Introduction – Three Messages The Scriptures for the First Sunday of Advent, this season of expectation for the Lord’s coming, at Christmas and at the end of time, contain three messages: First, don’t be drowsy; Second, don’t be vigilant in the wrong way; Third, be vigilant in the right way…and with your kind permission, I’ll...Read More

Introduction Bishop Madden, Msgr. Valenzano, my brother priests and deacons, and dear friends in Christ: On this Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, I welcome all of you here to the Basilica of the Assumption. During this Mass, the honor will fall to me to solemnly inaugurate the new chapel which...Read More

Introduction When a homilist begins by quoting an advertising slogan for a life-insurance company, he is probably watching too much television and should quickly repent. Nonetheless, I begin with the slogan of Mass Mutual: “Who matters most to you says the most about you.” When I first heard that catchphrase, it stayed with me. It...Read More

Next week we celebrate Thanksgiving Day. As we typically do this time of year, we reflect on the many things for which we have to be thankful, and offer our gratitude to God for these and so many other blessings. This year, however, is a special Thanksgiving, for it marks the 20th anniversary of the...Read More

Introduction During the presentation of Mount seminarians to the University Board of Trustees I became distressed when the seminarians opined that weekday homilies should run no more than three minutes and that Sunday homilies should run no more than eight minutes, barely time enough to cook scrambled eggs. I hope you will understand that it...Read More

Why Celebrate a Church Building? Some may be puzzled by today’s celebration, the anniversary of the dedication of St. John Lateran Church in Rome. Of course, it is an ancient and venerable church dating all the way back to 324. And yes, even though we associate the Holy Father with St. Peter’s in Rome, St....Read More

Last Sunday, about 2,000 people gathered at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland for the principal liturgy celebrating the 225th anniversary of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. It was a wonderful celebration that brought together a cardinal, archbishops, bishops, priests, deacons, women and men in consecrated life, school presidents, principals, students, leaders of Catholic...Read More