This video helps explain the beauty and importance of the state of our souls. Communion with God is only possible once we have been reconciled with God and his Church. That is why Confession is so important. If you want to receive God, going to Confession is the first step.
Sermon Notes – December 17, 2023 – “Christmas is NOT the Season for Giving“
“Christmas is NOT the Season for Giving“
Father Peter Fitzgibbons
December 16 – 17, 2023
Gospel: John 1:6-8, 19-28
A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light.
And this is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him to ask him, “Who are you?” He admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, “I am not the Christ.” So, they asked him, “What are you then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?” He said: “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘make straight the way of the Lord,’” as Isaiah the prophet said.” Some Pharisees were also sent. They asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water; but there is One among you whom you do not recognize, the One who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Do you know what the two kinds of people in church are? Well, there are saints and sinners – we are all sinners, so that’s us. Some are ordained and not ordained. There is no second class. In Rome, they are saying, “Oh, we make the decisions.” “Women need the power to make great decisions.” Really? Did you grow up in a hole? Women always make decisions. Are you kidding me? There is also chatter in the Church about who wants to lead or who wants power. How about John the Baptist? He said, “I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of His sandals” (John 1:7). In those times, do you know who unstrapped people’s sandals and washed their feet? Slaves. John said he was beneath the slaves. Know what Jesus said about John the Baptist? He said, “Among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist” (Matthew 11:11). So even as great a man as John was, he was not worthy to untie the sandals of our Savior. We have to remember our state. Even as a priest, I must remember my state. I was given this gift for you and not for myself. I am a better priest when I am more humble as I try to be holy. So whatever gifts we have been given are for others.
Have you ever heard that Christmas is the season for giving? Do you know where that phrase originated? Walmart and all the stores before them. Christmas is NOT the season for giving. Christmas is the season for receiving. What is Christmas? It is the reception of Christ coming into our world. The first Christmas was when we received our dear Savior in a stable in Bethlehem. We received Him into this world so that He could fulfill His promise to come, suffer, die, open the doors of Heaven, and give us the means to achieve our salvation. Christmas is the season for receiving. We are called to prepare ourselves for the reception of Christ not only at the anniversary of His birth in this world but also for that time when we experience our perfect Christmas which is when we get to see Him and enter Heaven.
Holy Mother Church stresses that we should prepare our souls to celebrate His coming. He is our true peace and happiness. We are called to prepare ourselves for all the little Christmas we experience when we receive Him in Holy Communion and the Sacrament of Penance. We can receive Christ every day. How often can you receive Holy Communion? Do you know? Once a day? Actually, more than once a day. Twice if you receive Holy Communion at a daily Mass and then go to a wedding or a funeral. You can go to Confession once a day too. Popes and the great saints went every day to receive the grace of our Lord in the Sacraments.
So, Christmas is the season of receiving. When we receive, we can give. Only by the reception of our Lord and welcoming Him into our souls and our lives are we able to give that love to others. You cannot give what you do not have. We cannot give love if we do not have the Author of love inside our souls. We just can’t. So, this is the season to prepare ourselves to receive our Savior not only on the anniversary of His birth into this world but before every Mass and every time we receive the Sacrament of Penance which could be every day . . . just trying to drum up business. When you receive Holy Communion, you receive Him spiritually and physically into your body. So, for Catholics, every day can be Christmas.
This is the season for receiving. I am not telling you to skip giving gifts to your family and friends. Don’t do that. I don’t want to make your life harder than it needs to be. But all that is just an expression of what should be inside. If it’s not there, you need to receive our Lord a lot more often.
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.”
The Catechism in a Year – Day 192 – Unity in the Eucharist
The sacrament of Holy Communion unites the faithful together in a most profound, visible way. It also makes disunity in the Church all the more painful and apparent. The Catechism reveals the Church’s teachings regarding the Eucharist and Christian churches who are not in full communion with the Catholic Church. Fr. Mike addresses a most common and difficult question: “If a non-Catholic believes that the Eucharist is truly Jesus, why can they not receive him in the sacrament?” Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1396-1401.
Click on link to play video: https://youtu.be/apkookyx7IU
Receiving Holy Communion
The Catechism goes over the prerequisites to receiving Jesus in the Eucharist, as well as how often the faithful can and should receive him. Fr. Mike ensures that we understand the gravity of our obligation to go to the sacrament of Reconciliation before receiving Communion. As St. Paul said, “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord.” Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1384-1390.
