Homilies from the National Shrine

The Readings for Today's Homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/reading...
In today’s homily, Fr. Chris Alar, speaks about the moral and spiritual dangers of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and how Catholics must respond with wisdom, courage, and fidelity to the truth. As Pope Leo XIII once addressed the crisis caused by the Industrial Revolution with his landmark encyclical letter Rerum Novarum, Pope Leo XIV now warns that the age of Artificial Intelligence must be guided by the protection of human dignity. Technology must serve the human person, not reduce us to data, consumers, or objects of control.
Read the First Encyclical Letter of His Holiness Leo XIV Magnifica Humanitas: https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xi...

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The Readings for Today's Homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/052626.cfm
In today’s homily, Fr. Anthony Gramlich, MIC reflected on the beautiful and joyful witness of St. Philip Neri, a saint who did not take himself too seriously because his heart was completely focused on God. St. Philip Neri would wear large shoes, put his clothes on inside out, and even shave only one side of his beard. He did these things so people would have a humble opinion of him. He did not want to be praised, exalted, or admired. He wanted to become small so Christ could be great in him. Even during the Oratory, surrounded by people of importance, he was willing to look foolish in the eyes of the world. Why? Because he understood that humility is the first virtue we need to practice. Fr. Anthony repeated this powerful message many times: “Be a fool for Christ.” St. Philip Neri was full of joy, full of compassion, and full of love for God and neighbor. He prayed for the fire of the Holy Spirit to come, the fire of divine love that transforms hearts.
Today, St. Philip reminds us: Don’t put yourself first. Don’t exalt yourself. Don’t worry so much about being criticized. Make yourself small. Be joyful.Be humble. Be a fool for Christ. St. Philip Neri, patron saint of joy and laughter, pray for us!

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Today, the Church celebrates the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, a beautiful reminder that Mary is the Mother who leads us always to her Son. Jesus came into the world through her hands, and in the same way, we are invited to entrust ourselves, our families, our country, and our future to her maternal care.
In this Memorial Day homily, Fr. Chris Alar, connects this Marian trust with the meaning of sacrifice, freedom, faith, and eternal salvation.
As we remember the soldiers who gave their lives for the freedom and safety of our country, Fr. Chris reminds us that true freedom must never be separated from God. Those who made the ultimate sacrifice did not place personal safety above the defense of what is true, noble, and worth protecting.
Fr. Chris also offers a powerful warning for our times: when fear or the promise of “personal safety” leads society to surrender its God-given freedoms, especially the freedom to worship. Christians must remain awake and faithful. We must never allow our churches to be closed or our faith to be silenced in the name of fear.
As Catholics and citizens, we are called to reflect seriously on our responsibility to protect religious freedom, to honor the Christian values upon which this nation was founded, and to remember those who fought to defend them.
On this day, we turn first to Mary, Mother of the Church, asking her to lead us to Jesus. We honor the flag, we remember the fallen, we entrust their souls to Mary’s hands, and above all, we kneel before Jesus Christ in the Eucharist; the source of our eternal life.
May we never trade eternal salvation for temporary security, and may Our Lady, Mother of the Church, guide our nation back to her Son.

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The Readings for Today's Homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/052426-Day
In today’s homily, Fr. Chris Alar, explains the meaning of Pentecost and the two moments when the Apostles received the Holy Spirit.
In John 20, Jesus breathes the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, giving them grace for personal sanctification and the forgiveness of sins. In Acts 2, fifty days after the Resurrection, the Holy Spirit descends publicly upon the 120 gathered in the Upper Room, launching the Church’s mission to the world. These two Pentecost moments are not contradictory — they reveal different manifestations of the same Holy Spirit: personal, sacramental, communal, and missionary.

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Father David Gunter, MIC, explains that the Eucharist was instituted by Jesus at the Last Supper and taught throughout Scripture as the Bread of Life. He poses a challenging question about “modern Judas,” not to condemn particular people, but as a spiritual warning: those who reject or refuse to believe in Christ’s true presence in the Eucharist risk following the same path of unbelief that preceded Judas’ betrayal. The message is an invitation to examine one’s own faith and to pray for a deeper belief in Jesus truly present in the Eucharist.

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