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1. <?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:blogger='http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd="http://schemas.google.com/g/2005" xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073485143247759467</id><updated>2024-02-02T00:27:38.061-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Door of Faith</title><subtitle type='html'>In 2012 Pope Benedict XVI published an Apostolic Letter entitled &quot;Porta Fidei&quot; or &quot;Door of Faith,&quot; announcing the beginning of the Year of Faith.&#xa;&#xa;It is my hope and prayer that this blog will be a portal for others to receive the Catholic faith into their lives and homes so as to carry out the new evangelization.</subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6073485143247759467/posts/default'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><link rel='next' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6073485143247759467/posts/default?start-index=26&amp;max-results=25'/><author><name>Rev. Msgr. Andrew R. Baker</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14892119235357144972</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKPnWDWB_uMj8HbTbIAfUBcytq5pBJ2eTuuQMBEc4MR5cbaWWd5IcZOLX-KDGEUB8q5jNLYshBtnOJgrMGWEM7RDFBclbwngPSSmycZhvOtDY10ulh3RzHLxb9t8KSqQ/s220/453A9136.jpg'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>266</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>25</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073485143247759467.post-5373743498104873927</id><published>2023-04-02T13:44:00.003-04:00</published><updated>2023-04-02T13:44:53.871-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Homily for the Solemnity of Saint Joseph - March 20, 2023</title><content type='html'>&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p align=&quot;center&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;b style=&quot;mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;Solemnity of St. Joseph&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
2.  
3. <p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Matthew 1: 16, 18-21, 24a<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
4.  
5. <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Introduction<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
6.  
7. <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Silence….<o:p></o:p></span></p>
8.  
9. <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Silence is an uncomfortable way to begin a
10. homily. Did the preacher forget what he was going to say? Did he have a stroke?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
11.  
12. <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Let me ask you; in those few moments of
13. silence, what thoughts went through your minds, what happened in your heart?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
14.  
15. <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">We gather on this Solemnity of a man of silence
16. – St. Joseph – and we ask God to speak to us. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
17.  
18. <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In
19. the first reading from 2<sup>nd</sup> Samuel, we hear, “that same night the
20. word of the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> came to Nathan.”
21. God speaks to his prophet in the silence of the night to reveal that the
22. Davidic throne will have no end. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
23.  
24. <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In today’s Gospel we find a “son of David” as
25. the angel calls him, in the midst of a great dilemma. His betrothed wife is
26. with child, and he is not the father. He considers the situation in silence and
27. contemplation and decides to “dismiss her quietly,” St. Matthew tells us. That
28. is, he decides to release her of their betrothal. His consideration of the
29. situation was in silence. He determined that his actions must be done quietly. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
30.  
31. <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">When God reveals through an angel that Joseph
32. not only must receive Mary into his home but also name the child – that is,
33. take on the role of earthly father – he does so without whispering a word of
34. protest. In fact, here is the only indication that Joseph ever said anything.
35. He must have said the name “Jesus” at the circumcision in order to obey God’s
36. command. We do not have that fact recorded nor do we have any words of St.
37. Joseph recorded in Scripture. Why? He was a man of silence. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
38.  
39. <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Joseph is a man without fanfare. He does not
40. want attention. He lacks the motivation of modern football players who, after
41. scoring a touchdown, engage in some communal dance in order to bring attention
42. to themselves. Joseph, on the other hand, is happy in the shadows. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
43.  
44. <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">When the census it announced, there is not a word
45. of complaint that escapes Joseph’s mouth. He searches all of Bethlehem for a
46. place for his wife to give birth without a whisper of anxiety. He takes the
47. child Jesus and Mary to Egypt without a murmur. 12 years later we find him in
48. the Temple but Mary does all the talking. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
49.  
50. <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Joseph doesn’t speak. He just does. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
51.  
52. <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Now, silence is not the inability to speak but
53. the choice to listen. Silence is not passive stillness but active tranquility.
54. Silence is not the death of the tongue but the life of the soul. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
55.  
56. <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">We gather at Mass on this Solemnity to hear God
57. speak to us through the silence of St. Joseph. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
58.  
59. <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Many today are afraid of silence. Pascal once
60. said, “All the unhappiness of men arises from one single fact, that they cannot
61. stay quietly in their own chamber.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
62.  
63. <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Silence frightens us a bit. We reach for our
64. headphone, we turn on the radio, we have to see the latest news story or Tik
65. Tok video. When we have down time or are waiting, the phone suddenly emerges
66. from our pockets and a dull noise enters us by way of our ears and eyes. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
67.  
68. <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Why can't we just be silent? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
69.  
70. <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">One evening at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic,
71. when all the seminarians were receiving “Zoom formation,” I stood on the front porch
72. of McSweeny Hall and just listened. There was no noise from Route 15. No trucks
73. braking or shifting gears. There was no noise coming from campus. No ultimate
74. frisbee players yelling for the disc. There was no noise from inside the Seminary.
75. I couldn’t even hear Louis McHale’s laugh. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
76.  
77. <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">All was quiet. And I was shocked how refreshing
78. this was! Our minds and hearts find silence a refreshing change from the
79. cacophony of our modern world. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
80.  
81. <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">We need silence. We need it for a whole host of
82. reasons. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
83.  
84. <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">We need silence to grow interiorly. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
85.  
86. <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">We know that as the spiritual life grows and
87. prayer becomes more intense, words diminish into the silence of the
88. contemplative gaze. As Pope Benedict XVI once said, when John the Baptist
89. proclaimed that Christ must increase and he must decrease, there is a direct
90. parallel – the Word “must speak and I must be silent.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
91.  
92. <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Active silence is active listening. Contemplation
93. is a gaze of love without words. It means that we have to humble our intellect
94. and it involves the willingness to learn and be guided not by our own voice but
95. by the voice of another. Our spiritual lives cannot grow without the
96. nourishment of silence. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
97.  
98. <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">We also need silence to discern the will of
99. God. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
100.  
101. <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Federico Suarez in his book <i>Joseph of
102. Nazareth</i> says, “A man who keeps quiet can listen, and a man who listens is
103. able to learn much” (p. 24). When St. Joseph was considering what to do, he
104. heard God speak through an angel. He was struggling to know his role in God’s
105. plan. It became clear to him because he was willing to let God speak in the
106. silence of his heart. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
107.  
108. <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Silence opens a door for God to step through. It
109. was only in silence that Joseph discerned the divine will. For those still
110. discerning their vocation, or discerning any decision big or small, St. Joseph
111. shows us that a calm, listening soul can best determine God’s will. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
112.  
113. <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Finally, we need silence surprisingly to
114. practice fortitude. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
115.  
116. <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">You know, there are times in which we need to
117. speak up about difficulties in order to correct things but, overall, we can
118. complain way too much. We grumble about difficulties, whine about frustrations,
119. protest about how others treat us. We can also try to justify our defects and
120. failings by telling everyone our excuses for not doing our duty. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
121.  
122. <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">We do this often because we have not learned to
123. bravely face trouble in our life and just bear it with a level of supernatural
124. spirit, cheerfulness, and silence. To do so takes courage and courage comes by
125. way of silence. So, the next time there are difficulties, stop complaining and
126. just courageously face it without complaint. St. Joseph had plenty to complain
127. about. Life was tough. But we do not hear a single word of protest. He bears
128. it. He embraces it. He does it in silence. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
129.  
130. <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">We now move toward the altar to find Our Lord
131. coming in the quiet disguise of the Holy Eucharist. He arrived for the first
132. time on this earth in the quiet of the night. St. Joseph was there without
133. words, contemplating a mystery that cannot be fully captured with words. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
134.  
135. <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">His silence shows us that moments without words
136. and without noise can help us grow in the interior life, discern the divine
137. will, and acquire the virtue of fortitude. For these reasons and many others,
138. silence is not only golden; it is necessary for each of us. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/feeds/5373743498104873927/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/2023/04/homily-for-solemnity-of-saint-joseph.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6073485143247759467/posts/default/5373743498104873927'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6073485143247759467/posts/default/5373743498104873927'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/2023/04/homily-for-solemnity-of-saint-joseph.html' title='Homily for the Solemnity of Saint Joseph - March 20, 2023'/><author><name>Rev. Msgr. Andrew R. Baker</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14892119235357144972</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKPnWDWB_uMj8HbTbIAfUBcytq5pBJ2eTuuQMBEc4MR5cbaWWd5IcZOLX-KDGEUB8q5jNLYshBtnOJgrMGWEM7RDFBclbwngPSSmycZhvOtDY10ulh3RzHLxb9t8KSqQ/s220/453A9136.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073485143247759467.post-4354652302116616217</id><published>2022-12-08T11:01:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2022-12-08T11:01:00.402-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Homily for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception December 8, 2022</title><content type='html'>&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;Introduction&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
139.  
140. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">In
141. his article “The Beauty of the Virgin Mary and the History of Art,” Theo Howard
142. claims that, other than Our Lord, “there has been no more frequent subject in
143. Western figurative art than the Blessed Virgin Mary.”<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/e5d18685d195c22a/My%20Files/homily/luke/01/26-38_22_imm.%20concep.%20.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">[1]</span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
144.  
145. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">Why
146. is Mary’s image sculpted, painted, and drawn more than just about any subject in
147. world history?<o:p></o:p></p>
148.  
149. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">Is
150. it because she is the Mother of God? Possibly. Is it because she is the
151. greatest of all God’s creatures and the most important among all the saints? That’s
152. also possible. <o:p></o:p></p>
153.  
154. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">I
155. may be wrong, but I think it is for another reason. I think the reason Our Lady
156. is so often an object of art is because no one has been able to capture her
157. beauty! They keep trying and trying but never get it just right. So, they try
158. again and again and again. <o:p></o:p></p>
159.  
160. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">When
161. St. Bernadette was shown a beautiful statue of the Blessed Mother and asked
162. what she, a someone who had a vision of Mary, thought of the work of art, Bernadette
163. responded, “Oh, it doesn’t look like her at all!” <o:p></o:p></p>
164.  
165. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">What
166. is the source of Mary’s beauty and why does it matter to us?<o:p></o:p></p>
167.  
168. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;"><b>What is
169. beauty?<o:p></o:p></b></p>
170.  
171. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">Let’s
172. begin by asking the question, “What is beauty?”<o:p></o:p></p>
173.  
174. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">There
175. is a famous Mount professor with a double first name and Italian last name who wrote
176. a book on beauty. He explains that beauty “expresses God’s intelligence and
177. freedom.” <o:p></o:p></p>
178.  
179. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">Allow
180. me to re-phrase that definition using the Gospel for today: “Behold, I am the
181. handmaid of the Lord.” Here we see God’s freedom active in His creature. God freely
182. offers divine motherhood and leaves it to the freedom of His creature to say
183. yes. <o:p></o:p></p>
184.  
185. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">The
186. Virgin of Nazareth concludes her response: “May it be done to me according to
187. your word.” Here we see Divine Intelligence, God’s Word, becoming flesh. <o:p></o:p></p>
188.  
189. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">On
190. this feast of the Immaculate Conception, we see human beauty at its zenith – we
191. contemplate, celebrate, rejoice in the person of Our Blessed Mother who is most
192. beautiful. <o:p></o:p></p>
193.  
194. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;"><b><i>Tota Pulchra</i></b><o:p></o:p></p>
195.  
196. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">As
197. you may know, there is an ancient title of Our Lady “tota pulchra” or “all
198. beautiful.” Since the 10th Century there has been a special Mass of the Blessed
199. Mother called “Mother of Fairest Love,” which honors Mary as “tota pulchra.” <o:p></o:p></p>
200.  
201. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">The
202. instruction for this Mass says that the Church, both East and West,
203. “contemplates with joy her spiritual beauty. Beauty is the radiance of the
204. holiness and truth of God, ‘the origin of all beauty’, and it is the image of
205. the goodness and fidelity of Christ, ‘fairest of all God’s children on earth’.”
206. <o:p></o:p></p>
207.  
208. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">Our
209. Blessed Mother is “fair” or “beautiful” because in her there is no flaw of sin
210. or corruption. “From the first moment of her conception,” the Catechism says, “by
211. a singular grace” she was “preserved immune from all stain of original sin.”
212. She fulfills to a perfect degree the words of St. Paul in our Second Reading, “blessed…
213. with every spiritual blessing to be holy and without blemish before him.”<o:p></o:p></p>
214.  
215. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">The
216. grace of the Immaculate Conception means that Mary is “tota pulchra” or “Mother
217. of Fairest Love.” <o:p></o:p></p>
218.  
219. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;"><b>The Beauty of
220. Full of Grace<o:p></o:p></b></p>
221.  
222. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">Mary
223. is called beautiful for several reasons. She is beautiful because she is full
224. of grace, as we heard her called in the Gospel. This means that she is
225. resplendent with the glory of her Son and the beauty of Christified holiness. The
226. Preface to the Mass of “Mary, Mother of Fairest Love” says, “Beauty was hers at
227. her conception: free from all stain of sin, she is resplendent in the glory of
228. grace.”<o:p></o:p></p>
229.  
230. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">Beauty
231. and ugliness, you see, are fundamentally spiritual realities. As one author
232. puts it, “If beauty manifests the perfection and splendor of something,
233. ugliness distorts it, corrupting what it is meant to be and blinding us to its
234. true reality.”<o:p></o:p></p>
235.  
236. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">We
237. hear in our First Reading from the Book of Genesis just how God’s beauty of man
238. and woman and creation is distorted by the ugliness of sin. Disobedience distorts
239. the loving gaze that Adam and Eve had toward each other in their nakedness. The
240. serpent now has to crawl and eat dirt. <o:p></o:p></p>
241.  
242. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">A
243. flower crumpled and crushed. A stained-glass window dirty and broken. The
244. Philadelphia Eagles losing to the Dallas Cowboys. They are all ugly because
245. they are not what God meant them to be. <o:p></o:p></p>
246.  
247. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">Holiness,
248. on the other hand, is beautiful. Mary is beautiful because she is “full of
249. grace.” She is the new Eve, who reverses the disobedience and fear of Genesis
250. and offers herself as His “handmaid” to the Word of God. She is what God meant
251. all of us to be. <o:p></o:p></p>
252.  
253. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">Our
254. world needs to know Mary so that it can seek holiness above all, so that “live
255. significantly” is understood as “live holiness.”<o:p></o:p></p>
256.  
257. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;"><b>The Beauty of
258. Love<o:p></o:p></b></p>
259.  
260. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">Mary
261. is also beautiful because she loves God, her Son, and loves the entire human
262. race as her children with a love that is full of beauty; that is, a love that
263. is virginal, bridal, and maternal. <o:p></o:p></p>
264.  
265. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">Love,
266. as you know, is the fundamental vocation for all men and women. <o:p></o:p></p>
267.  
268. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">St.
269. Paul tells the Ephesians in our Second Reading that “in love he destined us for
270. adoption to himself through Jesus Christ.” God has created us out of love and
271. for love. It is our common and most important vocation. In loving, human being
272. are perfected. We become beautiful. <o:p></o:p></p>
273.  
274. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">Our
275. Lady is stunningly beautiful. She knows how to love as Christ taught and shows
276. us this more than anyone else. <o:p></o:p></p>
277.  
278. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">Love
279. has so many counterfeit images in the world today and we struggle to deal with
280. them. We have the plague of pornography and the scourge lust. We see the
281. failure of commitment to marriage and to the celibate priesthood. <o:p></o:p></p>
282.  
283. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">God
284. wants us to be truly ourselves, truly creatures capable of loving and being
285. loved. Unchastity is ugly. Chaste love is beautiful. <o:p></o:p></p>
286.  
287. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">Our
288. world needs to know Mary so that it can know how to truly love. <o:p></o:p></p>
289.  
290. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;"><b>Fairest Love
291. and Evangelization<o:p></o:p></b></p>
292.  
293. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">Is
294. there a concrete application for the beauty of Mary, Our Mother? Yes – for
295. evangelization.<o:p></o:p></p>
296.  
297. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">Many
298. people today claim to be spiritual but not religious. They have faith, but in a
299. secular “gospel,” if you will, that answers their need to be authentic and to
300. define themself and their lives as they see fit. They are satisfied with the
301. comfort they experience and the good feelings they achieve by a certain
302. altruism to those in need. As one author puts it, people aren’t just “walking away
303. from faith,” they are “opting for a way of life that they found more
304. attractive.”<o:p></o:p></p>
305.  
306. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">Evangelization
307. cannot bear much fruit in this secularized world by condemnations and purely
308. intellectual arguments. We need to introduce the beauty of the Catholic faith and
309. make it more attractive – the beauty of our beliefs, the beauty of our liturgy,
310. the beauty of our lives. <o:p></o:p></p>
311.  
312. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">Pope
313. Emeritus Benedict puts in succinctly, “I have often affirmed my conviction that
314. the true apologia of Christian faith, the most convincing demonstration of its truth
315. against every denial, are the saints, and the beauty that the faith has
316. generated. Today, for faith to grow, we must lead ourselves and the persons we
317. meet to encounter the saints and to enter into contact with the Beautiful.”<a href="https://d.docs.live.net/e5d18685d195c22a/My%20Files/homily/luke/01/26-38_22_imm.%20concep.%20.docx#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">[2]</span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
318. <o:p></o:p></p>
319.  
320. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">We
321. call Mary the “Star of Evangelization” because of the way she brings people to
322. Christ. I would propose that the more we introduce others to her beauty, her
323. holiness, the way she loves, the more people will see just how she is “Mother
324. of Fairest Love.” People will be surprised by her beauty and respond to her
325. attractiveness by coming to faith in Christ.<o:p></o:p></p>
326.  
327. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;"><b>Conclusion<o:p></o:p></b></p>
328.  
329. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">At
330. a Gala raising money for a good cause, an elegant woman served as the MC. She
331. was stunning in her manners and dress. All eyes were on her throughout the
332. evening. At the end of the evening, a little girl went up to a table and asked
333. those seated whether they thought the woman was beautiful. They all answer,
334. “Why, yes, of course.” The little girl replied with satisfied pride in her
335. eyes, grinning from ear to ear, “She is my mom!” <o:p></o:p></p>
336.  
337. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">And
338. we can feel today just like that child. As we contemplate the Immaculate
339. Conception, we contemplate the one who is full of grace in the beauty of
340. holiness, the one who loves God and her children most beautifully. She is God’s
341. supreme masterpiece. She is most beautiful, and she is our mom. <o:p></o:p></p>
342.  
343. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">Mother
344. of Fairest Love and the Immaculate Conception, pray for us!<o:p></o:p></p>
345.  
346. <div style="mso-element: footnote-list;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
347.  
348. <hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
349.  
350. <!--[endif]-->
351.  
352. <div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
353.  
354. <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/e5d18685d195c22a/My%20Files/homily/luke/01/26-38_22_imm.%20concep.%20.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
355. Howard, Theo, “The Beauty of the Virgin Mary and the History of Art,” November
356. 25, 2021, One Peter 5, <a href="https://onepeterfive.com/the-beauty-of-the-virgin-mary-and-the-history-of-art/">https://onepeterfive.com/the-beauty-of-the-virgin-mary-and-the-history-of-art/</a>
357. <o:p></o:p></p>
358.  
359. </div>
360.  
