Feb. 16th 2025

Please pray for them. I, personally, do not know any perfect human beings on this earth.  Certainly not me, and no one I have met either.  We are all imperfect, striving to emulate the virtues and character of those we admire. This shared imperfection connects us all in our humanity. I say this because it seems we have lost the beautiful understanding of purgatory. When someone dies, it is our responsibility to pray for him or her and try to have a Mass offered for them. This act of caring and responsibility is crucial in our faith.

In 1032, the Catechism of the Catholic Church says, "All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death, they undergo purification, to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven... 

We continue reading, "This teaching is also based on the practice of prayer for the dead, already mentioned in sacred Scripture... From the beginning, the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for each of them. 

'Suffrage' here means intercessory prayers, prayers offered on behalf of another person, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that thus purified they might attain the beatific vision of God.

Some of the best people I know have died and will die.  I will continue to love them as I pray for them.  I encourage you to do so as well.

Peace, 

Father Maassen

Feb. 9th 2025

On February 9th we celebrate World Marriage Day. 

RADIATE LOVE

Under the title “Radiate Love,” every Catholic community is invited to participate in this initiative, starting on World Marriage Day – February 9, 2025 – when couples all over the globe are called by God to invest in their relationships and let that love radiate out to the whole world, first and foremost in their own family.

WHAT IS RADIATE LOVE?

Jesus performed his first miracle at a wedding, turning water into fine wine, because he believes marriage is beautiful and worth celebrating. The love of husbands and wives images the love between Jesus and his Church, as both spouses are called to lay down their lives for the other and their children.

Under the title “Radiate Love,” the bishops of  North America invite every Catholic to celebrate the beauty and goodness of marriage and family. We invite all families to radiate their love to the world—parents, grandparents, children, spouses, sisters, and brothers. This initiative will include monthly reflections, prayers, videos, and other materials to help families become witnesses of God’s love. 

https://cacatholic.org/radiatelove/#resources

Feb , 2, 2025 

Love is patient; love is kind. Now, where did I hear that phrase before? Hmm... It is a verse in chapter 12 of the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians. When Paul defines love in this beautifully poetic verse, the second way he describes love is that it is kind. We can choose to be kind. The other day, I thought (I have to stop that) that we all have troubles and stress. Some are blessed with a job they really like, physical health, and harmonious relationships that are not causing stress.

Many or most of us have problems with one or more of the above—even more reason to be kind to one another. I believe that kindness can come with a simple smile and a greeting. We can be kind by our words or by lending a hand. I may be having difficulty due to the above, but I can still choose to be kind. The kindness I show another human being may ease their problems and stress. Kindness is vital in relationships between spouses. Sometimes, spouses are kinder to strangers than they are to each other. Love. Is.. Kind.

Most of us are familiar with the phrase "Got Milk?" 

If you need milk, you can go to the grocery store. 'Got milk?' has become a familiar phrase to many of us due to advertising in the milk industry.

 'Got Kindness?' SHOULD be the question we ask of ourselves and all Catholics. As members of the Catholic community, we should be leaders in showing kindness to others. If we find ourselves lacking in kindness, we should make a conscious effort to show kindness to others, just as we would buy milk if we were out of it.

Peace.

Fr. M

Ps. Forget about "Got Milk"— "Got Kindness" *reprinted from 2008

Message from Father Tim 1/19/2025

Something I run into – not just in our parish but – in all the parishes I have been assigned is Decrees of Nullity [colloquially known as Annulments] – about the meaning and the length of the process involved.

    Concerning the meaning: a Decree of Nullity is basically saying that there was a problem at the time the Marriage vows were exchanged – a problem that causes the vows to be nonbinding.  This declaration by the Church is never ever made whimsically but is taken very seriously.  Consider: what is vowed is that a spouse love and honor the other all the days of his or her life – as Christ vows to love sinners come what may.  That being so, at the time a Decree of Nullity is requested, the presumption of the Church is that the exchange of vows was valid! From there, the burden of proof lies in proving the vows exchanged were invalid for whatever reason.

    As to the length of the process, this process can take a considerable amount of time – and in many cases a lot of time.  Because many souls wait until they wish a ‘new’ Marriage before seeking a Decree of Nullity, they become impatient with the amount of time it takes to adjudicate the request.  From there, many couples attempt a ‘new’ Marriage outside of the Church.

