmas?  Saint John the Baptist told us how, as he prepared Israel for the coming of the Savior, he said, “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight His paths”(Luke 3: 1-6).   

We pass this law and that law so that we can get everybody straightened out and decide how they will live.  Our Lord did not mean that.  He meant us.   We are great at prescribing for other people, but not for ourselves.  We must make straight the paths of the Lord in our own hearts, and He tells us exactly how to do it.  If you have two coats, give one to someone who is cold.  If you have more than enough food, give some to a person who is hungry.  Soldiers should not bully anyone (we never do).  Tax collectors should not take any more than they should.  He tells us how to prepare our souls for the coming of Christ.  Live a moral life.  Living a moral life burns away the stain of sin and prepares our souls to be at peace when our Savior comes, whether it’s in Holy Communion, at our death, at His 2nd coming, or at the commemoration of His incarnation coming on December 25th.   

There are a lot of books on prayer.  “Say these prayers, and everything will be all right.”  No.   I had this one secretary at the VA who said, “I said this prayer, and I claimed that miracle.”  Really?  Do you think that God told the parents who have children in St. Jude’s that if they didn’t pray correctly, He would let their children die?  No.  Prayer is an act of love.  Why do we do acts of love?  For the sake of the Beloved, not for ourselves.

Now, He never says that by doing all these things, you will feel better.  You may not.  He also didn’t say that when you pray you would levitate.  He said, “Pray. Stay with Me for a while.”  He didn’t say you would be happy all the time and doing the happy dance.  Sometimes we can be weak and terrified, so when someone gets sick on pea soup, we panic: “Oh, my God!  It’s satan!”  No, it’s just bad pea soup.   

Living a moral life is very noble.  You all are here, so I know you are trying to live moral lives.  Sometimes it’s not fun, is it?  For example, on doctor’s orders, I have to eat fish twice a week.  It’s part of the Fourth Commandment, so I have to obey it.   Do you know how I feel about the thought of eating fish?  Nauseous.  I hate fish but I have to eat it.  It’s a work of love.  I’m not saying love of self wouldn’t expand my lifespan, but I trust in Almighty God who has given physicians medical knowledge and wisdom.  Doing acts of love does not always feel good.  Occasionally, every now and again, once in a while, our Lord will favor us with His consolation.  In the military, we call that an “atta boy.”  It can be disappointing because I like being told I’m doing a great job.  I have been a priest for 40 years, and I’m still not a monsignor.  That’s really crushing!  I’m a Very Reverend, but that’s just an honorary title.  I wish that were true. 

When you pray through your works of charity, you may feel like, “Hey, God.  I’m doing all this stuff and getting nothing in return.”  Yes, you are.  You are growing away from self-love and toward your love for Him.  You are preparing your soul for Christ.  You are doing a great job, so do not be disappointed.  That’s a great temptation of the devil.  You may be disappointed because you are not getting atta-boys or atta-girls.  But every now and then, God will let us know as He did Elijah in the cave.  Don’t look for a huge and momentous event; that scares people.  But in the quietness, God lets us know He hears us and that we are safe in the palm of His hand.  Our Lord said, “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in Heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you (Matthew 5:11-12).   So, when we do all these acts of love and do not get anything back from our Lord, that is when we are growing more and more in love with Him.

So, how do we prepare for Christmas?  We do as we are told.  

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.

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Sermon Notes – December 8, 2024 – “We Have Christmas Every Day”

 “We Have Christmas Every Day”

Father Peter Fitzgibbons

December 7-8, 2024

Gospel:   Luke 3:1-6

I heard confessions on Monday night in Statesville and Thursday night at St. Lukes.  On Monday night, we were invited to dinner at Outback.  One priest had never heard the phrase “circling the drain.”   My gosh!  Where have you been all your life?  You haven’t spent much time in hospitals and around nurses, have you?   On Thursday night, I had to educate one of the older priests when he said, “Well, the patient’s mother and wife wanted him to be given Last Rites, but the patient wouldn’t take it, so I left without giving it to him.”   I told this priest I’m a trained hospitalist, and this is how you handle that situation.   You wait until you see the nurses go by with the medication cart.  Then, have a cup of coffee and, after about ten minutes, go back into the patient’s room while he’s bombed and ask him, ‘Would you like Last Rites now? Oh, I thought you might say ‘yes.’”   Or you could ask the nurses when the patient will be medicated again and wait about ten minutes after that to ask him if he wants Last Rites.  Get the mission done, Father.   But God takes care of that anyway.  That’s just my bed-snide manner.  That night at dinner, Father Rossi ordered some hors d’oeuvres.  He asked me if I would like some tuna ahi.  It looked like undone roast beef.  I said, “That’s very kind, Father.  Would it get me any time off purgatory?”   No?  In that case, they don’t make a pharmaceutical strong enough to make me eat that thing.   I don’t eat fish.  I have a rule. 

In 17 days and a wake-up, we will celebrate the incarnation of God.  Our good Lord became incarnate in the womb of the Blessed Mother and made visible on Christmas.  We do not have to ask what love looks like because we can see it.  It’s a wonderful day.  God becoming incarnate was a great act of love by God.  But was it His greatest act of love?  No.  His greatest act of love was the crucifixion.   People say, “I wish we could have Christmas every day.”  You do!  I don’t get cookies every day like I do at Christmas, but God comes to us every day in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. 

