The Two Crowns: Memorial of Saint Maximilian Mary Kolbe, Priest and Martyr (Wisdom 3:1-9; Psalm 116:10-11, 12-13, 16ac-17; John 15:12-16)

Born on January 8, 1894, in the Kingdom of Poland, then under the Russian Empire, Raymund Kolbe seemed like an ordinary boy. As an ornery 12-year-old, his mother once asked him what would ever become of him.

Kolbe later recalled:  “That night I asked the Mother of God what was to become of me. Then she came to me holding two crowns, one white, the other red. She asked me if I was willing to accept either of these crowns. The white one meant that I should persevere in purity, and the red that I should become a martyr. I said that I would accept them both.”

The following year, Raymund and his older brother, Francis, entered the Conventual Franciscan Order. In 1910, after beginning his novitiate, Raymund received the religious name Maximilian, and in 1911 he professed his first vows.

While studying in Rome, Maximilian witnessed aggressive and violent demonstrations by Freemasons directed against the Pope and the Catholic Church. Deeply disturbed, he founded the “Militia Immaculatae” in 1917. Its mission was simple yet profound: to lead souls to Jesus through total consecration to Mary and to pray for the conversion of sinners and those opposed to the Church, especially Freemasons.

Ordained a priest in 1918, Father Maximilian dedicated himself to spreading this mission. He launched a monthly publication, “Knight of the Immaculate”, established a major Catholic publishing apostolate, and founded monasteries in Poland, Japan, and India. 

When World War II erupted and Germany invaded Poland, Father Maximilian chose to remain at his monastery while many others fled. He transformed the monastery into a refuge, opening a temporary hospital and caring for those displaced by the war. Although he was briefly imprisoned after the town was captured, he was released three months later.

As Nazi persecution intensified, Father Maximilian continued to live the Gospel with remarkable courage. He sheltered approximately 2,000 Jewish refugees from German persecution and published writings that condemned Nazi ideology. His charity and bold witness eventually drew the attention of the Gestapo. On February 17, 1941, the monastery was closed, and Father Maximilian was arrested. After a brief imprisonment at Pawiak Prison, he was transferred to Auschwitz.

Even amid the horrors of Auschwitz, Father Maximilian never abandoned his identity as a priest. He endured relentless abuse while ministering quietly to fellow prisoners, offering prayers, encouragement, and hope in a place consumed by despair.

Then came the defining moment of his life.

After a prisoner escaped, the camp authorities selected ten men to die by starvation as punishment. Maximilian was not among those chosen. But when one condemned prisoner cried out, "My poor wife and my poor children!" Father Maximilian stepped forward.

Driven by extraordinary charity, he approached the commandant and said, "I want to die in his place."

It was astonishing that the commandant did not execute him immediately. Instead, he sneered, "Who are you?"

Father Maximilian calmly replied, "I am a Catholic priest."

His request was granted.

Inside the starvation bunker, Father Maximilian transformed a place of death into a place of prayer. He led hymns and prayers to the Blessed Virgin Mary, strengthening the other prisoners and helping them face death with peace. One by one the others died, yet after two weeks without food or water, Father Maximilian remained alive. Finally, on August 14, 1941, the guards ended his life with a lethal injection of carbolic acid. Witnesses recounted that he peacefully raised his left arm and accepted death with complete surrender to God's will.

Today, the ”Militia Immaculatae” continues the mission of Father Maximilian, inspiring countless Catholics through his profound devotion to Mary and his unwavering commitment to evangelization.

Saint Maximilian Kolbe's life stands as one of the greatest modern examples of our Gospel reading—an example of sacrificial love—a man who accepted both the white crown of purity and the red crown of martyrdom exactly as he had promised Our Lady as a child.

Saint Maximilian Kolbe wrote:  “You are an instrument in Her hand; therefore do only what She wants. Accept everything like a child with his own mother. Trust Her in everything. Take an interest in Her, in Her veneration, in Her things, and let Her take care of you and your loved ones. Recognize that everything you have comes from Her and nothing from you. All the fruits of your activities depend on union with Her, just as She is an instrument of the Divine Mercy. O Immaculate, my life (every moment of it), my death (where, when, and how), and my eternity belong totally to You. Of everything, do whatever You like.”

Through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his faithful ones.

Thanks be to God!

