St. Vincent Ferrer Podcast: Recent Episodes
St. Vincent Ferrer Foundation
Sermons that serve towards the recovery and restoration of all our Catholic Tradition - in doctrine, liturgy, morals, devotions and discipline.
2022 Lent Mission – Fourth and Final Conference: St. Francisco Marto offers us a great model of hope. Yet the most perfect example comes from Our Blessed Mother, especially when She received into her arms the body of her dead Son. The mission concludes with ten practical ways by which we can grow in the supernatural virtue of hope.
2022 Lent Mission – Fourth Sermon: The sorrow of Mary’s Immaculate Heart was the greatest during the Passion and Death of her Son, but so too her hope. At Mass, Jesus offers us the grace to unite our heart to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and to hope as she hoped in the Cross and in the Precious Blood. Uniting with Mary is one of the best ways to participate in Holy Mass.
2022 Lent Mission – Third Sermon:The Precious Blood is never more present than at Mass. Three great mysteries which are hidden to our human nature at Mass are : {1] The shedding of His Blood is renewed; [2] His Blood is sprinkled upon those present; and [3] Intercedes before the Father for us. May we firmly hope and confidently trust in the Precious Blood!
2022 Lent Mission – Third Conference: The man of hope is not looking for a reward here on earth, but keeps his gaze upon eternity. Hope is a longing desire for a future good that can be attained, albeit with difficulty. So hope for the pardon of your sins, victory over temptations and a holy death. To increase and fortify hope, meditate frequently upon the magnanimity of God.
2022 Lent Mission – Second Sermon: The Cross is our hope because Jesus has saved us through it. The Cross is precious because it brings grace to our soul and a heavy weight of glory unto eternity. The Cross is never more present – more real – than at Mass. The Mass teaches and enables us to place our hope in the Cross as our means to Heaven.
2022 Lent Mission – Second Conference: Recognize and resist the devil’s most common traps regarding presumption and despair. To strengthen hope, turn to the example of the saints. And towards what end is our hope directed? Father details the primary, secondary and tertiary objects of the faithful Christian’s hope.
The title of our Lenten Mission are words prayed at the foot of the altar before Holy Mass begins. They summarize the struggle that we face every day of our life. In these sermons, we shall consider the connection between Hope and the Mass. Three great objects of our hope, all of which are very present at Mass, are: [1] The Cross, [2] The Precious Blood, and [3] The Immaculate Heart of Mary.
2022 Lent Mission – First Conference: The one thing necessary is to save your soul. To do this you need supernatural grace, faith, hope and charity. Yet few are saved. Many men only have natural hope and succumb to despair and presumption. As faithful Christians, foster a confident and true hope in God’s unfailing promises.
The vast majority of men live as if there is neither hell nor Heaven; as if God will not judge us. Perhaps we believe these truths, but don’t reflect upon them. Man takes all possible care for worldly affairs, but attends not to the salvation of his soul. Impress upon yourself three great truths. [1] Few shall be saved. [2] The salvation of your soul is the most important of all affairs. [3] You have to work hard to save your soul. Judge the value of all things from the vantage point of your soul’s eternity. Do not follow the great majority of mankind. Never relax your efforts, by day nor night. Faithfully strive in the Lord’s vineyard and always labor more.
Time belongs to God. It is not ours to do with as we wish. Time is meant to be used in the service of God and to save our immortal soul. We need much conversion with regards to how we think about time. This is why the Church gives us the Liturgical Year. Every day is focussed upon one of its three great cycles. Do you best to live according to the liturgical year. The better you do this, the more you draw upon the graces you need for salvation. As brief examples, consider how you view and live Septuagesima and Lent.
The latter six Mysteries from the Infancy and Childhood of Christ clearly manifest and admirably summarize the Holy Family. The Mystery of Christ can’t be fully understood apart from the Holy Family; for Christ does not just bring us salvation, but He does so with and through the Holy Family. Our response to these Mysteries must not just be to believe, love and obey, but also to reflect upon them — and to do so with faith! Let us consider the Flight into Egypt. This Mystery provides many important lessons for how we are to save our souls, especially in these times when the family is under such terrible attack.
