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The Church and the Book of Revelation - Part 2

The Book of Revelation is a book of consolation, not so much a book of prophecy The book is a book of consolation for those who, in every age, are faithful to God and suffer because of it. One can say that the number “666” can be made to stand numerically for the name the Roman Emperors Caligula and Nero, Attila the Hun” (in the 5th century), Ivan the Terrible in the 1500’s, Hitler and Stalin in the last century. People in every age have sought to understand the phenomenon of evil. Some used Revelation to try to say that the number of the Beast corresponded with the name of a particular historical person.

The Book seeks to say there will be evil in every age yet God and the Lamb (Christ) always triumph in the end. The battle has already been won. We just have to be faithful to receive the triumph. 
 

The Church and the Book of Revelation - Part 1

The Book of Revelation is a book of the Bible that many people argue about. Non-Catholics often read it as a book foretelling the future. This is incorrect and not consistent with how the Catholic and Orthodox Churches have read the Book of Revelation since the early days of the Church. What follows is what the Churches founded by the Apostles and their successors believe about the Book of Revelation. Televangelists, the local preacher of the "Congregation of What's Happening Now", the minister of the latest "pop up” congregation or protestants in general misinterpret the Book of Revelation.
 

Easter Eggs and Mary Magdalen

Beloved in the Lord,
Christ is risen!
 
I miss you all greatly.  Offering Mass with just a few people and live streaming it seems very odd.  When I turn to greet you, my family and my friends and you are not “really” there it is very sad for me. The word “Church” means “the Gathering.” The Mass was meant to be a gathering of the people of God to offer the Sacrifice of the Lord. We were all meant to worthily commune in the Body and Blood of the Lord. Pray that Covid-19 is destroyed and the sick healed. Pray that we can be together soon.
 
As you know the celebration of Pascha continues for 50 days until the feast of the Pentecost. The world put away decorations for “Easter” more than a week ago, but we who are children of the Church continue to celebrate.
 
“EASTER EGGS”
 
One tradition during Holy Week is to dye eggs.  Secular custom says to dye them any color. Church tradition says we dye them bright red. The red eggs don’t come from the “Easter Bunny.”  They come from an ancient Christian story.  
 
St. Mary Magdalen and the “Easter egg”
 

More Movie Picks from Fr. Phil

More Fr. Phil’s Movie Picks


The Assisi Underground (teens and adults)
Pinocchio (Family)
Three Godfathers (Family)
Babe (Family)
Blind Side (teens and adults)
Cinderella Man (teens and adults)
ET (Family)
Lilies of the Field (Family)
The Trouble with Angels (Family)
Moonstruck (Adults)
Kino: The Padre on Horseback (Family)
The Bells of St. Mary’s (Family)
The Milagro Bean Field War (Adults)
There Be Dragons (Adults)

Be the Bee

Be the Bee
Christ is risen!
 
I love this story, maybe because I can relate to it.
 
“Some people tell me that they are scandalized because they see many things wrong in the Church. I tell them that if you ask a fly, 'Are there any flowers in this area?' it will say, 'I don’t know about flowers, but over there in that heap of rubbish you can find all the filth you want.' And it will go on to list all the unclean things it has been to.
 
Now, if you ask a honeybee, 'Have you seen any unclean things in this area?' it will reply, 'Unclean things? No, I have not seen any; the place here is full of the most fragrant flowers.' And it will go on to name all the flowers of the garden or the meadow.
 
You see, the fly only knows where the unclean things are, while the honeybee knows where the beautiful iris or hyacinth is.
 

Fr. Phil's Message - Wednesday of Pascha

Fr. Phil's Easter Message

THE PASSOVER OF THE LORD: HOLY AND GREAT SATURDAY

 
On this most holy night we celebrate the life-giving Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ. The Resurrection of Christ is the foundation stone of our Faith and the source of our hope we have as Christians. The Church presents it to us in all its glory as the guarantee of our salvation as well as our own resurrection. For the Lord’s rising from the dead marks the death of death, and as the First Born of the Dead, He becomes the author of life. 
 