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Our Perspective or God’s Perspective: Thursday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time (Ezekiel 12:1-12; Psalm 78:56-57, 58-59, 61-62; Matthew 18:21–19:1)

The Prophet Ezekiel reminds us today that we often cannot see and hear the Truth even though we have eyes and ears.  We tend to want to look at things through the perspective of the world, or perhaps through the perspective of our own pride, as opposed to looking at things through the perspective of God.  We tend to fall into the secular worldview as opposed to staying steadfastly in the sacramental worldview.

In his monthly challenge, Archbishop Lori urges us to pursue the mind of God.  He said, “God is beyond human understanding, yet he has revealed himself to us most perfectly in the person of Jesus Christ. Through prayer we can come to know God more fully, and we grow in understanding of his plan when we make a habit of conforming our will to his holy will. We follow Christ in discipleship when we pray daily to the Father as he did: ‘Not my will but yours be done’”.

Today is also the feast day of Blessed Michael McGivney.  Archbishop Lori invites us to study the Blessed Michael McGivney Cor Session Guide, noting in particular how Father McGivney always sought to align his will with that of God.

Archbishop follows that invitation with these questions: How can you strive to better understand things from God’s perspective? How can you discern when your thoughts are merely human thoughts and not of God? What virtues of Blessed Michael McGivney can you imitate in order to submit yourself more fully to God’s holy will?

Our Gospel reading calls Christians to live lives marked by forgiveness, mercy, reconciliation, and faithful love. Blessed Michael McGivney lived these teachings in concrete ways:

He forgave and welcomed sinners.

He showed mercy through pastoral care.

He promoted reconciliation with God through confession.

He protected the dignity of marriage and family.

He founded an organization built on charity, unity, fraternity, and faith.

Blessed Michael McGivney serves as an example of someone who not only preached Christ's teachings but organized an entire movement to put them into practice.  He submitted himself to the holy will of God.  He truly embraced and lived out the sacramental worldview.  He lived an authentic Christian life.

We are called to do the same as we do not forget the works of the Lord!

Thanks be to God!

Prophetic Judgement and Divine Mercy: Friday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time (Nahum 2:1, 3; 3:1-3, 6-7; Deuteronomy 32:35cd-36ab, 39abcd, 41; Matthew 16:24-28)

Our first reading gives us our brief encounter with the prophet Nahum. We know very little about Nahum the Elkoshite beyond the fact that he was a minor prophet in seventh-century BC.

Nahum lived during a time where the northern kingdom had already been destroyed by the Assyrian Empire. The ten northern tribes had been scattered and their land occupied.  Meanwhile, Judah continued to survive, but was forced to pay tribute to the Empire.

Through Nahum, God declared that Nineveh—the proud capital of Assyria—would fall before "the one who scatters." History confirms this prophecy. A coalition of Babylonians, Medes, and Scythians swept through Nineveh, bringing the mighty Assyrian Empire to a decisive end.

Nahum's prophecy is, in many ways, the final chapter of a story that began with Jonah. Around 760 BC, God sent Jonah to Nineveh with a warning of imminent destruction. The people repented, and God, rich in mercy, relented. Judgment was delayed because repentance was genuine.

But repentance that does not persevere eventually gives way to judgement.

Within 150 years, Nineveh had returned to its violence, pride, and wickedness. The mercy they had once received was presumed upon rather than embraced. Now Nahum announces that the judgment once withheld would finally come. God's patience had not failed—but it had reached its appointed end.

I believe there are parallels to our saint today, Pope Saint Sixtus II and his companions.  The Roman Empire was called to repentance.  Instead of embracing that repentance and mercy, they chose wickedness.  The people of God were put to death.  History tells us of the decisive end of the Roman Empire.

This pattern reminds me of the message of Our Lady of La Salette. In September 1846, the Blessed Virgin appeared to two shepherd children in the French Alps. She wept over the spiritual decline of her people, lamenting widespread neglect of Sunday Mass and the profanation of God's holy name. Her message was not one of despair but of urgent hope: pray, do penance, and return to God before greater chastisements come. 

The urgency captured in her sobering words:  "If my people will not obey, I can no longer hold back the hand of my Son."

The same urgency is found in the words Jesus later entrusted to Saint Faustina:  "He who refuses to pass through the door of My mercy must pass through the door of My justice... Before the Day of Justice I am sending the Day of Mercy."

God delights in mercy. Yet Scripture consistently teaches that mercy presumed upon or otherwise rejected eventually gives way to judgment. Divine patience is immense, but it is not infinite.