361. <div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">
362.  
363. <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="https://d.docs.live.net/e5d18685d195c22a/My%20Files/homily/luke/01/26-38_22_imm.%20concep.%20.docx#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
364. Joseph Ratzinger, “The Feeling of Things, the Contemplation of Beauty” (August
365. 24, 2002).<o:p></o:p></p>
366.  
367. </div>
368.  
369. &lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/feeds/4354652302116616217/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/2022/12/homily-for-solemnity-of-immaculate.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6073485143247759467/posts/default/4354652302116616217'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6073485143247759467/posts/default/4354652302116616217'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/2022/12/homily-for-solemnity-of-immaculate.html' title='Homily for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception December 8, 2022'/><author><name>Rev. Msgr. Andrew R. Baker</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14892119235357144972</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKPnWDWB_uMj8HbTbIAfUBcytq5pBJ2eTuuQMBEc4MR5cbaWWd5IcZOLX-KDGEUB8q5jNLYshBtnOJgrMGWEM7RDFBclbwngPSSmycZhvOtDY10ulh3RzHLxb9t8KSqQ/s220/453A9136.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073485143247759467.post-1890485259205070241</id><published>2022-03-19T14:23:00.005-04:00</published><updated>2022-03-19T14:29:28.704-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Homily for the Solemnity of St. Joseph, March 19, 2022</title><content type='html'>&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;text-align: center;&quot;&gt;Solemnity of St.
370. Joseph</span></p><p><span style="text-align: center;">Matthew 1: 16, 18-21,
371. 24</span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p></o:p></p>
372.  
373. <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><b>Introduction<o:p></o:p></b></p>
374.  
375. <p class="MsoNormal">I want to extend a word of deep gratitude to the Daughter of
376. Charity and the wonderful staff here at the National Shrine of Elizabeth Ann
377. Seton. <o:p></o:p></p>
378.  
379. <p class="MsoNormal">We are here not only to honor the patron of the Universal
380. Church on his feast day but also to remember our predecessors. In the great
381. fire of March 20, 1885 on the campus of St. Joseph College, Mount faculty,
382. seminarians, and college seniors acted with the courage of St. Joseph and came
383. running the 2 miles from the Mount to fight back the flames of destruction. Since
384. that time, seminarians have come to celebrate the feast day of St. Joseph with
385. the Daughters of Charity to solidify our spiritual bonds, to remember our
386. predecessors’ courage and commitment, and to ask St. Joseph to help us live in
387. the same way. <o:p></o:p></p>
388.  
389. <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><b>St.
390. Joseph is the earthly father of Jesus. <o:p></o:p></b></p>
391.  
392. <p class="MsoNormal">The instructions from the angel to Joseph in today’s Gospel
393. could not be clearer: “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your
394. wife into your home. For it is through the holy Spirit that this child has been
395. conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he
396. will save his people from their sins.”<o:p></o:p></p>
397.  
398. <p class="MsoNormal">In ancient times the name of the person was a compendium of
399. a person’s identity and mission. “Yeshua” means “one who delivers, one who
400. rescues, one who saves.” <o:p></o:p></p>
401.  
402. <p class="MsoNormal">Giving a name to someone was the role of the father. It was
403. a way in which the father bestows identity on the child and publicly professes
404. his fatherhood, promising to fulfill his responsibility to care for that child.
405. <o:p></o:p></p>
406.  
407. <p class="MsoNormal">In Joseph’s case, he names the child Jesus, not a name originating
408. from Joseph but a name given to Him by the child’s true Father – God. In doing
409. so, Joseph recognizes that God is the true father and yet he, Joseph, has the
410. responsibility on earth to be the child’s earthly father in caring for him. <o:p></o:p></p>
411.  
412. <p class="MsoNormal">So, what does St. Joseph tell us about being a good father?<o:p></o:p></p>
413.  
414. <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><b>Crisis
415. in Fatherhood<o:p></o:p></b></p>
416.  
417. <p class="MsoNormal">There is a crisis in fatherhood today. Many are left
418. physically, emotionally, and even spiritually orphan. The 2020 US census says
419. that 1 in 4 children, live without a biological, step, or adoptive father in
420. the home. Research shows that a child raised in father-absent home has
421. significant higher risk of many societal problems.<o:p></o:p></p>
422.  
423. <p class="MsoNormal">On the other hand, a Swiss study (1994) showed that when a
424. dad attended church regularly along with his wife, 33% of the children ended up
425. attending church regularly as adults. When the dad was non-practicing, but the
426. mother went to church regularly, only 2% of the children ended up going to Church.
427. Such a huge change with only one difference – dad was going to Church. <o:p></o:p></p>
428.  
429. <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><b>What
430. kind of a father is needed today?<o:p></o:p></b></p>
431.  
432. <p class="MsoNormal">Our world needs fathers like St. Joseph. I would like to
433. briefly point out three ways a man, especially a future priest, can be a good
434. father in the line of St. Joseph. <o:p></o:p></p>
435.  
436. <p class="MsoNormal">We need fathers today who are present NOT absent. <o:p></o:p></p>
437.  
438. <p class="MsoNormal">Sometimes people say, “Father is always busy. Don’t bother
439. him.” Or “When I’m with him, he’s always looking at his watch or smart phone.”
440. Or, “I never see him around except when he is required to be somewhere.” <o:p></o:p></p>
441.  
442. <p class="MsoNormal">Priests have many responsibilities and duties. A pastor may
443. be caring for more than one parish. His time is limited, that’s for sure. But
444. he needs to cut back on his busyness and be present for his spiritual children.
445. <o:p></o:p></p>
446.  
447. <p class="MsoNormal">His availability for confession, his presence before and
448. after Mass, his attendance at social events, visiting the sick and homebound,
449. all assure his flock that God is present. It is impossible to be present for
450. everything and for everyone. But children need to know that their father will
451. be present, especially in time of need. <o:p></o:p></p>
452.  
453. <p class="MsoNormal">In a real way we could call the priest the “presence of the fatherhood
454. of God.” <o:p></o:p></p>
455.  
456. <p class="MsoNormal">Secondly, we need fathers of mercy NOT of severity. <o:p></o:p></p>
457.  
458. <p class="MsoNormal">When a father is too demanding and never satisfied with his
459. children, the situation tends to crush and discourage them. As Jesus tells us
460. in the Gospel of Matthew, “They tie up heavy burden [hard to carry] and lay
461. them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them”
462. (23:4). <o:p></o:p></p>
463.  
464. <p class="MsoNormal">In preaching and teaching, a priest’s words need to reflect
465. the truth but avoid making the good news a heavy burden. Our words should ultimately
466. encourage, not discourage. Preaching the Gospel should no doubt challenge its
467. hearers but also provide hope.<o:p></o:p></p>
468.  
469. <p class="MsoNormal">In the confessional a spiritual father acts as an agent of
470. Divine Mercy not as a blunt instrument of condemnation. Good fathers know the
471. proper balance of teaching a lesson without demoralizing the soul. <o:p></o:p></p>
472.  
473. <p class="MsoNormal">St. Joseph imposes the name of “savior” on his adopted son,
474. for “he will save his people from their sins.” A priest’s fatherhood is about
475. salvation not condemnation. It is about mercy not severity. <o:p></o:p></p>
476.  
477. <p class="MsoNormal">Finally, fatherhood should be exercised with humility NOT
478. with power. <o:p></o:p></p>
479.  
480. <p class="MsoNormal">What do I mean?<o:p></o:p></p>
481.  
482. <p class="MsoNormal">Power is the exercise of the imposition of one’s will that
483. is raw and forceful. It is not service but domination. For a priest to exercise
484. his fatherhood with this kind of power, he falls into the sin of clericalism. He
485. feels superior and even distant from his people. It is no way to be a father. <o:p></o:p></p>
486.  
487. <p class="MsoNormal">Fr. Jacques Philippe observes that sometimes the drive for
488. recognition seeks satisfaction through ambition and “an expansion of me.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/baker/Dropbox/My%20Files/homily/matthew/01/16,%2018-21,%2024,%2022,%20saint%20joseph.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">[1]</span><!--[endif]--></a>
489. <o:p></o:p></p>
490.  
491. <p class="MsoNormal">This ambitious drive for power is polar opposite to the humble
492. life of St. Joseph. He was a “righteous” man willing to be accused of
493. abandoning his betrothed rather than expose her to the punishment of the Law.
494. He quickly and quietly obeys the instruction of the angel. <o:p></o:p></p>
495.  
496. <p class="MsoNormal">A priest is father not in how he can lord over others but in
497. how he can serve others. He looks for the needs of others and tries to fulfill
498. them without pomp or drama. He visits the sick in the hospital, finds time to
499. speak to a worried grandmother, organizes a special holy hour for young adults,
500. and is not disturbed when someone asks him to hear a confession after Mass. <o:p></o:p></p>
501.  
502. <p class="MsoNormal">He is humble. <o:p></o:p></p>
503.  
504. <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><b>How
505. to become a spiritual father<o:p></o:p></b></p>
506.  
507. <p class="MsoNormal">How can someone become a good father? Be a son first. <o:p></o:p></p>
508.  
509. <p class="MsoNormal">St. Joseph was first a child of God, receptive to his
510. vocation and obedient to God’s command. <o:p></o:p></p>
511.  
512. <p class="MsoNormal">Sonship means spending time with Our Father in heaven,
513. recognizing that we receive everything from the Father, our identity and our
514. whole life. This, of course, means spending time in prayer to live and deepen
515. one’s sonship. A good father always prays because a good father knows he is a
516. son who depends completely on his heavenly father. <o:p></o:p></p>
517.  
518. <p class="MsoNormal">Pope Emeritus Benedict puts it this way: “A fundamental
519. priority of priestly life is being with the Lord, and thus having time for
520. prayer. St. Charles Borromeo always said: ‘I couldn’t care for the souls of
521. others if I let my own waste away.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/baker/Dropbox/My%20Files/homily/matthew/01/16,%2018-21,%2024,%2022,%20saint%20joseph.docx#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">[2]</span><!--[endif]--></a><o:p></o:p></p>
522.  
523. <p class="MsoNormal">How can someone become a good father? Be a groom<o:p></o:p></p>
524.  
525. <p class="MsoNormal">On the natural level, a man needs a woman to be a father.
526. God’s plan for marriage is that man and woman enter into a covenant for life
527. and then have children, thus making them a father and a mother. <o:p></o:p></p>
528.  
529. <p class="MsoNormal">For a priest, he too cannot become a father without the
530. grace of a spouse, and that spouse is the Church. <o:p></o:p></p>
531.  
532. <p class="MsoNormal">Too often “being a churchman” is looked upon disparagingly.
533. Yet, the Church is our bride and, as the Mount Mission Statement says, we ought
534. to love with the heart of the Church and think with the mind of the Church. <o:p></o:p></p>
535.  
536. <p class="MsoNormal">We must love our bride as a groom does. We must be willing
537. to sacrifice our life for the portion of the People of God entrusted to our
538. care. This is the best way we can be a groom and thus father for the Church. <o:p></o:p></p>
539.  
540. <p class="MsoNormal">Being a son and being a groom are the antecedents to true,
541. good, and lasting fatherhood. <o:p></o:p></p>
542.  
543. <p class="MsoNormal">There is a story I once read about a Spanish father and son
544. who had become estranged. The son ran away from home and the father set out to
545. find him. He searched for months to no avail. Finally, in a last, desperate
546. effort to find his son, the father put an ad in a Madrid newspaper. The ad
547. read: “Dear Paco, meet me in front of this newspaper office at noon on
548. Saturday. All is forgiven. I love you. Your Father.” That Saturday 800 men by
549. the name of “Paco” showed up, looking for forgiveness and love from their
550. fathers.<o:p></o:p></p>
551.  
552. <p class="MsoNormal">The world needs holy fathers. St. Joseph, help priests and
553. future priests to be good spiritual fathers. May our lives be an imitation of
554. yours and a living icon of Our Father, who is in heaven. St. Joseph, pray for
555. us. <o:p></o:p></p>
556.  
557. <div><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
558.  
559. <hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
560.  
561. <!--[endif]-->
562.  
563. <div id="ftn1">
564.  
565. <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/baker/Dropbox/My%20Files/homily/matthew/01/16,%2018-21,%2024,%2022,%20saint%20joseph.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
566. Philippe, Jacques, <i>Priestly Fatherhood</i>, New York, Scepter, 2021, p. 45<o:p></o:p></p>
567.  
568. </div>
569.  
570. <div id="ftn2">
571.  
572. <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/baker/Dropbox/My%20Files/homily/matthew/01/16,%2018-21,%2024,%2022,%20saint%20joseph.docx#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
573. Pope Benedict XVI, Meeting with Priests of the Diocese of Bolzano-Bressanone,
574. August 6, 2008<o:p></o:p></p>
575.  
576. </div>
577.  
578. </div><h1 align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br /></h1><div style="mso-element: footnote-list;"><div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">
579.  
580. </div>
581.  
582. &lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/feeds/1890485259205070241/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/2022/03/homily-for-solemnity-of-st-joseph-march.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6073485143247759467/posts/default/1890485259205070241'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6073485143247759467/posts/default/1890485259205070241'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/2022/03/homily-for-solemnity-of-st-joseph-march.html' title='Homily for the Solemnity of St. Joseph, March 19, 2022'/><author><name>Rev. Msgr. Andrew R. Baker</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14892119235357144972</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKPnWDWB_uMj8HbTbIAfUBcytq5pBJ2eTuuQMBEc4MR5cbaWWd5IcZOLX-KDGEUB8q5jNLYshBtnOJgrMGWEM7RDFBclbwngPSSmycZhvOtDY10ulh3RzHLxb9t8KSqQ/s220/453A9136.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073485143247759467.post-6330223721951575394</id><published>2021-12-08T19:06:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2021-12-08T19:06:27.279-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Homily for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception</title><content type='html'>&lt;div style=&quot;text-align: left;&quot;&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;Immaculate Conception&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;December 8, 2021&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;Luke 1: 26-38&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;h1 align=&quot;center&quot; style=&quot;text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/h1&gt;
583.  
584. <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><b>Introduction<o:p></o:p></b></p>
585.  
586. <p class="MsoNormal">It’s obvious, isn’t it?<o:p></o:p></p>
587.  
588. <p class="MsoNormal">When looking up the mountain toward the Grotto it is obvious
589. that something is missing. Our Lady is not there. More accurately, the 25-foot
590. statute of Our Lady in not atop the campanile. <o:p></o:p></p>
591.  
592. <p class="MsoNormal">As preparations to regild began this past spring, engineers
593. discovered that the statue’s interior structural steel supports were corroded
594. and unsafe and needed to be significantly refurbished. <o:p></o:p></p>
595.  
596. <p class="MsoNormal">She, I mean the statue, was taken down and work is being done
597. by a firm in Virginia to restore her. <o:p></o:p></p>
598.  
599. <p class="MsoNormal">As I look up at the Grotto on this day in which we celebrate
600. her Immaculate Conception, I think a rather disconcerting thought. What if Mary
601. was truly missing?<o:p></o:p></p>
602.  
603. <p class="MsoNormal">Now, I know that only her statue is missing. I know that Mary
604. is present in so many profound ways in our lives and especially here on her
605. mountain. I don’t ask this question to doubt God’s power and salvific plan. But
606. as a kind of spiritual “thought experiment,” what if Mary had never been
607. immaculately conceived? What if she was always missing from human history?<o:p></o:p></p>
608.  
609. <p class="MsoNormal">To put it positively, what does her presence, her virtue,
610. and her intercessor power bring to the world and the Church and to our
611. individual lives that we would not have if she was truly missing?<o:p></o:p></p>
612.  
613. <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><b>Joy<o:p></o:p></b></p>
614.  
615. <p class="MsoNormal">If Mary was missing, there would be no joy. <o:p></o:p></p>
616.  
617. <p class="MsoNormal">One of the titles of Our Lady in the Litany of Loreto is “Cause
618. of our Joy” (<i>Causa Nostrae Laetitiae</i>). <o:p></o:p></p>
619.  
620. <p class="MsoNormal">As our Holy Father has said, “The Church calls her ‘cause of
621. our joy,’. Why? Because she is the bearer of the greatest joy, which is Jesus.”
622. Joy is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, the same Holy Spirit who
623. “overshadows” Mary in today’s Gospel. <o:p></o:p></p>
624.  
625. <p class="MsoNormal">Another thing to consider is the angelic greeting in today’s
626. Gospel. The word in Greek can mean “hail” or “rejoice.” “<i>Chairo</i>” was
627. used frequently as a greeting and a way to say goodbye. The message being
628. delivered to the one who is “favored” or “full of grace” is good news of the
629. highest order. The only proper response is one of joy. The angel who is
630. delivering this good news cannot help but rejoice in his very greeting of Our
631. Lady. <o:p></o:p></p>
632.  
633. <p class="MsoNormal">Later in Luke’s Gospel, Mary will bring this “bundle of
634. joy,” Jesus, to Elizabeth and the child in her womb will leap with joy.
635. Wherever Mary is, there is true and incarnate Joy. Wherever Mary is, there is
636. Jesus. <o:p></o:p></p>
637.  
638. <p class="MsoNormal">The world desperately needs true joy. Depression rates are sharply
639. on the rise in the US. 29% of Americans say they are very happy. What is
640. missing? <o:p></o:p></p>
641.  
642. <p class="MsoNormal">As Pope St. Paul VI pointed out so many years ago,
643. “Technological society has succeeded in multiplying the opportunities for
644. pleasure, but it has great difficulty in generating joy. For joy comes from
645. another source. It is spiritual. Money, comfort, hygiene and material security
646. are often not lacking; and yet boredom, depression and sadness unhappily remain
647. the lot of many” (GD)<o:p></o:p></p>
648.  
649. <p class="MsoNormal">What is missing is an interior life centered on God. Without
650. God, there is no true joy… and Mary is the one who brought Him into the world<o:p></o:p></p>
651.  
652. <p class="MsoNormal">Without Mary, there would be no joy in the world. With Mary,
653. we have joy Himself. <o:p></o:p></p>
654.  
655. <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><b>Divine Grace<o:p></o:p></b></p>
656.  
657. <p class="MsoNormal">If Mary was missing, there would be no divine grace. <o:p></o:p></p>
658.  
659. <p class="MsoNormal">The angel says, “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!”<o:p></o:p></p>
660.  
661. <p class="MsoNormal">The angel does not call her “Mary” but “full of grace.” You
662. see, we all have a name before God. It expresses the deepest meaning of our
663. life and the reason for our creation. For Mary, it is to be the one who is full
664. of grace<o:p></o:p></p>
665.  
666. <p class="MsoNormal">She is full of grace because of her Immaculate Conception.
667. No sin has touched her soul. She is empty of sin and, as Genesis says, at
668. enmity with the serpent. She is full grace and, as the Gospel says, has “found
669. favor with God.”<o:p></o:p></p>
670.  
671. <p class="MsoNormal">Even more importantly, however, and the very reason for her
672. Immaculate Conception, is that she is the Mother of Divine grace. That is, Our
673. Lady is full of grace because she is for Jesus and becomes full of Jesus. <o:p></o:p></p>
674.  
