The Holy Mass of this Sunday places before us the Christian's use or abuse of "goods," either of human nature or of Divine grace.

The Introit recalls that as we now receive "Mercy," yet one day we must stand before "Justice." How necessary then the "Prayer" for "doing and thinking" what is right. Active participation in the Mass, advised Pope St. Pius X, is the indispensable source of the true Christian spirit, how to pray and how to live.
The Epistle bids us reflect who you are, "not debtors to the flesh," by which "you shall die"; but "sons of God, joint heirs with Christ," by Whom you shall live.

The Gospel dramatizes this dignity and duty in the parable of the Steward, the meaning of which is "be wise," you children of God; use material treasures so as to make eternal friends; exercise your talents in the spiritual and corporal works of mercy, and those whom you help to save will help save you.

Finally, the Offertory assures salvation to the humble, warns the proud of their final humbling. Christianity is not so much a "giving up" but rather an "exchange" of "gifts" (Secret), the human for the Divine, to bring healing to "soul and body" Postcommunion.

Today, II Class Feast Day of St. Anne, Mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is commemorated in the Mass. Her Feast has been celebrated in both East and West going back to the VI and VIII Centuries.

The Pentecostal Season is well on its way with the twelve “fruits” of the Holy Spirit. Hence, as summer also advances toward the harvest, today’s Holy Mass has a timely lesson, observed by Jesus from fruit trees.

The Introit is a call to prayer, yes, but a call to prayer followed by Catholic Action. It bespeaks “the voice of joy,” yes, but also counsels “clap your hands,” which in ancient times signified not only to praise a person by the tongue but to work for him with the hands. Since if all the tree’s life goes into the wagging tongues of waving leaves, how can there be any fruit?

Deeds, not mere words, are acceptable to God and are the best kind of example to neighbour. “The fruit” of sin is shame and death (Epistle), while the fruit of sanctity is life everlasting. “By their fruits” shall you know false teachers of false Christians (Gospel).

Not so much what one “says” about the Lord, but he who “does” His Will, brings forth good fruit. The Holy Eucharist is the “health giving” (Postcommunion) fruit of Calvary, to counteract the poison laden “Dead Sea” fruit of the world.

The Gospels record two instances when Our Lord multiplied bread and fish to feed the people. In the earlier account, He fed five thousand men with five loaves; here He feeds four thousand from seven loaves.

The first occurrence relates to the Israelites the second one to the Gentiles. In the first, we see the five books of Moses (the Pentateuch) symbolized. The Israelites were near at hand and were fed from the five books. In this first place we see they rested upon grass. The Israelites were given a great many blessings from God throughout their history, but they were still clinging to this earth and the pleasures of this life. We see that this life is as beautiful and pleasant as the grass and flowers of the field, but it soon fades away or is burnt up. The Israelites had a very difficult time in rising above the earth and this flesh. Christ came to these first. He performed many miracles for these people, yet they could not or would not lift their hearts up to higher spiritual realities and love. They were still eager to form an earthly kingdom and followed Christ in the hope of entering into an earthly kingdom where they would rule over all other people. Their fickle hearts Christ tried to lift up to Himself and to a spiritual life rather than the temporal life that was spent adhering to laws and regulations only for the earthly benefit while they neglected the heavenly one. Christ fed them first and many returned only for the feeding of their bodies or the healing or benefit of their bodies. For this reason, we see that Jesus then approached the water and got in a boat so that these people could not reach Him. He was still trying to impress upon them the idea of a spiritual reality and something above the physical world. In drawing away from them physically they were being led to establish a spiritual connection. We likewise are called upon to connect or reconnect in this spiritual relationship to God. Many are forced by physical circumstances to unite themselves spiritually with the Mass and Sacraments and in this way hear the voice of God from a distance. They are forced to no longer rely upon the earthly food and blessings that God sends us in this world, but rather to raise their minds to spiritual realities and to look deeper into the true faith and therefore the true life.

This second occurrence symbolises the Gentiles. They have come from a great distance and they too are quite earthly, but they are more inclined to have faith in God without the confusion of an earthly kingdom. The seven loaves show us the seven gifts of the Holy Ghost. “The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and fortitude, the Spirit of knowledge and of godliness. And he shall be filled with the Spirit of the fear of the Lord.” (Is, 11, 2) This is a much greater gift than the Pentateuch. Though the Gentiles came from a distance and have not been following the Law, they have nonetheless made great strides of spiritual progress. We see that this group sat upon the ground and not the grass. In this manner, they tread down the things of the earth.

In the first, there were twelve baskets filled with the Holy Spirit; in this one there are seven baskets or seven Churches or the seven golden candle-sticks. (Apoc 1. 4, 20). In the first, there were two fishes symbolizing the prophets, and the preaching of St. John the Baptist; in the second there is an undefined number which are the gifts of grace, as the Apostle says: “To one, by the Spirit, is given the word of wisdom, to another the word of knowledge, to another prophecy, to another diverse kinds of tongues, to another interpretation of speeches, But all these things one and the same Spirit worketh” (I Cor. 12, 8).

St. Maximus (bishop) says: “We who believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, not through the Law but by faith, who are redeemed, not by its works but by grace itself; who are filled, not from the five loaves, that is, from the Five Books of Moses, but by the seven-fold grace of the Holy Spirit, as blessed Isaias had prophesied, saying: ‘The Spirit of wisdom, and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel, and of fortitude, the Spirit of knowledge, and of piety; And he shall be filled with the Spirit of the fear of the Lord’ (Is. 11), let us continue in this grace of the Sevenfold Spirit, in which we were called, being filled with the gift of the Holy Ghost (Acts ii. 38) through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who lives and reigns in the Unity of the Holy Ghost God for ever and ever. Amen.”

The theme of today’s Mass is love of neighbour.
 
The Gospel should give us pause. Jesus tells us that hating our brother is equivalent to murder and put us in “danger of hell fire.” The advice Our Lord renders is that before we make an offering at the altar but remember that our brother has something against us, to “leave thy offering...and be reconciled” to him first before presenting our gift.
 
Thus, if we wish that God “forsake me not” (Introit) love toward others must be shown. We ask God to help prepare us by pouring into our hearts “love toward Thee.”
 
St. Augustine, in discussing the Gospel reading, tells us that the Pharisees regarded perfection as not murdering anybody physically, which is a minimum morality. However, God desires perfection and Our Lord teaches that avoiding anger is perfection in that we avoid murdering somebody interiorly. Thus, if we think about it, Our Lord was subjected to the lies, hatred and open insults of the Sanhedrin who accused Him of blasphemy falsely and thus shared in murdering Jesus. St. Peter explains how we love our neighbour by refraining our “tongues from evil” and seeking after “peace” with our brother.
 
The Offertory tells of the joy that comes from having received “understanding” from God. The Secret asks that the gifts which we have brought before the altar be of benefit to all. The Communion hymn expresses our aspirations to “dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life” and that we may be “cleansed” from our “hidden faults” and delivered from “our enemies” (Postcommunion).

Florence, Italy: On Thursday monring, priestly ordinations for the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest took place. Minor Order and Diaconate ordinations will take place at a later time.

Due to the current Covid-19 pandemic, the deacons were ordained by His Eminence Raymond Cardinal Burke without a congregation present. Although  surely a great disappointment to the ordinands’ families that they were unable to be present for this remarkable event, many consolations can be found in the great graces received from the new priests!

Please say a prayer for them!