Feast of the Holy Family, 30 Dec 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (16 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg, Alaska. Reflecting of the early life of Jesus we see how Mary & Joseph taught him how of Love and be Loved, about God, prayer, work, silence, and the importance of Family.

Readings: Luke 2:41-52

St Thomas Becket, 29 Dec 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (7 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg, Alaska. The murder of Archbishop Thomas Becket in Canterbury Cathedral in 1170 is one of the most celebrated episodes in medieval history.

Readings: 1John 2:3-11; Psalm 96; Luke 2:22-35

Feast of the Holy Innocents, 28 Dec 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (10 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg, Alaska. A voice is heard in Ramah, sobbing and loud lamentation; Rachel weeping for her children, and she would not be consoled, since they were no more. The Rosary is our most powerful weapon against the powers of Darkness, Please join me in praying a rosary for our children, both those born and those unborn. 

Readings: 1John 1:5-2:2; Psalm 124; Matthew 2:13-18

St John, Apostle, 27 Dec 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (8 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Rose of Lima parish in Wrangell, Alaska. St John, one of the first of the twelve apostles, plays a prominent role in all four Gospels. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son"... John 3:16a

Readings: 1John 1:1-4; Psalm 97; John 20:1a 2-8

St Stephen, 26 Dec 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (7 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Rose of Lima parish in Wrangell, Alaska. Gates of heaven were opened for blessed Stephen, who was found to be first among the number of Martyrs.

Readings: Acts 6:8-10, 7:54-59; Psalm 31; Matthew 10:17-22

Christmas Day Mass, 25 Dec 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (12 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Rose of Lima parish in Wrangell, Alaska. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ... And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father's only son, full of grace and truth.

Readings: Isaiah 52:7-10; Psalm 98; Hebrews 1:1-6; John 1:1-18

Christmas Midnight Mass, 25 Dec 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (16 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Rose of Lima parish in Wrangell, Alaska. Today a Savior has been for you. Let us carry Jesus the Light of the World to all we meet. Mary Christ Mass!

Readings: Isaiah 9:1-6; Psalm 96; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-14

Christmas Vigil Mass, 24 Dec 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (18 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Rose of Lima parish in Wrangell, Alaska. We learn from the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David that God loves everyone of us. Jesus is Family!

Readings: Isaiah 62:1-5; Psalm 89; Acts 13:16-17, 22-25; Matthew 1:1-25

Monday of the 4th Week of Advent, 24 Dec 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (7 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Rose of Lima parish in Wrangell, Alaska. O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death.

Readings: 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a 16; Psalm 89; Luke 1:67-79

4th Sunday of Advent, 23 Dec 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (15min + 5min blessed salt) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg, Alaska. Visitation: How does it happen to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? Holy Water & Blessed Salt = weapons against evil forces.

For more info on Blessed Salt click here.

Readings: Micah 5:1-4a; Psalm 80; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-45

Saturday of the 3rd Week of Advent, 22 Dec 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (9 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg, Alaska. O King of all nations and Keystone of the Church: come and save man, whom you formed from the dust.

Readings: 1 Samuel 1:24-28; 1 Samuel 2:1, 4-8; Luke 1:46-56

Friday of the 3rd Week of Advent, 21 Dec 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (6 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg, Alaska. O Emmanuel, our King and Giver of Law: come to save us, Lord our God!

Readings: Song of Songs 2:8-14; Psalm 33; Luke 1:39-45

Thursday of the 3rd Week of Advent, 20 Dec 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (8 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg, Alaska. O Key of David, open the gates of God's eternal Kingdom; come and free the prisoners of darkness!

Readings: Isaiah 7:10-14; Psalm 24; Luke 1:26-38

Wednesday of the 3rd Week of Advent, 19 Dec 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (10 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Rose of Lima parish in Wrangell, Alaska. O Root of Jesse's stem, sign of God's love for all his people: come to save us without delay!

Readings: Judges 13:2-7, 24-25a; Psalm 71; Luke 1:5-25

Tuesday of the 3rd Week of Advent, 18 Dec 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (9 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Rose of Lima parish in Wrangell, Alaska. O Leader of the House of Israel, giver of the Law to Moses on Sinai: come to rescue us with your mighty power!

