Fall 2024

Homily Hint:

Today’s First Reading from the Book of Genesis (Genesis 2.7, 15, 18-24) and the reading from the Gospel of Mark (Mark 10.2-16) both lend themselves to preaching about the vocation of sacramental marriage and unconditional love. Yet, in all three diocesan nuptial vocations -marriage, priesthood, and consecrated virginity lived in the world- the form of the state of life is the marriage of Christ, the Bridegroom who laid down the gift of his life for his Bride, the Church. In sacramental marriage, a man and a woman give the gift of themselves to each other and promise as bridegroom and bride to love each other in good times and in bad. In the priesthood, a man gives the gift of himself as a bridegroom in loving service to his Bride, the Church. In consecrated virginity, the woman gives the gift of herself as a bride to her Bridegroom, Jesus Christ. Thus, all three diocesan nuptial vocations -marriage, priesthood, and consecrated virginity- are inspired by the unconditional love of Christ, the Bridegroom, espoused to his Bride, the Church. While we need to encourage more young men to consider a vocation to the priesthood, and more young women to consider a vocation to consecrated virginity, we also need to encourage more young Catholic couples to consider the vocation of marriage. While many Catholic couples are civilly married by the state, as you well know, many of those same couples are not sacramentally married in the Church.

Intercession:

Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady of the Rosary and Mother of Vocations, that the young people of our diocese may be inspired by the love of Christ, the Bridegroom, espoused to his Bride, the Church, to discern the diocesan nuptial vocations of marriage, priesthood, and consecrated virginity lived in the world. We pray to the Lord.

Homily Hint:

In today’s reading from the Gospel of Mark (Mark 10.17-30) Jesus loved the rich young man and said to him: “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” In this way, Jesus challenged him to embrace the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience that form the basis of religious life, which was inspired by the poverty, chastity and obedience of Jesus and Mary for the sake of the Kingdom of God. When religious priests, brothers and sisters take vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, they are following Christ by making their lives a sign of the presence of the Kingdom of God in our midst.

Intercession:

Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady of the Rosary and Mother of Vocations, that the young people of our diocese may be inspired by the poverty, chastity and obedience of Jesus and Mary for the sake of the Kingdom of God to discern a religious vocation as a priest, brother or sister. We pray to the Lord.

Homily Hint:

In today’s reading from the Letter to the Hebrews (Hebrews 4.14-16) Jesus is addressed as the Great Hight Priest who can sympathize with our weaknesses and we are exulted to find the grace to help us in time of need. In today’s reading from the Gospel of Mark (Mark 10.35-45) Jesus teaches the Apostles about the servant leadership of the priesthood when he says to them: “… whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” As you know, the vocation of the priesthood is one of service to the Church. Just as Christ sacrificed his life for our salvation, the priest sacrifices his life in service to all. Thus, it is fitting that the diocesan priest stands at the altar in the place of Christ in order to offer the sacrifice of the Mass in service to his parishioners.

Intercession:

Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady of the Rosary and Mother of Vocations, that the young men of our diocese may be inspired by the sacrifice of Christ, the Great High Priest, to discern a vocation of service to all as a diocesan priest, and that our seminarians may find grace to help them in time of need. We pray to the Lord.

Homily Hint:

In today’s reading from the Letter to the Hebrews (Hebrews 5.1-6) the theme of Christ, the Great High Priest, and the servant leadership of the priesthood continues when the author writes: “So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed by the one who said to him, ‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you’ … .” Here we also find a reference to Christ’s baptism, when God the Father affirmed him as his beloved Son, and are reminded that, through our baptism into Christ, we also become beloved sons and daughter of God the Father. The allusion to baptism also reminds us that those who are discerning their vocations need the guidance of the Holy Spirit. In today’s reading from the Gospel of Mark (Mark 10.46-52) Jesus heals the blind man when he says: “Go; your faith has made you well.” and then we are told: “Immediately the man regained his sight and followed Jesus on the way.” Here we are reminded that, those who are blind to their vocations need faith, and that, when they see by faith, they will be able see their vocations and follow Jesus in their way of life, whether that maybe marriage, priesthood, the permanent diaconate, the dedicated single life, and consecrated life, that is, as a consecrated virgin living in the world, or as a religious priest, brother or sister.

Intercession:

Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady of the Rosary and Mother of Vocations, that men and women of our diocese may be inspired by their baptism into Christ, as beloved sons and daughters of the Father, to discern under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and not be blind but rather see by faith their vocations to marriage, priesthood, the permanent diaconate, the dedicated single life, and consecrated life, that is, as a consecrated virgin living in the world, or as a religious priest, brother or sister. We prayer to the Lord.