With the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, the Christmas season comes to a close, yet one of the most profound revelations of Jesus’ identity is opened to us. In the homily delivered on January 11, 2026, at the church of Santa Maria in Cappella, Deacon Massimiliano Floridi leads the faithful into the mystery of a God who chooses humility as the path of salvation.

Why does Jesus—sinless and the Son of God—accept John’s baptism, a rite of purification meant for sinners? The answer is not theoretical but deeply existential: Jesus chooses to share the human condition to the very end, to “fulfill all righteousness” by adhering to the Father’s plan together with humanity, not above it.

The baptism in the Jordan thus becomes a luminous manifestation of a God who does not impose Himself, but serves; who does not exalt Himself, but humbles Himself; who does not dominate, but accompanies. In a world marked by violence, arrogance, wars, and new forms of supremacism, this feast profoundly challenges the personal, communal, and even social conscience of Christians.

The homily concludes with a strong call to witness: if Christ chose the way of humility and service, all the more are we called to recognize our limits and to make visible—each in our own role—the discreet yet powerful light of the Gospel.

The video of the homily is available with English subtitles.

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“God Has Made His Dwelling Among Us” – Homily by Fr. Roberto Spataro, SDBSanta Maria in Cappella, 4 January 2026 – Second Sunday after Christmas

In the homily delivered at the church of Santa Maria in Cappella on the occasion of the Mass for the Second Sunday after Christmas, Fr. Roberto Spataro, Salesian, guided the faithful to rediscover the profound and ever-relevant meaning of the mystery of the Nativity.

Christmas, the preacher reminded us, is not merely an event of the past, but the revelation of a presence: the Son of God has come to dwell among us, becoming—through a striking image—“a co-tenant of our existence.” This presence did not end with the Ascension, but continues, as Christ Himself promised: “I am with you always, until the end of time.”

How can we recognize today this presence of the Lord, whom we no longer perceive visibly? Fr. Spataro pointed to three fundamental paths, entrusted to us by the living tradition of the Church:

* The path of the sacraments, in which Christ’s own action continues: in the Holy Mass it is He who offers Himself, in Confession it is His blood that purifies and heals.

* The mystical path, the interior dwelling of God in the soul of the one who loves Him and keeps His commandments, according to the promise Jesus made in the Upper Room.

* The path of charity, through which Christ identifies Himself with every man and woman in need: “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.”

The message is clear and demanding: the Lord dwells in our midst and we cannot ignore His presence, a presence that saves, that grants eternal life, and that also enlightens our prayer for our deceased brothers and sisters.

A simple yet profound homily, inviting each of us to live the Christmas season as a permanent reality: God with us, today.

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In a recent conversation between Mº Aurelio Porfiri and Abbot Philip Anderson, an important question emerged—one that many listeners and subscribers may often ponder: What is the right balance between public prayer, expressed in the liturgy, and private, interior prayer? Abbot Anderson offers a thoughtful reflection that brings clarity to this perennial issue.

He reminds us that the liturgy is not merely a series of external actions, chants, and ceremonies. Rather, these elements form a sacred language through which we express what is most intimate within us—our interior religion, the deep movements of the heart and conscience. Human beings are not disembodied spirits; we live, perceive, and communicate through our bodies. For this reason, we cannot reduce our relationship with God to ideas or silent thoughts. We must sing, kneel, move, and participate through the bodily expressions that the liturgy offers. These gestures do not replace interior prayer; they manifest and support it.

Abbot Anderson also warns against the temptation—found in certain spiritual movements or even in some Protestant approaches—to reject external forms in favor of a purely interior spirituality. Such a view, he says, is a kind of “sin of the angel,” the illusion of being able to transcend our human condition. But when one tries to pray like an angel, he paradoxically risks losing the authenticity of both spirit and flesh. To be human is to unite interior devotion with its exterior expression.

Public prayer, however, is not without challenges. Distractions are inevitable: a crying baby, movements in the pews, unexpected noises. Yet even these moments, the Abbot suggests, can become reminders of our shared humanity. He remarks with simplicity and humor that when he hears a baby cry during Mass, he sometimes feels the same way—but unlike the child, he cannot cry aloud. This insight captures the essence of the balance: prayer is both deeply personal and beautifully communal, rooted in who we are as embodied souls seeking God together.

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Abbot Philip Anderson reminds us that to truly live our faith, we must embrace our humanity rather than trying to escape it. “If you want to be an angel,” he says, “you wind up being a devil.” The Christian life is not about pretending to be something we are not, but about becoming fully human — creatures who aspire to heaven while remaining grounded in the realities of life.

This balance is reflected in the simple gestures of worship: kneeling, praying, and persevering amid distractions. Anderson notes that in public prayer, we encounter crying babies and restless movements, yet these too are signs of life. He recalls smilingly that when he hears a baby cry during Mass, he thinks, “I feel just like you, but I can’t cry — I have to be a man.”

Such moments remind us that holiness does not demand an escape from imperfection but rather an embrace of it with patience and love. Even non-Catholics, he observes, can be touched by the Church’s welcome of all — including the smallest and noisiest members — into the sacred celebration. Worship, then, is an act of real, incarnate humanity reaching toward God.

(From the Online Course The Catholic Mass)

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Mº Aurelio Porfiri reflects on the issue of continuity between pope Francis and pope Leo XIV.