675. <p class="MsoNormal">For us, as Lumen Gentium says, “she is our mother in the
676. order to grace.” Grace Himself came to us through her. She gives birth to
677. divine life in our souls. Her maternity is in the order to grace. <o:p></o:p></p>
678.  
679. <p class="MsoNormal">When we invoke her as “Mother of Divine Grace,” we affirm
680. that she maternally brings grace, brings Jesus, to our souls. <o:p></o:p></p>
681.  
682. <p class="MsoNormal">Without Mary, there would be no divine grace in the world.
683. With Mary, we have grace Himself. <o:p></o:p></p>
684.  
685. <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><b>Hope<o:p></o:p></b></p>
686.  
687. <p class="MsoNormal">If Mary was missing, there would be no hope<o:p></o:p></p>
688.  
689. <p class="MsoNormal">I mentioned that many lack joy in the world. Maybe it is
690. because they have no hope!<o:p></o:p></p>
691.  
692. <p class="MsoNormal">The words of the angel, “For nothing will be impossible for
693. God,” strike many today as fantasy. Many have no faith in eternal life, see no
694. meaning in suffering, think that God does not love them. <o:p></o:p></p>
695.  
696. <p class="MsoNormal">We have good news, however. Good News that has become
697. incarnate in the womb of Mary. Her “fiat” gives the hope of eternal life back
698. to humanity. <o:p></o:p></p>
699.  
700. <p class="MsoNormal">In our 2nd reading Paul says of himself and the Ephesians,
701. “we who first hoped in Christ.” <o:p></o:p></p>
702.  
703. <p class="MsoNormal">Mary is our hope because what was lost has been restored.
704. What was lost? Through the prompting of the devil, Adam and Eve rebelled
705. against the divine plan: you will be like God, knowing good and evil (Gen.
706. 3:5), the father of lies insinuated to them. And our first parents accepted his
707. words. They didn't want to owe anything to God's love. They tried to attain, by
708. their own strength alone, the happiness to which they had been called.<o:p></o:p></p>
709.  
710. <p class="MsoNormal">But God didn't turn his back on mankind. From all eternity,
711. in his infinite Wisdom and Love, foreseeing how we would misuse our freedom, he
712. had decided to become one of us through the Incarnation of the Word, the second
713. Person of the Blessed Trinity. God does so in the womb of Mary, our hope. <o:p></o:p></p>
714.  
715. <p class="MsoNormal">Our 1st reading from Genesis says, “I will put enmity
716. between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers.” We see here
717. the first announcement of the Redemption, in which we already glimpse the
718. figure of a Woman, Eve's descendent, who will be the Mother of the Redeemer
719. and, with Him and under Him, will crush the head of the serpent. <o:p></o:p></p>
720.  
721. <p class="MsoNormal">We have so many reasons to call Mary “Spes Nostra,” “Our
722. Hope.”<o:p></o:p></p>
723.  
724. <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;"><b>Conclusion<o:p></o:p></b></p>
725.  
726. <p class="MsoNormal">There is every reason to believe that the statue of Our Lady
727. will be back in the Grotto by spring. I look forward to the day as I’m sure you
728. do as well. On this Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, we should be
729. confident in Our Lady’s continued presence and faithfulness to her children. <o:p></o:p></p>
730.  
731. <p class="MsoNormal">There is a story about a priest who was asked by a hospital nurse
732. to visit a patient in Ward 3. On entering the Ward, he found a man who was
733. surprised to see him. He hadn’t asked for a priest, and he hadn't received the sacraments
734. for many years. "Nevertheless," he explained to the priest, "I
735. have always kept up a promise I made to my mum on her deathbed: to pray three
736. Hail Marys every night. I prayed that Mary would 'pray for us sinners, now and
737. at the hour of our death.'"<o:p></o:p></p>
738.  
739. <p class="MsoNormal">After a long conversation, the man made his confession, was
740. anointed, and received the Eucharist with great devotion. Leaving the Ward, the
741. priest met the nurse and found that he had been in Ward 4 and not in Ward 3.
742. The patient in Ward 3 was still waiting for him! This was soon put right, but
743. the priest felt thankful for the mistake. <o:p></o:p></p>
744.  
745. <p class="MsoNormal">He felt still more thankful when the following day he found
746. out that the man in Ward 4 had died suddenly that night. The man had kept his
747. promise to his mother... and Our Lady, his spiritual mother, was faithful to
748. him… “now and at the hour of our death.”<o:p></o:p></p>
749.  
750. <p class="MsoNormal">My thought experiment is an experiment that fails. We do not
751. have to wonder or worry about what life and history would be like without Mary.
752. She said “fiat” to the angel. She became the mother of the Incarnate Word and
753. our mother as well. She is Cause of our Joy, Mother of Divine Grace, and Our
754. Hope, no matter what happens to a statue. Our Lady is always with us and will
755. always be faithful to us… “now and at the hour of our death. Amen.” &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/feeds/6330223721951575394/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/2021/12/homily-for-solemnity-of-immaculate.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6073485143247759467/posts/default/6330223721951575394'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6073485143247759467/posts/default/6330223721951575394'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/2021/12/homily-for-solemnity-of-immaculate.html' title='Homily for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception'/><author><name>Rev. Msgr. Andrew R. Baker</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14892119235357144972</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKPnWDWB_uMj8HbTbIAfUBcytq5pBJ2eTuuQMBEc4MR5cbaWWd5IcZOLX-KDGEUB8q5jNLYshBtnOJgrMGWEM7RDFBclbwngPSSmycZhvOtDY10ulh3RzHLxb9t8KSqQ/s220/453A9136.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073485143247759467.post-4419481583272571</id><published>2021-11-06T18:57:00.005-04:00</published><updated>2021-11-06T18:57:58.694-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Rector&#39;s Ruminations, November 4, 2021</title><content type='html'>&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;
756.  
757. <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="background: white; mso-cellspacing: 0in; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 615px;">
758. <tbody><tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
759.  <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" valign="top">
760.  <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Dm55cqcR6bWqcuQB9EQbgnwKN7AGke-H6kCvwavqk6XbHQjFbXFjtdok00zIWPq6NFYpACTnlooAR7gmHNYjl2C0SLP9pY_UxuyD_wzUO0bVTNfMondrNOzWcuPlXBXU5F7TxS1KUbo/s792/MSM-Seminary-Logo_Horizontal_Motto_RGB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="792" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Dm55cqcR6bWqcuQB9EQbgnwKN7AGke-H6kCvwavqk6XbHQjFbXFjtdok00zIWPq6NFYpACTnlooAR7gmHNYjl2C0SLP9pY_UxuyD_wzUO0bVTNfMondrNOzWcuPlXBXU5F7TxS1KUbo/w372-h135/MSM-Seminary-Logo_Horizontal_Motto_RGB.jpg" width="372" /></a></div>
761.  </td>
762. </tr>
763. <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
764.  <td style="padding: 24.0pt 24.0pt 24.0pt 24.0pt;">
765.  <p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="ES" style="color: #002060; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: ES;">Rector’s Ruminations</span><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
766.  <p align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.0pt;">November 4, 2021<o:p></o:p></span></p>
767.  <p><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.0pt;">Dear
768.  Seminary Community,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
769.  <p><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.0pt;">Greetings
770.  from the Mount! So much has been happening on Mary’s Mountain that I just
771.  don’t know if there is enough room in an email to write about it. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
772.  <p><span style="background: white; color: #002060; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.0pt;">Seminarians
773.  did several exciting things during their Fall Break (October 2-10). Some went
774.  camping, others joined Msgr. Heintz and me in the Diocese of Ogdensburg, NY,
775.  for the diaconate ordination of Leagon Carlin <u>and</u> his father (to the
776.  permanent diaconate). Seminarians John Winslow and John Brusa had the
777.  opportunity to join Bishop Reed, Auxiliary Bishop of Boston, on the
778.  CatholicTV Network speaking about Blessed Carlos Acutis. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
779.  <p><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10pt;">A group of
780.  seminarians spent the first days of their fall break on the Evangelization
781.  Mission Trip. It was held at West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV, with
782.  the very able guidance of two Mount grads, Fr. Brian Crenwelge and Fr.
783.  Phillip Szabo, who are the pastor and parochial vicar respectively at the
784.  local parish and center for campus ministry. Our seminarians carried out
785.  “street evangelization” by engaging with students on campus in conversations
786.  about faith. There were many grace-filled encounters which culminated with a
787.  Eucharistic procession on campus.</span></p>
788.  <p><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.0pt;">Between
789.  October 11 and 13 Bishop Louis Tylka, coadjutor Bishop of Peoria, made his
790.  second visit to the Seminary. He celebrated Mass for the entire Seminary
791.  community. Since the Bishop Jenky baseball game between the Diocese of Peoria
792.  and the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend was such a “hit” last year, it has
793.  become a classic and a tradition. The 2<sup>nd</sup> Annual Bishop Jenky
794.  Classic was played on October 12. Bishop Tylka threw out the first pitch (a
795.  strike) and his Peoria men went on to win the game. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
796.  <p><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.0pt;">Following
797.  Bishop Tylka’s visit, we were blessed with a visit from Archbishop William
798.  Lori, S’77, Archbishop of Baltimore. He had the opportunity to visit with
799.  each of his seminarians and then we were honored to have him celebrate Mass
800.  that afternoon. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
801.  <p><span style="background: white; color: #002060; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.0pt;">Family Weekend was October 22-24. We had 140 family members and 50
802.  seminarians participate in the events. It was wonderful to see so many
803.  parents and family members in person this year. Parents and family members
804.  had the opportunity to hear from formators about the formation process and
805.  the daily life of the seminarians. If you would like to see some of the
806.  images from the weekend</span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.0pt;">,</span><span style="background: white; color: #002060; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.0pt;"> thanks to seminarian
807.  Michael Pray, we have a slideshow. Just click here:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
808.  <p><u><span style="background: #F4F4F4; color: #0000ee; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmsmaryedu-my.sharepoint.com%2F%3Av%3A%2Fg%2Fpersonal%2Fm_p_pray_email_msmary_edu%2FEfW4AIyBaGFOvIxgWU0syH8BY2CSY0mm5_4qwN-1apbLgg%3Fe%3DDTjmag&data=04%7C01%7Cbaker%40msmary.edu%7C627e57ed39ed40297b1a08d99f9869b2%7C1094034b6e0e4eb3a3bdfa55ae99b718%7C0%7C0%7C637716299299489366%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=w3m1qiaUxz%2Bmvve7U%2BZ1%2B1rsOFA%2FoJFawrWP3PbZOvc%3D&reserved=0"><span class="MsoSmartlink">2021 Seminary Family Weekend Slideshow - Large 540p.mov</span></a></span></u><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="background: #F4F4F4; color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
809.  <p><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.0pt;">We had two
810.  big house socials in the past month. One to celebrate Columbus Day and
811.  another called “Oktoberfest.” Our lives at the Mount are filled with much
812.  prayer and study but we also need time to relax and enjoy each other’s
813.  company. </span><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Roboto;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
814.  <p><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.0pt;"> On October 28 we welcomed Fr. Gene
815.  Ritz, chancellor of the great Diocese of Allentown (I’m from Allentown so
816.  that’s why I say “great”) and co-postulator of the cause of canonization of
817.  the Servant of God, Fr. Walter Ciszek, SJ. Fr. Ciszek spent 15 years in
818.  confinement and hard labor in Russia as he simultaneously ministered
819.  clandestinely to the faithful. He was finally able to return to the United
820.  States in 1963. He is the author of “With God in Russia” and “He Leadeth Me,”
821.  both of which provide a powerful witness to his work in Russia and the power
822.  of God’s grace. Fr. Ritz provided some moving insights into Fr. Ciszek’s
823.  heroic life and work in Russia. He is an inspiration to all, especially to
824.  seminarians. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
825.  <p><span style="background: white; color: #002060; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.0pt;">We are looking forward to November 18-19. Bishop Stephen Parkes of the
826.  Diocese of Savannah, GA, will lead us in a day of recollection and then be
827.  the main celebrant of the Mass of Candidacy. Candidacy will be given to the
828.  seminarians in First Theology, and it is considered to be the indication that
829.  a seminarian has finished the Discipleship Stage (Pre-theology or College
830.  Seminary) and that his bishop accepts him as a candidate for Holy Orders as
831.  he enters into the Stage of Theological Studies or the Configuration Stage of
832.  formation. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
833.  <p><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.0pt;">Finally,
834.  the Mount is planning for a special conference in January. The new universal
835.  guidelines for priestly formation (called the <i>Ratio Fundamentalis</i>)
836.  calls for a Propaedeutic (meaning “preparatory”) Stage of formation. This
837.  stage will take place before a seminarian would enter Pre-theology. We are
838.  planning a Roundtable at the Mount bringing together our partner vocation
839.  directors and others to discuss, exchange ideas, and begin thinking more
840.  deeply about this stage of formation. It will take place January 17-18, 2022.
841.  Please pray for its success. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
842.  <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.0pt;">May Our Lady, Queen of the Mount, continue to watch over our
843.  Seminary community. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
844.  <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10pt;">In Christ,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.0pt;">
845.  Msgr. Andrew Baker<o:p></o:p></span></p>
846.  <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.0pt;">Rector</span><span style="color: #002060; font-family: Roboto;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
847.  </td>
848. </tr>
849. <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
850.  <td style="background: #002855; border-top: solid #84754E 6.0pt; border: none; padding: 12.0pt 12.0pt 12.0pt 12.0pt;">
851.  <p align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 8.0pt; text-transform: uppercase;">Mount
852.  St. Mary's Seminary</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
853.  </td>
854. </tr>
855. </tbody></table>
856.  
857. </div>
858.  
859. &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #002855; font-family: &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,serif; font-size: 12.0pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/feeds/4419481583272571/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/2021/11/rectors-ruminations-november-4-2021.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6073485143247759467/posts/default/4419481583272571'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6073485143247759467/posts/default/4419481583272571'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/2021/11/rectors-ruminations-november-4-2021.html' title='Rector&#39;s Ruminations, November 4, 2021'/><author><name>Rev. Msgr. Andrew R. Baker</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14892119235357144972</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKPnWDWB_uMj8HbTbIAfUBcytq5pBJ2eTuuQMBEc4MR5cbaWWd5IcZOLX-KDGEUB8q5jNLYshBtnOJgrMGWEM7RDFBclbwngPSSmycZhvOtDY10ulh3RzHLxb9t8KSqQ/s220/453A9136.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Dm55cqcR6bWqcuQB9EQbgnwKN7AGke-H6kCvwavqk6XbHQjFbXFjtdok00zIWPq6NFYpACTnlooAR7gmHNYjl2C0SLP9pY_UxuyD_wzUO0bVTNfMondrNOzWcuPlXBXU5F7TxS1KUbo/s72-w372-h135-c/MSM-Seminary-Logo_Horizontal_Motto_RGB.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073485143247759467.post-8422120657756812374</id><published>2021-03-19T10:49:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2021-03-19T10:49:11.807-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Homily for the Solemnity of St. Joseph, 2021</title><content type='html'>&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h1 align=&quot;center&quot; style=&quot;text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: small;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc8ulI0Ot7g5fQC_Yu3b8wz2F9UIc3OiVHb089nO0y5kWMk6pcd8FWgho4BDrksjJDmQpz5BbWzN2gCV12_bMUZ9zq5h43-_4cJdhuzc-hQ764LU1jTGI4XKuGmc_xh1yPUO1ZTJ48vZQ/&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;&quot;&gt;&lt;img alt=&quot;&quot; data-original-height=&quot;194&quot; data-original-width=&quot;700&quot; height=&quot;89&quot; src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc8ulI0Ot7g5fQC_Yu3b8wz2F9UIc3OiVHb089nO0y5kWMk6pcd8FWgho4BDrksjJDmQpz5BbWzN2gCV12_bMUZ9zq5h43-_4cJdhuzc-hQ764LU1jTGI4XKuGmc_xh1yPUO1ZTJ48vZQ/&quot; width=&quot;320&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Solemnity of St. Joseph: Matthew 1:
860. 16, 18-21, 24a</span><o:p></o:p></h1>
861.  
862. <p class="MsoNormal">Regarding St. Joseph, one scholar says, “Men of our time do
863. not see the figure of Joseph as sufficiently interesting to consider it worth a
864. more detailed examination” (Suarez, 14). <o:p></o:p></p>
865.  
866. <p class="MsoNormal">We, however, think differently. We are not only interested
867. but fascinated with St. Joseph. Let’s begin a journey of discovery.<o:p></o:p></p>
868.  
869. <p class="MsoNormal">The Bible speaks of Joseph as a just man, as a carpenter or
870. craftsman, and as a father. What does each of these attributes mean for us?<o:p></o:p></p>
871.  
872. <h1><span style="font-size: small;">Mt. 1: 19: Joseph was a just (or “righteous”) man</span><o:p></o:p></h1>
873.  
874. <p class="MsoNormal">First, Joseph was a just man or “righteous” man as the translation
875. of today’s Gospel says. <o:p></o:p></p>
876.  
877. <p class="MsoNormal">Being “just” means he was a man of the covenant. He was in
878. right relationship with God. In essence, it means that he was a holy observer
879. of the Law. <o:p></o:p></p>
880.  
881. <p class="MsoNormal">But I think there is something more revealed to us in
882. today’s Gospel than just a generic description of a just man. He was just but in
883. a certain way. <o:p></o:p></p>
884.  
885. <p class="MsoNormal">St. Matthew tells us that “since he was a just man,” he
886. decided to put Mary away quietly. Notice, I did not say “divorce” her. ἀ<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;">πολύω</span> (apolyō) is a verb in Greek that
887. means to give leave, or even to forgive. It is probably better translated, “to
888. put her away privately” or, as the RSV says, “to send her away quietly.”<o:p></o:p></p>
889.  
890. <p class="MsoNormal">But how can Joseph be described as “just” because he wanted
891. to send Our Lady away quietly? <o:p></o:p></p>
892.  
893. <p class="MsoNormal">For Joseph, in being a just man, sending Mary away quietly
894. needed to avoid, first of all, any indication of an indiscretion on Mary’s
895. part. Joseph knew the Immaculate Virgin better than anyone. He could not have
896. concluded that she had sinned. At the same time, Joseph could not see how he
897. was part of this supernatural event and divine plan so he needed to remove himself
898. from the equation. How could he do both?<o:p></o:p></p>
899.  
900. <p class="MsoNormal">Federico Suarez in his book “Joseph of Nazareth” provides a
901. wonderful explanation. Sending Mary away “meant simply avoiding the issue,
902. leaving unfulfilled the marriage to which he had solidly committed himself with
903. the betrothal ceremony.” <o:p></o:p></p>
904.  
905. <p class="MsoNormal">You see, Joseph had not yet brought Mary into his home. They
906. were legally married, but the process was not yet complete. If Joseph sends her
907. away, he does not fulfill his legal obligation. His lack of action will reflect
908. badly on him but not on Mary. <o:p></o:p></p>
909.  
910. <p class="MsoNormal">Suarez concludes, “with this solution, Our Lady would not
911. now be a rejected wife but an abandoned wife. Not a woman marked out by sin,
912. but one marked by misfortune. Not a woman expiating a misdeed, but one who
913. suffers for someone else’s misdeed.” (Suarez, Joseph of Nazareth, 44-45) <o:p></o:p></p>
914.  
