Padre's Points

The Resurrection of Jesus changed everything about human history. In our baptism, we experience a spiritual resurrection, which has forever changed our personal history. Listen as Fr. Mattingly describes why people should be able to notice, by the way we live, that we have been interiorly transformed, renewed, resurrected, through our baptism.

The most gruesome day in the life of Jesus is called “Good” Friday. Listen as Fr. Mattingly describes why this day, which is full of betrayal, torture, mocking, and abandonment, is “good.”

Today is known as “Spy Wednesday,” in reference to it being the day when Judas when to the chief priests and offered to “spy” on Jesus, looking for a good opportunity to hand him over to the priests, if they offered to pay him for it. It is a good moment to first of all ask God to never let us betray Him in that way, but also to strive for the greatest possibility loyalty to Him, staying true and sticking with Him even in our darkest hours.

Listen as Fr. Mattingly talks about the impossibility of following Jesus “halfway”, and the courage we will all need in years to come as the culture pressures us into abandoning the Lord in his hour of greatest need, just as most of the disciples did during His Passion and Death.

Why should we be grateful for the suffering and death of Jesus? What is the difference between Jesus’ physical and spiritual sufferings, and which one was more painful? Tune in to find out!

In today’s Gospel Jesus distinguishes between physical and spiritual slavery, and says He has come to set us free from the latter (i.e. sin). Listen as Fr. Mattingly gives a tip or two on how to cooperate with the grace from Christ to gain gradual freedom from spiritual slavery (sin).

What is forgiveness? Are Catholics obligated to forgive others? Is forgiveness the same as reconciling with someone? Does forgiving mean forgetting? Is it really true that if I don't forgive others, then God won't forgive me? Listen in to find the answers to these and more questions about one of the most unique, foundational, and glorious realities of our faith: forgiveness.

In this homily, Fr. Mattingly makes a connection between the Gospel and an important spiritual work of mercy -- instructing the ignorant. Many people do not believe in Christ and His Church merely due to misunderstandings, not ill-will, and it is up to us to provide knowledge and insight!

In this homily, Fr. Mattingly talks about the devotional practice of making the stations of the cross, and how it should help us grow in sensitivity not only to the sufferings of Our Lord, but the sufferings of others as well.

In today’s Gospel, Our Lord gives good reasons for why his audience should believe that He is from the Father, and also points out obstacles to why they refuse to believe those reasons. Fr. Mattingly points out that we also must study the faith so as to give good reasons to others for why we believe what we do, and that we should also, like Jesus, be able to identify others’ strongest reasons for their positions so as to be able to argue intelligently. As usual, he throws in a few practical tips as well.