Homilies about saints

From Harlot to Saint: The Miraculous Life of Mary of Egypt

A complete liturgical reading of the Life of St. Mary of Egypt, detailing her journey from a life of extreme public depravity in Alexandria to miraculous conversion in Jerusalem and 47 years of asceticism in the Jordanian desert. The narrative follows the monk Zosima as he discovers her, administers her final Communion, and eventually buries her with the assistance of a lion.

Saints Perpetua & Felicity: What I Learned in Seminary - Explaining the Faith with Fr. Chris Alar

Fr. Chris Alar

Father Chris Alar delivers a detailed catechetical talk on Saints Perpetua and Felicity, focusing on their martyrdom in 203 AD. He highlights their witness to faith, equality in Christ despite social status, the early Christian practice of praying for the dead, and the historical context of the Bible's canonization. The homily draws parallels between their unwavering faith in the face of death and contemporary challenges to Christian truth and identity.

Your Life is a Spiritual Battle: How to Save Souls from Hell

The homily emphasizes that Christianity is not merely about being good, but about participating in a spiritual battle between the kingdom of light and darkness. It calls believers to a life of fervent prayer, fasting, and sacrifice to save souls from hell, highlighting that this mission gives life eternal meaning and is a universal calling to holiness for all Christians.

Desátalo y Déjalo Caminar: Rompiendo las Cadenas del Vicio

Reflecting on the raising of Lazarus, the priest emphasizes the distinction between casual affection and sacrificial love, using Jesus' relationship with Martha and Mary as a model. He calls the faithful to identify the 'vices' and 'demons'—such as addiction, envy, and anxiety—that act as burial shroud bindings, preventing them from walking in spiritual freedom. The homily concludes with a personal testimony about finding peace through the intercession of Blessed Conchita Cabrera.

Healing the Father Wound with St. Joseph

The priest uses a poignant story about prisoners who eagerly sent Mother's Day cards but refused to send Father's Day cards to highlight the deep wounds caused by absent or abusive fathers. He presents St. Joseph as a model of graced masculinity and a source of healing for those with 'aching hearts' regarding their own earthly fathers. The homily emphasizes that children don't need perfect parents, but rather parents who genuinely love and respect one another.

Fr. Trương Bửu Diệp: A Martyr's Love and Our Call to Sainthood

Fr. Vincente Phạm Ngọc Hùng

The homily celebrates the life and impending canonization of Father Trương Bửu Diệp, emphasizing his martyrdom and the profound impact of his sacrifice. The speaker highlights the joy and pride the Vietnamese Catholic community feels in his sainthood process, urging the faithful to not only seek his intercession but also to emulate his virtues of sacrificial love, faithfulness, and service to the poor, thereby living as worthy 'children' of Father Diệp.

St. Joseph's Silent Love: A Path to Holiness and Forgiveness

This homily, delivered during a retreat for the sick, focuses on the virtues of St. Joseph, particularly his humility, silence, and compassionate love, especially in his decision to discreetly leave Mary. The priest emphasizes that true holiness lies in simple acts of love and forgiveness, rather than outward displays or worldly achievements. He encourages listeners to embrace their unique calling, live harmoniously, and find joy in God's unconditional love, drawing parallels between St. Joseph's quiet service and the call for personal sanctity in everyday life.

The Zero Regrets Policy: Loving Others Until Their Last Breath

Father Hank

Fr. Hank reflects on the 'zero regrets policy' of accompanying the dying, inspired by the morning's passing of a longtime parishioner and the liturgical readings of women facing execution. He emphasizes that the core of Christian outreach is ensuring that no one feels forgotten or unloved in their final moments, regardless of the outcome.

St. Joseph the Dreamer: How to Let God Guide Your Decisions

In this interactive homily for the Solemnity of St. Joseph, the priest engages the school community by exploring the four dreams of St. Joseph recorded in Scripture. He introduces the concept of 'St. Joseph the Dreamer' using a 'Sleeping St. Joseph' statue, encouraging the faithful to entrust their difficult decisions and personal intentions to Joseph's intercession.

Padre Pio's Confession Method for the Dying: A Priest's Story

The homily emphasizes humility and service, contrasting the behavior of the Pharisees with the true spirit of priesthood. The priest shares personal anecdotes about ministering to the sick and dying, highlighting the importance of timely confession and reconciliation. He also recounts a miraculous story involving Padre Pio and a doctor, illustrating Padre Pio's intercessory power and the unexpected ways God works.