915. <p class="MsoNormal">Joseph found a solution that preserves Mary’s reputation,
916. puts the blame on himself because he would be seen as not fulfilling his duty
917. and abandoning his wife and child, and does not interfere with God’s will. He
918. is willing to quietly suffer this indignation from others for the sake of
919. preserving Mary’s good reputation. It is the choice of a truly just man. <o:p></o:p></p>
920.  
921. <p class="MsoNormal">In the end Joseph discovers that he <u>is</u> part of the
922. divine plan. Thus, he does not need to put the blame on anyone. Whatever his
923. fear, it disappears as soon as the angel tells Joseph of how he has a role in
924. God’s mysterious plan of salvation. <o:p></o:p></p>
925.  
926. <p class="MsoNormal">Dealing with ambiguity and confusion, preserving the good
927. name of others, willing to suffer so that others do not have to, and, in all
928. things, discerning and following God’s will not matter the cost, is who a
929. “just” man is. This man is St. Joseph, and this man should be you and me. <o:p></o:p></p>
930.  
931. <h1><span style="font-size: small;">Mt. 13: 55; Mk. 6: 3: Joseph was a carpenter or craftsman</span><o:p></o:p></h1>
932.  
933. <p class="MsoNormal">Joseph is also called a carpenter of craftsman. The word the
934. Gospels use is “<em>téktōn</em>,” a common term used for artisans, craftsmen,
935. and woodworkers (so, yes, it can translate as “carpenter”). The Latin
936. translation of “<em>faber,</em>” preserves the broader meaning and is a general
937. term used for workers and craftsmen. <o:p></o:p></p>
938.  
939. <p class="MsoNormal">Pope Francis reminds us that “working persons, whatever
940. their job may be, are cooperating with God himself, and in some way become
941. creators of the world around us… Saint Joseph’s work reminds us that God
942. himself, in becoming man, did not disdain work.”<o:p></o:p></p>
943.  
944. <p class="MsoNormal">Joseph knew intimately the world of manual labor. With his
945. skills he could provide for the Holy Family. He even traveled to Egypt <u>without
946. a truck</u>! He worked hard, long hours not as an end in itself, but for Jesus
947. and Mary. <o:p></o:p></p>
948.  
949. <p class="MsoNormal">The world of work needs to recapture its supernatural
950. direction. <o:p></o:p></p>
951.  
952. <p class="MsoNormal">All noble work, no matter its level of importance in the
953. world, is capable of being an offering to God. When we do it well, with a keen
954. sense of how it serves others, and we put love into it, it becomes a
955. sweet-smelling offering to the Lord<o:p></o:p></p>
956.  
957. <p class="MsoNormal">Joseph had projects and clients. He had to order materials
958. and care for his tools. He practiced order and timeliness. He knew the
959. importance of getting it right and according to specifications given to him by
960. others. <o:p></o:p></p>
961.  
962. <p class="MsoNormal">He was a proud craftsman of his work and did it well as an
963. offering to the Lord, the Lord that worked with him under his roof. <o:p></o:p></p>
964.  
965. <p class="MsoNormal">The work of a priest, while not considered manual labor, is
966. sacred. Priestly ministry involves preaching and the celebration of the
967. sacrament, which needs to be done well. <o:p></o:p></p>
968.  
969. <p class="MsoNormal">Priestly ministry also involves paperwork, meetings, mundane
970. conversations, and long hours. It demands unseen menial tasks and hidden visits
971. to the hospital and nursing homes. A priest’s work can be thankless and
972. sometime even despised. No matter. Like Joseph, we are spiritual “craftsmen”
973. who receive from God’s providence and offer back to Him a people redeemed by
974. His love. <o:p></o:p></p>
975.  
976. <h1><span style="font-size: small;">Lk. 2: 48: Joseph was a father</span><o:p></o:p></h1>
977.  
978. <p class="MsoNormal">Finally, Joseph was a father. Our Lady simple says in the
979. Gospel of Luke, “Your father and I have been looking for you.” There is no
980. adjective like “foster father,” “adoptive father,” or “earthly father.” All of
981. these are legitimate adjectives, but Our Lady uses none of them. Joseph is simply
982. “father.”<o:p></o:p></p>
983.  
984. <p class="MsoNormal">Now, we know that he is not the biological father of Jesus. But
985. he was father in every other sense. <o:p></o:p></p>
986.  
987. <p class="MsoNormal">God the Father’s choice for who would be the father on earth
988. for His Son Jesus was a choice for someone who could best reflect His fatherhood
989. in the world. This man needed to protect the savior, even save the savior from
990. Herod. This man needed to raise the Son of God in all the ways of faith, of
991. culture, of language, of work, of relationships, of affections, of virtues,
992. etc. In other words, this man needed to represent God the Father in the most
993. perfect way possible. Joseph was that man. <o:p></o:p></p>
994.  
995. <p class="MsoNormal">Two particular moments in the Gospel illustrate Joseph’s
996. fatherhood, the Circumcision and the Finding in the Temple. <o:p></o:p></p>
997.  
998. <p class="MsoNormal">At the circumcision, Joseph had the ritual duty to name the
999. child. He was charged by the angel to name Him Jesus, “<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">because he will save his people from their sins” (Mt. 1:
1000. 21). On bestowing the name on the child, Joseph revealed to the world that he
1001. was acting as father and filling in or standing in for the heavenly Father. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
1002.  
1003. <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Every
1004. father on earth, especially a priest, stands in for God the Father. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
1005.  
1006. <p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 238.5pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When he and his wife find Jesus in the Temple, Joseph hears
1007. the direct words of his 12-year-old son, “Did you not know that I must be in my
1008. Father’s house?” (Lk. 2: 49). Joseph learns in the Temple that there are limits
1009. within which he can exercise his fatherly authority. Joseph had authority over
1010. Jesus but only in so far as it aided the mission given to Jesus by his heavenly
1011. Father. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
1012.  
1013. <p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 238.5pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Every father on earth, especially a priest, knows that his
1014. ability and authority have limits and that God the Father’s authority and
1015. activity of grace are preeminent in the life of every soul. Fathers must know
1016. what they can and cannot do and leave the rest to God the Father. He is Father
1017. of us all. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
1018.  
1019. <p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 238.5pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After Mass a number of us will formally consecrate ourselves
1020. to God through St. Joseph. It is simply a way of recognizing his role as a just
1021. man, craftsman, and father in my life. It is a way to “enter into” the spirit
1022. and power of Joseph and deepen our love and dedication to Our Lady and our
1023. complete self-giving to Christ. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
1024.  
1025. <p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 238.5pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As we continue in the Year of St. Joseph, I pray that the
1026. great Patron of the Church will be your and you will be his more deeply. I pray
1027. that you and I will be able to better live as St. Joseph did as a just man, as
1028. a craftsman, and as a father. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/feeds/8422120657756812374/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/2021/03/homily-for-solemnity-of-st-joseph-2021.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6073485143247759467/posts/default/8422120657756812374'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6073485143247759467/posts/default/8422120657756812374'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/2021/03/homily-for-solemnity-of-st-joseph-2021.html' title='Homily for the Solemnity of St. Joseph, 2021'/><author><name>Rev. Msgr. Andrew R. Baker</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14892119235357144972</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKPnWDWB_uMj8HbTbIAfUBcytq5pBJ2eTuuQMBEc4MR5cbaWWd5IcZOLX-KDGEUB8q5jNLYshBtnOJgrMGWEM7RDFBclbwngPSSmycZhvOtDY10ulh3RzHLxb9t8KSqQ/s220/453A9136.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc8ulI0Ot7g5fQC_Yu3b8wz2F9UIc3OiVHb089nO0y5kWMk6pcd8FWgho4BDrksjJDmQpz5BbWzN2gCV12_bMUZ9zq5h43-_4cJdhuzc-hQ764LU1jTGI4XKuGmc_xh1yPUO1ZTJ48vZQ/s72-c" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073485143247759467.post-3549656617115042817</id><published>2020-08-08T11:39:00.003-04:00</published><updated>2020-08-08T11:39:21.881-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Rector’s Ruminations, July 31, 2020</title><content type='html'>&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;table align=&quot;center&quot; cellpadding=&quot;0&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; class=&quot;tr-caption-container&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;tbody&gt;&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td style=&quot;text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpULICdBM6MuPq9hGP8rz28Y5Vt_Ky2xrhS8ozi5SXizPb0alSwww3EaJgno2m2rR9SlddQtyyRR61Nqd8HRZmbIFsYTp3f27yw3Hok1ZD6rYcpN_xqq9ypd0wCqP34L87OMaDOpEu6us/s236/shield.JPG&quot; imageanchor=&quot;1&quot; style=&quot;display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;img border=&quot;0&quot; data-original-height=&quot;236&quot; data-original-width=&quot;169&quot; height=&quot;102&quot; src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpULICdBM6MuPq9hGP8rz28Y5Vt_Ky2xrhS8ozi5SXizPb0alSwww3EaJgno2m2rR9SlddQtyyRR61Nqd8HRZmbIFsYTp3f27yw3Hok1ZD6rYcpN_xqq9ypd0wCqP34L87OMaDOpEu6us/w73-h102/shield.JPG&quot; width=&quot;73&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td class=&quot;tr-caption&quot; style=&quot;text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;/tbody&gt;&lt;/table&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #002d50; font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 20pt;&quot;&gt;Rector’s Ruminations&lt;/span&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #002855; font-family: Roboto;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;July 31, 2020&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
1029.  
1030. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dear Seminary Community,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
1031.  
1032. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">As the summer break comes to an end, I have some exciting
1033. news to share with all of you. We all know that Ms. Julia Parker can never be
1034. replaced but we are excited to welcome to the Seminary community Mr. Nicholas
1035. J. Will as the new Seminary Organist and Director of Liturgical Music. He has
1036. recently been the Director of Liturgical Music at the North American College in
1037. Rome and he is Founder and President of the Saint Gregory Institute of Sacred
1038. Music. Welcome Mr. Will!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
1039.  
1040. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I am also happy to announce that Fr. Lee Gross will have a
1041. special assistant this year in the person of Fr. Diego Ruiz, I.V.E. Fr. Ruiz
1042. will be the Assistant Dean of Men, lending a hand to Fr. Gross and sharing the
1043. work of the Dean of Men. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
1044.  
1045. <p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">If you have
1046. been following the Seminary Facebook page, you will know that Archbishop Lori
1047. recently received permission from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the
1048. Discipline of Sacraments in Rome to insert in the liturgical calendar of the
1049. Archdiocese of Baltimore the optional memorial of Blessed Stanley Rother. The
1050. Congregation has also granted the indult for the Mass in honor of Blessed
1051. Stanley to be celebrated in St. Bernard’s Chapel for priests who are part of a
1052. pilgrimage or for priests who celebrate Mass for the benefit of the members of
1053. a pilgrimage. We are grateful to the Holy Father for this tremendous honor. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
1054.  
1055. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Starting Monday, August 3, a group of administrators, staff,
1056. faculty, and seminarians will begin a Strategic Planning Summit led by the
1057. Center for Catholic School Excellence. We will consider the responses that many
1058. of you gave during the multiple focus groups conducted this past year. We will
1059. complete our work on Wednesday, August 5, and will produce the first draft of
1060. our new five-year Seminary Strategic Plan (2021-2026), which we will be sharing
1061. with the Seminary community this fall for your feedback. Please pray for this
1062. endeavor. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
1063.  
1064. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">We will soon be welcoming to Mary’s Mountain many new
1065. seminarians and one priest-student – Fr. Juan Garcia. Fr. Garcia has been
1066. serving the Hispanic community in the Archdiocese of Baltimore for the past few
1067. years. He has been assigned by Archbishop Lori to the Mount as a full time
1068. English as a Second Language (ESL) student. He will be a member of our
1069. community for this year as he experiences a total immersion into the English
1070. language, giving him an opportunity to strengthen his language skill so as to
1071. better serve both the Hispanic and English speaking communities in the
1072. Archdiocese. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
1073.  
1074. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">After such a long and unusual hiatus, I am looking forward to
1075. the Seminary being once again full of seminarians. New seminarians arrive
1076. Sunday, August 9, during the afternoon. On Wednesday, August 12, the First
1077. Theologians arrive for an integration activity which will take place on
1078. Thursday with new seminarians in their class. All other returning seminarians
1079. will arrive on Thursday, August 13 in time for Mass at 7:15 pm with Archbishop
1080. Lori.  <o:p></o:p></span></p>
1081.  
1082. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Life on campus during the next few months will be different
1083. due to the various COVID-19 adaptations. As I said to the seminarians in my
1084. Zoom meeting a few weeks ago, we are trying to manage the risk and still have
1085. priestly formation in person. We have devised many ways to “protect” ourselves
1086. and others from the spread of the virus but, as I was praying about the
1087. beginning of the semester, I sensed that God was asking us not to forget the
1088. power of prayer as a way to protect ourselves. So, I now ask the entire
1089. Seminary Community to pray daily (if possible, even more than daily) the <i>Memorare</i>,
1090. invoking Our Lady, Queen of the Mount, to protect the entire Seminary community
1091. from the virus. Let us pray this prayer until the risk of COVID-19 has
1092. subsided:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
1093.  
1094. <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><u><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">MEMORARE<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></p>
1095.  
1096. <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never
1097. was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or
1098. sought your intercession was left unaided.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
1099.  
1100. <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto you, O
1101. Virgin of virgins, my mother; to you do I come, before you I stand, sinful and
1102. sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in
1103. your mercy hear and answer me. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
1104.  
1105. <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Our Lady. Queen of the Mount, pray for us. </span></i><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
1106.  
1107. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In Christ,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
1108.  
1109. &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &amp;quot;Garamond&amp;quot;,serif; font-size: 12.0pt;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Msgr. Andrew Baker&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/feeds/3549656617115042817/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/2020/08/rectors-ruminations-july-31-2020.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6073485143247759467/posts/default/3549656617115042817'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6073485143247759467/posts/default/3549656617115042817'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/2020/08/rectors-ruminations-july-31-2020.html' title='Rector’s Ruminations, July 31, 2020'/><author><name>Rev. Msgr. Andrew R. Baker</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14892119235357144972</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKPnWDWB_uMj8HbTbIAfUBcytq5pBJ2eTuuQMBEc4MR5cbaWWd5IcZOLX-KDGEUB8q5jNLYshBtnOJgrMGWEM7RDFBclbwngPSSmycZhvOtDY10ulh3RzHLxb9t8KSqQ/s220/453A9136.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpULICdBM6MuPq9hGP8rz28Y5Vt_Ky2xrhS8ozi5SXizPb0alSwww3EaJgno2m2rR9SlddQtyyRR61Nqd8HRZmbIFsYTp3f27yw3Hok1ZD6rYcpN_xqq9ypd0wCqP34L87OMaDOpEu6us/s72-w73-h102-c/shield.JPG" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073485143247759467.post-4339697463938698065</id><published>2019-12-16T09:07:00.003-05:00</published><updated>2019-12-16T09:08:59.394-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Homily for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, 2019</title><content type='html'>&lt;b style=&quot;text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &amp;quot;times new roman&amp;quot; , serif; line-height: 150%;&quot;&gt;Introduction&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
1110. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1111. <span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">One of the finest features of this chapel is
1112. the large, stained glass window of the Immaculate Conception in the choir loft.
1113. I must admit, it is one of my favorite features. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1114. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1115. <span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">At certain times of the year, the window is
1116. clouded in complete darkness as we begin Morning Prayer. As the minutes tick by
1117. and we move into Mass the rising sun from the East inches its way above the
1118. horizon and the first rays of dawn hit the multi-colored glass. Throughout
1119. Mass, the sun slowly reveals the figure of the Immaculate Conception until the
1120. entire window is filled with brilliant light that cascades into the nave and
1121. sanctuary of the chapel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
1122. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
1123. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">Darkness to light<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
1124. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1125. <span style="background: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">The first noticeable aspect of the window is the movement
1126. from darkness to light. God begins His work of salvation – the movement of
1127. darkness to light – in Mary. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1128. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1129. <span style="background: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">Our feast today speaks of a special privilege that
1130. illustrates the movement from the darkness of Original Sin to the light of
1131. salvation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1132. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1133. <span style="background: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">With the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, the Church
1134. confesses what she has believed from the beginning: Our Lady was “from the
1135. first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty
1136. God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Saviour of the human race,
1137. preserved immune from all stain of original sin.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/baker/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/IMB4112M/26-38%2019%20imm.%20concep_.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="background: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1138. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1139. <span style="background: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">One of the bishops invited by Pope Pius IX to the declaration
1140. of the Immaculate Conception in 1854 was St. John Neumann. Neumann wrote to his
1141. father in Bohemia that he was coming over to Europe for the declaration and his
1142. father wrote back: “Why do they have to bring American bishops to Rome to tell
1143. us that the most holy Virgin was conceived without sin when we have always
1144. believed it here?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
1145. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1146. <span style="background: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">In her, the rays of the Son of God first dispel the darkness
1147. of sin. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1148. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1149. <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">We
1150. heard in the first reading from the Book of Genesis that immediately after the
1151. fall of Adam and Eve, God declared to the serpent, “I will put enmity between
1152. you and the woman, between your offspring and hers; he will strike at your
1153. head, while you strike at his heel” (Gen 3:15). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1154. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1155. <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">At
1156. that moment of darkness, which covered all of humanity because of the pride of
1157. Adam and Eve, God does not abandon us. He promises a coming light – a Savior
1158. who will strike at Satan’s head. God gives hope to humanity by promising that
1159. the light will come through a woman – a Savior will be born of her – and she
1160. will be at enmity with the serpent. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1161. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1162. <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">In
1163. her, we see the divine work of darkness to light. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1164. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
1165. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">Full of light - Mary<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
1166. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1167. <span style="background: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">The second things you notice about the stained glass window
1168. is that as the light enters, the figure of Mary becomes clear. God becoming
1169. flesh gives meaning to Mary’s whole life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1170. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1171. <span style="background: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">It is only by way of the light that she becomes illuminated.
1172. She cannot be known without the light. She only becomes clear because of the
1173. light. She can only fulfill her mission by allowing the light to pass through
1174. her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
1175. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1176. <span style="background: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">In our Gospel the Archangel Gabriel reveals the God-given
1177. name of Mary. He calls her “full of grace,” <em>kecharitoméne</em> in Greek. The
1178. word is difficult to translate and certainly “highly-favored one” doesn’t do it
1179. justice. It is the only instance in Scripture in which the name is ever used. The
1180. best translation I have seen is “one who has been abundantly the object of grace.”