Click on link to play video: https://youtu.be/tAI4giwA86E
Sermon Notes – June 11, 2023 – “I Can and I Did”
I Can and I Did
Father Peter Fitzgibbons
June 10 – 11, 2023
Gospel: John 6:51-58
Jesus said to the Jewish crowds: “I am the living bread that came down from Heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is My flesh for the life of the world.” The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent Me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on Me will have life because of Me. This is the bread that came down from Heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.”
I have heard this many times, and you probably have too – “Father.” Yes. I can already hear the tone. “Father.” Oh God, here it comes. “Got a minute, Father?” Please, no! “Can we talk?” No – you want to talk while I listen. “The Church has an awful lot of rules.” Well, so does Christ. I mean, I read the book, and He has a lot of rules. Christ said, “If you love Me, keep My Commandments.” Our rules are His rules. “Well Father, why are there all those rules about Communion?” Well, the rules about Communion are Scriptural. Church laws are like Jersey barriers . . . they keep you on the road instead of driving over a cliff. They help keep you safe. Church law helps keep us on the right path . . . they keep us from becoming too liberal or too conservative.
The central mystery of our Faith is transubstantiation. At the Mass, Christ is present in the bread and wine, and He gives us His Most Precious Body and Blood just as He did in the Upper Room. This is the central mystery of our Faith. Only we and the Orthodox churches believe in transubstantiation. All the other churches rejected the doctrine of Real Presence. That’s why there’s no possibility of Communion, that, and the other moral things they have rejected.
The scriptural penance for receiving Communion unworthily is that you are guilty of Christ’s death. That’s a rule that has been passed down by the apostles. I can’t change that. You may be willing to take the rap for it, but I’m not. The central mystery of the Faith is that Christ is physically present in the Blessed Sacrament and made present on the altar. This is our Faith. This is His gift . . . the gift of Himself. You receive the whole Christ no matter the form in which you receive Him. You receive all of Christ, and it is blasphemy if you say, “Receiving both species is more meaningful.”
Some people cannot receive both species. I knew someone who was undergoing cancer therapy. He could not chew or swallow. So, one day at Mass, I took a syringe, filled it up, capped it, and put it underneath my sleeve. After Mass, I gave him the Most Precious Blood of Christ through his G-tube. Did he receive the fullness of God? Of course, he did. I told this story to some priests, and they said, “Oh, you cannot do that!” I can, and I did. I said, “Guys, that was one day I stayed awake in class. Look it up.” To their credit, they later told me I was right. No kidding. I’m a hospitalist. That’s what I do.
This is the mystery . . . we receive Christ Himself. Only a priest or a deacon is supposed to touch the Sacred Vessel. The Sacred Vessel holds Christ. Priests are consecrated by the bishop before ordination. At the Ordination Mass, the Bishop ordains the priest and presents him with a chalice which is consecrated and filled with the Most Precious Blood. The chalice is kept locked away. I went to one church to do some vicar work so that I could maintain my big title. In this church, they had displayed old chalices that other priests had left there. Na–na-na-na – No! “What do you mean?” Did I stutter? Chalices are not objects of art. They are supposed to be preserved and under lock and key.
Only a priest or deacon is supposed to give Holy Communion except under extraordinary circumstances. Every Sunday is not an extraordinary circumstance – it comes 52 times a year, so you knew it was coming. One of the exceptions happened at the Dachau Concentration Camp. There was a whole area for priests. The priests used to smuggle the Blessed Sacrament out under the wire so that laity could give it since the priests couldn’t. That’s the type of extraordinary circumstance I’m talking about. This is such a precious gift – the gift of Christ Himself. You will be fed if you are able. If not, come see me and we will work it out. Just like the apostles, you will be fed Christ Himself by the priest in persona Christi. And you can do that every day except on my day off or you can go to Concord. Driving a few miles is a fair trade to receive the great gift of Christ Himself just like the apostles. There’s no difference except for time and place. “Well, Father that was over 2,000 years ago, and this is Albemarle not Jerusalem.” God is everywhere and time is always in the present to Him. When you say things like that, you are denying the nature of God. But because of original sin and sins committed by us and to us after Baptism, we lose sight of Him.
We experience the fruits of Christ’s redemption by receiving Him in the Most Blessed Sacrament. The Real Presence is the greatest gift. Are there rules? Yes, there are rules. However, the rules are aids for our salvation. They keep us focused on the One who is truly here and Who wishes to give Himself to you.
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 Facebook page at ola.catholic.church. Click on “Groups” and then “Sermon Notes.”