Jesus, as the 2nd Person in the Blessed Trinity, was hard to see under the veil of human flesh and blood.  He is also hard to see under the veil of bread and wine in the Mass when it becomes His Most Precious Body and Blood.  But this is our faith.   His human nature was united with His divinity in what is called hypostatic union.  In the Mass, that happens when I put a drop of water into the chalice of wine.  That is His human nature being assumed into His divine nature.  At every Mass, God becomes flesh again.  He is incarnate in the Most Blessed Sacrament in every Catholic church in the world.  So, we have Christmas every day but without bad music like, “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause” and “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer.”  Shut up!  Those songs make me want to rip out the loudspeaker. 

God is present in our world.  On His ascension, Jesus took the flesh that he received from the Blessed Mother and brought it to Heaven.  But He did not leave our world.  He didn’t say, “I’m going up to Heaven, and when it’s time, I’ll come back to get you and take you home.”  God is made present in our world every day in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.  It was hard for the Apostles to see our Lord and believe He was truly God.  Because of our fallen human nature, it is also difficult for us because we see with the eyes of our bodies instead of the eyes of our souls.  The trouble is our vision.  I appreciate all the hard work my eye doctor, Dr. Billingsly, has done for me.  He has saved me from walking around with a stick and a dog.  But the ability to see with the eyes of faith is most important to me. 

We have God’s physical presence every day, just like the Apostles.  We have Christmas every day.  Isn’t that wonderful?  It truly is.  Granted, we don’t have cookies and baked goods every day.  I will leave my back door open if anyone would care to make a donation.  I would be most grateful; just don’t tell my doctor.    We have Christmas every day without the bad music, wreaths, trees, and lawn statues, but that is unimportant.  What is important is what resides in the Tabernacle.  God came into the world, and He never left. 

Father’s Afterthoughts: 

We had a new patient in hospice.  He’s 91 years old.  So, I went into his room and started talking to him to see if he was oriented to time and place.  He was pretty “gah-gah.”   My final question was, “Do you remember the branch of service you were in?”  He said, “Marines!”   That question always gets through.

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.”

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Sermon Notes – We Find God in the Silence – December 1, 2024

“We Find God in the Silence”

Father Peter Fitzgibbons

December 1, 2024

Gospel:   Luke 21:25-28, 34-36

Before Mass, I was talking to a lady who just returned from Lourdes.  I’ve been to Fatima several times but never to Lourdes.  Before you enter the shrine area, the grotto, or the church itself, signs ask for silence and appropriate dress.  Shorts are not allowed.  If you are not silent, someone will come to remind you; if one reminder is not enough, they will ask you to leave.  The silence is out of respect for Who dwells there.  Exterior silence is essential for prayer.  C.S. Lewis wrote “The Screw Tape Letters.”  Screwtape was one of the senior devils, and he had a little devil who was trying to rise up the demonic ladder.  This little devil said he was trying to think of innovative ways to get people away from God.  Screwtape told him that they already had an excellent method called noise.  Noise is very distracting.  It takes you away from who you are talking to or who you are trying to listen to. 

In the Mass, there are certain sections for reverential silence.  Unfortunately, the Mass has developed into something where people are moving, singing and doing whatever.  Someone said that those are supposed to be moments of meditation.  No, they are not.  Whoever said that did not go to a proper seminary.  Meditation takes about 20 minutes, and there is a reason for that.  Not only do we get the noise from outside that interferes with our concentration, but we also have silent, distracting noises in our hearts.  So, no matter how quiet it is in church, except for now, while I’m speaking, the hamsters are going and going, aren’t they?

We all have difficulties, and we all think about these things we must do whirling around in our heads.  Ideally, we leave all those things at the door.  But we bring them into church and give them to our Lord.  What happens when we have the stillness of the soul or as best we can?  Remember, we are men, not angels.  It is then we can hear God speak to us as He did to Elijah while he was in the cave.  God was not in the storm.  God was not in the earthquake.  God was in the silence afterward.  In the Garden of Gethsemane, our Lord asked the Apostles, “Can you not spare an hour to watch with Me?”  He didn’t ask them to talk.  He didn’t ask them to sing.  He asked the Apostles to watch with Him.  That is a huge part of prayer.

Last week, the hospice chaplain asked me if I would sit with a man who was actively dying.  He had been actively dying for three days, so he was a little slow at it.  I said, “Sure.”  I have done that many times.  Did I know him?  No.  Did I know his family?  No.  Did I know if he was a good man?  No.  What I did know is that he was a child of God.  So, I sat with him and reminded him to breathe.  He was trying to break the habit.  But in that room, in that reverential silence, I knew God was either there to take him or would be coming soon.  I prayed that he would have a merciful judgment and go joyfully to his loving God.  God was in that room, and I was listening.  That is a part of preparing for Advent. 

People ask, “Father, are you ready for Christmas?”  My response is, “I don’t mean to be sarcastic, but what difference does it make?  It’s going to come whether I am ready or not.”  It makes no difference.  Christmas is coming.  All these things we have to do are wonderful.  However, the most important thing we have to do is our interior preparation, which makes all the exterior preparations worthwhile.   All those gifts people give each other are expressions of God’s love.   The love within them is the love of God expressed by giving to others.  How much more expressive would they be if their souls were holier?  Do yourself a favor this first week of Advent and read “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry.

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.”