Fr. James's Homilies

Words cannot describe my gratitude and love for you all. I will take you with me to Mount Carmel in my heart. We will be forever united in the Eucharist. And I cannot wait for our family reunion -- in heaven. Holy Spirit guide us. Blessed Mother lead us. St. Joseph protect us. Amen.

The Eucharist isn't just the Body and Blood of Jesus. It IS Jesus. The Eucharist is a Person. Do you believe this? Do your actions prove you believe? 

Sign up to adore the Person of Jesus Christ at America's First Catholic Cathedral. This city needs your prayers. Click here: Adoration – Basilica of the Assumption (americasfirstcathedral.org)

Human beings were made for mystery. God is the Supreme Mystery. By pondering Him, we are drawn deeper and deeper into the awesomeness of God. The more we know about Him, the more in awe we are of Him and the more we love Him. When we remove the mystery of God at the Mass, we stop pondering and we reduce God to one creature among other equal creatures...and this is when Catholic Churches empty...

What has happened these last 5 years at the Basilica is nothing short of miraculous. Holy Marriages, vocations to the priesthood and religious life, a missionary program and perpetual adoration: Mary has led everything. This is the key to success...

"Do this is memory of me," Christ said at the Last Supper. By instituting the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, Christ taught us how to "remember" most powerfully. This is the way to honor and remember our dead...

Almost no one could explain why the Ascension matters. It matters because it is tied to the forgiveness of sins. How? Listen... 

Jesus said, "“Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words."

It's the faithful married couple, the man with same-sex attraction who remains faithful to God, the young couple who prepares for marriage with purity and the granddaughter who visits her grandparents in the nursing home on the weekend. All of these people LOVE like Christ--sacrificially and totally. True love always leads to the glory of both the cross and heaven.

At the Basilica, she was known as Dr. Emily Wilding. Emily entered a religious order in Ohio called the Children of Mary. This past Friday, she received her religious name: Sister Imelda Joy--named after Blessed Imelda Lambertini and the Blessed Mother (whose title is Cause of our Joy). This homily was for Sister Imelda Joy, two other sisters who also received their religious names, and a sister who made her temporary vows. What an honor to celebrate and preach this Mass. God bless Sister Imelda Joy!

Do you get down because you experience boredom in prayer? Do you think you are no good? That you will never be holy? You could not be further from the truth...