Homily #119: "Loyal Guardian Angels v. Fallen Angels (Opening & Closing Doors to Demonic Spirits)"

[my former high school student now Officer Jesse Apolonio (SP-SV 2004)]

Sunday, 5pm Mass

Sunday, 8am

This was the first time that I did not have a  prepared text for a Sunday homily (in 3.5 yrs).  I just used notes, so you'll notice that it is longer than usual.  I didn't have a prepared text b/c my family was in the middle of moving to a different part of town.

I chose the picture above b/c I tend to recommend the Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel to people but esp. to former students who are now police officers and military.  St. Michael is their patron.  We are proud of Jesse's service!

I used the 5 steps of the Ecclesial Method to draft my notes:

1.) Preparation: Story of how Pope Leo XIII wrote St. Michael Prayer 

2.) Proclamation: Jesus the Teacher has authority even over the fallen spirits (4th Sun. of O.T.).

3.) Explanation: (a) Jesus in the Gospel of Mark (b) Guardian Angels (c) Disobedient Angels

4.) Application: Guardian Angel Prayer & Deliverance Ministry (opening doors to demonic)

5.) Celebration: Angels at Mass & Power of Blessed Virgin Mary

Sat., 5pm

Adapted for Sun., 2pm CSM Mass

"What It Means To Live Out My Vocation" (Vocation Panel)

VOCATIONS PANEL

"What It Means To Live Out My Vocation"

by Deacon Dennis Purificacion

St. John Vianney Catholic Church, Rancho Cordova, CA, USA

Monday, January 22, 2018

As a married permanent deacon, I have received both the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony and the Sacrament of Holy Orders. 

I am going on 15 years of marriage and 4 years of diaconate ordination.  I am the father of 5 children, and my wife is pregnant with our 6^th child.

The diaconate enriches my marriage, and marriage and family life enriches the diaconate.  Both sacraments have been mutually beneficial to each other.  They are strengthened by each other.

When reflecting on what it means to be a married permanent deacon, my thoughts first turn to my wife and kids.  As we were told during diaconate formation, there is an order of priority where time and energy are placed:

First, God.  Second, marriage and family.  Third, work (to support the family).  And fourth, being a deacon in the parish.  One cannot stand before the parish as a married deacon if one’s marriage and family is in a wreck. 

This is why in a certain sense the deacon’s wife is the deacon’s “first bishop” because the deacon must learn how to love and honor his wife even before learning how to love and honor the bishop after ordination as a deacon.  The deacon’s wife is vital to his vocation.  She sanctifies him and vice versa.

Both sacraments are meant for the service and sanctification of others. 

In matrimony, I am called to give my life to the woman for whom I have taken a vow until death.  My wife, Tove Ann, likewise strengthens my life in the permanent diaconate.  As St. Paul said, the love of husband and wife reflects the love of Christ for His Church which is his Bride and Body.  Married men are called to love their wives as Christ did, and the Church is called in turn to lay down her life for Christ.  It is in marriage that I live out the universal call to holiness called forth by the Second Vatican Council.

In the diaconate, I give myself in service not after Christ the Priest but after Christ the Servant.  Deacons are not ordained to the priesthood but unto the ministry of charity, especially the most neglected of our society, and to assist the bishops and priests in their vocation to teach, govern and sanctify God’s holy people, the Church.  The diaconate reminds those in the Church that we are all called to serve and minister to others, just as Jesus Christ laid down His life on the Cross.

The first married permanent deacon I met was when I was in high school.  His name was Deacon Eugene O’Sullivan, an Irishman from Kansas and a nuclear engineer.  He and his wife, Lois, made a great impression on me as a teenager.  I would serve Mass with him, and I wanted to be like him.  Both of them were the start of my attraction to marriage and diaconate.

At World Youth Day 1993 in Denver, seeing Pope St. John Paul the Great reinforced my desire to serve the Church even more.  The Holy Father said, “The family is under attack!”  Over the years, I would give my life to the Church as a layman and catechist teaching the Faith, and I knew that I wanted to be married and raise a family. 