Catholic manhood is under attack. Modern men suffer from effeminacy of the body, mind, and will. Man is attached to pleasure and fears that which is difficult. He suffers an inability to seek the truth, preferring emotion over truth. He rationalizes and justifies everything to get what he wants. Christ’s rebuke of the Apostles during the storm illustrates three points integral to a manhood: [1] Christ wanted them to face something difficult and overcome fear. [2] Christ was intentionally asleep; wanting them to wake Him. [3] Christ called the Apostles to get into the boat, to cast out into the deep. Look to Christ as the perfect example of real man. Consider these four masculine qualities, all of which are violently being attacked. [1] Christ was dominant, because he stood in the truth. [2] Christ was competitive; be perfect; be stronger than the enemy. [3] Christ was aggressive, driving hundreds out of the temple. [4] Christ was disciplined; He was perfectly self-restrained. Build up these characteristics in young men! Every day we must fight, not for ourselves, but for Our King!
Consider the Twelve Mysteries of Christ’s Infancy and Childhood. The Holy Family suffers much and endures many trials. Why? Because they are obedient to God’s holy will. So how should we respond to these Mysteries? With obedience. What of those who are fearful and have heard this ‘virus-crisis’ excuses them from Sunday Mass? Meditate upon the connection between Christ’s Presentation in the Temple, His Sacrifice on Calvary, and the Mass. Imitate Our Lady.
Devotion to the Child Jesus means devotion to the Mystery of the Incarnation. Meditate on the mysteries of His sacred Infancy to grow in love for Him. These mysteries highlight His humility, poverty, obedience and love. In particular, consider that He purposefully chose each of these events to begin His saving mission on earth. To love Him you must strive to imitate Him. For example, every one of us can be more detached from the world; by this we imitate His poverty.
Devotion to the Child Jesus means devotion to the Mystery of the Incarnation. Meditate on the mysteries of His sacred Infancy to grow in love for Him. These mysteries highlight His humility, poverty, obedience and love. In particular, consider that He purposefully chose each of these events to begin His saving mission on earth. To love Him you must strive to imitate Him. For example, every one of us can be more detached from the world; by this we imitate His poverty.
How are we to respond to Epiphany – to this great manifestation of Jesus’ divinity? We must [1] believe, [2] adore and [3] obey. This is the example of Mary and Joseph, the angels, the shepherds and the Three Kings. Obedience is first given to God. The star represents Faith, the light that comes from God. Then obedience is given to the human authorities God places on earth. This priority must be respected. Human authority can be abused; yet the virtue of obedience exists to conform our will to God’s holy will.
Mary and Joseph overflow with joy when the Divine Child is given due honor, reverence and love. This is precisely the mystery and meaning of Christmas. We are to follow the example of the Three Kings. Your gift ought to be those virtues which their gifts symbolize – charity (gold), prayer (frankincense) and mortification (myrrh). Similarly, the epistle (Col 3) tells us how to offer the Christ Child a pure heart. As you pray the Rosary and Litanies, seek the respective intercession of – and offer yourself and family members to – the members of the Holy Family respectively.
The Catholic family is in decay. Two things families are not accomplishing on a wide scale are [1] establishing a firm Catholic identity and [2] fighting against the spirit of the world. Our youth lack a clear identity. Parents, be consistent! Don’t give up and allow your family to be entrenched in worldliness. The world is the enemy and is seeking to destroy the souls of your children. Be in love with your vocation – with forming saintly souls for Heaven!
The Holy Name of Jesus literally means “God saves.” As you pray the Holy Name, think of Bethlehem and Calvary. Consider that God makes man and God saves man for He loves man. The Holy Name brings to our lives the Person of Jesus. It expresses His infinite love and His infinite power. Bow your head as you pray His Name. Pray the Litany of the Holy Name, especially this month. Whether you are tempted by devils or attacked by men, invoke the Name of Jesus. And if temptations do not cease to persecute you, continue to invoke Jesus – and you will never fall.