Father Joseph Illo, pastor of Star of the Sea parish in San Francisco, gave the following 1en-minute homily on Sunday, July 24:
The homily began with Abraham negotiating with God to save lives in Sodom. The Lord accepted this prayer. Father Illo: “Ask for what we need, but demand nothing.”
As an example of that prayer, Father Illo talked of his visit to the Carmelite nuns in Omaha who came from San Francisco.
Father said the Omaha passengers going through Denver were told, “Don’t worry, you’ll make your connections.” But when they got to Denver, the planes to San Francisco had left.
Father Illo tried Mother Teresa’s flying novena, which consisted of 10 Memorares.
“I was struggling: ‘Lord, help me make my connections.’
“I was able to make the connection, the last person on the San Francisco plane.”
“We can pray for all sorts of things – to make our connection in Denver, we can ask that our marriage doesn’t fail, that we don’t lose our job, that our cancer is cured. But the one thing necessary is the Holy Spirit.”
The planes had left…he made his connection…I believe in the power of prayer but not to bring a departed plane back for one person.
The plane did not come back for him. He was the last passenger to board.
This is a good sermon.
There is a quote from St.. Jane Frances de Chantel toward the end of it that is really good.
No. We should always raise our hearts to God in prayer, for all things, big and small. God is everywhere, and desires to help us with all things, big or small. All things are important in our lives, to God! Did you ever help your crying toddler find her lost Minnie Mouse at the park? Or help your husband find his lost favorite electronic gadget? (Pray to St. Anthony to help find lost items!) Great idea, to pray and ask God and your Guardian Angel to watch over and protect you and your family, before starting any trip. Place a Rosary in your car, and pray for the car to guide you safely to your destination. And pray for all to go well, with plane/bus/train schedules, too. Very important!
If he were truly holy he would have given up his seat for someone else. Like Maximilian Kolbe did, but he gave his life.
This is not a helpful example of prayer. A trivialization of the prosperity Gospel. God’s a celestial butler.
No. Always say a prayer for safe travel, whenever you or loved ones travel. And pray for all to go well — no delays, no accidents, no missed connections, no luggage losses, no problems! I have done this all my life! Especially, during holiday travel! Great idea to pray for God’s help and guidance, when driving, or finding a parking space! Or pray for God’s help, if the bus or BART is running late– or is overcrowded, and you have to wait for the next one! Especially, to get to Mass on time! Right now, I just set a kitchen timer, and hope that something in the oven will turn out just right– and said a little prayer!
Every time we fly, we reach over and make the sign of the cross on each others’ foreheads. Not necessarily to ask for anything, though of course we wish for a safe flight, but to recognize the presence of Christ then and at the hour of our death, whenever that might be.
Who are “we”?
That’s weird. Catholics always cross themselves unless you are a parent of a child too small to do so.
What a shocking generation of selfish, egoistic Me’s. No recognition, and no respect for the holy status of a priest of God. A priest needs and deserves a seat on a plane. Give him the first seat. (It might also bless and ensure a safer flight.) Having a priest with you, can bring many blessings. Why don’t you ask Father to pray for your sick loved one– or ask if he has time to hear your urgent Confession, if there is a long layover? And offer to buy him lunch, or a plane ticket? A priest has many urgent responsibilities– he must get back to his parish church. His work for the Lord never ends. Did Father get back in time for Mass? Or for your Wedding Mass, or your child’s Baptism, or your Grandma’s funeral? And did his luggage– with his clerical attire and important Mass items– make it back safely? See to it that all is well, for him. And no smart-aleck remarks about St. Maximilian Kolbe– your parish priest leads a sacrificial, austere life, 24/7– in service to the Lord– for you. He does not live as secular people do, with all their daily worldly pleasures, advantages and comforts. (Nor would he ever want such worldly things.) He brings you Christ in the holy Sacraments. And he just might have a Pyx with him, too, containing the Blessed Sacrament. You never know.
My comment of July 27 at 2:29pm was edited. My first sentence was originally as follows: “What a shocking generation of selfish, egoistic “Me’s!”” I have no idea as to why the punctuation in my comments is sometimes altered. But never are spelling errors corrected, for anyone’s comments! That is much more important!
Serious question – Do you believe that a plane is safer because a priest is on board?
Seriously– do you respect our priests? A priest is a Man of God. He can pray with you if there is any trouble with the plane, during a flight. It is always a blessing, to have a priest on a trip of any kind. A priest can also bless a plane, car, train, boat, or other vehicle.
We used to have many nice little customs, a long time ago. One nice custom, was to cross yourself if you passed a Catholic church. Many families have the custom of saying a Rosary, whenever they start out on a car trip. Also, many of us were taught to say a little prayer, while passing the time on a trip, for things like sick or dying patients in hospitals that you may pass, or for the sick and dying everywhere around, who have no one to pray for them. Or, whenever you hear an ambulance or fire truck siren, pray for those in trouble, and possibly injured, sick or dying. Say a little prayer for whatever comes to mind.