Cardinal Justin Rigali - Podcast

Homily of then-Archbishop Justin Rigali for the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, February 11, 1998 in the Cathedral of Saint Louis

On this feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, the Church celebrates the World Day of the Sick. She proclaims the value of human life, the value of suffering together with Christ, and the value of all efforts made to alleviate human suffering. She expresses immense gratitude to all who in various ways assist the sick.

The following is a homily of then-Archbishop Justin Rigali in the Cathedral of Saint Louis, February 11, 1998.

Homily for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe 1998

Homily of Cardinal Justin Rigali for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe 1998.  

Homilía del Cardenal Justin Rigali per la Fiesta de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe 1998.

Homily of April 9, 2015: Thursday within the Octave of Easter

"In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean"

The apostle Peter not only heals, in the name of Jesus, the man crippled from birth, but he confirms to the people that it is by no power or piety of his own, but by the power of the name of Jesus that the healing takes place. And Jesus himself in today's Gospel tells the disciples on the road to Emmaus that it is in his name, the crucified and risen Christ, that repentance for the forgiveness of sins is to be preached. The Church responds: "O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!"

Homily of April 7, 2015: Tuesday within the Octave of Easter

The Resurrection and its Fruits

The Church continues to proclaim the Resurrection of Jesus, who in the first hours of his new life bears testimony to his Father. As the principal witness to the Resurrection, the apostle Peter proclaims also its fruits, which are repentance, Baptism, the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. In our liturgy we acclaim The Risen Christ alive in our midst and we offer God praise and thanksgiving for Christ's victory over sin and death.

Homily of April 5, 2015: Easter Sunday

The meaning of the Resurrection is life. Jesus Christ is alive!

Today the Church proclaims a message of great joy. She repeats the proclamation of the angel to the women who came to the to the tomb of Jesus: "You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified. He has been raised; he is not here." The Jesus who suffered, died and was buried is now alive. The word "life" summarizes his Resurrection. Our Easter reflection also draws our attention to the worth of all human life. In restoring life to Jesus, God the Father shows us the incomparable value of all human life. Our Easter challenge is to be alive in Christ and to serve life in all our brothers and sisters. We are at people of life and God asks us to protect, and serve every life, including that of the unborn, and to help one another reach eternal life in heaven.

Reflection of April 4, 2015: The Resurrection of Jesus

The Resurrection of Jesus and his new life: the basis for our life as baptized Christians

This is the night of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Church proclaims that he who died on Calvary is now alive. Jesus Christ is risen from the dead. The Easter proclamation is a message of victory and peace. Through the sacrament of baptism we share in Christ's Resurrection. The great challenge of Baptism is to live for God. The Eucharist gives us the power to do so. Today the Risen Jesus goes before us, calling us to manifest our faith that he is truly risen and forever alive.

Good Friday Homily

Our greatest boast is the Cross!

On the Cross we find the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. The Lamb was pierced for our offenses and upon him was laid the guilt of us all. The death of Christ on the Cross becomes the cause of life and immortality for us all. As we see Christ die, we proclaim his victory and entrust ourselves to his mercy. The Cross  is truly the throne of grace; it is the source of mercy. Looking up to the one hanging on it, we pray: "Jesus, I trust in you."

Homily of March 29, 2015: Palm Sunday

The Saving Passion

In Lent we have journeyed with Jesus and have now reached Jerusalem. Every aspect of his Passion is explained by Jesus' love for his Father and for us. He suffered and died to destroy our death and restore our life. In the Passion of Jesus we find the salvation of our souls.

Homily of March 27, 2015: Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent

Mary and the mystery of the Passion

In the alternate collect today, the Church gives us the opportunity to contemplate the Passion of Christ with our Blessed Mother and to reflect on how much she belongs to the mystery of Lent. Jesus gave his life out of love to redeem all the children of Adam. Mary is a daughter of Adam and therefore needed redemption. For all the rest of us, redemption meant liberating us from sin. For our Blessed Mother it meant preserving her from sin. With immense love Jesus died to redeem both Mary and all of us. Having received redemption through the merits of Christ her Son being applied to her in anticipation at the moment of her Immaculate Conception, Mary now  helps the rest of us in our struggle to overcome the power of the evil one. We praise Jesus for what his redemption means for his Mother and for us.

Homily of March 23, 2015: Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent

Identity of Jesus

The gospel about Lazarus is all about  the identity of Jesus. His love for Lazarus, Mary and Martha shows the depth of Jesus' humanity. Jesus' divinity shines forth through the words of Jesus: "I am the resurrection and the life." Before raising Lazarus from the dead, Jesus invokes his Father and thus testifies to his oneness with him in the unity of the Blessed Trinity.

Homily of March 22, 2015: Fifth Sunday of Lent

By your holy Cross you have redeemed the world!

