The Spiritual Life

With Christ’s Ascension, We Must offer Him the Kingly Honor He Refused on Earth

May 9, 2025

(Fall-Winter, 2005)A Sermon for the Feast of the Ascension Delivered by the Very Rev. Fr. M. Casimir Puskorius, CMRI In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. My dear parishioners, this feast of the Ascension of Our Lord into Heaven is one of the feasts of His Kingship. Our Lord was always a King. Even before He assumed our human nature He was always the Lord and King of creation. When He was conceived by the Holy Ghost in the womb of the Virgin Mary, He was the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. But we see thus far in His life Christ makes no effort whatsoever to seek the honor that was His due. As a matter of fact, one time in His public life after He had worked a miracle, the people were so thrilled and so grateful

The Mystery of the Holy Trinity in the Old Testament

January 29, 2025

By the Most Rev. Mark A. Pivarunas, CMRI (Winter 2008) How often we make the Sign of the Cross and invoke the Holy Trinity, and yet give little thought to the significance of the words which mark the beginning of all our prayers. Whenever we begin to pray, we invoke the Blessed Trinity, one God in three Divine Persons: “In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” So, too, when we pray the Psalms, we end with “Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.” The first part of this beautiful prayer was composed by the Apostles, and the conclusion — “…as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.”— was added at the time of the Council of Nicaea. Where does the doctrine of the Trinity come from? Now

Why Fasting and Doing Penance are Vital for Salvation

January 21, 2025

by Rev. Fr. Benedict Hughes, CMRI (Winter, 2018) Why Did the Apostles Not Fast While Jesus Was With Them? When Did They Begin the Holy Practice? One day the disciples of St. John the Baptist came to Jesus and asked why His disciples did not fast. They pointed out that they and the Pharisees often fasted, and that they had not observed the disciples of Jesus fasting. We could well understand why. Jesus traveled around continuously, and His disciples would have to eat whenever they were able. Jesus Himself had instructed them to “eat what is set before you.” (Luke 10:8). But in His reply to the question posed, Jesus gives another reason: “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then they will fast.” (Matt. 9:15). This reply of

The Three Magi are Our Model for Persevering in Faith to the End

January 5, 2025

A Sermon preached on January 6, 2013, by Rev. Fr. Benedict Hughes, CMRI My dearly beloved in Christ, today we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany, which is a very important, high-ranking feast in the Church year. Usually, the Feast of the Epiphany falls on a weekday, and so the faithful are not all present for Mass, because in the United States it is not observed as a holyday of obligation. The observation of Epiphany as a holyday does occur in Canada and in many other countries because of the significance of the feast day. The word epiphany means manifestation or appearing because it is the feast of Christ manifesting Himself to the Gentile nations. At the birth of Our Lord the Angel appeared to the shepherds and announced the birth of the Redeemer. The shepherds represented the Chosen People, the descendants of Abraham, of Isaac and of Jacob —

The Liturgy of Christmas: Excerpt From a 1994 Pastoral Letter by Bishop Pivarunas

December 24, 2024

by Bishop Mark Pivarunas, CMRI Dearly Beloved in Christ, During this holy season of Christmas, our Holy Mother the Catholic Church celebrates in a singular and wonderful manner the joyous feast of the Nativity of her Divine Savior Jesus Christ. This can be readily seen in particular by the unique permission which is granted to priests to offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass three times on the Birthday of Christ, and by the continuation of the celebration of His Birth by an extension of eight days – the Octave of Christmas. As we follow the Church’s liturgy during this Octave and throughout the entire Christmas season, we shall find tremendous significance in all that the Catholic Church does in her official, public worship of God. This is the reason that Pope St. Pius X and Pope Pius XII encouraged the faithful to follow the Holy Mass and the other

The Scarcely-Known Practice of Spiritual Communion Abounds With Richer Graces Than We Realize

December 19, 2024

A Sermon Preached by Rev. Fr. Bernard Uttley, O.S.B., on November 4, 2012 What is Spiritual Communion and Why is It Beneficial to Souls? The holy doctrine and practice of Spiritual Communion is often forgotten, underestimated, or misunderstood. Being so little known, it is practiced even less. This is very unfortunate, for it is a wonderful practice, greatly esteemed by the saints, and extolled and recommended by Holy Mother Church, as an incomparable source of grace and holiness. The Catechism of the Council of Trent says: “The shepherds of souls should teach their flock that there is not one, but rather two, manners of receiving the admirable fruits of the Sacrament of the Eucharist; namely: Sacramental Communion and Spiritual Communion.” But what exactly is Spiritual Communion? The great St. Thomas gives us a brief, but perfect, answer: “Spiritual Communion consists in an ardent desire of receiving Jesus Christ in the

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With Christ’s Ascension, We Must offer Him the Kingly Honor He Refused on Earth

The Mystery of the Holy Trinity in the Old Testament

Why Fasting and Doing Penance are Vital for Salvation

The Three Magi are Our Model for Persevering in Faith to the End

The Liturgy of Christmas: Excerpt From a 1994 Pastoral Letter by Bishop Pivarunas

The Scarcely-Known Practice of Spiritual Communion Abounds With Richer Graces Than We Realize

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