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." What do these words have to do with the confusion of our world today? Everything!

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...

Herod sought to kill Jesus. Anything or anyone who tries to separate souls from grace and the truth of Jesus Christ and His One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church is a modern-day Herod. We need to fight against them. But we also need a Protector. And we have one...

Peter is the poster child for what happens when you stop praying. When prayer goes, man resorts to activism which leads to falling away from Jesus which leads to creature comfort which in turns leads to denying Christ and hitting rock bottom. No one has to hit rock bottom!

When someone is dying in a hospital, hospice or their home, there is one prayer you need to pray...especially if they have been away from God. And pray it OUT LOUD so they can hear you!

I promise you this: if you are away from Christ and His Church, you are miserable right now. God wants to do away with your misery. If you are devout and know you cannot earn heaven: God wants to give ease your mind. 

Who are the most powerful on the universe? The rich? The elite? Politicians? The famous? Nope. Not even close. It's the walking wounded...and those who do this...

Before Jesus went to the Cross, He said that He eagerly desired to eat the Passover meal with His apostles. Do we eagerly desire to eat with Jesus? This Holy Week, our actions will answer that question for us...

Most people forget that St. Joseph was involved in the final apparition at Fatima on Oct. 13, 1917. He appeared next to Mary with the Christ Child blessing the world. This apparition is all about the family...and Satan. It's a battle. But those who stay close to St Joseph will win.

On March 25, 2022 Pope Francis consecrated Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Why did he do this? Was the consecration in 1984, by Pope John Paul II, valid? How do we actually know? Listen and find out...

The parable of the Prodigal Son shows us what true mercy looks like. It is FAR more than just forgiving someone. Mercy restores a person's dignity. It reveals to them their identity as a beloved son or daughter of the Father. And it leads to conversion of heart.

No matter what sins you have committed in the past, Jesus wants to wipe the slate clean. He wants to give you total forgiveness of all sin and all the punishment associated with that sin. This is the GREATEST PROMISE ever made to man. And it can be yours... SPREAD THIS MESSAGE TO ALL YOU KNOW. Jesus, I trust in You.

Lent is a time when we must meditate on the 4 Last Things: Death, Judgment, Heaven and Hell. Today's homily explores the need for us to be prepared for death--so that we do not fear God as our Judge, but look forward to being with Him forever in heaven.

Peter, James and John saw Jesus in glory (or at least in a ray of his glory) during the Transfiguration. Nothing is preventing you from seeing Him in glory too. You just need this...

The Blessed Mother promised to shower grace upon grace on those who wear the Medal of the Immaculate Conception. So many miracles have happened for those who wore it, it isn't known as the Medal of the Immaculate Conception anymore, but the "Miraculous medal." Here's the story...

Lent is awesome. It is a dedicated time to grow in love of God. But often times we use these 40 days to glorify ourselves. Our motives for our "penances" (i.e. losing weight) are more centered on pride ("I want to look better") rather than fighting sin and growing in love of God. Time to change that this Lent!

Most people in this world are not happy. Why? We don't trust that God can make us happy, and so we turn to false idols of the world. These idols make us happy for a moment, and then they leave us depressed, anxious and wanting something else. Here's what Jesus said WILL make us happy...and it will last!

St. Bakhita was sold into slavery, beaten and tortured. She eventually won her freedom, became Catholic and a religious sister. Later in life, when asked if she could forgive those evil men, this is what she said: "If I were to meet those who kidnapped me, and even those who tortured me, I would kneel and kiss their hands. For if these things had not happened, I would not have been a Christian and a religious today.” Here's how she was able to love and forgive...

Is being rich really a bad thing? Is living a really comfortable life OK if you want to get to heaven? What did Jesus say about this? Warning: This is NOT for the lukewarm!

Do you know who St. Luigi Guanella is? No? You should! It was through his intercession that a 21-year old man recovered from traumatic brain injury in 2002. His intercession is powerful. And he is connected to our Baltimore Basilica. 

Standing in his own synagogue, Jesus outed Himself as the Messiah. Why weren't his own people happy to encounter the long-awaited Savior? Why did they turn to violence and try to kill Jesus? Two reasons. And it's the same two reasons people "kill" Jesus today.

What makes a homeless woman and a billionaire equally as powerful? Only one thing...and it is truly the great equalizer.

The Wedding Feast at Cana speaks about our baptism with God. We are the jars of water that got changed into choice wine. But it's the wedding gifts that we received that are pretty amazing...once you know what they are!

At Jesus's baptism, the Father said to the Son, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." It's easy to understand how the Father could be pleased with the Son. He is perfect. But what about us? Could the Father really be pleased with us (who are sinners)? Could He really think of us as His beloved? Yes, and here's why...

