Homilies from the National Shrine

The Marian Fathers
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These difficult times demand that we turn back to the beautiful mystery of who God is and what it means to be His cherished children. Listen in to the daily homilies from the Marian Fathers at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy, including Fr. Chris Alar, Fr. Kaz Chwalek, and many more. May they help you to live by God’s will that you may play an active and effective role in a world whose wellbeing requires authentic Christian witness!

  1. 6H AGO

    The Real Battle of Lent - Fr. Chris Alar | 2/18/26

    The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021826.cfm The world has its “small-g gods”: sex, money, and power. In this powerful Lenten homily, Fr. Chris Alar, MIC explains how the consecrated religious counter them through poverty, chastity, and obedience—but what about the laity? The answer is the Church’s timeless Lenten call: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Fasting disciplines the flesh and breaks the grip of pleasure. Almsgiving loosens our attachment to money by giving not from surplus, but from sacrifice. Prayer humbles our desire for control and power, reminding us that God is in charge—not us. These are not random practices; they are spiritual weapons. Father Chris reminds us that Lent occurs 46 days before Easter, with 40 days of fasting (Sundays excluded). Ash Wednesday—first named in 1091 under Pope Urban II—flows from ancient Jewish penitential practice and early Christian public penance. The ashes, made from burned palms, are sacramentals, not the Eucharist itself. They symbolize our mortality: “Remember you are dust.” Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting (ages 18–59) and abstinence (14+). All Fridays of Lent require abstinence from meat. Fridays throughout the year remain penitential days. Lent is 10% of the calendar year—a perfect tithe of time. As Father shares, the currency of friendship is time. If we love God, we give Him time. This Lent is not about giving up bad things. It’s about surrendering lesser goods to seek the Greatest Good. Deny yourself. Take up your cross. Follow Christ. ★ Support this podcast ★

    13 min

  2. 2D AGO

    From Jerusalem to Your Soul: Why the Church Must Teach - Fr. Chris Alar | 2/15/26

    The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021526.cfm Fresh from a visit to the Holy Land, Fr. Chris Alar, MIC reflects on standing atop the Mount of Olives, praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, walking the Via Dolorosa, and entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre—the very places where Christ taught, suffered, and redeemed us. Looking out over Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, he recalls how Jesus wept over the city. Why? Because people would not receive His teaching. The Sermon on the Mount is not a suggestion. It is a way of life. Jesus, the New Moses, does not merely interpret the law—He fulfills and perfects it. When He says to “cut off” what leads you to sin, He speaks in holy urgency. Sin has consequences. Grace is free—but it must be received and cooperated with. Father Chris tackles misunderstood teachings head-on: • Why Catholics read Scripture as literally true—but not literalist. • What Jesus’ words reveal about purgatory and accountability. • Why annulment is not a “Catholic divorce,” but a declaration about sacramental validity. • Why the Sacraments are our sure path to grace and salvation. He also pleads for prayers—prayers for persecuted Christians in the Holy Land, and for his dear friend Giuseppe recovering from a stroke.  When the Church teaches clearly, it is not to restrict us, but to save us. Christ wept over Jerusalem. May we not ignore His voice today. ★ Support this podcast ★

    13 min

  3. 2D AGO

    The One Thing You Cannot Afford to Lose - Fr. Chris Alar | 2/16/26

    The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021626.cfm Father Chris Alar, MIC, reminds us of a truth the world constantly tries to obscure: Your soul is immortal — and it matters more than anything you own, achieve, or experience in this life. Jesus asks a question that cuts through every distraction: “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?” We spend enormous energy protecting our bodies, careers, reputations, and comfort. But how attentive are we to the state of our soul? Physical suffering, financial loss, or public misunderstanding may wound us temporarily. Mortal sin wounds eternally. And yet, in His mercy, Christ never leaves us without remedy. Through Confession, the Eucharist, and Eucharistic Adoration, the Divine Physician continues to pour out the same healing grace that flowed from His pierced Heart. No sin is too great for His mercy. The only true tragedy is refusing the grace that is offered. Father Chris challenges us not to live casually, but consciously — aware that eternity is not abstract. It is approaching. The saints understand this. They live with urgency, not anxiety; conviction, not fear of creatures. They knew that losing everything in this world is survivable. Losing your soul is not. Run to mercy. Stay in the state of grace. Nourish your soul. And remember: The Lord desires your salvation even more than you do. ★ Support this podcast ★

    13 min

  4. 2D AGO

    February 15, 2026 - Fr. Chris Alar, MIC

    Homilies from the National Shrine

    22 min

  5. 2D AGO

    February 14, 2026 - Fr. Anthony Gramlich, MIC

    Homilies from the National Shrine

    18 min

  6. 5D AGO

    February 13, 2026 - Fr. Anthony Gramlich, MIC

    Homilies from the National Shrine

    16 min

  7. 6D AGO

    February 12, 2026 - Fr. Matthew Tomeny, MIC

    Homilies from the National Shrine

    12 min

  8. 6D AGO

    February 11, 2026 - Fr. Tyler Mentzer, MIC

    Homilies from the National Shrine

    21 min
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These difficult times demand that we turn back to the beautiful mystery of who God is and what it means to be His cherished children. Listen in to the daily homilies from the Marian Fathers at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy, including Fr. Chris Alar, Fr. Kaz Chwalek, and many more. May they help you to live by God’s will that you may play an active and effective role in a world whose wellbeing requires authentic Christian witness!

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