Readings: Jeremiah 23:5-8; Psalm 72; Matthew 1:18-25

Monday of the 3rd Week of Advent, 17 Dec 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (11 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Rose of Lima parish in Wrangell, Alaska. O Wisdom of our God Most High, guiding creation with power and love: come to teach us the path of knowledge.

Readings: Genesis 49:2, 8-10; Psalm 72; Matthew 1:1-17

3rd Sunday of Advent, 16 Dec 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (14 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg, Alaska. "Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord in near.  Have no anxiety at all..."

Readings: Zephaniah 3:14-18a; Isaiah 12:2-6; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:10-18

St Lucy, 13 Dec 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (6 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg, Alaska. We celebrate with St Lucy, Virgin & Martyr. Let the Saints inspire you to grow in holiness.

Readings: Isaiah 41:13-20; Psalm 145; Matthew 11:11-15

Our Lady of Guadalupe, 12 Dec 2012

Click her to download and listen to this homily (9 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg, Alaska. A great sign appeared in the sky, a women clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was with child.

Readings: Revelation 11:19a, 12:1-6a, 10ab; Judith 13:18; Luke 1:39-47

Tuesday of the 2nd Week in Ordinary Time, 11 Dec 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (8 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg, Alaska. Jesus is always searching for the lost sheep. Let us do the same and bring those who are lost and far from God back with us. Let Us Rejoice.

Readings: Isaiah 40:1-11; Psalm 96; Matthew 18:12-14

Monday of the 2nd Week of Advent, 10 Dec 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (8 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg, Alaska. Seeing the faith of his friends, Jesus forgives and heals the man lowered down through the roof. Let us be the kind of person who will stop at nothing to bring others to Jesus for healing.

Readings: Isaiah 35:1-10; Psalm 85; Luke 5:17-26

2nd Sunday of Advent, 9 Dec 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (23 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg, Alaska. Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths: all flesh shall see the salvation of God. Go to confession Jesus wants your sins as His Christmas gift.

So is missing Mass on Sunday and Holy Days of Obligation a Mortal Sin? The Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 1859 states "Mortal sin requires full knowledge and complete consent. It presupposes knowledge of the sinful character of the act, of its opposition to God's law. It also implies a consent sufficiently deliberate to be a personal choice. Feigned ignorance and hardness of heart do not diminish, but rather increase, the voluntary character of a sin." 

So all three conditions need to be present for the sin to be Mortal: 1) Serious Matter, 2) Knowledge of action as a Serious Matter prior to committing the act, 3) Full consent of the will, freedom to do or not do the act. 

If any one of these conditions is defective then there is no mortal sin, yet it involves serious matter and should be confessed and avoided in the future. So is deliberately skipping mass on Sunday/Holiday of Obligation a Mortal Sin? Often Yes, with mitigating circumstances often, No.

Readings: Baruch 5:1-9; Psalm 126; Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11; Luke 3:1-6

Immaculate Conception, 8 Dec 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (11 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg, Alaska. "I am the Immaculate Conception" Our Lady of Lourdes 1858, just four years after the Dogma was proclaimed. Immaculate Mary your praises we sing. You reign now in heaven with Jesus our King. ~Lourdes Hymn.  Pray your Rosary every day.

Readings: Genesis 3:9-15, 20; Psalm 98; Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12; Luke 1:26-38

Friday of the 1st Week in Advent, 7 Dec 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (8 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise at St Catherine of Siena parish in Petersburg, Alaska. St Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church. Jesus heals the two blind men with these words, "Let it be done for you according to your faith." Lord increase our faith!

Readings: Isaiah 29:17-24; Psalm 27; Matthew 9:27-31

1st Sunday in Advent, 2 Dec 2012

Click here to download and listen to this homily (16 minutes) given by Fr Thomas Weise. Jesus said, "There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken." Jesus is coming are you ready?

Readings: Jeremiah 33:14-16; Psalm 25; 1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2; Luke 21:25-28, 34-36