The September Ember Days are a time of penance, but too many of us look at the calendar and remark, “They’re not obligatory.” This is entirely the wrong attitude, for the Ember Days are an integral part of the Church’s liturgical year and a reminder of our need to seek God’s mercy.

We often think of St. Michael as a warrior saint. But it is his humility we should emulate. His final triumph over evil is due to his humble submission to Our Lord, which are all called upon to perform.

On the morning of 9/11, which was a profound tragedy for this country, what did those victims believe was going to happen? We often don’t reflect on the fragility of life and how quickly it can be taken away. We are not guaranteed a single day on earth, and understanding that should make us reflect on the state of our souls.

When Christ performed His miracles of resurrection, we recognize the profoundness of what He has accomplished. The finality of death has been overcome and he solidifies our hope again. Nothing is impossible with God.

Our Lord’s earthly ministry often saw Him getting embroiled in controversies concerning the Jewish Law. In so doing, He was combatting the spirit of empty formalism. To this day, we are often preoccupied with formal adherence to the law rather than embracing its spirit.

What is our relationship to the Mass? Are the prayers of the Mass mere words or do they mean something to us? Do we come to this liturgy because it is merely required or because we love it?

On the feast of Pope St. Pius X, which falls on September 3rd, we reflect on the connection between this holy and St. John Vianney, the Curé d’Ars. Both of their lives instruct us on the meaning of the priesthood and living the virtue of poverty.

When the Israelites were traveling through the wilderness, God provided for them. Despite this, God’s people consistently complained and murmured, even going so far as to wish they had never been liberated from Egypt rather than accept what the Lord provided. In the ancient Israelites we see a painful reflection of ourselves, particularly when we complain about material things and the struggles of everyday life.

When making petitions to God in prayer, we desire He answer in the affirmative, but often find He does not. Even the saints, whose prayers appear to be more efficacious than our own, do not always receive what they request, for it is not God’s will. Why is this so, and does this reality mean that God leaves prayers unanswered?

Be A Spiritual Good Samaritan – SSPX Sermons