The bishop gave a thought-provoking sermon today at St. Joseph's Polish Catholic Church in Camden, NJ.
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Bishop Galante preached from today's gospel, Mark 2:1-12 (partial excerpt below):
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Bishop Galante preached from today's gospel, Mark 2:1-12 (partial excerpt below):
And they came to him, bringing one sick of the palsy, who was carried by four. And when they could not offer him unto him for the multitude, they uncovered the roof where he was; and opening it, they let down the bed wherein the man sick of the palsy lay. And when Jesus had seen their faith, he saith to the sick of the palsy: Son, thy sins are forgiven thee.
Last night, Fr. Carmel at St. Anthony's in Hammonton also preached from the Gospel account. He spoke about both physical and spiritual healing, as well as how we should be unafraid of our Amens resounding as once they were in the catacombs. (Meanwhile, in my own mind I was thinking of how annoyed I probably would have been that I'd have to go to all that bother to repair my roof, so that tells you where my mind was at during mass last night!)
Bishop Choby of Nashville (as seen on EWTN) mentioned, in reference to the same Gospel reading, that we ought to remember that as we enter the Lenten Season, we do so as communities of faith and not as isolated individuals. Indeed we would not be true Christians if we failed to defend Christ and His Church and our smaller communites of Faith as communities of Faith. Mark 2 reminds us that as brothers and sisters in Christ, we enter no struggle alone.
Interestingly, Bishop Galante spoke about how the friends of the sick man were willing to do whatever it took to bring him before Jesus. St. Mary's parishioners in attendance at the St. Joseph's mass were in complete agreement with Bishop Galante, as we too are willing to do whatever it takes to bring Jesus to the people. For twelve consecutive years we have had three days a week of Eucharistic Adoration, not to mention the many other groups, activities, and apostolates of St. Mary's. Beginning tomorrow we will have Perpetual Adoration of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. In this world, there is no more important activity than Holy Mass and prayer before our Eucharistic Lord. Both require that our little church, a true powerhouse of prayer and bastion of love for Our Lady, remain open! We will spare nothing and go to whatever length we are able to remain before Jesus, the fount of all healing, in our little corner of heaven on earth, St. Mary's Malaga.
Bishop Choby of Nashville (as seen on EWTN) mentioned, in reference to the same Gospel reading, that we ought to remember that as we enter the Lenten Season, we do so as communities of faith and not as isolated individuals. Indeed we would not be true Christians if we failed to defend Christ and His Church and our smaller communites of Faith as communities of Faith. Mark 2 reminds us that as brothers and sisters in Christ, we enter no struggle alone.
Interestingly, Bishop Galante spoke about how the friends of the sick man were willing to do whatever it took to bring him before Jesus. St. Mary's parishioners in attendance at the St. Joseph's mass were in complete agreement with Bishop Galante, as we too are willing to do whatever it takes to bring Jesus to the people. For twelve consecutive years we have had three days a week of Eucharistic Adoration, not to mention the many other groups, activities, and apostolates of St. Mary's. Beginning tomorrow we will have Perpetual Adoration of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. In this world, there is no more important activity than Holy Mass and prayer before our Eucharistic Lord. Both require that our little church, a true powerhouse of prayer and bastion of love for Our Lady, remain open! We will spare nothing and go to whatever length we are able to remain before Jesus, the fount of all healing, in our little corner of heaven on earth, St. Mary's Malaga.