The errors foretold at Fatima continue to spread throughout the world.  These errors include atheism, democratic socialism, radical secularism and other movements that reject God, reject natural law, and reject the Catholic Church.  As these errors continue to spread, the warnings of Scripture and the Blessed Mother become increasingly difficult to ignore.

Brothers and sisters, this is no time for complacency.

This is no time to compromise with the spirit of the age or to reshape the Gospel according to the values of the culture. This is the time to return wholeheartedly to Christ. We must renew our consecration to Him, cling faithfully to His Church, embrace the sacramental life with greater fervor, and conform ourselves to His truth rather than what society wants us to believe.

In many respects, we are living in the moment of Nahum. The same God who showed mercy to Nineveh also judged Nineveh. The same Lord who opens wide the door of mercy also speaks of the coming day of justice.

Through the Catholic Church, the vine of Jacob has been restored. Through the Catholic Church, the Body of Christ has become the pride of Israel. Through the Catholic Church, the door of Divine Mercy remains open.

But that door will not remain open forever.

Today is the day to repent. Today is the day to return to the Lord in the Eucharist. Today is the day to choose mercy before justice is chosen for us.

With both holy fear and enduring hope we hear the Lord say, "It is I who deal death and give life."

Thanks be to God!

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From Celebrated Knight to Venerated Saint: Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Priest (Jeremiah 26:1-9; Psalm 69:5, 8-10, 14; Matthew 13:54-58)

Saint Ignatius of Loyola was born on October 23, 1491, in northern Spain into a family of minor nobility. He was a the youngest of thirteen children.  His father to groomed him to pursue a vocation in the Church, but Ignatius had other dreams.

From an early age, he was captivated by stories of knights and heroic adventures. Tales of courage on the battlefield, unwavering loyalty to the king, the pursuit of honor and glory, and devotion to noble ladies stirred his imagination. He longed to become a celebrated knight.

As a teenager, Ignatius entered the royal court as a page. There he learned the manners of nobility and developed a love for fine clothing, dancing, fencing, gambling, and dueling. He was charismatic, ambitious, and fiercely concerned with his reputation, which led him to embrace the ideals of chivalry and set his sights on military achievement.

At the age of eighteen, Ignatius entered military service. His intelligence, courage, and reliability quickly earned him responsibilities beyond the battlefield. He gained a reputation as a brave and capable soldier, and his dream of military glory seemed well within reach.

Everything changed on May 20, 1521.

During the Battle of Pamplona, a cannonball shattered his leg, ending his military career in an instant. The long and painful recovery that followed would transform not only his life but also the history of the Church.

Confined to his family's castle, Ignatius asked for books of chivalry to pass the time. None were available. Instead, he was given books about the life of Christ and the lives of many saints, including Saint Francis of Assisi. As he read, the heroes he had once admired were replaced by a new vision of greatness—one rooted not in worldly honor but in wholehearted service to God.

When he recovered, Ignatius set out on pilgrimage, eventually arriving in the small town of Manresa.  Manresa proved to be the crucible of his spiritual life.

While praying near the banks of the Cardoner River, Ignatius experienced what he later described as a profound illumination. It was not simply a vision but a deep encounter with God's Truth that transformed his understanding of creation, Scripture, and the spiritual life. Looking back on the experience, he said it was as though "all things became new."

During this same period, Ignatius experienced other extraordinary moments of grace, including visions of Christ, consoling encounters with the Blessed Virgin Mary, and periods of overwhelming joy in prayer. These experiences, together with his struggles and reflections, taught him how to discern the movements of God within the human heart.

As he prayed, Ignatius began recording the spiritual insights he was receiving. Those notes eventually became the Spiritual Exercises, one of the most influential works of Christian spirituality ever written.

Recognizing that he needed a formal education to serve the Church effectively, Ignatius studied Latin and theology in Spain before continuing his studies at the University of Paris. There he gathered six companions. On August 15, 1534, they vowed to dedicate their lives to Christ and the service of the Church.

This group soon became the Society of Jesus, officially approved by Pope Paul III in 1540. Ignatius was chosen as its first Superior General.

Under his leadership, the Jesuits became known for their commitment to education, missionary work, intellectual excellence, and faithful service to the Holy Father. During the upheaval of the Counter-Reformation, they helped renew the life of the Church through preaching, teaching, scholarship, and evangelization across the world.

Ignatius also authored the Jesuit Constitution, establishing the principles that would govern the order. At the heart of his vision was the enduring motto Ad maiorem Dei gloriam—"For the greater glory of God"—a phrase that continues to inspire Jesuits and countless others today.