In our Lenten journey the Church is constantly drawing our attention to the redeeming power of Christ's Blood. In his suffering and death on the Cross, Jesus becomes the source of salvation for all who believe in him. In the Gospel Jesus himself tells us that lifted up from the earth, he will draw everyone to himself. This is truly the meaning of redemption, which we acknowledge, saying: "We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you because by your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

Homily of the Fourth Sunday of Lent: March 15, 2015

Rejoice, Jerusalem!

On Laetare Sunday, the Church as the new Jerusalem is called to rejoice. We are at the midpoint of our Lenten journey toward the full celebration of the Paschal Mystery. Another reason for special joy is that the word of God presents to us today such a beautiful description of God's mercy, which Pope Francis has just announced will be the subject of an Extraordinary Jubilee. Because God is rich in mercy – which is his love as it confronts all our weaknesses, our needs, our sins – we are indeed confident and empowered to rejoice.

Homily of March 7, 2015: Saturday of the Second Week of Lent

 "Canticle of Mercy"

Today through the word of God the Church presents to us in the Mass a great Canticle of Mercy. She praises God who removes guilt, pardons sin, delights in clemency and has compassion on us. In the Gospel parable we encounter the Father who tells us that we must greatly rejoice over the conversion of one of our own. This fully reveals that the Lord is kind and merciful.

Homily of March 1, 2015: Second Sunday of Lent

"Listen to him"

In celebrating the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, the Church presents to us the testimony of God the Father who introduces his Son to the world with these words: "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him." These words of the Father are the whole program of the Church and of our Christian lives. In addition, in the Transfiguration, Pope St. Leo the Great tells us that, in witnessing the glory of Christ, the Apostles are fortified for their future experience of seeing him in the humiliation of his Passion and Death. The Transfiguration fortifies us also in our faith in Jesus as the Son of the eternal Father.

Homily on February 27, 2015: Friday of the First Week of Lent

"A new heart and a new spirit"

In our reading from the prophet Ezekiel, God speaks, appealing to us to make for ourselves "a new heart and a new spirit." This comes about in the conversion of our life, when we turn completely to God, to live totally for him. The Church proposes to us to find in the Heart of Jesus the perfect response to God's call. The Heart of Jesus is then our model of total surrender to the Father's will. The Heart of Jesus is our inspiration. In contemplating this Heart,we are moved to respond to God's love, to his invitation to conversion and holiness of life.

Homily of February 26, 2015: Thursday of the First Week of Lent

"Everyone who asks receives..."

The word of God shows us the value of the prayer of supplication. Queen Esther prayed earnestly for her people and God came to her assistance. Her prayer was likewise a prayer of adoration and praise.The Responsorial Psalm also draws our attention to the importance of thanksgiving. In the Gospel Jesus himself encourages us to trust in him: "Ask and it will be given to you."

Homily of February 24, 2015: Tuesday of the First Week of Lent

 "...every word that comes forth from the mouth of God"

In today's liturgy the word of God speaks to us about the word of God. Vatican II taught that the Church venerates the word of God just as she does the Body of Christ. Pope Benedict XVI supplemented and implemented the Council's teaching with "Verbum Domini," explaining the Church's mission to proclaim God's word to the whole world. Jesus tells us that we must live by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God. In the liturgy we embrace God's word in the person of Jesus Christ and offer him to the Father.

Homily of February 23, 2015: Monday of the First Week of Lent

"You did it for me." 

God's words in the Book of Leviticus present us with the basic challenge of Lent: "Be holy for I ... am holy." This holiness manifests itself in charity. The challenge of charity reaches its climax in the Gospel, where we are called to love our neighbor as we love Jesus. Jesus identifies himself with his members:"I was hungry and you gave me food." St. Paul had the same experience when he heard the words: "Why do you persecute me." This challenge dominates our Lent and our lives: to recognize Jesus in others, to be holy as the Lord our God is holy. 

Homily of February 22, 2015: First Sunday of Lent

"Sharing in the Paschal Mystery"

The journey to Baptism and the renewal of our baptismal promises are so much a part of the spirituality of Lent. Jesus, who is so closely identified with us, permits himself to be tempted and communicates to us his victory over temptation.This victory is fully communicated to us in the celebration of his Death and Resurrection. The goal of our Lenten observance is to enter into this Paschal Mystery. 

Homily of February 6, 2015: given to Jesuit Fathers and Brothers at Sacred Heart Jesuit Center, Los Gatos, CA: St. Paul Miki and Companions

"The Sacred Heart of Jesus"

The Heart of Jesus is the sign and symbol of his love. This love is the motivation for all the mysteries of Christ. It also explains the strength shown by all the Martyrs. There is a close relationship between the celebration of St. Paul Miki and Companions and the devotion to the Sacred Heart shown by the Church on First Friday.