1181. “<em>Kecharitoméne:”</em> It is a unique name, a unique title, for a unique
1182. being in the economy of salvation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1183. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1184. <span style="background: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">Mary can only be truly seen and understood in the light of
1185. grace. On her own, she is nothing. She is simply a “handmaid.” She is “greatly
1186. troubled” by Gabriel’s greeting because she sees herself as nothing. But grace
1187. has enlightened her. Her very figure, her very being, comes to light because
1188. the morning sun, the “Son of the Most High,” has become flesh in her womb. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1189. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1190. <span style="background: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">This is her vocation – her reason for being – and it is only
1191. known when the light of the world arrives. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1192. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1193. <span style="background: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">In preparation for the light of divine grace to dispel the
1194. darkness of sin, God prepared her from the beginning of her existence. He
1195. prepared each colored glass, placed them in perfect position, giving her the
1196. privilege of being “endowed with the rich fullness of your grace,” as the
1197. Preface of today’s Mass professes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1198. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1199. <span style="background: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">It is grace that gives Mary her vocation and her very name. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1200. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
1201. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">Shining on the greatest light - Christ<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
1202. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1203. <span style="background: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">Finally, the light of day illuminates the figure of Mary and enters
1204. the chapel ultimately to shine on the altar. Mary’s whole life is to shine on
1205. Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
1206. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1207. <span style="background: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">St. Paul tells us in his letter to the Ephesians that God the
1208. Father “has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens.”
1209. The great privilege of the Immaculate Conception has one purpose. It is not
1210. about Mary. It is about Jesus. It is to prepare “a worthy dwelling for your
1211. Son,” as the Collect says. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1212. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1213. <span style="background: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">Mary’s whole existence gives way to Christ. She, like to
1214. moon, keeps no light for herself but reflects the sun to others. She exists for
1215. the praise of Christ’s glory. She gives her “fiat” so that the flow of Christ’s
1216. life will shine in this world and illuminate our darkness. Her life is not her
1217. own. It is literally Christ living in her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1218. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1219. <span style="background: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">Throughout her life, Mary will renew her mission to shine on
1220. Christ. At the Magi’s visit, she uncovers her Son wrapped in swaddling clothes.
1221. She tells the servants at Cana to do “whatever he tells you.” As she stood
1222. weeping on Calvary, her tears point toward the salvific suffering of Christ. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1223. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1224. <span style="background: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">The humble transparency of Our Lady constantly points to Our
1225. Lord for her whole life shines on Him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1226. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
1227. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">Conclusion<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
1228. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1229. <span style="background: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">In my position as celebrant or concelebrant in the sanctuary,
1230. I can easily see the beautiful stained glass window of the Immaculate
1231. Conception during Mass. Unfortunately, most of you cannot. However, this only
1232. seems just because the faithful are in a Marian position at Mass. Just as she
1233. allows Divine grace to flow through her and directs her gaze toward Him, so too
1234. our whole life must do the same. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1235. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1236. <span style="background: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">The angel departs from Our Lady’s presence in today’s Gospel
1237. because his mission is over. He asked the virgin’s consent to be the perfect
1238. stained glass window for the Son to enter the world. She said “yes” and Christ
1239. became flesh. We now ask her to intercede for us. We, unlike her, are not
1240. without blemish, but it is still God’s will that we say “yes” to Him and be a
1241. stained glass window of grace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
1242. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1243. <span style="background: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse
1244. to thee.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1245. <div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
1246. <!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
1247. <hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
1248. <!--[endif]-->
1249.  
1250. <br />
1251. <div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
1252. <div class="MsoFootnoteText">
1253. <a href="file:///C:/Users/baker/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/IMB4112M/26-38%2019%20imm.%20concep_.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
1254. CCC, 491<o:p></o:p></div>
1255. </div>
1256. </div>
1257. &lt;br /&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/feeds/4339697463938698065/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/2019/12/homily-for-solemnity-of-immaculate.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6073485143247759467/posts/default/4339697463938698065'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6073485143247759467/posts/default/4339697463938698065'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/2019/12/homily-for-solemnity-of-immaculate.html' title='Homily for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, 2019'/><author><name>Rev. Msgr. Andrew R. Baker</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14892119235357144972</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKPnWDWB_uMj8HbTbIAfUBcytq5pBJ2eTuuQMBEc4MR5cbaWWd5IcZOLX-KDGEUB8q5jNLYshBtnOJgrMGWEM7RDFBclbwngPSSmycZhvOtDY10ulh3RzHLxb9t8KSqQ/s220/453A9136.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073485143247759467.post-916005280172020021</id><published>2018-11-19T13:09:00.002-05:00</published><updated>2018-11-19T13:10:42.855-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Rector&#39;s Ruminations, November 19, 2018</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style=&quot;color: #2e74b5; font-family: garamond, serif; font-size: 20pt;&quot;&gt;Rector’s Ruminations&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
1258. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
1259. <span style="font-family: garamond, serif; font-size: 12pt;">November
1260. 19, 2018</span></div>
1261. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
1262. <span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dear
1263. Seminary Community,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
1264. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
1265. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="ES" style="font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Grátias tibi, Deus,
1266. grátias tibi</span></i><span lang="ES" style="font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">. </span><span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">We
1267. have much for which to give thanks and I give thanks for all of you and for the
1268. grace that we all have to be here at the Mount.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
1269. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
1270. <span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Much has
1271. been happening these past few week, especially last week. We had a beautiful
1272. Byzantine Rite Liturgy celebrated by our own Fr. Lee Gross. The Byzantine
1273. schola did a fantastic job in leading us in sacred music and chant. Indeed, to
1274. echo the words of the delegates of Prince Vladimir of Kiev, “We knew not
1275. whether we were in heaven or on earth.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1276. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
1277. <span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Despite the
1278. early rise on Friday morning due to “wet steam” causing a steam valve to pour
1279. out so much steam that it set the fire alarm off, we had a very prayerful Day
1280. of Recollection. We were privileged to have the relic of the heart of St. John
1281. Vianney with us for an entire day and we are grateful to the Knights of
1282. Columbus, Deacon Andrew St. Hilaire, and Msgr. Cummings for organizing the
1283. visit. It was a clear reminder to me of the famous phrase of the Cure d’Ars – “The
1284. priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1285. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
1286. <span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Friday was
1287. also the faculty In-Service Day. We had an insightful presentation from Fr. Tad
1288. Pacholczyk from the National Catholic Bioethics Center on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Humanae Vitae</i> and also on the topic of gender and the many moral
1289. and cultural issues surrounding gender ideology which Pope Francis has called “</span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">the annihilation of man as the image of God.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1290. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
1291. <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">We give thanks to Bishop Mark Brennan,
1292. Auxiliary Bishop of Baltimore, who conferred Candidacy on 45 of our
1293. seminarians. Moving forward we will follow the practice of conferring Candidacy
1294. on those beginning the Configuration Stage of priestly formation in first
1295. theology. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1296. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
1297. <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">This past Saturday the “Go Forth”
1298. mission served a record number of households (138) and brought food for
1299. Thanksgiving to a total of 369 people. With the help of 48 deliverers,
1300. including undergraduates from the iLead program, and $2,250 of donations, many
1301. of the local poor received the charity of Christ and sustenance for the
1302. holiday. Many thanks to Robby Renner and his organizing team for their hard
1303. work. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1304. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
1305. <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Msgr. Frontiero, Diane Favret, and I
1306. had the privilege to attend the Archdiocese of Military Service Benefit Dinner
1307. this past Saturday evening. It began with Mass celebrated by Archbishop Broglio
1308. and served by some of our co-sponsored seminarians. Mass was followed by a
1309. delicious dinner. Archbishop Broglio gave the Mount a “shout out” when he
1310. announced to the attendees that the Mount was represented at the dinner and
1311. that we have the largest number of co-sponsored seminarians of any seminary in
1312. the country. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1313. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
1314. <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">After Thanksgiving on the First Sunday
1315. of Advent we will begin using the St. Michael Prayer at all Seminary Masses
1316. after the dismissal. </span><span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">More
1317. than 12 dioceses have instituted the regular praying of the Prayer to St.
1318. Michael in order to beg his protection against the evil one and for the
1319. protection of the Church. Other dioceses have done so for a specific period of
1320. time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1321. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
1322. <span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Upcoming
1323. events include the cookie baking party on December 1, the Open House and Office
1324. of Vigils on December 2, the Christmas Dinner and entertainment on December 7,
1325. and, of course, the celebration of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
1326. on December 8. Unfortunately, I will not be able to join the community for the
1327. Christmas Dinner because of a wedding rehearsal for a former parishioner of
1328. mine, but I look forward to celebrating the Mass for the Immaculate Conception.
1329. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1330. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
1331. <span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">May the
1332. Lord continue to bless each of you and your families this Thanksgiving. “The
1333. secret of happiness is to live moment by moment and to thank God for what He is
1334. sending us every day in His goodness” (<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><a href="http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=6985" target="_blank">St.
1335. Gianna Beretta Molla</a></span></span>). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1336. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
1337. <span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In Christ,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
1338. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
1339. <span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">    </span>Msgr. Andrew Baker<o:p></o:p></span></div>
1340. &lt;br /&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/feeds/916005280172020021/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/2018/11/rectors-ruminations-november-2018.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6073485143247759467/posts/default/916005280172020021'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6073485143247759467/posts/default/916005280172020021'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/2018/11/rectors-ruminations-november-2018.html' title='Rector&#39;s Ruminations, November 19, 2018'/><author><name>Rev. Msgr. Andrew R. Baker</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14892119235357144972</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKPnWDWB_uMj8HbTbIAfUBcytq5pBJ2eTuuQMBEc4MR5cbaWWd5IcZOLX-KDGEUB8q5jNLYshBtnOJgrMGWEM7RDFBclbwngPSSmycZhvOtDY10ulh3RzHLxb9t8KSqQ/s220/453A9136.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073485143247759467.post-5267028152119793457</id><published>2017-12-09T14:58:00.002-05:00</published><updated>2017-12-09T14:58:20.776-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;line-height: 150%; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: left;&quot;&gt;
1341. </div>
1342. <div style="text-align: left;">
1343. <b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 150%;">Luke
1344. 1: 26-38</span></b></div>
1345. <b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1346. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip6KzWXutOB5pyDmQAYRCeLLdRGrBppzJIz4G6UGtKDEbhgKnTZdDBB0QNmqN108XnalXKCJr1zU0d8lJBYxB1kcv6JsrubWAoB8I09g5UuXwzfl9Pc9DILwYc_-XwM_IxLnR20azPDK0/s1600/ImmaculateConception.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip6KzWXutOB5pyDmQAYRCeLLdRGrBppzJIz4G6UGtKDEbhgKnTZdDBB0QNmqN108XnalXKCJr1zU0d8lJBYxB1kcv6JsrubWAoB8I09g5UuXwzfl9Pc9DILwYc_-XwM_IxLnR20azPDK0/s200/ImmaculateConception.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
1347. </span></b><br />
1348. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: left;">
1349. <b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 150%;">Introduction<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
1350. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">
1351. <span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 150%;">An orchestra is only as good as its harmony. A
1352. single wrong note can completely ruin the beauty and joy of any song. In the
1353. Book of Genesis we hear God conducting the harmony of His creation and he
1354. introduces two protagonists, Adam and Eve, to whom he gives the ability to
1355. follow his musical score and direction or not. Unfortunately, it only takes
1356. them until the third chapter of the first book of the Bible to strike the wrong
1357. note. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1358. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
1359. <b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 150%;">Original
1360. Sin</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
1361. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1362. <span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 150%;">Original Sin is a note of pride, mistrust, and
1363. arrogance. It is a note embodying the cry of the serpent, “<i>Non serviam</i>,”<i> </i>“I will not
1364. serve.” And it rings out over all creation and into the depths of humanity
1365. causing enmity between God and man. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1366. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1367. <span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 150%;">Adam and Eve notice this disharmony in their
1368. nakedness. Before sin entered the world, they gazed upon each other with purity
1369. of heart. Now their gaze has been distorted – their hearts soiled by sin. As a
1370. result, the serpent is sent crawling away and humanity is banished from the
1371. garden.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
1372. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1373. <span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 150%;">But, in the hands of a master conductor, the
1374. wrong note can be the first note in a new song. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1375. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1376. <span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 150%;">Genesis predicts the restoration of the
1377. orchestra. “I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your
1378. offspring and hers; he will strike at your head, while you strike at his heel,”
1379. we hear in the first reading. The plan of restoration and the beginning of a
1380. new song for humanity starts in the conception of a young girl by the name of
1381. Miriam, the daughter of Joachim and Anne. By way of the future merits of her
1382. divine son, Mary begins her existence free from the effects of the wrong note. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1383. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1384. <span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 150%;">She is full of grace, the angel tells us,
1385. precisely because nothing of her is in the serpent and nothing of the serpent
1386. is in her. She and he are at “enmity.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1387. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
1388. <b><span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 150%;">God brings about His victory<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
1389. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1390. <span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 150%;">In Mary, the Immaculate Conception, we see how
1391. God brings about his victory and the restoration of harmony through the <i>anawim </i>or holy remnant of Israel. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1392. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1393. <span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 150%;">St. Paul say to the Ephesians that God has had
1394. a plan for us “before the foundation of the world.” He destined us to be his
1395. adopted children and “to be holy and without blemish before him.” We were meant
1396. to be like the lambs of sacrifice which are brought to the Temple without
1397. blemish; that is, without sin. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1398. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1399. <span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 150%;">Yet, mankind strayed from holiness. But God
1400. will not be defeated. He forms a rescue mission. He has a plan of salvation. He
1401. sets apart an <i>anawim </i>– a holy remnant
1402. – who remains faithful to Him. The word in Hebrew means “those who are bowed
1403. down.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1404. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1405. <span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 150%;">Mary is the exemplar of this holy remnant. She
1406. is the embodiment of the true Zion, the pure living dwelling place of God. She
1407. is the perfect house for God. Her life boldly proclaims that God has not
1408. failed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1409. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1410. <span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 150%;">She says “yes” to the Lord and becomes his
1411. living Temple. Through her, the Temple presence of God, stifled in the garden
1412. of Eden, breaks forth definitively into the world. Her immaculate conception is
1413. a living sign and beacon of the new note that God has used to start a new song
1414. and restore harmony to his creation. In her begins the glorious victory of
1415. grace and holiness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1416. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1417. <span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 150%;">Sin and death are not the last word. He comes
1418. to us through Mary to bear our sins to death. It is through Mary that God takes
1419. humanity’s defeat and turns it into divine victory. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1420. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
1421. <b><span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 150%;">Man trusts God again<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
1422. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1423. <span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 150%;">In Mary, mankind also begins to trust God
1424. again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1425. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1426. <span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 150%;">Adam and Eve think that God, in some way, is
1427. taking something away from them. They harbor suspicion and mistrust in the
1428. garden. They view God to be a rival. When they taste the fruit of the tree of
1429. the knowledge of good and evil, they are reaching out to shape the world by
1430. themselves. To make themselves into a god. They trust in deceit rather than in
1431. truth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1432. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1433. <span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 150%;">Mary on the other hand completely reverses this
1434. wrong note. She is totally dependent upon God and trusts him implicitly. She gives
1435. herself over to him completely and will do nothing but <u>His</u> will – not
1436. her own. She profoundly recognizes that her very existence, every breath, is
1437. dependent upon Him. “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to
1438. me according to your word.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1439. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1440. <span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 150%;">The <i>non
1441. serviam</i> of the serpent becomes the <i>serviam
1442. </i>of the handmaid. If we live in opposition to God, if we view him as our
1443. enemy, then we end up destroying not only ourselves but the world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1444. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1445. <span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 150%;">On the other hand, if the devil is at enmity with
1446. us and we with him, it means that our friendship with God is governed by our
1447. total “fiat.” We love him. We trust him, and we depend on him for everything.
1448. This is not only a good way to live our lives. It is a life in accord with who
1449. we are. While we say that the Immaculate Conception is an exception to humanity's
1450. fate, in fact, the Immaculate Conception is the premier example of what it means
1451. to be fully human. In her God brings about his victory and restoration of
1452. humanity and, in her, humanity turns back to Him in complete dependence and
1453. trust.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
1454. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
1455. <b><span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 150%;">Conclusion<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
1456. <br />
1457. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1458. <span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 150%;">On our patronal feast day we give thanks to God
1459. for Our Lady. Whenever we look toward the stain glass window which graces the
1460. front of this church, we see the brightness of light shining through. We can
1461. only make out the image of the Blessed Mother if there <u>is</u> light shining
1462. through. It is no accident that the light first hits the choir loft. The light
1463. that is Christ shines through the Immaculate Mother in order to restore the
1464. harmony torn asunder by Adam’s sin. The light that is Christ shines through the
1465. Immaculate Mother in order to raise our voices to heaven. The light that is
1466. Christ shines through the Immaculate Mother in order to take the wrong note of
1467. sin and death and begin a new song – the song of redemption. <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
1468. </content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/feeds/5267028152119793457/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/2017/12/solemnity-of-immaculate-conception.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6073485143247759467/posts/default/5267028152119793457'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6073485143247759467/posts/default/5267028152119793457'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/2017/12/solemnity-of-immaculate-conception.html' title='Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception'/><author><name>Rev. Msgr. Andrew R. Baker</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14892119235357144972</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKPnWDWB_uMj8HbTbIAfUBcytq5pBJ2eTuuQMBEc4MR5cbaWWd5IcZOLX-KDGEUB8q5jNLYshBtnOJgrMGWEM7RDFBclbwngPSSmycZhvOtDY10ulh3RzHLxb9t8KSqQ/s220/453A9136.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip6KzWXutOB5pyDmQAYRCeLLdRGrBppzJIz4G6UGtKDEbhgKnTZdDBB0QNmqN108XnalXKCJr1zU0d8lJBYxB1kcv6JsrubWAoB8I09g5UuXwzfl9Pc9DILwYc_-XwM_IxLnR20azPDK0/s72-c/ImmaculateConception.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073485143247759467.post-2293322306126525313</id><published>2017-12-05T10:55:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2017-12-05T10:55:16.218-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Bishop Knestout is the new Bishop of Richmond</title><content type='html'>The Mount Community rejoices in the appointment of Bishop Barry Knestout, a 1989 graduate of the Mount, as the new Bishop of Richmond, Virginia.&lt;br /&gt;
1469. <br />
1470. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1471. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjRA_7A0qcDVqO5Kk8rZ7geOB1xjNl5l6FfT3Nhrx9v0WqOfvSFYvkduZtZwS_pQ3YepneuKOlRHi_Ru9CeYAjMIInh96B5BhC_1iFwk84be4BjyfolO4Q5Udp8XmUZWEq9zkYsSzQNk4/s1600/Bishop-Slider.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="325" data-original-width="774" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjRA_7A0qcDVqO5Kk8rZ7geOB1xjNl5l6FfT3Nhrx9v0WqOfvSFYvkduZtZwS_pQ3YepneuKOlRHi_Ru9CeYAjMIInh96B5BhC_1iFwk84be4BjyfolO4Q5Udp8XmUZWEq9zkYsSzQNk4/s320/Bishop-Slider.png" width="320" /></a></div>
1472. <br />
1473. <br />
1474. <a href="http://adw.org/2017/12/05/pope-names-washington-auxiliary-bishop-barry-c-knestout-bishop-richmond/">http://adw.org/2017/12/05/pope-names-washington-auxiliary-bishop-barry-c-knestout-bishop-richmond/</a><br />
1475. &lt;br /&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/feeds/2293322306126525313/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/2017/12/bishop-knestout-is-new-bishop-of.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6073485143247759467/posts/default/2293322306126525313'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6073485143247759467/posts/default/2293322306126525313'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/2017/12/bishop-knestout-is-new-bishop-of.html' title='Bishop Knestout is the new Bishop of Richmond'/><author><name>Rev. Msgr. Andrew R. Baker</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14892119235357144972</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKPnWDWB_uMj8HbTbIAfUBcytq5pBJ2eTuuQMBEc4MR5cbaWWd5IcZOLX-KDGEUB8q5jNLYshBtnOJgrMGWEM7RDFBclbwngPSSmycZhvOtDY10ulh3RzHLxb9t8KSqQ/s220/453A9136.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjRA_7A0qcDVqO5Kk8rZ7geOB1xjNl5l6FfT3Nhrx9v0WqOfvSFYvkduZtZwS_pQ3YepneuKOlRHi_Ru9CeYAjMIInh96B5BhC_1iFwk84be4BjyfolO4Q5Udp8XmUZWEq9zkYsSzQNk4/s72-c/Bishop-Slider.png" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073485143247759467.post-6429981149208908986</id><published>2017-12-03T18:29:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2017-12-03T18:35:13.295-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Homily for the Office of Vigils</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;
1476. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVmJVzB7PL7WgI2Wk9TL8bSBwMXpSdWTw1y890EYE28LSIKQF9LIuPHGvGHuXLwkrPVzvswVfS2K3mDN4_53Uv7GPRAZMiV1l7m83Te6OnpuVteBDDtZagucjs1K8aybk9yai4vjYZ2no/s1600/advent.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="159" data-original-width="318" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVmJVzB7PL7WgI2Wk9TL8bSBwMXpSdWTw1y890EYE28LSIKQF9LIuPHGvGHuXLwkrPVzvswVfS2K3mDN4_53Uv7GPRAZMiV1l7m83Te6OnpuVteBDDtZagucjs1K8aybk9yai4vjYZ2no/s320/advent.png" width="320" /></a><b></b><br />
1477. <div style="text-align: left;">
1478. <b><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">Immaculate Conception Chapel</span></b></b></div>
1479. </div>
1480. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: center;">
1481. <div style="text-align: left;">
1482. <b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">Mount St. Mary's Seminary</span></b></div>
1483. </div>
1484. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: center;">
1485. <div style="text-align: left;">
1486. <b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">December 3, 2017<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
1487. </div>
1488. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
1489. <div style="text-align: left;">
1490. <b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">Luke
1491. 24: 1-12<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
1492. <div style="text-align: left;">
1493. <b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></b></div>
1494. </div>
1495. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
1496. <b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">Introduction<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
1497. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1498. <span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">Did the deacon make a mistake? It appears very
1499. odd that our Gospel for the Office of Vigils – for this liturgical celebration
1500. of our preparation for Christmas – is a resurrection Gospel, an Easter Gospel.</span><br />
1501. <span style="background-color: white; color: #232323; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 0.5in;">Of course, deacons </span><u style="color: #232323; font-family: "times new roman", serif; text-indent: 0.5in;">never</u><span style="background-color: white; color: #232323; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"> make mistakes! This
1502. Gospel is the one provided by the Church. As we begin our Advent celebration,
1503. this resurrection Gospel contains many elements for our consideration in
1504. preparing for Christmas.</span></div>
1505. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
1506. <b><span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">Keep the end in mind - hope<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
1507. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1508. <span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">The first aspect of our preparation for
1509. Christmas during the Advent season is to keep the end in mind. It is a word of
1510. hope. Whenever we begin a journey, we should keep in mind where we’re going.