Ignatius died in Rome on July 31, 1556. He was beatified in 1609 and canonized in 1622.

Today, the legacy of Saint Ignatius of Loyola remains a force of grace. Through the Spiritual Exercises, Jesuit schools and universities, missionary work on every continent, and his enduring vision of finding God in all things, his influence continues to shape Christian spirituality and inspire believers to seek, serve, and love God more deeply.

For the greater glory of God, let us bless the Lord at all times.

Thanks be to God!

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House of Refuge: Archdiocesan Pro-Life Mass / Feast of Saint James, Apostle (2 Corinthians 4:7-15; Psalm 126:1bc-2ab, 2cd-3, 4-5, 6; Matthew 20:20-28)

If I am to be completely honest, there are times it can be a real struggle to not feel a little bit defeated when it comes to the pro-life movement in the United States.  It can be difficult to be positive when portions of our society brazenly celebrate death, such as the sudden deaths of Charlie Kirk and Lindsey Graham.  

We are temped to reduce our pro-life focus to abortion, and for good reason considering abortion remains the preeminate priority.  Even with that focus, the number of abortions in our country has actually increased since the Dobbs decision.  On top of that there is an unknown number of unchecked chemical abortions.  For every child (that we know of) killed as a result of abortion, three more are killed through IVF.   Every single year, a population twice the population within the Archdiocese of Saint Louis is wiped out before having a chance to draw its first breath.  

That said, the attacks on the unborn constitute only one front of the war between the Culture of Life and the Culture of Death.  Transgender surgeries, same sex marriages, euthanasia and other attacks against human dignity continue to expand at an alarming rate.  The scale of attack is absolutely staggering.

Closer to home, we have an opportunity to correct a grave error in November.  We have the opportunity to remove the open door of death that was enshrined in the Missouri constitution.  Certainly, we need to pray, fast, and give alms that Amendment 3 will pass successfully to lift this curse that has been placed upon our state.

At the same time, we must remember that even if things go our way in future elections, the battle will continue.  The true enemy, the enemy of the Cross of Christ, is not of flesh and blood.  The enemy is cunning, baffling, relentless and persistent.  The enemy of the Cross of Christ will stop at nothing to see our spiritual destruction and the undermining (if not outright demise) of the Catholic faith.

The enemy seeks to separate us along the dividing lines of identity groups, economic class, and other secular definitions of what it claims defines a human person.  The reality is that the enemy does not care about the Truth or the innocent other.  The enemy only cares about self.

Make no mistake: The political system and the secular media are the enemy’s native domains.  While we must fight on that turf in an attempt to save lives and protect the vulnerable, politics is not where this war will be won.  Ultimately, the victory will not be declared in Jefferson City nor in Washington, D.C.  This war will only be won on the battlefield of the human heart.  

The Church has the battle plan for this type of warfare.  That battle plan can be summed up in one word: Solidarity.  Pope Saint John Paul II defined solidarity as “a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good”.  

Solidarity was the heroic virtue of many of the saints we honor, including Maximilian Kolbe, Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, and from a different perspective, James the Apostle, whose feast day we celebrate today.  It was the virtue of solidary that enabled Our Lady to allow her heart to be pierced along side the Heart of our Blessed Lord. These great saints (and many others) had the opportunity to escape death, but instead chose martyrdom by witnessing to the virtue of solidarity.  

Solidarity is now the key to protecting human dignity from womb to tomb and unchaining the millions who are imprisoned by the delusional shackles of the enemy.

What must we do?  Again, pray, fast, and give alms for the intention of the defeat of the Culture of Death in all its manifestations.  But also, I encourage you to actively reach out to others, who feel marginalized.  I encourage you to help them fulfill their desires to have healthy interaction and nurturing relationships within our parish communities.  I encourage you to help them participate in our parish activities and fulfill their duty to seek the common good, irrespective of any apparent differences as defined by social norms.  

When we allow ourselves to be defined by false identities of social norms, when we allow those false identities to define our sense of human dignity and self worth, it becomes very difficult to see the Truth.  In that situation, it is very common to reject the Truth (sometimes in a very severe manner) when we are confronted by the Truth.  

But that shell can be melted by love.  The shell can be melted for those in our communities that desperately need the healing light of Christ in their lives.

In Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, Pope Saint John Paul II said, “Solidarity helps us to see the ‘other’...to be made a sharer, on a par with ourselves, in the banquet of life to which all are equally invited by God. Hence the importance of reawakening the religious awareness of individuals and peoples.”  

