Fr Dino Vanin“So that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.” This is, in a nutshell, not only the reason for having the Advent Season every year but also the purpose of our life on earth. The day of Christ is erroneously or, at least, unclearly...
Allow me to point out to you that the Church has an unusual way of starting the new liturgical year. The Church uses her instructions enlightened by God’s Word for the four Sundays of Advent, to fill us with awe and gratitude for the most...
There is something very peculiar, unique actually, about the Gospel passage (John 18:33-37) given us on this final Sunday of the liturgical year: the dialogue between Pilate and Jesus. On this Sunday, as we do every year, we honor Christ as King of...
Without fail, from time to time, at least since about the year 1000 AD, self-appointed prophets of doom have predicted the imminent end of the world. Those who are more easily affected by predictions of doom lose the last shreds of their peace of...
When I was newly ordained, I heard our retreat master mention something that has stuck to the back of my mind as Gospel truth and has had the significance of a milestone on the road to happiness, i.e., to God: “Jesus has to be everything for you.”...
The readings for the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time are a hymn to the culture of life: even life with all the trials and pain, and limits, and hardships that our human frailty imposes on us. This is possible because Christ lives forever to make...
This homily is first for myself and then for you all. In case you wonder, let me tell you the reason why. It is found in the Letter to the Hebrews (5:1-6): he (the priest) is able to deal patiently with the ignorant and erring, for he himself is...
“The Lord God opens my ear that I may hear; and I have not rebelled, have not turned back.” Sound familiar? It should. It is the beginning of the first reading of the Church’s Good Friday service. It is Isaiah’s prophecy about the destiny of God’s...
Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God he comes with vindication, with divine recompense he comes to save you. Well, I am convinced that such order addresses every single one of us: those who project self...
Humbly welcome the Word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls. Be doers of the Word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves. Perhaps the full impact of this simple recommendation from James escapes us. Thus, let me substitute...