1511. The reason for Christ’s first coming is the Cross and the empty tomb which was
1512. found empty by the women and disciples. We are not preparing simply to
1513. celebrate the birth of a famous person but the Lord and Savior of all mankind. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1514. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1515. <span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">Archbishop Fulton Sheen once wrote, “</span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">[E]very other person who ever came into this
1516. world came into it to live. He came into it to die… The story of every human
1517. life begins with birth and ends with death. In the Person of Christ, however,
1518. it was His death that was first and His life that was last.” (Life of Christ) </span><span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
1519. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1520. <span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">There was only one who came into the world to die
1521. and He did so at the first Christmas. We are preparing for the birth of a Savior
1522. – THE Savior. We must remember that all-important end. It is the Son of God who
1523. comes into the world to save us from sin and death. His birth is the beginning
1524. of his earthly journey toward suffering, death, and resurrection. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1525. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1526. <span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">Is it any wonder that immediately following
1527. Christmas we have several days in which we celebrate martyrs? The very day
1528. after Christmas we celebrate the Protomartyr Saint Stephen. Two days later we
1529. celebrate the Holy Innocents. Advent is helping us prepare for the coming of
1530. the Messiah who through his passion, death, and resurrection gives us not a new
1531. kind of earthly life but a divine life – a life that comes by way of death. We
1532. are preparing for the birth of our Savior whose very death brings forth for us
1533. new life, the life which we see revealed to us in the Resurrection. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1534. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
1535. <b><span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">Tell the story<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
1536. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1537. <span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">Another theme for our Advent season that is
1538. found in the Gospel this evening is the importance of telling the story. Some
1539. have called it the greatest story ever told. It is the most true story in the
1540. entirety of human history.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
1541. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1542. <span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">With the tomb empty Luke tells us that certain women
1543. try to tell the story “to the Eleven and the others.” To them, “the story
1544. seemed like nonsense and they refused to believe them.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
1545. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1546. <span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">During Advent we must tell the story, the true
1547. story, of Christmas. It is not about trees, buying presents, snowmen, Jingle
1548. Bells, or even about a fireplace on 4<sup>th</sup> floor McSweeny! Christmas is
1549. about the truest story ever told. Our secular age needs to hear this story
1550. again and again – with boldness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1551. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1552. <span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">A few days ago, the Archdiocese of Washington filed
1553. a legal action in federal court challenging the Washington Metropolitan Area
1554. Transit Authority's advertising guidelines. The Archdiocese wanted to put up an
1555. advertisement for their “Find the Perfect Gift” initiative. On a blue
1556. background there were three shepherds, two sheep, and several stars with the
1557. wording “Find the perfect gift.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1558. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1559. <span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">Metro wanted nothing to do with this
1560. advertisement. Obviously, they hadn't heard the story or, more probably, they
1561. don’t believe it. Secularism has gone so far as to reject any public
1562. manifestation of the true meaning of Christmas. If Christmas is only about
1563. packages and sales, I guess that’s OK to advertise. But if Christmas is about
1564. the birth of the Savior, if Christmas is about the greatest True Story Ever
1565. Told, then secular society wants nothing to do with it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1566. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1567. <span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">We need the boldness of the women who went to
1568. the Eleven and others and told them the true story about Christ. It is <u>not</u>
1569. nonsense. Even if others refuse to believe us, we should cheerfully and
1570. courageously tell about the birth of the Savior. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1571. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify;">
1572. <b><span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">All good things come in due time<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
1573. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1574. <span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">The final element that connects our Gospel with
1575. this first Sunday of Advent and our celebration of the Office of Vigils, is Peter’s
1576. plight. St. Luke says that Peter went to the tomb, “stooped down but could see
1577. nothing but the wrappings.” Peter had to wait to see the Resurrected Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
1578. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1579. <span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">Waiting is difficult in our age. We are fed by
1580. the media instantaneously. We have so much at our fingertips. We don't like to
1581. wait in line or sit in traffic. We might even be impatient about getting back a
1582. paper from class. Although trying to avoid being trite, it is good for us to be
1583. reminded that “all good things come in due time.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1584. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1585. <span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">Peter had to wait some time before he
1586. encountered the Risen Lord. The people of Israel had to wait hundreds of years
1587. before the coming of the Messiah. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1588. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1589. <span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">We use these four weeks of waiting for the
1590. celebration of Christmas to live the virtue of hope. This season becomes a
1591. practice for our entire lives. Christ has come once, and he will come again, whether
1592. that be at the end of time or at our own death. But just as assuredly he came
1593. the first time, He will come again. As we wait with patience and hope for the
1594. celebration of Christmas, so our lives are a time of waiting. But rest assured,
1595. just as Peter encountered the Risen Lord, we will celebrate Christmas in a few
1596. short weeks. Likewise, the Lord will come again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
1597. <br />
1598. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
1599. <span style="background: white; color: #232323; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">An Easter Gospel tell us much about our Advent
1600. season. May we heed the Word of God – a word of hope, of boldness, and of
1601. patience – so as to better prepare for the coming of Our Lord and Savior. <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
1602. </content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/feeds/6429981149208908986/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/2017/12/homily-for-office-of-vigils-at.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6073485143247759467/posts/default/6429981149208908986'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6073485143247759467/posts/default/6429981149208908986'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/2017/12/homily-for-office-of-vigils-at.html' title='Homily for the Office of Vigils'/><author><name>Rev. Msgr. Andrew R. Baker</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14892119235357144972</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKPnWDWB_uMj8HbTbIAfUBcytq5pBJ2eTuuQMBEc4MR5cbaWWd5IcZOLX-KDGEUB8q5jNLYshBtnOJgrMGWEM7RDFBclbwngPSSmycZhvOtDY10ulh3RzHLxb9t8KSqQ/s220/453A9136.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVmJVzB7PL7WgI2Wk9TL8bSBwMXpSdWTw1y890EYE28LSIKQF9LIuPHGvGHuXLwkrPVzvswVfS2K3mDN4_53Uv7GPRAZMiV1l7m83Te6OnpuVteBDDtZagucjs1K8aybk9yai4vjYZ2no/s72-c/advent.png" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073485143247759467.post-7731409162465724333</id><published>2017-11-20T08:45:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2017-11-20T08:45:22.016-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Rector&#39;s Ruminations, November 20, 2017</title><content type='html'>&lt;table cellpadding=&quot;0&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot;&gt;
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1612. <span style="color: #2e74b5; font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 20pt;">Rector’s Ruminations</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
1613. <span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />November 20, 2017<o:p></o:p></span></div>
1614. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
1615. <span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dear Seminary Community,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
1616. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
1617. <span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">As we head into the Thanksgiving break, I want to
1618. let you know how thankful I am to God for the blessing of being here at the
1619. Mount. I pray that the Holy Spirit will fill us with the wisdom to see just how
1620. God has blessed each of us and how much we are a blessing to each other. May
1621. the few days of rest be a time of renewal and joy for you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1622. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
1623. <span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Over the past several weeks the fourth
1624. theologians have been involved in their Penance practicum. It will continue
1625. over the next few weeks. Several priests are taking the role of the penitent
1626. with some specific sins and scenarios to relate to the fourth theologians who
1627. are taking the role of the priest. I must say that I am enjoying being a
1628. penitent to these future priests! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1629. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
1630. <span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Last Tuesday the Mount sponsored a breakfast at
1631. the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops General Assembly meeting. We
1632. welcomed 15 – 20 bishop to our breakfast and Archbishop Lori and I had an
1633. opportunity to highlight the great things happening here. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1634. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
1635. <span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">We congratulate the third theologians who were
1636. admitted to Candidacy by Bishop Hartmayer, Bishop of Savannah, this past
1637. Friday. As I announced last week, next year we will invite all first, second,
1638. and third theologians to petition for Candidacy and the following year the
1639. Mount will regularly invite first theologians to Candidacy. I believe this
1640. change better reflects the understanding of the Rite of Candidacy as envisioned
1641. by the new <i>Ratio Fundamentalis</i> which
1642. sees Candidacy as</span><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
1643. a sign that “the Church chooses him and calls him so that he may prepare to
1644. receive Holy Orders in the future” and it is “an invitation for him to continue
1645. with his formation, in configuring himself to Christ the Shepherd, through a
1646. formal recognition on the part of the Church” (67).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
1647. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
1648. <span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While the
1649. seminarians were participating in the Day of Renewal on Friday, the entire
1650. faculty was engaged in an In-Service day conducted by Cameron Thompson. Cameron
1651. provided us with insights on virtuous leadership and how this approach can be
1652. incorporated into the human formation program at the Seminary. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1653. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
1654. <span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The “Go
1655. Forth” Mission for the Poor, conducted this past Saturday, was a great success.
1656. 99 bags of Thanksgiving food were delivered to over 250 people by 47 deliverers
1657. including many seminarians and faculty as well as some Mount University
1658. students. We are grateful to Jim Bors and his core committee for the great work
1659. in accomplishing this wonderful work of charity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1660. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
1661. <span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Last night
1662. we had a wonderful Vietnamese dinner sponsored by a local Knights of Columbus
1663. Council. Keep in mind that, for those who will be at the Mount during the
1664. Thanksgiving break, the Adamczk family and the Knights of Columbus from
1665. Germantown, MD, will graciously host both breakfast and dinner. We are grateful
1666. to both of these Councils for their kindness and generosity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1667. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
1668. <span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After
1669. Thanksgiving we will have a very special visit from one of our partner bishops
1670. – Bishop Paul Hinder, OFM, Cap., from the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern
1671. Arabia. This apostolic vicariate encompasses the countries of United Arab
1672. Emirates, Oman, and Yemen. He has accepted our invitation to speak to the
1673. seminarians about his episcopal ministry in a predominately Muslim area of the
1674. world on <b>Thursday,</b> <b>December 7 at 4:15 pm in OLH</b>. My
1675. regularly scheduled Rector’s Conference will be canceled and Bishop Hinder’s
1676. talk will take its place. All seminarians are obliged to attend and I encourage
1677. the faculty and staff to join us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1678. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
1679. <span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Don’t
1680. forget about Mass for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, the Christmas
1681. dinner, and the Talent Show which will take place on December 8. Believe it or
1682. not, Advent is just around the corner with the Nativity of Our Lord to soon
1683. follow. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1684. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
1685. <span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In Christ,</span></div>
1686. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
1687. <span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 12pt;">   Msgr.
1688. Andrew Baker</span></div>
1689. </content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/feeds/7731409162465724333/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/2017/11/rectors-ruminations-november-20-2017.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6073485143247759467/posts/default/7731409162465724333'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6073485143247759467/posts/default/7731409162465724333'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/2017/11/rectors-ruminations-november-20-2017.html' title='Rector&#39;s Ruminations, November 20, 2017'/><author><name>Rev. Msgr. Andrew R. Baker</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14892119235357144972</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKPnWDWB_uMj8HbTbIAfUBcytq5pBJ2eTuuQMBEc4MR5cbaWWd5IcZOLX-KDGEUB8q5jNLYshBtnOJgrMGWEM7RDFBclbwngPSSmycZhvOtDY10ulh3RzHLxb9t8KSqQ/s220/453A9136.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073485143247759467.post-4099183267040401457</id><published>2017-10-22T20:11:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2017-10-22T20:14:01.056-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Rector&#39;s Ruminations, October 22, 2017</title><content type='html'>&lt;table cellpadding=&quot;0&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot;&gt;
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1701. <br />
1702. <span style="color: #2e74b5; font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: 20.0pt;">Rector’s Ruminations</span></div>
1703. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
1704. <span style="color: #2e74b5; font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">October 22, 2017<o:p></o:p></span></div>
1705. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
1706. <span style="color: #2e74b5; font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dear Seminary Community,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
1707. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
1708. <span style="color: #2e74b5; font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Many great things have been happening at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary since
1709. the beginning of the semester and the arrival of 52 new men. Speaking of which,
1710. we were featured in a wonderful article in the National Catholic Register.
1711. Check out the story and the picture of our new men: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1712. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
1713. <a href="http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/us-seminaries-this-school-year-signs-of-strength"><span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/us-seminaries-this-school-year-signs-of-strength</span></a><span style="color: #2e74b5; font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
1714. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
1715. <span style="color: #2e74b5; font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Big news this semester is, of course, the beatification of one of our
1716. own – Blessed Stanley Rother. 16 seminarians with Ms. Julia Parker, Director of
1717. Music, formed a special schola and sang beautifully at the Mass on September 23
1718. in the Oklahoma City Cox Center. This 1963 graduate of the Mount was martyred
1719. in 1981 and now he intercedes for us in heaven. Archbishop Coakley, Archbishop
1720. of Blessed Stanley’s home archdiocese of Oklahoma City, gave the Mount a first
1721. class relic of the new Blessed. We are in the process of having a special
1722. statue made and will display both the statue and the relic in St. Bernard’s
1723. Chapel. A number of Mountaineer priests came to the Mass and we all had the
1724. privilege to concelebrate. Here is a video filmed in part at the Mount about
1725. Blessed Stanley’s life and his time at the Mount:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
1726. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
1727. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrlsYzuMyQ0&t=111s"><span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrlsYzuMyQ0&t=111s</span></a><span style="color: #2e74b5; font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
1728. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
1729. <span style="color: #2e74b5; font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">After the beautification, Msgr. Frontiero, Vice Rector and Director of
1730. Human Formation, and I went to New Orleans to participate in the National
1731. Conference of Diocesan Vocation Directors. We were able to meet many vocation
1732. directors, tell them about the Mount, and share the story of Blessed Stanley.
1733. Yes, gumbo and grits were on the menu!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
1734. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
1735. <span style="color: #2e74b5; font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The following weekend our soccer team successfully defended the Vianney
1736. Cup with victories over St. Mary’s Seminary and St. Charles Seminary. Go God!
1737. Go Mount! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1738. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
1739. <span style="color: #2e74b5; font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Seminary Alumni reunion brought many of our graduates back to campus
1740. October 3 – 4. It culminated in a special Mass celebrated by Archbishop William
1741. Lori, class of 1977 in which Blessed Rother was honored. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1742. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
1743. <span style="color: #2e74b5; font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">During their fall break, 36 of our seminarians organized an Evangelization
1744. Mission Trip to Temple University in Philadelphia. They went out two-by-two to
1745. engage people on campus in conversations about life, God, faith, the Catholic
1746. Church, etc. Many people’s lives were changed and our seminarians became
1747. instruments of divine grace as well as better evangelizers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1748. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
1749. <span style="color: #2e74b5; font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">On the weekend of October 20 -22 we hosted 136 family members of 47 seminarians
1750. for a total of 183 participants in our 12<sup>th</sup> Annual Family Weekend.