Sermon Notes – November 21, 2021 – A White Fence Must be Maintained
A White Fence Must be Maintained
Father Peter Fitzgibbons
November 20 – 21, 2021
Gospel: John 18:33-37
I think it is time for a Catechetical lesson. From time to time, we need to review best practices because even a white fence must be maintained otherwise it turns black. During the Mass last night, there were two accidents that upset me greatly. Two people dropped the Host. In the United States, there are two ways to receive Holy Communion if you are in a State of Grace. One way is on the hand. If you choose to receive on the hand, one hand is held beneath the other. You take the Host from your free hand and put it into your mouth. Now, it is my right to refuse to give you Communion. I’ve seen all sorts of things… like stamps from the bar where someone was the night before. Yeah, I had a life too before I became a priest. Also, I served with paratroopers at Fort Bragg. But giving you Communion on the hand would be sacrilegious. The normative way of receiving Holy Communion in the Universal Church is on the tongue. You may kneel at the altar rail if you choose, or you may stick out your tongue and say “Amen” after I say, “Body of Christ.” I don’t take your sticking out your tongue at me personally. But please don’t pretend you’re an iguana. I will give it to you. Extend your tongue and leave it there. And don’t lick my hand, okay? I expect that from Tilley and Marley and all the other puppies who love me. I’ve been doing this a very long time – for 38 years – so I’ve got it. I’m a professional. Please don’t try to help me. Also, don’t open your mouth, stick out your tongue, and smile at me. Please remember “Who” you are receiving. Jesus is a “Who.” He is not a “what.” That’s blasphemy. You are receiving God Himself. Oh, and my arm is only so long, so when you come up to receive Communion, don’t stand back at the pew. What am I supposed to do, launch it at you? Get up here! I tested negative twice last Friday, so I’m safe, alright? Just come up and after I say, “Body of Christ” and you say “Amen,” put the Host in your mouth. I must see you put it in your mouth. If you walk away and I don’t see you put it in your mouth, I will hurt your feelings. . . dramatically. In my best military manner, I will hurt your feelings because I have vowed to protect the Blessed Sacrament with my life. So, do not try to walk away without putting it in your mouth. Remember the sacredness of what is happening during the Mass and with Holy Communion.
Today is the Solemnity of Christ the King. We acknowledge Christ as King. What does that mean? We come here and sing songs from the hymnals? No. He’s the king of what? Why is He a king? Who is the king in your heart and soul? It’s the ones you love. They have priority. Everything you do in this life is for the sake of the ones you love. . .your spouse, your children, and your grandchildren. Everything is focused on them within Christ. That’s how you learn to love. Because we love Him, we do the things that help us love Him more. He is the sole source of our life and our joy. You say that Christ is coming back to judge us. Uh-Oh. It’s like a teenage party and Mom is coming. Quick! Time to clean the house. Too late now! By the way, it’s never too late to say “I’m sorry” to God. If we love God, we look forward to that moment.
We were never meant to die. That’s why it takes bodies so long to die. We have a man in Hospice at the VA hospital who has ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease. He’s a textbook case. The nurses and doctors are amazed at how slowly he is dying, and it’s so painful to watch. Our bodies were never meant to die. That’s why we fear it. But we are all going to see Jesus one way or another. When we go to our Lord, we prove our love by the works of love we’ve done. What are works of love? Saint Augustine said that the work itself is love. We keep His Commandments. “Oh, Father. That’s so old-fashioned and very judgmental.” Well, Jesus is judgmental. Remember, there is a final exam during which He judges us. What are the works of love? Well, what does it say in Scripture? “If you love Me, keep My Commandments.” So, the Commandments are not just punishing acts. “We are over the Commandments. We are full of love and joy!’ No, no, no. Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My Commandments.” By the way, there are more than ten. If you read the Book, just the black part, don’t read the white, you will be more content. This is how we prove that we love Jesus. He is the source and summit of our love. We try to keep His Commandments. Are we perfect? No. But that doesn’t mean we stop trying. This is how we prove the primary love in our heart and Who we love above all. “We need just laws.” No, we have more laws than we know what to do with. We need just people. We need holy people. We don’t need more laws. We need holier people. Have you noticed that the SWAT team has never raided Belmont Abbey? And I don’t see Mother Angelica’s sisters being raided by the Feds. Just saying. Want to save money on police? Want to take money out of prisons? Become holier. That’s how God will judge us. The throne in our soul was created for our Lord to reside. At the time of our passing, God will look to see if His Son is there. He will look into our souls to see if love and peace reside there.
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.” They can also be found on Facebook by searching for “Our Lady of the Annunciation Albemarle”