Updates and all other info for Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Gainesville, Virginia
“…When the husbands become the true sacrificial head of their family and the wives the sacrificial heart, the entire family will experience that wonderful peace that St. Paul speaks of today and the joy, even the joy of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph…”
On behalf of all the priests we hope that everyone is having a holy and joyful Christmas! Recall, Christmas is not just the celebration of the Birth of Jesus Christ for one day. It is eight day celebration of Jesus’ Birth and the God-man’s presence in the world!
What is God’s definition of a successful family? It would be the family of which the Son of God was a part, The Holy Family. The key to a successful family is holiness – godliness. The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph was poor and unnoticed by the ‘powerful’ of their time. Yet, they were the most influential family in all of history! Why? The Holy Family was rooted in God and doing His Will.
Continue reading “Feast of the Holy Family”“…Among the best ways for us to experience and grow in the joy of Christmas is to sing and to listen to the great treasury of Christmas hymns and carols…”
“…The effects of Christ’s Incarnation did not end when He went back to the Father. He is still here, He is in His Church through the sacraments, through His Word proclaimed, through the graces poured out. This is what’s supposed to give us a truly deeply Merry Christmas….”
“….People need to be convinced that Christ has really been born in Bethlehem, few things are more convincing than habitual happiness of the Christian, even in the midst of pain and contradictions….” (In Conversation with God)
“…It’s a good practice to be coming to Confession at least monthly, …everyone can benefit from a good humble Confession…”
Recommended Books:
– Pardon and Peace by Fr. Alfred Wilson
– Frequent Confession by Fr. Benedict Baur
Every few years I have the opportunity to teach high schoolers about one of the most critical centuries in human history, the 16th century. If you were alive in 1500 in Europe, you could go to any country in Europe and find Mass. ALL of Christian Europe was Catholic. It must have been a unique landscape in which to live.
1517 saw Martin Luther, a disgruntled Augustinian monk, begin his break with the Church and lead thousands upon thousands out of the Church. One of the key dates in the 1500s is 1521. When faced with German princes and the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, Luther refused to recant. He was protected by a few German princes which led to the separation in Christendom which we still experience.
Continue reading “Hope from the 1500’s”“…The Church Fathers teach that the Annunciation marks the reversal of the temptation of the first Eve… Mary’s obedience reverses Eve’s disobedience, so Mary is the new Eve for the new Creation in Christ…”
“…How do we enter into this proper and Catholic spirit of Advent? Obviously our daily prayer life must be essential…”
At the Incarnation of the Son of God, there is a natural emotion that is addressed in the Gospels: Fear, the aversion to a perceived danger.
The Archangel Gabriel appears to Zechariah and tells him, ‘Do not be afraid, for your prayer is heard, . . .’
After greeting Our Lady, Gabriel says to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.’
St. Joseph is told by the angel, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; . . .’
Finally, the angel greets the shepherds, ‘Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy . . . .’
Continue reading “Fear”