1751. Through Our Lady’s intercession, God provided us with outstanding weather. It
1752. was heartening to see just how much our families support us and have been a
1753. real seed bed for the vocations of our men. Diane Favret and Mary Anne Shields,
1754. from the Seminary Development and Alumni Relations Office, had everything well
1755. organized. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1756. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
1757. <span style="color: #2e74b5; font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Tomorrow, October 23, the seminary will participate in the Inauguration of
1758. Timothy E. Trainor, Ph.D. as the 26<sup>th</sup> President of Mount St. Mary’s
1759. University. There will be a special Mass at 10 am and an inauguration ceremony
1760. at 2 pm. Let us together pray for President Trainor, who has been a tremendous
1761. support of the Seminary since his arrival at the Mount, and for a strong future
1762. for the university. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1763. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
1764. <span style="color: #2e74b5; font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Coming up in the near future is, first of all, the ever-popular
1765. Oktoberfest party on October 27. We look forward to all the wonderful food and
1766. drink and the great comradery and fraternity. Then we will have our special All
1767. Saints Day and All Souls Day celebrations with the traditional procession to
1768. the cemetery on the hill. Throughout November many of our vocation directors
1769. will be visiting us in order to see their seminarians and to hear of their
1770. progress in formation. On Sunday, November 12, the entire Seminary community
1771. will attend the 100<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the founding of the United
1772. States Conference of Catholic Bishop in Basilica of the National Shrine of the
1773. Assumption in Baltimore. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1774. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
1775. <span style="color: #2e74b5; font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Please continue to pray for more vocations to the priesthood. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
1776. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
1777. <span style="color: #2e74b5; font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In Christ,</span></div>
1778. <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
1779. <span style="color: #2e74b5; font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">   Msgr. Andrew Baker</span></div>
1780. </content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/feeds/4099183267040401457/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/2017/10/rectors-ruminations-october-22-2017.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6073485143247759467/posts/default/4099183267040401457'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6073485143247759467/posts/default/4099183267040401457'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/2017/10/rectors-ruminations-october-22-2017.html' title='Rector&#39;s Ruminations, October 22, 2017'/><author><name>Rev. Msgr. Andrew R. Baker</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14892119235357144972</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKPnWDWB_uMj8HbTbIAfUBcytq5pBJ2eTuuQMBEc4MR5cbaWWd5IcZOLX-KDGEUB8q5jNLYshBtnOJgrMGWEM7RDFBclbwngPSSmycZhvOtDY10ulh3RzHLxb9t8KSqQ/s220/453A9136.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJIE16chSqBAPsHgxRlJ2nirwl7gosqKrqx7RidDYhSAC2KGppwgDKRl8BBXuSgE0AmMukb-2YZQafeavRMfMNC4J6jHaTCBCYyjfn4aAKalsbHx7f8vOpLQIX-GqV5US9dU9SmJ9E3gg/s72-c/color+semlogo.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073485143247759467.post-5959969085715536412</id><published>2017-10-20T19:57:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2017-10-22T12:42:51.622-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Rector&#39;s Ruminations </title><content type='html'>Here is a Rector&#39;s Conference I gave at Mount St. Mary&#39;s Seminary on Blessed Stanley Rother:&lt;br /&gt;
1781. <br />
1782. <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/58pwhb5kbyk0rnf/Rother.mp3?dl=0" target="_blank">Click Here</a><br />
1783. <br />
1784. Here is a video about Blessed Stanley Rother made at the Mount:<br />
1785. <br />
1786. <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/zvi40h9ta4c4y83/Fr.%20Stanley%20Rother%20Biography%20by%20Coronation%20Media.mp4?dl=0" target="_blank">Click Here</a><br />
1787. <br />
1788. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
1789. <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMiOOlJ7IBCjT8Fiu-E0C74yKIUDek59g4cNTr_D1gnwwJteyGMoWP4K8m0i7cZswr8KOVH9DfQs3mVBmqUcksygTKoFM57eg8YRfmAGe1Rv3GLnfXBqkJ1bLuARyBmjM_QA6GF6osYOg/s1600/blessing+parishioners%252C+02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1038" data-original-width="1439" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMiOOlJ7IBCjT8Fiu-E0C74yKIUDek59g4cNTr_D1gnwwJteyGMoWP4K8m0i7cZswr8KOVH9DfQs3mVBmqUcksygTKoFM57eg8YRfmAGe1Rv3GLnfXBqkJ1bLuARyBmjM_QA6GF6osYOg/s320/blessing+parishioners%252C+02.jpg" title="" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
1790. <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blessed Stanley Rother blessing parishioners</td></tr>
1791. </tbody></table>
1792. &lt;br /&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/feeds/5959969085715536412/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/2017/10/blog-post.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6073485143247759467/posts/default/5959969085715536412'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6073485143247759467/posts/default/5959969085715536412'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/2017/10/blog-post.html' title='Rector&#39;s Ruminations '/><author><name>Rev. Msgr. Andrew R. Baker</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14892119235357144972</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKPnWDWB_uMj8HbTbIAfUBcytq5pBJ2eTuuQMBEc4MR5cbaWWd5IcZOLX-KDGEUB8q5jNLYshBtnOJgrMGWEM7RDFBclbwngPSSmycZhvOtDY10ulh3RzHLxb9t8KSqQ/s220/453A9136.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMiOOlJ7IBCjT8Fiu-E0C74yKIUDek59g4cNTr_D1gnwwJteyGMoWP4K8m0i7cZswr8KOVH9DfQs3mVBmqUcksygTKoFM57eg8YRfmAGe1Rv3GLnfXBqkJ1bLuARyBmjM_QA6GF6osYOg/s72-c/blessing+parishioners%252C+02.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073485143247759467.post-6207691194684892568</id><published>2015-07-26T00:00:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2015-07-26T00:00:04.448-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Pastor&#39;s Corner, July 26, 2015</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;
1793. <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dear Parishioners and Friends,</span></div>
1794. <div class="MsoNormal">
1795. <i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Laudato Si’ </i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">is an
1796. urgent appeal from our Holy Father. In the introduction Pope Francis says that
1797. he desires a “new dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet”
1798. (14) and that he wishes to draw from the best scientific research and then
1799. consider certain moral principles which can give us a coherent approach to be
1800. good stewards of creation.</span></div>
1801. <div class="MsoNormal">
1802. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqHIBp56P3blALgArtdWN4y7ATFTUwOzSW0-qG_-ciGG2E6anltIGGDZSvd-LWQIRUl5NPVztcHPyEmH4xnH4P0imaxWE0PGz2sYPbRfaIiyeXx3Yn3WI_EhIkXOgcKRNxXTUmO843joc/s1600/ls04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqHIBp56P3blALgArtdWN4y7ATFTUwOzSW0-qG_-ciGG2E6anltIGGDZSvd-LWQIRUl5NPVztcHPyEmH4xnH4P0imaxWE0PGz2sYPbRfaIiyeXx3Yn3WI_EhIkXOgcKRNxXTUmO843joc/s200/ls04.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In the first chapter of the encyclical the Pope explains
1803. what is happening to our common home. Note that this section is simply a
1804. summary of what can be observed and also what some say come from scientific
1805. research. It is not an exhaustive exposition of the situation nor is this
1806. section meant to settle the questions involved. Some people of good will may in
1807. fact disagree with the Pope about his description. He is not claiming to be an
1808. expert or to be presenting doctrinal principles which are infallible. I believe
1809. the Pope simply wants to engage all mankind to reflect on his summary of the situation
1810. and begin to see some of the problems we need to face.</span></div>
1811. <div class="MsoNormal">
1812. <span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">At the heart of the problem is what Pope Francis calls
1813. “rapidification.” He observes that “the speed with which human activity has
1814. developed contrasts with the naturally slow pace of biological evolution” (18).
1815. Herein lies a problem and a challenge. We have developed so quickly
1816. technologically yet creation has not kept pace. In some sense we have gotten
1817. “ahead” of creation and often used and abused creation. Now, the consequences
1818. of our rapid advance and behavior have begun to harm us.</span></div>
1819. <div class="MsoNormal">
1820. <span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In Christ,</span></div>
1821. <div class="MsoNormal">
1822. <span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Msgr. Baker</span></div>
1823. <div class="MsoNormal">
1824. <o:p></o:p></div>
1825. </content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/feeds/6207691194684892568/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/2015/07/pastors-corner-july-26-2015.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6073485143247759467/posts/default/6207691194684892568'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6073485143247759467/posts/default/6207691194684892568'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/2015/07/pastors-corner-july-26-2015.html' title='Pastor&#39;s Corner, July 26, 2015'/><author><name>Rev. Msgr. Andrew R. Baker</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14892119235357144972</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKPnWDWB_uMj8HbTbIAfUBcytq5pBJ2eTuuQMBEc4MR5cbaWWd5IcZOLX-KDGEUB8q5jNLYshBtnOJgrMGWEM7RDFBclbwngPSSmycZhvOtDY10ulh3RzHLxb9t8KSqQ/s220/453A9136.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqHIBp56P3blALgArtdWN4y7ATFTUwOzSW0-qG_-ciGG2E6anltIGGDZSvd-LWQIRUl5NPVztcHPyEmH4xnH4P0imaxWE0PGz2sYPbRfaIiyeXx3Yn3WI_EhIkXOgcKRNxXTUmO843joc/s72-c/ls04.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073485143247759467.post-743093753264735558</id><published>2015-07-19T00:00:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2015-07-19T00:00:02.838-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Pastor&#39;s Corner, July 19, 2015</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;
1826. <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dear Parishioners and Friends,</span></div>
1827. <div class="MsoNormal">
1828. <span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Pope Francis’ encyclical </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Laudato
1829. Si’</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> did not come out of a papal vacuum. What I mean is that the papacy has
1830. spoken often on the issue of creation, especially since the Second Vatican
1831. Council. The Holy Father points out that Pope Paul VI, Saint John Paul II and
1832. Pope Benedict have written and spoken on ecological matters in a variety of
1833. ways over the last several decades. They have commented on the potential
1834. “ecological catastrophe,” the need for “authentic social and moral progress” as
1835. we advance scientifically and technologically, and that the environment has
1836. been gravely dama</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">ged by our irresponsible behavior (cf. 4-6). These concerns
1837. have been echoed by our brothers and sisters in the orthodox churches for many
1838. years.</span></div>
1839. <div class="MsoNormal">
1840. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgueYiEVUYiRCYKFQM4RUhthevRnjajdrXnh27nfviAThehT7XUTyZzg-z-h70oUZ3wCvcVuZK6S-fj0DqtBU6M6zMugr3Y6zHYYKvNg7Wl_N7oGwUfXUxygm9zkN63RyRIUrNWOrOA33E/s1600/ls03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgueYiEVUYiRCYKFQM4RUhthevRnjajdrXnh27nfviAThehT7XUTyZzg-z-h70oUZ3wCvcVuZK6S-fj0DqtBU6M6zMugr3Y6zHYYKvNg7Wl_N7oGwUfXUxygm9zkN63RyRIUrNWOrOA33E/s200/ls03.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I think this brief historical perspective is important. Pope
1841. Francis is not some renegade pope proclaiming new doctrines. His thought is a
1842. continuation of reflections from a variety of magisterial and church documents
1843. and this encyclical should be seen within that framework. </span></div>
1844. <div class="MsoNormal">
1845. <span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A great inspiration behind the new encyclical is the person
1846. and teaching of St. Francis of Assisi. Pope Francis calls his patron saint “the
1847. example par excellence of care for the vulnerable and of an integral ecology”
1848. (10). For him, “creation was a sister united to him by bonds of affection”
1849. (11).</span></div>
1850. <div class="MsoNormal">
1851. <span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In Christ,</span></div>
1852. <div class="MsoNormal">
1853. <span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Msgr. Baker</span></div>
1854. <div class="MsoNormal">
1855. <o:p></o:p></div>
1856. </content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/feeds/743093753264735558/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/2015/07/pastors-corner-july-19-2015.html#comment-form' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6073485143247759467/posts/default/743093753264735558'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6073485143247759467/posts/default/743093753264735558'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/2015/07/pastors-corner-july-19-2015.html' title='Pastor&#39;s Corner, July 19, 2015'/><author><name>Rev. Msgr. Andrew R. Baker</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14892119235357144972</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKPnWDWB_uMj8HbTbIAfUBcytq5pBJ2eTuuQMBEc4MR5cbaWWd5IcZOLX-KDGEUB8q5jNLYshBtnOJgrMGWEM7RDFBclbwngPSSmycZhvOtDY10ulh3RzHLxb9t8KSqQ/s220/453A9136.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgueYiEVUYiRCYKFQM4RUhthevRnjajdrXnh27nfviAThehT7XUTyZzg-z-h70oUZ3wCvcVuZK6S-fj0DqtBU6M6zMugr3Y6zHYYKvNg7Wl_N7oGwUfXUxygm9zkN63RyRIUrNWOrOA33E/s72-c/ls03.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073485143247759467.post-8004317082176553758</id><published>2015-07-12T00:00:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2015-07-12T00:00:01.587-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Pastor&#39;s Corner, July 12, 2015</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;
1857. <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dear
1858. Parishioners and Friends,</span></div>
1859. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1860. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZkWe5eb6kPh9QUNz43z5jEnKGByToKj8JAoyItXwMAXncOax6yk1lhvX9g_tj1N9vJzI0gknYZFHHV0F8f7INePufRHuq8N4wBX2tL7ChtSCPHDV96Z9xeGJUwQq6ej7Hl5WfUxgt-xs/s1600/ls02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZkWe5eb6kPh9QUNz43z5jEnKGByToKj8JAoyItXwMAXncOax6yk1lhvX9g_tj1N9vJzI0gknYZFHHV0F8f7INePufRHuq8N4wBX2tL7ChtSCPHDV96Z9xeGJUwQq6ej7Hl5WfUxgt-xs/s200/ls02.jpg" width="140" /></a></div>
1861. <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
1862. <span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Pope Francis recently published a new encyclical letter entitled </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Laudato Si’</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> (“Praise be to You”). The
1863. title comes from the famous canticle of St. Francis of Assisi in which he
1864. reminds us that creation is our common home and that she is “like a sister with
1865. whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to embrace us”
1866. (1).</span></div>
1867. <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
1868. <span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Many news outlets said that the encyclical was all about global
1869. warming. This is far from the truth. Essentially, the Holy Father speaks to us
1870. about our duty to be a good steward of creation. Certainly climate change is an
1871. important topic and Pope Francis speaks clearly about it. However, there is so
1872. much more to the encyclical than a particular political point of view or
1873. solution to a social problem. In the next several weeks I would like to explore
1874. some of the major themes of this encyclical. I hope it will be a catalyst for
1875. you to read the letter and discover the deeply biblical doctrines of this new
1876. social encyclical.</span></div>
1877. <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
1878. <span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Pope Francis outlines the reason for </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Laudato Si’</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> in the second paragraph, “This sister now cries out to
1879. us because of the harm we have inflicted on her by our irresponsible use and
1880. abuse of the goods with which God has endowed her” (2).</span></div>
1881. <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
1882. <span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As we go through the encyclical we may find ourselves making an
1883. examination of conscience with regard to our use and/or abuse of the great gift
1884. of creation. I think the Pope wants that to happen so that we become better
1885. stewards of </span><u style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">His</u><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> gifts.</span></div>
1886. <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
1887. <span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In
1888. Christ,</span></div>
1889. <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
1890. <span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Msgr.
1891. Baker</span></div>
1892. </content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/feeds/8004317082176553758/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/2015/07/pastors-corner-july-12-2015.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6073485143247759467/posts/default/8004317082176553758'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6073485143247759467/posts/default/8004317082176553758'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/2015/07/pastors-corner-july-12-2015.html' title='Pastor&#39;s Corner, July 12, 2015'/><author><name>Rev. Msgr. Andrew R. Baker</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14892119235357144972</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKPnWDWB_uMj8HbTbIAfUBcytq5pBJ2eTuuQMBEc4MR5cbaWWd5IcZOLX-KDGEUB8q5jNLYshBtnOJgrMGWEM7RDFBclbwngPSSmycZhvOtDY10ulh3RzHLxb9t8KSqQ/s220/453A9136.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZkWe5eb6kPh9QUNz43z5jEnKGByToKj8JAoyItXwMAXncOax6yk1lhvX9g_tj1N9vJzI0gknYZFHHV0F8f7INePufRHuq8N4wBX2tL7ChtSCPHDV96Z9xeGJUwQq6ej7Hl5WfUxgt-xs/s72-c/ls02.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073485143247759467.post-5142014466367567700</id><published>2015-07-05T00:00:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2015-07-05T00:00:04.073-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Pastor&#39;s Corner, July 5, 2015</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;
1893. <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dear
1894. Parishioners and Friends,</span></div>
1895. <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
1896. <span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">On
1897. this Fourth of July weekend we love to watch the fireworks and are moved by the
1898. sight of the American flag. Love for our country is not foreign to our life as
1899. Christians. As a matter of fact, the </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Catechism
1900. of the Catholic Church</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> teaches that “the love and service of </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">one’s country</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> follow from the duty of
1901. gratitude and belong to the order of charity” (2239).</span></div>
1902. <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
1903. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6TOf_NldYdAliND20oq6XYrX6hzxpr6jCVumpJYcrz5C-Pbx1AkJPK1sm4XabYgSWAJYqttzpV4LqLbKOCLD9cX_oNM4Zf5l1uYW1yWZ-AA2RIwxpg1qF0cpQSG2Natm1Jvu85TdZhg/s1600/flag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6TOf_NldYdAliND20oq6XYrX6hzxpr6jCVumpJYcrz5C-Pbx1AkJPK1sm4XabYgSWAJYqttzpV4LqLbKOCLD9cX_oNM4Zf5l1uYW1yWZ-AA2RIwxpg1qF0cpQSG2Natm1Jvu85TdZhg/s200/flag.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The
1904. love of country should compel us to be involved in society and the political
1905. process. Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia writes in his book </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Render Unto Caesar</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, “I’ve grown
1906. increasingly tired of the church and her people being told to be quiet on
1907. public issues that urgently concern us. Worse, Catholics themselves too often
1908. stay silent out of a misguided sense of good manners.”</span></div>
1909. <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
1910. <span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Archbishop
1911. Chaput concludes that “if we </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">really</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">
1912. believe God exists, that belief will inevitably color our personal and public
1913. behavior: our actions, our choice, and our decisions. It will also subtly frame
1914. our civic language and institutions.”</span></div>
1915. <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
1916. <span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">At
1917. times we all hear people complain about the direction our country is taking or
1918. they complain about this politician or that decision. If we truly love God and
1919. our country, we will not remain silent but get involved so as to make a better
1920. future.</span></div>
1921. <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
1922. <span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In
1923. Christ,</span></div>
1924. <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
1925. <span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Msgr.
