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

Introduction As Archbishop of Baltimore I am especially proud to welcome you, my brother Knights, to what we call the Premier See as we celebrate our 225th anniversary. I am very grateful that you will be taking part in the special Mass on Sunday at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen, in thanksgiving for the...Read More

Introduction What a joy to celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints with you, the family of the Knights of Columbus. How welcome you are here in this Basilica, the 1st of our nation’s Cathedrals, where, in December 1877, Michael J. McGivney, our beloved founder, was ordained to the priesthood by then-Archbishop James Gibbons of Baltimore....Read More