Sunday Sermon, November 29th -- The Three Advents of Christ, Embrace the Grace of this Season (Father Ryan Erlenbush, Corpus Christi Parish)

There are three "Advents" of Jesus - three "comings" of the Messiah.  He came first as a child born of Mary, and he will come as Judge in a final Advent at the end of time. Moreover, he comes by grace to our souls in a middle and hidden Advent each day.

Furthermore, in this Advent season, be awake to the signs of the times. In the midst of a pandemic, when many churches have been and will again soon be closed, take advantage of the graces of the sacraments while they are still available!  This Advent, make daily Mass and Eucharistic Adoration a priority!

High School Youth Group, November 22nd -- The Catholic Response to Atheism -- Session 5, That Than Which Nothing Greater Can Be Thought (Father Ryan Erlenbush, Corpus Christi Parish)

 We discuss that Ontological Argument for God's existence as expressed by St Anselm. Further, we consider another metaphysical argument from St Thomas Aquinas which not only proves that there is a God, but also that there can be only one true God.

Sunday Sermon, November 22nd -- The Day of Wrath is the Day of Our Salvation, Dies Irae (Father Ryan Erlenbush, Corpus Christi Parish)

 The final Sunday of the Liturgical Year, we consider the end of time and the day of judgment.  In addition to the particular judgment that we each will face at the moment of death, there is will be a general judgment at the end of time in which all will be revealed.  This general judgment is the  manifestation of each one's particular judgment and also the final triumph of divine providence over all history.

We consider also the great hymn/sequence, Dies Irae.

Adult Faith Formation, November 19th -- Flannery O'Connor, Session 10, Everything that Rises Must Converge

 We finish our series on the short stories of Flannery O'Connor with "Everything that Rises Must Converge."

High School Youth Group, November 15th -- The Catholic Response to Atheism -- Session 4, Proofs for God's Existence, From Order (Father Ryan Erlenbush, Corpus Christi Parish)

 We discuss the Fifth Way of proving God's existence, from St Thomas Aquinas. We see a certain order in the natural world, in which even irrational things seem to act for an end. God' must be the divine governor who orders all these things. 

We explain how St Thomas' argument is different from the modern intelligent design theory and, even though St Thomas' way is more difficult to fully grasp and takes more reflection to understand than modern intelligent design theory, why St Thomas' proof from order is significantly more convincing and much more difficult to disprove. Specifically, we show that modern recourse to Darwin, evolution, natural selection or big bang really does not in any way hurt St Thomas' argument (even though, some would argue, these scientific theories could undermine aspects of the modern intelligent design theory).

Sunday Sermon, November 15th -- Advice for a Happy Marriage (Father Ryan Erlenbush, Corpus Christi parish)

 The first reading from Proverbs speaks of the good wife  ---  and we take this opportunity to reflect upon what will make for a happy and holy marriage.

St Paul tells us, "Wife, obey your husband. Husband, love your wife." This is the key to a happy marriage: For the woman to obey her husband in everything, to respect him as head, and to inspire him through praise; for the man to love his wife selflessly, to lay down his life for her, and to show her appreciation especially through compliments.

We recommend an excellent book on marriage: The Catholic Marriage Manual, by Fr George Kelly.

Adult Faith Formation, November 12th, Flannery O'Connor, Session 9 - Parker's Back

 This week, we read "Parker's Back" which is a reflection on the heresy of iconoclasm, the rejection of holy images of God and the saints.

High School Youth Group, November 8th -- The Catholic Response to Atheism -- Session 3, Proofs of God's Existence, From Contingency

 Discussing the Catholic Response to Atheism, we look today at the proofs of God's existence. In particular, the proof from Contingency - which is the reality that things exist when they don't HAVE to exist. The fact that things exist proves that there must be some creator who exists necessarily.

Sunday Sermon, November 8th -- The Catholic Funeral Mass (Father Ryan Erlenbush, Corpus Christi Parish)

 In the month of November, we think of the Souls in Purgatory and the Last Things (Heaven, Hell, Death and Judgment).  In this sermon, we consider the best approach to the Catholic Funeral Mass.

The funeral is not meant to be a "celebration of life" or a "canonization" -- we are called first to worship God for the salvation he offers in Christ, then to pray for the soul of the deceased, and finally to bring peace to the friends and family.

A few quick points: Ask the priest to wear black vestments, use the traditional antiphons rather than modern hymns, and having full body burial rather than cremation.

Sunday Sermon, November 1st -- Checklist for Sanctity, You Can Be a Saint! (Father Ryan Erlenbush, Corpus Christi Parish)

 As we celebrate All Saints Day, we must believe that we really can become saints!  It isn't too late for you to become a great saint.  November 1st will one day be our feast day in heaven.

High School Youth Group, Sunday, November 1st, The Catholic Response to Atheism - Session 2, Why Do Atheists Reject God's Existence (Father Ryan Erlenbush, Corpus Christi Parish)

Session 2 of our High School Youth Group -- The Catholic Response to Atheism

The two main objections to God's Existence: "The Problem of Evil" and "The God of the gaps"