1926. Baker</span></div>
1927. </content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/feeds/5142014466367567700/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/2015/07/pastors-corner-july-5-2015.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6073485143247759467/posts/default/5142014466367567700'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6073485143247759467/posts/default/5142014466367567700'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/2015/07/pastors-corner-july-5-2015.html' title='Pastor&#39;s Corner, July 5, 2015'/><author><name>Rev. Msgr. Andrew R. Baker</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14892119235357144972</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKPnWDWB_uMj8HbTbIAfUBcytq5pBJ2eTuuQMBEc4MR5cbaWWd5IcZOLX-KDGEUB8q5jNLYshBtnOJgrMGWEM7RDFBclbwngPSSmycZhvOtDY10ulh3RzHLxb9t8KSqQ/s220/453A9136.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6TOf_NldYdAliND20oq6XYrX6hzxpr6jCVumpJYcrz5C-Pbx1AkJPK1sm4XabYgSWAJYqttzpV4LqLbKOCLD9cX_oNM4Zf5l1uYW1yWZ-AA2RIwxpg1qF0cpQSG2Natm1Jvu85TdZhg/s72-c/flag.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073485143247759467.post-6861678630322721703</id><published>2015-06-28T00:00:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2015-06-28T00:00:03.985-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Pastor&#39;s Corner, June 28, 2015</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;
1928. <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dear
1929. Parishioners and Friends,</span></div>
1930. <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
1931. <span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As
1932. we conclude the month of June – a month dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus –
1933. it is important for us to reflect on the love of Christ which we clearly see
1934. and experience in this devotion.</span></div>
1935. <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
1936. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjTQ_5baFPlCLEO_8qbeZHgCni3HmZHam5BijPb21PG7f5dusQTqBMhDfvLND-_vKfF1ErJHv0UJ9fIfR8ntiwWY7Izeg0iSyRMzGLTCs-rC3RyEASGI1SVjhscpY-gZsUSiv5egxnKjM/s1600/sacred+heart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjTQ_5baFPlCLEO_8qbeZHgCni3HmZHam5BijPb21PG7f5dusQTqBMhDfvLND-_vKfF1ErJHv0UJ9fIfR8ntiwWY7Izeg0iSyRMzGLTCs-rC3RyEASGI1SVjhscpY-gZsUSiv5egxnKjM/s200/sacred+heart.jpg" width="149" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The
1937. modern devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus traces back to the private revelations
1938. of Our Lord to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in the 17</span><sup style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Century. Pope
1939. Pius XI, referring to these apparitions, said, </span><em style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">“From among all the proofs of the infinite
1940. goodness of our Savior none stands out more prominently than the fact that, as
1941. the love of the faithful grew cold, He, Divine Love Itself, gave Himself to us
1942. to be honored by a very special devotion and that the rich treasury of the
1943. Church was thrown wide open in the interests of that devotion.”</span></em></div>
1944. <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
1945. <em style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">We are desperately in need of Christ’s love and
1946. mercy. His Heart speaks eloquently of both. Pope Francis once said, </span></em><span style="background: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Popular
1947. piety highly prizes symbols, and the Heart of Jesus is the ultimate symbol of
1948. God’s mercy – but it is not an imaginary symbol, it is a real symbol, which
1949. represents the center, the source from which salvation for all humanity gushed
1950. forth.”</span></div>
1951. <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
1952. <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The
1953. aim of this devotion is to allow Our Lord to reign over our hearts by prompting
1954. us to recognize our sins and turn us back to Our Savior, especially through the
1955. Sacrament of His Sacred Heart – confession. Then we can find in Christ our love
1956. and joy.</span></div>
1957. <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
1958. <span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In
1959. Christ,</span></div>
1960. <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
1961. <span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Msgr.
1962. Baker</span></div>
1963. </content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/feeds/6861678630322721703/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/2015/06/pastors-corner-june-28-2015.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6073485143247759467/posts/default/6861678630322721703'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6073485143247759467/posts/default/6861678630322721703'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/2015/06/pastors-corner-june-28-2015.html' title='Pastor&#39;s Corner, June 28, 2015'/><author><name>Rev. Msgr. Andrew R. Baker</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14892119235357144972</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKPnWDWB_uMj8HbTbIAfUBcytq5pBJ2eTuuQMBEc4MR5cbaWWd5IcZOLX-KDGEUB8q5jNLYshBtnOJgrMGWEM7RDFBclbwngPSSmycZhvOtDY10ulh3RzHLxb9t8KSqQ/s220/453A9136.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjTQ_5baFPlCLEO_8qbeZHgCni3HmZHam5BijPb21PG7f5dusQTqBMhDfvLND-_vKfF1ErJHv0UJ9fIfR8ntiwWY7Izeg0iSyRMzGLTCs-rC3RyEASGI1SVjhscpY-gZsUSiv5egxnKjM/s72-c/sacred+heart.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073485143247759467.post-7106922897964362822</id><published>2015-06-26T09:24:00.001-04:00</published><updated>2015-06-26T09:24:38.320-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Laudato Si&amp;#39;</title><content type='html'>&lt;div&gt;Pope Francis&#39; new encyclical on the stewardship of creation, Laudato Si&#39; (&quot;Praise be to you&quot;), has garnished a lot of attention these past few days. I&#39;m still trying to read its 180 pages. But if you are looking for a insightful analysis of the theological source of the Pope&#39;s view of creation and man&#39;s place in it, just read the following article by Fr. Robert Barron:&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.wordonfire.org/resources/article/laudato-si-and-romano-guardini/4808/&quot;&gt;http://www.wordonfire.org/resources/article/laudato-si-and-romano-guardini/4808/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/feeds/7106922897964362822/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/2015/06/laudato-si.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6073485143247759467/posts/default/7106922897964362822'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6073485143247759467/posts/default/7106922897964362822'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/2015/06/laudato-si.html' title='Laudato Si&amp;#39;'/><author><name>Rev. Msgr. Andrew R. Baker</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14892119235357144972</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKPnWDWB_uMj8HbTbIAfUBcytq5pBJ2eTuuQMBEc4MR5cbaWWd5IcZOLX-KDGEUB8q5jNLYshBtnOJgrMGWEM7RDFBclbwngPSSmycZhvOtDY10ulh3RzHLxb9t8KSqQ/s220/453A9136.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073485143247759467.post-8358418243702188416</id><published>2015-06-24T10:38:00.004-04:00</published><updated>2015-06-24T10:38:52.558-04:00</updated><title type='text'>PA Municipal Convention</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv3-Dmg8hI5F16rIRmMbvZniHidpcCzqC1m8FOAoDpXRLIiwBaBHVgNuyvbwhKKDMqTUAhxw1fdZskUv1qW1LDpYRQDy4eswyDdArQSowDXhzwKeWJAzvdz67wZqmPVS6L4G-hbxQZQzM/s1600/2015-06-24+09.07.50+HDR.jpg&quot; imageanchor=&quot;1&quot; style=&quot;clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;&quot;&gt;&lt;img border=&quot;0&quot; height=&quot;200&quot; src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv3-Dmg8hI5F16rIRmMbvZniHidpcCzqC1m8FOAoDpXRLIiwBaBHVgNuyvbwhKKDMqTUAhxw1fdZskUv1qW1LDpYRQDy4eswyDdArQSowDXhzwKeWJAzvdz67wZqmPVS6L4G-hbxQZQzM/s200/2015-06-24+09.07.50+HDR.jpg&quot; width=&quot;150&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsB_3GCq1Y5gPoNIM1l4uaqY9Fr3H9oV-7ngR3ZFK7A3K9vBObFoBj05ku5j7wOD5_w26NnzwyXLCDeKFrYFqkFoGFp4GWhUWdUx92oXYpOTKv0M67mGHXkD_pMg0VFzcGbu_YJA6l3sc/s1600/2015-06-24+09.05.51.jpg&quot; imageanchor=&quot;1&quot; style=&quot;clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;&quot;&gt;&lt;img border=&quot;0&quot; height=&quot;200&quot; src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsB_3GCq1Y5gPoNIM1l4uaqY9Fr3H9oV-7ngR3ZFK7A3K9vBObFoBj05ku5j7wOD5_w26NnzwyXLCDeKFrYFqkFoGFp4GWhUWdUx92oXYpOTKv0M67mGHXkD_pMg0VFzcGbu_YJA6l3sc/s200/2015-06-24+09.05.51.jpg&quot; width=&quot;150&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;&quot;&gt;I had the privilege of opening the Pennsylvania Municipal Convention with an invocation this morning at the PPL Center in downtown Allentown. This annual meeting of mayors, city council members, and municipality officials promotes the work of local governments around the State of Pennsylvania. I had an opportunity to get a selfie with Ed Pawlowski, Mayor of Allentown, and NFL Hall of Famer and former Allentown resident, Andre Reed.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
1964. <br />
1965. <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The kindness of the Mayor's Office to have me give the invocation just reiterates the importance of collaboration between civil and religious leaders. As Pope Francis wrote in his encyclical <i>Evangelii Gaudium</i>, "N</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 20px;">o one can demand that religion should be relegated to the inner sanctum of personal life, without influence on societal and national life" (183). </span><br />
1966. &lt;br /&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/feeds/8358418243702188416/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/2015/06/pa-municipal-convention.html#comment-form' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6073485143247759467/posts/default/8358418243702188416'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6073485143247759467/posts/default/8358418243702188416'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/2015/06/pa-municipal-convention.html' title='PA Municipal Convention'/><author><name>Rev. Msgr. Andrew R. Baker</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14892119235357144972</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKPnWDWB_uMj8HbTbIAfUBcytq5pBJ2eTuuQMBEc4MR5cbaWWd5IcZOLX-KDGEUB8q5jNLYshBtnOJgrMGWEM7RDFBclbwngPSSmycZhvOtDY10ulh3RzHLxb9t8KSqQ/s220/453A9136.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv3-Dmg8hI5F16rIRmMbvZniHidpcCzqC1m8FOAoDpXRLIiwBaBHVgNuyvbwhKKDMqTUAhxw1fdZskUv1qW1LDpYRQDy4eswyDdArQSowDXhzwKeWJAzvdz67wZqmPVS6L4G-hbxQZQzM/s72-c/2015-06-24+09.07.50+HDR.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073485143247759467.post-4359650498259931862</id><published>2015-06-21T00:00:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2015-06-21T00:00:02.636-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Pastor&#39;s Corner, June 21, 2015</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;
1967. <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dear
1968. Parishioners and Friends,</span></div>
1969. <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
1970. <span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Happy
1971. and blessed Father’s Day to all our fathers!</span></div>
1972. <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
1973. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQNjXaTNHBuVOLLXM50OV7vEYnzVUvVnAUG2g7c6Co2sxKbErm6BAWfW4USPAee7Uc5_heU3NBxMahtKeeoReV1pjAdZ7hI-DEMluo8b_ONhE-eaU9rszGAEYDRpACYeVuHpMRJlHWnnk/s1600/father.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQNjXaTNHBuVOLLXM50OV7vEYnzVUvVnAUG2g7c6Co2sxKbErm6BAWfW4USPAee7Uc5_heU3NBxMahtKeeoReV1pjAdZ7hI-DEMluo8b_ONhE-eaU9rszGAEYDRpACYeVuHpMRJlHWnnk/s200/father.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">At
1974. the beginning of the year Pope Francis spoke of the importance of fatherhood. He
1975. observed that today “</span><span style="background: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">one has reached
1976. the point of claiming that our society is a ‘society without fathers’… the
1977. absent father figure in the life of little ones and young people causes gaps
1978. and wounds that may even be very serious</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">.”</span></div>
1979. <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
1980. <span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In
1981. answer to this tendency, the Pope says, “</span><span style="background: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The first need, then, is precisely this: that a father be</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i style="text-align: -webkit-left;"> </i></span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">present<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">in the family. That he be close to his
1982. wife, to share everything, joy and sorrow, hope and hardship. And that he be
1983. close to his children as they grow</span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> … </i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Church, our mother, is
1984. committed to supporting with all her strength the good and generous presence of
1985. fathers in families.”</span></div>
1986. <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
1987. <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There is an attempt in our society to redefine
1988. marriage which would eliminate the essential quality of marriage as a
1989. relationship of complementary sexes and thus make marriage “genderless.” Marriage
1990. is unique for the reason of binding both mother and father to their own
1991. children in an exclusive and permanent bond of love. Marriage assures that children
1992. grow up with their mother </span><u style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and</u><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> father. We need both and we thank our
1993. fathers for all they mean to us.</span></div>
1994. <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
1995. <span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In
1996. Christ,</span></div>
1997. <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
1998. <span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Msgr.
1999. Baker</span></div>
2000. </content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/feeds/4359650498259931862/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/2015/06/pastors-corner-june-21-2015.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6073485143247759467/posts/default/4359650498259931862'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6073485143247759467/posts/default/4359650498259931862'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/2015/06/pastors-corner-june-21-2015.html' title='Pastor&#39;s Corner, June 21, 2015'/><author><name>Rev. Msgr. Andrew R. Baker</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14892119235357144972</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKPnWDWB_uMj8HbTbIAfUBcytq5pBJ2eTuuQMBEc4MR5cbaWWd5IcZOLX-KDGEUB8q5jNLYshBtnOJgrMGWEM7RDFBclbwngPSSmycZhvOtDY10ulh3RzHLxb9t8KSqQ/s220/453A9136.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQNjXaTNHBuVOLLXM50OV7vEYnzVUvVnAUG2g7c6Co2sxKbErm6BAWfW4USPAee7Uc5_heU3NBxMahtKeeoReV1pjAdZ7hI-DEMluo8b_ONhE-eaU9rszGAEYDRpACYeVuHpMRJlHWnnk/s72-c/father.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073485143247759467.post-8743900518208121925</id><published>2015-06-14T00:00:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2015-06-14T00:00:04.186-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Pastor&#39;s Corner, June 14, 2015</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;
2001. <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dear
2002. Parishioners and Friends,</span></div>
2003. <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
2004. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM3drlXBTl01AAkyU7INP5BfwGHc9esnRglkklh0GBMVBcIwZysMwglj51rp8U2-L3FumTeeGvsF83z74r1Z5G-XDYk2_WJAR48Q2IQJGU-V_7QIczShnHu4ktC2hGn9t7UbAcRIEtF2U/s1600/zambelli.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM3drlXBTl01AAkyU7INP5BfwGHc9esnRglkklh0GBMVBcIwZysMwglj51rp8U2-L3FumTeeGvsF83z74r1Z5G-XDYk2_WJAR48Q2IQJGU-V_7QIczShnHu4ktC2hGn9t7UbAcRIEtF2U/s200/zambelli.jpg" width="138" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As
2005. many of you already know, Bishop Barres has decided to </span><u style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">ADD</u><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> to the number
2006. of clergy serving the Cathedral Parish by assigning a new Assistant Pastor – Fr.
2007. Jared Zambelli. We are very excited to welcome this newly ordained priest to
2008. our spiritual family and we look forward to his service among us.</span></div>
2009. <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
2010. <span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Fr.
2011. Zambelli is 26 years old and the son of Vincent and Crystal Zambelli of
2012. Walnutport. He is a graduate of Notre Dame High School, Easton. He prepared for
2013. the priesthood at St. Charles Seminary in Philadelphia, where he earned a bachelor’s
2014. degree in philosophy and master’s degrees in Divinity and Theology. He was a
2015. member of St. Nicholas Parish in Walnutport. This past year, as a transitional
2016. deacon, Fr. Zambelli served at St. Thomas More parish. He was ordained a priest
2017. on Saturday, June 6 along with Fr. Brendan Laroche.</span></div>
2018. <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
2019. <span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Fr.
2020. Zambelli begins his assignment on Tuesday, June 23. On the following weekend,
2021. June 27 and 28, we will welcome Fr. Zambelli to our parish after all the
2022. weekend Masses. Please join us at this reception.</span></div>
2023. <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
2024. <span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In
2025. Christ,</span></div>
2026. <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
2027. <span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Msgr.
2028. Baker</span></div>
2029. </content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/feeds/8743900518208121925/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/2015/06/pastors-corner-june-14-2015.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6073485143247759467/posts/default/8743900518208121925'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6073485143247759467/posts/default/8743900518208121925'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/2015/06/pastors-corner-june-14-2015.html' title='Pastor&#39;s Corner, June 14, 2015'/><author><name>Rev. Msgr. Andrew R. Baker</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14892119235357144972</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKPnWDWB_uMj8HbTbIAfUBcytq5pBJ2eTuuQMBEc4MR5cbaWWd5IcZOLX-KDGEUB8q5jNLYshBtnOJgrMGWEM7RDFBclbwngPSSmycZhvOtDY10ulh3RzHLxb9t8KSqQ/s220/453A9136.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM3drlXBTl01AAkyU7INP5BfwGHc9esnRglkklh0GBMVBcIwZysMwglj51rp8U2-L3FumTeeGvsF83z74r1Z5G-XDYk2_WJAR48Q2IQJGU-V_7QIczShnHu4ktC2hGn9t7UbAcRIEtF2U/s72-c/zambelli.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6073485143247759467.post-587314001572329824</id><published>2015-06-07T00:00:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2015-06-07T00:00:03.740-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Pastor&#39;s Corner, June 7, 2015</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;&quot;&gt;Dear Parishioners and Friends,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div&gt;
2030. <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Just yesterday “Deacon” Brendon Laroche became “Father” Brendon Laroche by way of the laying on of hands and the prayer of consecration at the Rite of Ordination celebrated by Bishop Barres here at the Cathedral.</span></div>
2031. <div>
2032. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilFocylW1D8sEAveol9ZznsKbpk7tsaTEnmLJUnMsqIRArqe5KATjRvkTIAjkEo8BWLuxdamOPfDPxNyihhpa3Hv2rT_KdIJbV4o1T7fPYUhKbbnnK9KhAj6K0FqBqRNz638dXvnoeVFY/s1600/eucharist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilFocylW1D8sEAveol9ZznsKbpk7tsaTEnmLJUnMsqIRArqe5KATjRvkTIAjkEo8BWLuxdamOPfDPxNyihhpa3Hv2rT_KdIJbV4o1T7fPYUhKbbnnK9KhAj6K0FqBqRNz638dXvnoeVFY/s200/eucharist.jpg" width="119" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Today Father Laroche will celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving and be the main celebrant for the first time. It is providential that he does so on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi). </span></div>
2033. <div>
2034. <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Saint John Paul II once wrote, “There can be no Eucharist without the priesthood, just as there can be no priesthood without the Eucharist” (Gift and Mystery, pp.77-78). There is an essential and integral bond between priesthood and the Holy Eucharist. Priests are born from the Eucharist and they give birth to the Eucharist. </span></div>
2035. <div>
2036. <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The great Pope John Paul succinctly summarizes the Church faith on this intimate connection when he writes, “The ordained ministry, which may never be reduced to its merely functional aspect since it belongs on the level of ‘being’, enables the priest to act in persona Christi and culminates in the moment when he consecrates the bread and wine, repeating the actions and words of Jesus during the Last Supper” (Letter to Priests for Holy Thursday, 2004, 2). </span></div>
2037. <div>
2038. <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">May Saint John Paul II intercede for Fr. Laroche and all priests. </span></div>
2039. <div>
2040. <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In Christ,</span></div>
2041. <div>
2042. <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Msgr. Baker</span></div>
2043. </content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/feeds/587314001572329824/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/2015/06/pastors-corner-june-7-2015.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6073485143247759467/posts/default/587314001572329824'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6073485143247759467/posts/default/587314001572329824'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/2015/06/pastors-corner-june-7-2015.html' title='Pastor&#39;s Corner, June 7, 2015'/><author><name>Rev. Msgr. Andrew R. Baker</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14892119235357144972</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKPnWDWB_uMj8HbTbIAfUBcytq5pBJ2eTuuQMBEc4MR5cbaWWd5IcZOLX-KDGEUB8q5jNLYshBtnOJgrMGWEM7RDFBclbwngPSSmycZhvOtDY10ulh3RzHLxb9t8KSqQ/s220/453A9136.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilFocylW1D8sEAveol9ZznsKbpk7tsaTEnmLJUnMsqIRArqe5KATjRvkTIAjkEo8BWLuxdamOPfDPxNyihhpa3Hv2rT_KdIJbV4o1T7fPYUhKbbnnK9KhAj6K0FqBqRNz638dXvnoeVFY/s72-c/eucharist.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry></feed>

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3. Add this HTML to your page (change the image src attribute if necessary):

   <a href="http://www.feedvalidator.org/check.cgi?url=http%3A//dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default"><img src="valid-atom.png" alt="[Valid Atom 1.0]" title="Validate my Atom 1.0 feed" /></a>

If you would like to create a text link instead, here is the URL you can use:

http://www.feedvalidator.org/check.cgi?url=http%3A//dooroffaith-baker.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

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