    Sometimes it is best for a couple to separate.  Briefly: if a spouse is abusing you, get out.  No one has the right to abuse their spouse.  As Sacred Scripture tells us, So [one] should love their [spouse] as their own bodies [One] who loves [one’s spouse] loves his or herself.’ But by and large, couples are called upon by Marriage vows to use the Grace Christ gave at the time of the exchange of the vows to heal, correct, and continue to love onwards.  The Catechism of the Catholic Church points out that – while there are some reasons to divorce which the Catechism sets out in its text – it is a sin to divorce [CCC 2382 - 2386].    

     The best approach would be to not date until such a Decree is handed down… again before dating again or as soon as possible.  In this way, a soul understands clearly where their Marriage – wounded though it may be – stands before God and the Church. It is completely understandable that a soul – right after the bitter pains of civil divorce – may not wish to keep such wounds open while seeking a Decree.  Yet, it is very important for the Salvation of one’s soul to know where this Marriage stands in the eyes of God and His Church.

    The question that one might pose is: do you think God cares about such things?  Absolutely: yes.  If I may modify Ephesians 5 slightly: If I may modify Ephesians 5 slightly: ‘Love your [spouse] even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her to sanctify her, cleansing her by the bath of water with the word, that he might present to himself the church in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.  So, [one] should love their [spouse] as their own bodies. [One] who loves [one’s spouse] loves his or herself.  For no one hates his own flesh but rather nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ does the church.’ 

     As well as 1 Corinthians 13, ‘love never fails.’ In the Sacrament of Marriage, one promises before God in a binding way to love a spouse unto death – even unto the Cross.  Yes, one may have need to separate for the mental and spiritual health of all the parties, but this does not change the Sacramental sacrificial character of Marriage promised at the exchange of vows.

    So, in light of a soul’s Salvation – but understanding fully the pain of such a breakup, please consider these words.  Let us be careful out there!

Archbishop Rozanski's Letter 12/24/24

Dear Brothers and Sisters, 

On May 9, 2024, Pope Francis issued “SPES NON CONFUNDIT” (Hope does not disappoint), Bull of Induction of the Ordinary Jubilee of the Year 2025. The Holy Father invited “everyone to an intense experience of the love of God” and “calls on all Christians to become Pilgrims of Hope.”  

The Jubilee 2025 - Pilgrims of Hope will begin on December 24, 2024, with the opening of the Holy Door at the Basilica of St. Peter in Rome and continue until the closing of the Jubilee Year on January 6, 2026.  

I invite all the faithful to join Bishop Mark Rivituso to celebrate the solemn opening of the Jubilee on Sunday, December 29, 2024, at the 10:00 a.m. Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, 4431 Lindell Boulevard. The Jubilee will conclude locally on December 28, 2025.  

As part of the Jubilee, the faithful of the Archdiocese of St. Louis will be able to obtain the grace of the Jubilee Indulgence by making a pious pilgrimage to any sacred Jubilee site.

Under the usual conditions. I have designated nine Jubilee pilgrimage sites across the archdiocese: 

Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis 

Basilica of Saint Louis, King of France

Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters at the Mount Grace Covent and Chapel.

Carmel of Saint Joseph at the Chapel of the Most Precious Blood 

Saint Mary’s of the Barrens National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Monastery of Saint Clare of the Immaculate Conception 

Passionist Nuns of St. Louis 

Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in New Melle 

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Union 

If you wish to learn more about the Jubilee Indulgence and for a complete list of the pilgrimage sites, please visit: archstl.org/2025jubileeyear. 

Please visit the following links for much more information about the Jubilee Year: 

The Vatican Jubilee 2025 website; https://www.iubilaeum2025.va/en.html 

The USCCB Jubilee 2025 website: https://www.usccb.org/committees/jubilee-2025 

I am confident that this Holy Year will be a time for rediscovery and unity, opening hearts to receive the fullness of God’s love and mercy through a personal encounter with the Lord, Jesus Christ. 

Sincerely yours in Christ, 

Most Reverand Michael Rozanski. 

Archbishop of St. Louis