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Our Blog

St. Francis De Sales on the Battle Against Temptation

By Fr. Jeff | 01/17/2023

This is the tenth and final article in my series based on my reading of the Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis De Sales. Written 400 years ago, it is available in various translations. I am reading the 2015 version…

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The Call to Discipleship

By Fr. Jeff | 01/15/2023

Our Christmas season has ended. We have entered Ordinary Time. There can be a tendency from the term “ordinary” to think of it as a time to lay back and relax. One might think that nothing special is going on.…

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Video – Part I of New Series “The Greatest Gift: The Eucharist”

By Fr. Jeff | 01/13/2023

I began my new series, The Greatest Gift: The Eucharist“, yesterday with Part I. I just uploaded the video recording of the webinar and the slides to my website at https://www.renewaloffaith.org/greatestgiftpart1 . If you view the video in the next…

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St. Francis De Sales on Marriage and Widows

By Fr. Jeff | 01/10/2023

This is the ninth article in my series based on my reading of the Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis De Sales. Written 400 years ago, it is available in various translations. I am reading the 2015 version published by…

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The Epiphany of the Lord 2023 – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 01/08/2023

The Epiphany of the LordIsaiah 60:1-6Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13 (11)Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6January 8, 2023 Today we celebrate another important part of the Christmas story, the Magi coming from the east seeking the newborn king of the Jews.  We call…

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St. Francis De Sales on Recreation

By Fr. Jeff | 01/03/2023

This is the eighth article in my series based on my reading of the Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis De Sales. Written 400 years ago, it is available in various translations. I am reading the 2015 version published by…

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Beginning a New Year With Blessings

By Fr. Jeff | 01/01/2023

Christmas, the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ is far too important to celebrate with a single day. We celebrate Christmas for a season that lasts until the Baptism of the Lord (which falls on Monday, January 9th this year).…

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St. Francis De Sales on How Words Matter

By Fr. Jeff | 12/27/2022

This is the seventh article in my series based on my reading of the Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis De Sales. Written 400 years ago, it is available in various translations. I am reading the 2015 version published by…

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Christmas Homily for 2022

By Fr. Jeff | 12/25/2022

The Nativity of the Lord (Mass During the Night)Isaiah 9:1-6Titus 2:11-14Luke 2:1-14December 25, 2022 You can find a video of this homily on my website page for my upcoming series, The Greatest Gift: The Eucharist at www.renewaloffaith.org/greatestgift (scroll down on…

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St. Francis De Sales on Friendship, Fasting, and Modesty

By Fr. Jeff | 12/20/2022

This is the sixth article in my series based on my reading of the Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis De Sales. Written 400 years ago, it is available in various translations. I am reading the 2015 version published by…

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A Great Sign

By Fr. Jeff | 12/18/2022

In our first reading today (4th Sunday of Advent Year A), the Lord offers a sign to King Ahaz. He tells Ahaz, “let it be deep as the netherworld, or high as the sky!” Ahaz can ask for any sign,…

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More on the Virtues from St. Francis De Sales

By Fr. Jeff | 12/13/2022

This is the fifth article in my series based on my reading of the Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis De Sales. Written 400 years ago, it is available in various translations. I am reading the 2015 version published by…

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You Can Count on God

By Fr. Jeff | 12/11/2022

In our first reading, through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord offers a message to the Israelites in distress. “The desert and the parched land will exult; the steppe will rejoice and bloom. They will bloom with abundant flowers.” The message…

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New Series of Presentations on the Eucharist!

By Fr. Jeff | 12/10/2022

Here is the “announcement” of my next series of presentations! The Greatest Gift:  The Eucharist A New Series of Presentations by Fr. Jeff The Eucharist we receive is the Body and Blood of Jesus.  It is the Sacrifice of Jesus…

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The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 12/08/2022

The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin MaryGenesis 3:9-15, 20Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4 (1)Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12Luke 1:26-38December 8, 2022 Our first reading today comes from the story of the first sin in the Garden of Eden.  God had created the…

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St. Francis De Sales on Virtues

By Fr. Jeff | 12/06/2022

This is the fourth article in my series based on my reading of the Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis De Sales. Written 400 years ago, it is available in various translations. I am reading the 2015 version published by…

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2nd Sunday of Advent, Year A – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 12/04/2022

2nd Sunday of Advent, Year AIsaiah 11:1-10Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17 (7)Romans 15:4-9Matthew 3:1-12December 4, 2022 Our gospel passage today comes from the time just before Jesus began his public ministry during his first coming.  It speaks of preparation.  We…

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The Devout Life – Prayer

By Fr. Jeff | 11/29/2022

This is the third article in my series based on my reading of the Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis De Sales. The first article was “What Does It Mean to be Devout?” followed by “Purification in the…

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The Day is at Hand

By Fr. Jeff | 11/27/2022

In today’s gospel, Jesus speaks the coming of the Son of Man. Noah had been commissioned by the Lord to build an ark. The people did not know that a great flood was coming. “They were eating and drinking, marrying…

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We Need to be Thankful

By Fr. Jeff | 11/24/2022

Thanksgiving DaySirach 50:22-241 Corinthians 6:3-9Luke 17:11-9November 24, 2022 Today we celebrate Thanksgiving Day.  It is a national holiday for us.  It is a secular holiday but it is a day that we need to celebrate. Why do we need Thanksgiving…

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Purification in the Devout Life

By Fr. Jeff | 11/22/2022

Last week I began a series of articles inspired by my present reading of St. Francis De Sales, Introduction to the Devout Life. The first article was “What Does It Mean to be Devout?”. I ended that article with a…

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Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, Year C – Homily

By Fr. Jeff | 11/20/2022

Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, Year C2 Samuel 5:1-3Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5 (see 1)Colossians 1:12-20Luke 23:35-53November 20, 2022 Today we celebrate our Lord Jesus Christ as King of the Universe.  The Jews had been waiting for a…

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Video – Third Presentation in series “Being Church in Today’s World”

By Fr. Jeff | 11/18/2022

Last night I offered the third (and final) presentation in my series, Being Church in Today’s World. The video and slides for Part III are now available on my website at https://www.renewaloffaith.org/beingchurch2022part3. If you watch the video in the next…

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What Does It Mean to be “Devout”?

By Fr. Jeff | 11/15/2022

Last month I began reading St. Francis De Sales, Introduction to the Devout Life. Written 400 years ago, it is available in various translations. I am reading the 2015 version published by Ignatius Press (San Francisco) and the Augustine Institute…

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The Time to Get Ready is now.

By Fr. Jeff | 11/13/2022

In two weeks our current liturgical year will draw to a close. Our gospel comes from a time shortly before Jesus’ Passion. He knows his time on earth will be coming to end soon. He wants to prepare his disciples.…

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