“Ascendit Deus in jubilatione. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy.” This is what our stained-glass window of the Ascension proclaims; and this is what we have proclaimed in our Responsorial Psalm. Yes, we believe and profess that Jesus “ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.” The Ascension does not mean merely that Jesus is taken from our sight – although it certainly means that. In the Letter to the Ephesians, we hear that Christ “ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.” The Doctrine of the Ascension concerns this 
Today we celebrate the feast of the Patronage of Mary over the whole Dominican Order. This feast celebrates Mary more as Mother than of benefactor. As the Gospel relates, Jesus said to the Apostle John, “Behold your Mother.” The motherhood of Mary for the whole Church is established in these few words by Jesus.
Homily – April 5, 2012
Fr. Michael Fones, OP
2 Chr 36:14-16, 19-23; Ephesians 2:4-10; Jn 3:14-21
On September 29, 2006, 25 year-old Michael A. Monsoor was part of a security position watching over American and Iraqi soldiers conducting missions in eastern Ramadi, Iraq, an area with an aggressive insurgency. In the shelter with him were three other SEALs and eight Iraqi soldiers. All morning long they received harassment fire, but late in the afternoon, an insurgent closed on the position and threw in a fragment grenade which hit Monsoor in the chest. As it fell to the ground in front of him, he yelled, “Grenade!” There was only one exit, and as the closest one to it, Michael was the only one who could have saved himself from harm.…Continue reading Fourth Sunday of Lent
Blessed Sebastian, the son of a noble family, was born at Brescia, Italy, in 1414 and entered the Order in 1429. Twice he was Vicar General of the reformed Province of Lombardy and served as prior in several convents. He was severe in his personal life, but kind and patient in his dealings with others. He was one of the notable reformers of Dominican life in the fifteenth century. He died at Genoa at the monastery of Santa Maria di Castello in 1496.
Blessed James was born at Mantua, Italy in the latter half of the thirteenth century. He entered the Order there and came to the notice of Nicholas Boccassini, Master of the Order, who made him his socius. Blessed James continued as his advisor when Nicholas was created cardinal in 1298 and when Nicholas became Pope as Benedict XI he was named bishop of Mantua in 1304. There he fought against the hatred and division which plagued the city. Because of his devotion to the poor during a time of pestilence and famine he was called “Father of the Poor.” He died on November 19, 1332.
Albert, eldest son of the Count of Bollstädt, was born at Lauingen, Swabia, in the year 1205 or 1206, though many historians give it as 1193. Nothing certain is known of his primary or preparatory education, which was received either under the paternal roof or in a school of the neighbourhood. As a youth he was sent to pursue his studies at the University of Padua; that city being chosen either because his uncle resided there, or because Padua was famous for its culture of the liberal arts, for which the young Swabian had a special predilection. The date of this journey to Padua cannot be accurately determined.
Blessed Mannes, an older brother of St. Dominic, was born at Caeruega, Spain, about 1170. He was among his younger brother's first followers and later assisted in establishing the priory of Saint-Jacques at Paris in 1217. In 1219 he was entrusted with the care of the Dominican nuns at Madrid. According to an early source he was "a contemplative and holy man, meek and humble, joyful and kind, and a zealous preacher." He died at the Cistercian monastery of San Pedro at Gamiel d'Izan near Caleruega about the year 1235.
This Dominican Saint is called the Apostle of the North. He was the son of Eustachius Konski of the noble family of Odrowaz and was born in the year 1185 at the castle of Lanka, at Kamin, in upper Silesia, Poland (now Prussia); died 15 August, 1257, at Cracow.
Introduction to Tenebrae
If you happen to be in the Bay Area during the Triduum, St. Albert Priory invites you to celebrate with them. Here's their schedule:
The Living Tradition