St. Peter Julian Eymard said that St. Joseph use to adore the infant Jesus all night. Through faith Joseph "pierced through the rough garments the child wore, until his faith touched the Sacred Heart.” This is what will happen to all who peer at Jesus in the Eucharist. This is also the most sure way to hear God's voice and become a great saint. Sign up for an hour of adoration at the Basilica and be like St. Joseph: Adoration – Basilica of the Assumption (americasfirstcathedral.org)

Fulton Sheen rightly wondered out loud (decades ago!), “I wonder if it is not true that as the world loses veneration for Christ's mother, it loses also its adoration of Christ.”   Does this not explain the current state of the Church?   But the GOOD NEWS is: if we properly venerate Mary, we will adore Christ. And if we adore Christ, we will have eternal life. The "formula" couldn't be simpler. No parish that gets this right will ever be closed.

Only once did Jesus say, "Learn from me." Of all the virtues, Jesus said He wanted us to learn THIS ONE VIRTUE. With it, you will be a saint. Without it, heaven is impossible.

A gift given is worthless unless it is received, unwrapped and used. Christ GAVE Himself as a gift to humanity. He has done His part. Now it is up to us. Will we receive Him? Our salvation depends on how we answer this Christmas question!

Why do we Catholics honor Mary as much as we do? Why do we say she is a powerful intercessor? Why do we call her a "mediator?" Because it is the will of God--manifested by the Holy Spirit in the Word. Yes, this is ALL scriptural!

Sadness is a certain pain in the soul. So many people suffer from this pain--and they do not have to. The opposite of sadness is JOY. We were all meant to experience joy. But this is not an emotion or a feeling. It is the fruit of possessing one thing, and one thing only...

On May 17, 1846 the bishops of the United States proclaimed Mary, under the title of her Immaculate Conception, to be the principal patroness of this country. She is the "woman" whose Son will crush Satan. She is the woman we need to turn to now, in this country...

NASA scientists have studied this image. Kodak has studied it too. Doctors swear it is living. It is associated with miracles. And at least 9 million people became Catholic because of it. 

People do not understand St. Joseph! How could a JUST man, a righteous man, think it is OK to walk out on his pregnant wife (especially when she is pregnant with the Messiah)? Just men don't do that! Joseph didn't do that! Here's what you need to know... Enroll your loved ones in our Novena of Masses for St. Joseph! 

Advent is a penitential season meant to help us grow in love and holiness. Sadly, these weeks from Thanksgiving to Christmas are typically a time full of anxiety, worldliness and materialism. We must counter this! How can we grow in love and holiness before Christmas? Here are some very practical steps...

Man exists to glorify God. At the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, we use our free will to praise and glorify God. This is when we are most human...and when we most please God. While our Country thanks God one day a year, the Catholic Church thanks God every moment of every day and in every place of the world--through the offering of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Happy Thanksgiving! 

"What is truth" Pilate said to Jesus as he stared at truth incarnate. This is the same question the world asks today. Is there truth? Think: gender confusion, marriage confusion, political confusion. Satan and his kingdom causes confusion. God gives clarity. Under His rule, Truth is objective. And it leads to all that is lasting, good and beautiful. His Kingdom is open to all who are willing to submit to truth.

Jesus explained what signs we would see when the end is near. If we look at our world today, all the signs are here. We need to be prepared. But if we are prepared, we ought not to fear...not even the slightest!  

Do you know about this amazing apparition that took place in Kibeho, Rwanda in the 1980s?  Approved by the Vatican in 2001 as being authentic, what Mary said applies NOW just as much as it did 40 years ago. How many times will Mary tell us to do this before we listen?

St. Teresa of Avila said that St. Joseph never denied her requests. He will not deny you either. But you must devote yourself to him and his intercession.   Enroll yourself and your loved ones in our Novena of St. Joseph Masses: https://www.americasfirstcathedral.org/novenas/  

Why do we celebrate the men and women who are already in heaven? They do not need our prayers! St. Bernard of Clairvaux answers this question for you -- as only a doctor of the Church could!

Jesus used very specific words to explain to us HOW to love correctly. If we died tonight, would we be able to look Jesus in the eyes and say, "Lord, I DID love you with all of my heart, mind, soul and strength. And I loved my neighbor as myself?" If we can't say that (and I cannot!), here is what we need to do now... After you listen to the homily, sign up for adoration and check out our Source of All Hope Web site.

In today's Gospel, Jesus said he came to serve as a ransom for the "many." At the Last Supper, Our Lord said his blood would be offered for the salvation of the "many." Given this: Did Jesus die for ALL or just some? And once you accept Jesus, are you guaranteed to be saved? All of this and more in today's homily... Would you help us keep Perpetual Adoration in Baltimore? Click here:  Defenders – Basilica of the Assumption (americasfirstcathedral.org)  

This particular Gift of the Holy Spirit is what you need in order to experience divine things--NOW. God will give anyone this gift...if they are willing to receive it.   Will you help us keep Perpetual Adoration going in Baltimore? Click here:  Defenders – Basilica of the Assumption (americasfirstcathedral.org)