Brothers and sisters, this is our moment to reach out and walk with someone on their journey with God.  This is our moment to be an instrument that makes God’s love visible in the life of another.

Incarnate Word has recently entered into a bold new chapter of our commitment to the dignity of every human life.  Incarnate Word is now known as a House of Refuge.  This is our answer to the call of Pope Francis to be bruised, hurting and dirty because we have been out on the streets.  This is our attempt to reach out to those in need of the healing light of Christ, those in need of the “Joy of the Gospel”.   This is our attempt to walk with them in their hurts and pains, and ultimately be the light of Christ for them.

After Mass, I invite you to stick around to pray a rosary for pro-life intentions.  Also after Mass, I invite you to meet one of our House of Refuge committee members (wearing blue T-shirts) in front of the church to learn more about this exciting ministry.  For information can be found on the Incarnate Word website to learn more about this important work empowering the children of God to make life affirming choices.

I will now read to you our House of Refuge Statement:

Incarnate Word is a House of Refuge.  This applies to you, everyone in this parish, and people you know who may be experiencing an unplanned or unsupported pregnancy, or some other life issue, and in need of a place of refuge. 

This is what we believe: 

Every child, no matter how they are conceived, is an image bearer of God, knit together in the womb by Him.  Please know that being pregnant is not a sin, and the child you carry is not a punishment.  Regardless of the circumstances, we want you to know that you and your child are loved, and we are here to support you. 

While we will never encourage or support the decision to have an abortion, it is important for you to know how this parish will respond to those facing unplanned or unsupported pregnancies and other life-related issues. 

This is what we will not do: 

This parish will not gossip about you, shame you, or abandon you. This is a House of Refuge.  We will not allow the family of God to harm others with words or actions contrary to the love God has revealed in His Word and in His Sacraments. 

This is what we will do: 

We will walk with you every step of the way, helping you carry and care for your child both before and after birth.  There are people in this parish ready to walk with you, celebrate with you, and connect you with resources inside and outside of our parish.  We will also encourage and support men to become loving fathers who protect women and children.  

If you are considering placing your child for adoption, please know we are here to encourage and support you as you make this loving decision.   

If you are open to adopting a child or providing foster care, we are here to support you as well.  We will walk with you and provide resources and community engagement to help you answer this holy call to care for children desperately in need of a good family. 

If you have had an abortion or have been involved in an abortion, we want you to know that abortion is not an unforgivable sin.  As it says in Proverbs, "Whoever confesses and forsakes their sin finds mercy."   We are here to love you, support you, and walk with you to find complete healing and spiritual freedom. 

If you sit among us, but feel marginalized, feel unwelcomed, or feel as if you do not have a place for any reason, we are here to love and support you as well.  Let us hear your story.  Together, let us discover your true dignity and worth in the love of Jesus Christ. 

As a House of Refuge, we are here for you, not as a judge, but as a conduit for the comforting grace of Jesus Christ.  Remember, you are not alone.  Fear is normal, but temporary.  If you would like a supportive mentor to walk with you every step of the way, please contact the House of Refuge by calling the parish office, extension 491.

Thanks be to God!

Intentions

For the Church, that every parish may be a true House of Refuge where all people encounter the mercy, truth, and healing light of Jesus Christ, we pray to the Lord.

For mothers and fathers, especially those facing unsupported pregnancies, that they may find hope, courage, and loving support within our parish communities, we pray to the Lord.

For every unborn child, created in the image and likeness of God, that each life may be welcomed, protected, and cherished from conception to natural death, we pray to the Lord.

For families, especially adoptive and foster parents, and all who open their hearts and homes to children in need, that God may strengthen and bless them in their vocation of love, we pray to the Lord.

For those who carry the wounds of past abortions or other painful life experiences, that they may encounter God's infinite mercy, receive healing, and know the peace of His forgiveness, we pray to the Lord.

For our parish families, that we may always reflect Christ's compassion by welcoming, accompanying, and serving every person with dignity and charity, we pray to the Lord.

For all who feel isolated, rejected, or uncertain of their place in the Church, that they may experience the light of Christ through our welcome, our listening, and our witness, we pray to the Lord.

For men, that they may faithfully embrace responsibilities of fatherhood with courage, tenderness, and selfless love, we pray to the Lord.

For all of us gathered here, that the Holy Spirit may help us defend the dignity of every human person and become instruments of Christ's mercy, hope, and peace, we pray to the Lord.

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