I would help protect marriage by studying and doing my best to live the Church’s teaching on marriage and family. 

For those of you who feel a vocation to Christian married life, I encourage you to do your best to learn God’s plan for marriage and family.  Start now.  It is not too late.

And for those of you who feel an attraction to the permanent diaconate as I did, I encourage you to do your best to nurture that and follow through with it.  The permanent diaconate was not intended only for those who are retired, but it is meant for those with busy lives raising families. 

I myself wish there were younger permanent deacons.  The average age of permanent deacons in the Diocese of Sacrament is age 69.  So be open, and feel free to contact me for more questions.

I close with the words of St. Therese of Lisieux would said, “My vocation is love!”  No matter how God is calling you, He calls you to love and to be saints today.

Thank you and may the Immaculate Heart of Our Lady, the queen and mother of deacons, keep you always close to her Son!  Amen.

Funeral of a Salvatin Patriarch: Bert Salvatin (RIP)

under construction

Moving Into a New Home

Jan. 19, 2018

Video of My Son Helping Me w/Benediction of Blessed Sacrament (w/Homily #118: "God Brings Greater Good Out of Evil")

My first-born son, John Paul, helped me with the Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament for the first time.

Before we started, I showed him how and when to put a humeral veil on the priest or deacon.

He knew what to do with the bells.  I think he still needs to learn how to use incense still.

My second son, E.J., served Mass with us which was offered before Benediction, but I did not have him help with Benediction b/c he was still somewhat inexperienced and untrained with what to do and why.  He recorded instead.

(Video 1 of 2)

(Video 2 of 2)

I am grateful to have assisted at Holy Mass with my two boys as altar servers.  I am grateful to have been asked to do Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament after the 6pm Mass.

Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018, 6pm, St. Catherine's Catholic Church, Vallejo, CA, USA

Homily #118 (6pm Mass)

 

Family Christmas Newsletter 2017

"From Old Gifts of Gold, Frankincense & Myrrh to New Gifts of Faith, Hope & Love" (Homily #117)

5pm Sunday Mass

(adapted using notes from Fr. Resti's homily)

"Gold, as to a king; myrrh, as to one who was mortal; and incense, as to a God" (Church Father Origen, d. 3rd Century).

My Dream of the Devil & Mary

On the night of Jan. 3 or the morning of Jan. 4, I had a dream -- or nightmare perhaps -- of the demon and Mary.

I entered a bedroom in an unknown place and was immediately paralyzed.  I could not move.  I'm sure the reader has experienced this at some point in life.  Evil was everywhere, even in the walls.

In retrospect, my sense is that the demon was harassing me or upset at something.  The last time I had this was the second day on the job at the Oakland Chancery.  I'm sure I blogged about this somewhere.

In the dream, I was at first afraid and struggled to say Mary's name.  I did so but in a deep slow voice three times.  I made an act of faith.  After I said her name, the evil presence was gone.  I walked in the room and it was peaceful.  I was at peace.

I can't remember what happened after that.

As always, I submit all of this to the judgment of Holy Mother Church and gladly recant any errors if committed.

Ave Maria!

Homily #116: Funeral Vigil Service for Teofila Ibanez Ramos (1923-2017)

Friday, Jan. 5, 2018, 6pm, All Souls Catholic Cemetery, Vallejo, CA, USA

While walking to the sacristy, I passed by the resting place of my former student Eric Sopang (SP-SV High Scholl Class of 2002) who died in 2014:

Homily #115: "4 Marian Dogmas Necessary For Our Salvation"

Monday, Jan. 1, 2018, 10am Mass

Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

Homily #115 (8 minutes)

*Correction: I incorrectly used the term "Virgin Birth" when I really meant to say "Perpetual Virginity."  Mea culpa. 

These are 2 separate but related doctrines.  Virgin Birth means that Jesus was born in a miraculous way that did not break Mary's hymen.   It is part of the Dogma of Mary's Perpetual Virginity.

**Clarification: Theotokos is translated as "God-Bearer" more than "Mother of God."