Mother Teresa's Wisdom: Finding Hope in Despair and the Power of the Miraculous Medal

This homily, delivered by a guest speaker, focuses on finding hope amidst despair, drawing parallels between the Gospel's story of Naaman and personal struggles. The speaker, Donna Marie Cooper O'Boyle, shares her personal experiences and a 10-year friendship with Mother Teresa, emphasizing the importance of humble obedience, the beauty of the cross, and the power of the Miraculous Medal in bringing God's mercy to others.

The Nike Principle: Why St. Joseph Was a Man of Action, Not Just Silence

Fr. Richard Viggoa

The homily explores the life of St. Joseph, debunking the common artistic portrayal of him as an old man by using Greek linguistic analysis of the Gospels to show he was likely a young, vigorous man under 49. The priest emphasizes Joseph's 'silent action' and his 'Nike principle' of immediate obedience to God despite the grave dangers posed by King Herod to the Davidic royal line.

A Will of Steel and a Heart of Gold: 50 Years a Priest

Most Rev. Michael J. Boulette

In this Golden Jubilee homily, Bishop Boulette reflects on 50 years of priesthood through the lens of St. Joseph's quiet, virtuous fatherhood. He describes the priestly vocation as a participation in Christ’s pastoral charity, characterized by a 'will of steel joined to a heart of gold.'

Why Your Faith Needs Works: Serving the Least with Tyler Hunt

This homily, delivered by Tyler Hunt, emphasizes that true service to the 'least' requires both faith and works, drawing heavily from scripture and the examples of saints. She stresses the importance of contemplative prayer and stillness before God as the foundation for outward service, acknowledging that such service often involves discomfort and suffering. The core message is that our acts of love and hospitality, even small ones, are essential for working out our salvation and transforming the world, echoing Mother Teresa's 'drop in the ocean' analogy.

The Power of Silence: What St. Joseph Teaches Us About Belonging

Father Ethan

On the Solemnity of St. Joseph, Father Ethan reflects on the silent strength of Jesus' foster father, noting that Joseph speaks zero words in the Gospels but communicates through his actions and listening. He uses the example of a first-grade class caring for new baby chicks to illustrate how we are called to welcome, protect, and nurture others just as Joseph welcomed the Holy Family.

The Mystery of the Beloved Disciple: Fr. John Durban on Lazarus

Fr. John Durban

Fr. John Durban explores the scholarly theory that Lazarus, rather than John the Apostle, is the 'Beloved Disciple' and the primary source of the Fourth Gospel. He transitions from this academic mystery to a spiritual reflection on the necessity of accepting one's identity as God's beloved to overcome the trap of self-rejection.

Don't Put the Holy Spirit on a Shelf: Bishop Lou Tilka on St. Carlo Acutis

Bishop Lou Tilka

Bishop Lou Tilka addresses confirmation candidates, using the raising of Lazarus to illustrate how the Holy Spirit unties us from the burial cloths of sin to live in freedom. He highlights the lives of newly canonized saints Pier Giorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis as modern, relatable examples of young people who used the 'highway' of the Eucharist and the power of the Spirit to achieve holiness. He challenges the youth not to 'put the gift of the Spirit on a shelf' but to use it as a daily source of power and life.

No One is Beyond Repair: St. Maria Goretti and the Raising of Lazarus

The priest uses the dramatic story of St. Maria Goretti's murder and her subsequent forgiveness of her attacker to illustrate the power of God's grace. He connects this to the raising of Lazarus, arguing that just as Christ can physically raise the dead, His mercy can heal any spiritual 'rot' or broken relationship, no matter how impossible it seems.

The Dignity of Your Work: Lessons from St. Joseph's Toolbelt

On the Feast of St. Joseph, the priest reflects on the dignity of manual labor and the unique role of fatherhood, noting that Jesus was mentored by both an earthly and a heavenly father. The homily includes a unique 'blessing of the tools' where parishioners brought physical implements of their trade to the altar, modeled after St. Joseph the Worker.

No One is Beyond Repair: The Power of Impossible Forgiveness

Drawing from the powerful story of St. Maria Goretti's forgiveness of her murderer, the priest explores how Christ performs the 'impossible'—from healing the blind to raising Lazarus. He challenges the faithful to believe that no one is beyond repair and to use the season of Passiontide to grant or seek 'impossible' forgiveness in their own lives.