Is this really an issue?

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Look at this video by Mº Aurelio Porfiri and understand the importance of liturgical formation and the opportunity that this platform is offering you in order to be more aware on the beauty of liturgy.

Be open and supportive to this project and help us to build a movement of rediscovery of the great tradition of the Catholic Church.

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📖 New Online Course Launch: The Catholic Mass🔔 Register today at: www.thecatholicmass.online

We are excited to present a new and enriching opportunity for all who wish to deepen their understanding of the Church’s most sacred treasure: the Holy Mass.

Introducing The Catholic Mass — a comprehensive 14-lesson online course based on the acclaimed book The Catholic Mass, co-authored by Bishop Athanasius Schneider and Maestro Aurelio Porfiri, who also serves as the host and guide throughout the course.

🎓 Course Overview:In each lesson, we will explore one chapter of the book, offering profound theological insights and practical reflections. The course features not only the direct involvement of Bishop Schneider, but also contributions from some of today’s leading voices in Catholic theology and liturgy.

👥 Featured Guest Speakers:

* Bishop Athanasius Schneider – Co-author and main speaker

* Abbot Philip Anderson – Benedictine Monastery of Our Lady of Clear Creek Abbey

* Professor Robert Fastiggi

* Dr. Kevin Magas

* Deacon Dr. Edward Schaeffer

* Father Roberto Spataro

🌍 The book The Catholic Mass has been translated into more than 10 languages and distributed widely across continents — from the United States and Italy to France, Poland, Brazil, and beyond — touching the lives of thousands of clergy, scholars, and faithful alike.

🗓 Course Begins: September 24, 2025📺 Participate live or watch the recordings later at your convenience. Whether you’re a priest, religious, seminarian, or lay faithful, this course will enrich your spiritual life and deepen your appreciation for the Eucharistic mystery at the heart of the Church.

💒 As Maestro Aurelio Porfiri explains, this course is not only a teaching opportunity — it's a movement of renewal, aimed at restoring a deeper reverence, understanding, and love for the liturgy.

🎶 A portion of the proceeds will go toward supporting Romaeterna Cantores (www.romaeternacantores.com), a Rome-based association committed to reviving the glorious sacred music tradition of the Roman School through concerts, conferences, and educational initiatives.

💬 “The Holy Mass is the greatest treasure we have on Earth. The Church is built from the Eucharist.” – Bishop Athanasius Schneider

👉 Don’t miss this unique opportunity. Learn more and enroll at: www.thecatholicmass.online

Let us rediscover together the beauty, truth, and sacredness of the Holy Mass.#CatholicMass #OnlineCourse #BishopSchneider #AurelioPorfiri #LiturgicalRenewal #Eucharist #SacredLiturgy #RomaeternaCantores

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For those who miss it, we represent this podcast from 2022.

In this episode Aurelio Porfiri is talking to Zimfira Poloz, a specialist in children choirs and one of the most outstanding choral conductor of our time.

She will share about the great responsability conductors have for the education of the children, and this is true also for Church choirs conductors.

Thank you for reading Cantus. This post is public so feel free to share it. Remember there are only few days to get the special subscription rates!

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Church and Culture is a podcast hosted in AveMaria radio, dedicated to exploring the intersection of faith and culture, hosted by Deal Hudson. Each episode features in-depth conversations with expert guests on topics such as literature, art, music, politics, liturgy, spirituality, and education. The podcast seeks to uncover how faith influences cultural expressions and how culture, in turn, shapes the spiritual life of individuals and society.

In this episode, the guest is Aurelio Porfiri, an esteemed Italian composer, conductor, educator, and writer. A leading expert in sacred music, he is also known for his scholarship on China and Catholic traditionalism. He has co-authored The Catholic Mass with Bishop Athanasius Schneider, a bestselling book translated into multiple languages, and has contributed to major Catholic and conservative publications in Italy, France, and the United States. In 2021, Inside the Vatican recognized him as one of the most influential figures in the Catholic world.

The discussion focuses on his latest book, When the Harps Went Still: The Tragic Decline of Catholic Sacred Music, co-authored with Archbishop Schneider and Professor Guido Milanese. This work explores the crisis of sacred music within the Church and its broader implications for Western culture.

Through this conversation, Church and Culture delves into the historical and spiritual significance of sacred music, its decline in recent decades, and the urgent need for its restoration in contemporary liturgy.

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In this podcast, maestro Aurelio Porfiri welcomes musicologist and professor Guido Milanese to discuss the ongoing "tragic decline" of Catholic sacred music. Professor Milanese, who teaches at the Università Cattolica in Milan and the University of Svizzera Italiana, brings decades of expertise as both a scholar and church musician. Together with Bishop Athanasius Schneider, they co-authored the upcoming book When the Hearts Went Still: The Tragic Decline of Catholic Sacred Music, set for release in November 2024 by Sophia Institute Press.

During their conversation, they explore the root causes of the decline in sacred music quality, examining the impact of modern commercial music infiltrating liturgical settings. Porfiri and Milanese argue that sacred music is an integral part of the liturgy, meant to elevate the worship experience and glorify God, rather than adopting popular, commercial styles that undermine the sacred atmosphere. The episode is a profound reflection on how liturgical music has shifted, and how it must return to its true purpose: inspiring devotion and enriching human spiritual experience.

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