To Jesus Christ, who destroyed Death by His death and rose victorious from the tomb be glory and power, wisdom and thanksgiving, honor and power unto ages of ages. Amen.
 
He who once was dead now lives. How can this be? For those who have faith this can be because nothing is impossible with God.
 

Fr. Phil's Holy Thursday Message

Holy Thursday
 
The Mass of the Lord’s Supper will be live streamed at 6:30 p.m. on our YouTube channel and website home page.
 
On this most holy night we commemorate four mysteries: the washing of the feet, the Lord’s Supper, the high priestly prayer of Christ in the Garden and the betrayal by Judas.
 
When the Lord walked through Paradise, in the beginning, his footsteps caused Adam and Eve anxiety for they know they disobeyed him. Today, on this most Holy Thursday evening, he amazes his disciples by washing their feet.
 
At the sacred supper that evening, two things were accomplished, in celebrating the Passover of old the Lord revealed the new Passover of his body and blood.
 

Fr. Phil's Good Friday Message

HOLY AND GREAT FRIDAY

On this most holy night, we celebrate the suffering endured by

Our Lord Jesus Christ for our salvation; commemorating the spittle, the slaps, the scourging, the insults, the mockery, the purple robe, the reed, the sponge, the vinegar, the nails, the lance, and, above all, the cross and death-all of which He willingly endured for us.

Holy Week Preparation

Beloved in Christ,

Glory to Him forever!

Holy Week; the Week of Salvation has begun

The Lord Jesus encourages us:  “I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face tribulation. But take courage; I have conquered the world!” John 16:33

Holy Week Greetings from Fr. Phil

April 3, 2020

Brothers and Sisters,

“Hosanna* to the Son of David, blessed is he who comes and will come in the name of the Lord.”

Blessed Palm Sunday and beginning of Holy Week!

I am praying that all are well.

Fr. Phil's List of Favorite Movies, Television Shows and Books

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Glory to Jesus Christ!
 
I hate technology. I think it makes more work, is probably possessed and by the time you get it to do what you want, it's not worth the time.  But the techies tell me it is my fault. I do not know how to use technology correctly. "No, Father, not that file."  "Don't touch that key."  (Why?  Will the accursed thing explode?)
 
But I have decided that technology has some good points.  It has allowed us to post Masses and other Services.  Technology has helped many people stay in touch with each other.  We are able to order things we need from home (not toilet paper). We don't need to go out.
 

Fr. Phil's Feast of the Annunciation Message 25 March 2020

On this day, the 25th Of March, the Great Feast of the Annunciation

Blessed Feast Day to all!

At this time, when we can easily focus on the virus or give in to feelings of sadness and isolation let us resist. Let us focus on the Good News that God gave to the world as we remember the Annunciation of our Lord to the Virgin Mary. St Bernard of Clairvaux wrote:

“You have heard, O Virgin, that you will conceive and bear a son; you have heard that it will not be by man but by the Holy Spirit. The angel awaits an answer; it is time for him to return to God Who sent him. We too are waiting, O Lady, for your word of compassion; the sentence of condemnation weighs heavily upon us.

Message from Fr. Phil, Prayer for Spiritual Communion

Beloved in the Lord,

It is a very sad time for me and for all who strive to live the faith of the Church.

We cannot be together for Masses or Services. It is very strange and odd to say Mass without you. Many have said already that they feel lonely or isolated.  

It was not the intention of the Lord that the Liturgy should be offered without some of the faithful present. After all, we know that our Lord, at the supper on the night before he died gathered with his disciples, he called them to be the first "parish," the first congregation.

Prayer for Health and Assistance in Times of Need

 

Beloved in the Lord,
Amidst all the panic and fear often we forget that God is our help. Very few leaders and social media sites have encouraged prayer, only referring to the bodily precautions, forgetting the spiritual helps available in this time of trial.

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