Dominican Friars

Province of St. Albert the Great, USA

Know Before You Go

The Exaltation of the Holy Cross: Finding True Power in Sacrifice

Know Before You Go

Explore the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross with Father Scott Steinkerchner! Discover the history behind this important day, tracing it back to St. Helena and the discovery of the True Cross relics. Learn about the significance of the cross, not as an object of miraculous power, but as a symbol of Jesus's ultimate sacrifice and the path to eternal life. Understand the connection between the serpent in the desert, Nicodemus, and the call to pour ourselves out in service to others. #ExaltationOfTheCross #HolyCross #TrueCross #CatholicFeast #Christianity #Faith #StHelena #Nicodemus #SerpentInTheDesert #EternalLife

Chapters:

0:00 Intro: Holy Cross Feast
0:30 History & St. Helena
1:16 Finding the True Cross
1:47 Meaning of the Cross
2:31 St. Cyril & Relics
3:14 Gospel: Nicodemus
3:55 Serpent in the Desert
5:26 Remedy, Not Removal
6:24 Hymn & Theology
7:32 True Saving Power
8:09 Saved Through Him
8:48 Embrace the Cross

Dominican recording video

Know Before You Go is a ministry of the provincial office to help people prepare to hear the readings and preaching of the approaching Sunday's Mass. We welcome any feedback you have at know@opcentral.org . You can see them all below, or you can see other preaching by a particular person by clicking on his name.

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Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Aug 6, 2020 by Fr. James Marchionda, OP

Fr. James Marchionda, OP, Prior Provincial of the Dominican Friars, Province of St. Albert the Great, breaks open the Sunday readings for us, encouraging us to listen for God, not in the noise, but in the little whispers.
Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jul 27, 2020 by Fr. Don Goergen, OP

Fr. Don Goergen, OP, breaks open the Sunday readings for August 2, 2020, the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, encouraging us to grieve our losses, but to address that grief with faith so that we can emerge with even more compassion and love for others.
Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jul 24, 2020 by Fr. James Marchionda, OP

Fr. James Marchionda, OP, Prior Provincial, breaks open the Sunday readings for us, praying that we open ourselves to be guided by God's Holy Wisdom.
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jul 17, 2020 by Fr. James Marchionda, OP

Fr. Jim Marchionda, OP, Prior Provincial of the Central Province, unpacks the Sunday readings for us, reminding us that God is good and forgiving, and thus, we can forgive ourselves for the bad that is within us and nurture the good that is there as well.
Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jul 8, 2020 by Fr. Don Goergen, OP

Fr. Don Goergen, OP challenges us to take seriously our need to be good soil, and to care for all creation.
Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jul 2, 2020 by Fr. Don Goergen, OP

Fr. Don Goergen, OP reminds us that Jesus gives rest to the weary by sending the Holy Spirit to help us carry our burdens.
Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jun 23, 2020 by Fr. James Marchionda, OP

Fr. James Marchionda, Prior Provincial of the Province of St. Albert the Great, reminds us that we are to love God as much as we love the closest members of our family—not that we start to love them less, but that we begin to love God more.
Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jun 19, 2020 by Fr. James Marchionda, OP

Fr. James Marchionda, OP, Prior Provincial of the Dominican Province of St. Albert the Great breaks open the Word for this coming Sunday, challenging us to do the right thing, even when it is difficult.
The Solemnity of Corpus Christi

Jun 10, 2020 by Fr. Don Goergen, OP

Fr. Don Goergen, O.P. preaches for the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, reminding us that God always finds a way to be with us, a comforting thought in these troubling times.
Trinity Sunday

Jun 1, 2020 by Fr. Jude McPeak, OP

Fr. Jude McPeak, Promoter of Vocations, reminds us that in the Trinity, differences don't divide—a model we should try to live by.
Pentecost Sunday

May 29, 2020 by Fr. Don Goergen, OP

Fr. Don Goergen, OP reminds us that the Holy Spirit is an unconquerable gift of power that is meant for all, which is a blessing and a challenge.
The Ascension of the Lord or the Seventh Sunday of Easter

May 22, 2020 by Fr. James Marchionda, OP

Fr. Jim Marchionda, OP reminds us that we may not understand everything that God is doing in, through, and around us, but that God will send the Holy Spirit to give us the power to do what we need to do. Trust that.
Sixth Sunday of Easter

May 15, 2020 by Fr. James Marchionda, OP

Fr. James Marchionda, OP exhorts us to look around ourselves and see the many reasons for hope that are manifest, and then to be ready to give witness to this hope to whomever asks.
Fifth Sunday of Easter

May 6, 2020 by Fr. Jude McPeak, OP

Fr. Jude McPeak, OP, Promoter of Vocations for the Province of St. Albert the Great, exhorts us to grow in God's love by allowing ourselves to trust in God more.
Fourth Sunday of Easter

Apr 29, 2020 by Fr. James Marchionda, OP

Fr. James Marchionda, OP, Prior Provincial of the Dominican Province of St. Albert the Great, invites us to think more deeply about what a Good Shepherd we have in Jesus Christ, so that, living in that security, we can be good shepherds to others.
Third Sunday of Easter

Apr 23, 2020 by Fr. Don Goergen, OP

Fr. Donald Goergen, OP, Assistant to the Provincial, likens this time of pandemic to Jesus' time in the tomb—a time of transformation to new life. What will it mean for us to live the resurrection? How will we be different, better?
Second Sunday of Easter, 2020

Apr 19, 2020 by Fr. Jude McPeak, OP

Fr. Jude McPeak, OP, Promoter of Vocations, speaks on the importance of doubt in the life of faith.
Easter Sunday

Apr 10, 2020 by Fr. James Marchionda, OP

Fr. James Marchionda, OP, Prior Provincial, reminds us that the empty tomb was full of the promise of new life. In the same way, the emptiness we are feeling during the pandemic can lead to hope of a better life.
Palm Sunday

Apr 4, 2020 by Fr. Jude McPeak, OP

Fr. Jude McPeak, OP, Promoter of Vocations, orients us to Palm Sunday and Holy Week so that we can experience the fullest power and challenge of these days.
Fifth Sunday of Lent

Mar 25, 2020 by Fr. James Marchionda, OP

Fr. James Marchionda, OP, Prior Provincial, offers us hope that God, who raised Lazarus from the dead, has promised us even greater—life everlasting!
Fourth Sunday of Lent

Mar 19, 2020 by Fr. James Marchionda, OP

Fr. James Marchionda, OP, Prior Provincial, in speaking about the healing of the man born blind, reminds us that it is not because of sin that we suffer.
Third Sunday of Lent

Mar 12, 2020 by Fr. Jude McPeak, OP

Fr. Jude McPeak, OP, Promoter of Vocations, invites us to go out and encounter the woman at the well, opening ourselves to being healed by God.
Second Sunday of Lent

Mar 5, 2020 by Fr. James Marchionda, OP

Fr. James Marchionda, OP, Prior Provincial, reminds us through the Transfiguration of Jesus that our own mountaintop experiences empower us to help others.
First Sunday of Lent

Feb 27, 2020 by Fr. Don Goergen, OP

Fr. Donald Goergen, OP, Assistant to the Provincial, inaugurates the Season of Lent by skillfully addressing the meaning of the temptations of Jesus in the desert.

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